BRINGING YOUR NEW DOG HOME
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Dogs are like toddlers for their entire lives. They are needy and clingy. They are stubborn, demanding and obstinate. They need you to survive. This does not change.
Adopting a dog requires a commitment from you. Here’s how you can prepare for bringing your new dog home as well as help him/her adjust and become the family pet of your dreams!
Doing things correctly from the start will help prevent confusion. Expect accidents in the first few days, but patience, training, and routine will help your dog adjust to his new home and rules. Watch your dog carefully during those first few weeks so you can correct any unwanted behaviors early on, praise him when he’s good, teaching him good house manners from the start.
Before Bringing Your Dog Home
First, have a family/household meeting. By now everyone in the house is onboard to having this new bundle of joy in the house. But you’ll want discuss house rules in advance and make sure everyone knows who is responsible for the different needs of the animal. Some topics to cover:
Who will take the pup out to potty in the yard or training papers? And when?
If you are bringing home a puppy, you’ll need to go over housebreaking with the family.
Who will be in charge of feedings?
Who will be in charge of scheduling veterinary visits for routine care and vaccinations?
Who will be in charge of walking and exercising the dog?
Will the pup be allowed on the couch?
Where will he sleep at night? Are there any rooms that are off limits?
Next, you’ll want to gather basic supplies. If you can, gather these the day before or the day you bring home your pup. You’ll need a collar and leash, food and water bowls, food, and some toys.
Plan for your pup’s arrival. You’ll want to bring him home on a weekend or period when you’ll be home for a few days so you and your pup can get to know each other and get a routine started.
Also, make sure your current pets are healthy and up to date on their vaccinations. If you are bringing home a puppy, he most likely wont have had all of his booster shots yet, and will be vulnerable to illness.
Life With Your Dog… Training, Play, and Lots of Love
Take your new dog to your veterinarian within a week of adoption. Make sure to bring any paperwork you have on your dog’s history given to you from the adoption agency. Your Vet will go over your new pup’s booster schedule, along with scheduling his/her spay or neuter appointment. Your puppy will need 4 sets of booster shots, scheduled 3 weeks apart.
Be prepared for house training. Read our house training guide for tips on housebreaking your puppy or dog. Patience and consistency go along way. Maintaining a routine is key to faster housebreaking.
Give your dog a safe spot. A crate is a great option to creating his own personal den. To you, a crate may look like a jail cell, but to your dog, it will be his safe spot. It will help make house training easier. Check out our guide on crate training along with housebreaking. You will definitely not want to leave your dog in the crate all day and night, but instead a few regular hours a day.
If a crate is not an option, section off a small part of the house for him. Make sure the section is safe and correctly blocked off, a baby gate will work wonderfully. You’ll want to make sure there is nothing in his “den” that he can chew up or get into trouble with. A portion of the kitchen or family room or room that gets a lot of foot traffic can serve as his den very well.
Use training and discipline to create a happy home. Dogs need routine and order. You and other household members need to maintain the “alpha dog” position, and this is easily created by being a calm and assertive leader. It is in the dog’s nature to sometimes test you and behave “badly.” When you catch him, don’t hit him or become aggressive towards him, but instead stay calm and let him know in a loud disapproving voice that he has misbehaved. On the other hand, reward him generously when he does something good. Check out our guides on obedience training here.
Exercise, Play, Stimulate. Exercise is key to making sure your dog doesn't pent up his energy, resulting in destructive behaviors. Dogs need an active lifestyle, like toddlers, if you don’t give them something constructive to do with their energy, they’ll find something to do on their own.. and you may not like it! Keeping your dog out of trouble with daily exercise and play will help eliminate behavioral problems like barking, chewing, digging and hyperactivity. It also helps keep them healthy, builds confidence and trust, and helps dogs tire out rather than becoming restless. This is also a great way for you to get exercise in your daily routine, helping both you and your pet stay healthy. Check out our guide for stimulating your dog here.
Dealing with unwanted behavior. Even with all the obedience training and housebreaking, you may find your dog is showing some unwanted behaviors. Communicating with your dog begins with understanding the meaning and causes of common dog behaviors. This can include excessive barking, chewing, digging, snapping/biting, jumping up, and separation anxiety. You can check with local trainers on dealing with these issues or read our guide on correcting and redirecting these behaviors.
For the first few days you have a dog, keep him or her in the same room with you - so that if the dog needs to potty, you can rush him outdoors. If he engages in unwanted behavior, you can instantly correct the dog and substitute a more positive behavior. For example, removing the shoe from his mouth, then substituting a chew toy and praising.
Your dog will spend it’s whole life giving you unconditional love and affection, and it is up to you to be his calm and assertive leader.
Feel free to contact our team at Adopt A Dog Rescue for any tips or advice on training and caring for your new pet.
Dogs are like toddlers for their entire lives. They are needy and clingy. They are stubborn, demanding and obstinate. They need you to survive. This does not change.
Adopting a dog requires a commitment from you. Here’s how you can prepare for bringing your new dog home as well as help him/her adjust and become the family pet of your dreams!
Doing things correctly from the start will help prevent confusion. Expect accidents in the first few days, but patience, training, and routine will help your dog adjust to his new home and rules. Watch your dog carefully during those first few weeks so you can correct any unwanted behaviors early on, praise him when he’s good, teaching him good house manners from the start.
Before Bringing Your Dog Home
First, have a family/household meeting. By now everyone in the house is onboard to having this new bundle of joy in the house. But you’ll want discuss house rules in advance and make sure everyone knows who is responsible for the different needs of the animal. Some topics to cover:
Who will take the pup out to potty in the yard or training papers? And when?
If you are bringing home a puppy, you’ll need to go over housebreaking with the family.
Who will be in charge of feedings?
Who will be in charge of scheduling veterinary visits for routine care and vaccinations?
Who will be in charge of walking and exercising the dog?
Will the pup be allowed on the couch?
Where will he sleep at night? Are there any rooms that are off limits?
Next, you’ll want to gather basic supplies. If you can, gather these the day before or the day you bring home your pup. You’ll need a collar and leash, food and water bowls, food, and some toys.
Plan for your pup’s arrival. You’ll want to bring him home on a weekend or period when you’ll be home for a few days so you and your pup can get to know each other and get a routine started.
Also, make sure your current pets are healthy and up to date on their vaccinations. If you are bringing home a puppy, he most likely wont have had all of his booster shots yet, and will be vulnerable to illness.
Life With Your Dog… Training, Play, and Lots of Love
Take your new dog to your veterinarian within a week of adoption. Make sure to bring any paperwork you have on your dog’s history given to you from the adoption agency. Your Vet will go over your new pup’s booster schedule, along with scheduling his/her spay or neuter appointment. Your puppy will need 4 sets of booster shots, scheduled 3 weeks apart.
Be prepared for house training. Read our house training guide for tips on housebreaking your puppy or dog. Patience and consistency go along way. Maintaining a routine is key to faster housebreaking.
Give your dog a safe spot. A crate is a great option to creating his own personal den. To you, a crate may look like a jail cell, but to your dog, it will be his safe spot. It will help make house training easier. Check out our guide on crate training along with housebreaking. You will definitely not want to leave your dog in the crate all day and night, but instead a few regular hours a day.
If a crate is not an option, section off a small part of the house for him. Make sure the section is safe and correctly blocked off, a baby gate will work wonderfully. You’ll want to make sure there is nothing in his “den” that he can chew up or get into trouble with. A portion of the kitchen or family room or room that gets a lot of foot traffic can serve as his den very well.
Use training and discipline to create a happy home. Dogs need routine and order. You and other household members need to maintain the “alpha dog” position, and this is easily created by being a calm and assertive leader. It is in the dog’s nature to sometimes test you and behave “badly.” When you catch him, don’t hit him or become aggressive towards him, but instead stay calm and let him know in a loud disapproving voice that he has misbehaved. On the other hand, reward him generously when he does something good. Check out our guides on obedience training here.
Exercise, Play, Stimulate. Exercise is key to making sure your dog doesn't pent up his energy, resulting in destructive behaviors. Dogs need an active lifestyle, like toddlers, if you don’t give them something constructive to do with their energy, they’ll find something to do on their own.. and you may not like it! Keeping your dog out of trouble with daily exercise and play will help eliminate behavioral problems like barking, chewing, digging and hyperactivity. It also helps keep them healthy, builds confidence and trust, and helps dogs tire out rather than becoming restless. This is also a great way for you to get exercise in your daily routine, helping both you and your pet stay healthy. Check out our guide for stimulating your dog here.
Dealing with unwanted behavior. Even with all the obedience training and housebreaking, you may find your dog is showing some unwanted behaviors. Communicating with your dog begins with understanding the meaning and causes of common dog behaviors. This can include excessive barking, chewing, digging, snapping/biting, jumping up, and separation anxiety. You can check with local trainers on dealing with these issues or read our guide on correcting and redirecting these behaviors.
For the first few days you have a dog, keep him or her in the same room with you - so that if the dog needs to potty, you can rush him outdoors. If he engages in unwanted behavior, you can instantly correct the dog and substitute a more positive behavior. For example, removing the shoe from his mouth, then substituting a chew toy and praising.
Your dog will spend it’s whole life giving you unconditional love and affection, and it is up to you to be his calm and assertive leader.
Feel free to contact our team at Adopt A Dog Rescue for any tips or advice on training and caring for your new pet.