You’re excited, your dog’s excited, your family’s excited … maybe even your neighbors are excited!
Make sure to set up your new dog for success by following three easy guidelines:
- Be patient
- Go slowly
- Give your dog time to adjust
Seriously. Write these down on a Post-it Note and stick it somewhere you’ll see it every day. Make it your mantra.
Because the truth is that these guidelines may not be all that easy to follow.
You are excited when you bring home a new dog — and you should be! Yet it’s important to keep in mind how the dog views this experience. It’s the same as if you suddenly went to live in a strange home, with people you didn’t know, who spoke a different language!
It’s new and different and yes, exciting, but it can also be confusing and even challenging when a new dog comes into your home — for both you and the dog.
So. Here are 10 great suggestions from a wonderful book by Patricia McConnell and Karen London: “Love Has No Age Limit: Welcoming an Adopted Dog into Your Home.”
- Dog-proof your house. Help your dog succeed by closing doors, picking up shoes, keeping food off counters, removing photo albums, remote controls, cell phones, etc. Also put away dangerous items like electrical cords, cleaning supplies, houseplants, and sugar-free gum.
- As soon as you get your dog home, take him outside on a leash and let him sniff around. Even if you have a fenced yard, we recommend using a leash. It may be hard to call him back to you at first, especially if he’s shy or nervous.
- No matter what age your dog is, act as though you’re bringing home a puppy who has no idea where the bathroom is. Teach your dog the location of the bathroom right away. Give him a treat whenever he goes potty outside for the first few days, and take him out frequently – don’t wait for him to ask. (Keep treats handy by the door so you can grab them whenever you go outside.)
- Give your dog lots of quiet time during the first few days – everything is brand new, and it can be overwhelming. If he enjoys curling up next to you and being petted, that’s great. If not, don’t force it. He just needs time to settle down and get used to everything. It’s common for dogs to appear a bit anxious and unsettled in the beginning. Be patient and stay calm.
- Set your dog up for success by letting him approach you in the beginning, instead of the other way around. This way, he’s setting the pace for getting comfortable with each family member. (Offering him a treat when he comes over to you also helps you make a great impression!)
- Everything is new to your dog – avoid overwhelming him. Keep friends’ visits to a minimum during the first few days. Only 1 or 2 people coming over at a time is best for now.
- If you have another dog: A great way to help the two dogs get comfortable is by taking lots of leash walks together. Walking side-by-side, investigating interesting smells, is how 2 dogs would naturally form a relationship.
- If you have a cat: Don’t give your dog a chance to chase the cat; be proactive about preventing trouble. Whenever you can’t monitor them closely, separate the dog and cat in different sections of the house. Don’t force the interaction – it takes time. It can take some cats up to 6 months to warm up to a dog. (Keep in mind: Cats are much slower to adjust to new social situations than dogs, and they never want to be trapped or forced into anything.)
- Studies show: Being patient with your dog is more important than any other skill or attitude in helping your dog adjust to his new life!
What have you experienced when bringing a new dog into your home? Let us know in the comments section below.
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