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So you've taken the
plunge and adopted a dog of
your own. Congratulations!
But what do you do now? No
doubt you're excited and
looking forward to forging a
lifelong friendship with
your new buddy. But try to
keep in mind the confusion
he is feeling right now.
Whatever his past history,
coming home with you is a
new experience. He is likely
to be a little disoriented,
wondering where he is and
who all these new people
are.
The key to helping your
new dog make a successful
adjustment to your home is
being prepared and
being patient. It can
take anywhere from two days
to two months for you and
your pet to adjust to each
other.
The following tips can
help ensure a smooth
transition:
Supplies
Prepare
the things your dog will
need in advance. You'll
need a collar and leash,
food and water bowls, food,
and, of course,
some toys. And don't
forget to order an
identification tag right
away.
Welcome Home
Try to arrange the
arrival of your new dog for
a weekend or when you can be
home for a few days. Get to
know each other and spend
some quality time together.
Don't forget the jealousy
factor—make sure you don't
neglect other pets and
people in your household!
Health Care
Animal shelters take in
animals with widely varying
backgrounds, some of whom
have not been previously
vaccinated. Inevitably,
despite the best efforts of
shelter workers, viruses can
be spread and may
occasionally go home with
adopted animals.
If you already have dogs or
cats at home, make sure
they are up-to-date on their
shots and in good general
health before introducing
your new pet dog.
Take your new dog to the
veterinarian within a week
after adoption. There, he
will receive a health check
and any needed vaccinations.
If your dog has not been
spayed or neutered, make
that appointment! There are
already far too many
homeless puppies and dogs;
don't let your new pet add
to the problem. Most likely,
the shelter will require
that you have your pet
spayed or neutered anyway.
If you need more information
about why it is so important
to spay or neuter your dog,
read
our online information on
spaying and neutering.
Also be sure to put together
your dog's first-aid kit.
House Rules
Work out your dog-care
regimen in advance among the
human members of your
household. Who will walk the
dog first thing in the
morning? Who will feed him
at night? Will Fido be
allowed on the couch, or
won't he? Where will he rest
at night? Are there any
rooms in the house that are
off-limits?
Training and Discipline
Dogs need order.
Remember, they are pack
animals, so make yourself
the "pack leader." Let your
pet know from the start who
is the boss. When you catch
him doing something he
shouldn't, don't lose your
cool. Stay calm, and let him
know immediately, in a loud
and disapproving voice, that
he has misbehaved. Reward
him with praise when he does
well, too! Sign up for a
local dog obedience class,
and you'll learn what a joy
it is to have a well-trained
dog. Also be sure to read
our
Dog Behavior Tip Sheets.
Housetraining
Assume your new dog is
not housetrained, and work
from there. Read over the
housetraining information
given to you at the time of
adoption and
check out our housetraining
tips. Be consistent, and
maintain a routine. A little
extra effort on your part to
come home straight from work
each day will pay off in
easier, faster
housetraining.
Crating
A crate may look to you
like the canine equivalent
of a jail cell, but to your
dog, who instinctively likes
to den,
it's a room of his own.
It makes housetraining and
obedience-training easier
and saves your dog from the
headache of being yelled at
unnecessarily for problem
behavior. Of course, you
won't want to crate your dog
all day or all night, or he
will consider it a
jail cell. Just a few,
regular hours a day (but no
more than four hours at a
time) should be sufficient.
The crate should not contain
wire where his collar or
paws can get caught, and
should be roomy enough to
allow your dog to stand up,
turn around, and sit
comfortably in normal
posture.
If you still can't face
the idea of a crate, at the
very least consider some
sort of confinement to a
dog-proofed part of your
home. A portion of the
kitchen or family room can
serve the purpose very well.
(A baby gate works
perfectly.)
Let the Games Begin
Dogs need an active life.
That means you should plan
plenty of exercise and game
time for your pet. Enjoy
jogging or Frisbee? You can
bet your dog will, too. If
running around the park is
too energetic for your
taste, try throwing a ball
or a stick, or just going
for a long walk together.
When you take a drive in the
country or visit family and
friends, bring your dog and
a leash along.
A Friend for Life
Finally, be reasonable
in your expectations.
Life with you is a different
experience for your new
companion, so give him time
to adjust. You'll soon find
out that you've made a
friend for life. No one will
ever greet you with as much
enthusiasm or provide you
with as much unqualified
love and loyalty as your dog
will. Be patient, and you
will be amply rewarded.
