There are millions of dogs up and down the country, meaning it’s safe to say we’re a nation of canine lovers. While many of them are in loving homes and part of a loving family, sadly there are plenty of dogs who are in rescue homes in need of a forever home.
If this news has tugged on your heartstrings and have decided to get a rescue dog, you’ll want your pooch to feel right at home from the moment they get through the front door. However, it’s going to take time for them to feel settled and comfortable in their new environment. Try not to stress! Instead, read our advice below which can help your rescue dog settle in quickly and be on the journey to living their best life!
Get Prepared
Before picking up your rescue dog, we appreciate you’re bound to be full of excitement. But, before it gets the better of you, you need to make sure your home is well prepared and ready for the new arrival. This all begins by stocking up on the essentials. These include a selection of toys, food, bed, blanket, and water bowl. Also, make sure to take out pet insurance. Purely Pets Insurance could assist you with this. Their pet insurance usually has lifetime cover included as well which should bring peace of mind.
Once you’ve covered the basics, make sure to go around your home and look for any hazards. Things that may not seem obvious to you could be dangerous for your pooch. Regarding furniture, the last thing you want is for your dog to tear up your brand-new sofa! Therefore, stock up on chews they can sink their teeth into, rather than your prized possessions!
Give Your Dog a Guided Tour
When your rescue dog first enters your home, start by keeping them on a lead and give them a guided tour. Walk around your home and show them the garden. If there are any areas of your home that are out of bounds, make sure not to take them there. Instead, only walk around zones where they will be living.
Keeping your rescue dog on a lead will help them feel calm, as well as provide the opportunity for your pooch to adjust to the new smells and sights in your home. Once you have done all this, consider taking your canine to their safe space and letting them off their lead.
Create a Safe Space
This brings us to our next point: creating a safe space in your home for your dog. Your pooch needs a space that is theirs and theirs only. This gives them a zone they can go to should they feel frightened or overwhelmed. Make sure this space is confined, clean, and comfortable. You may want to consider using a dog crate and loading it with bowls and soft bedding.
It’s recommended to place the dog crate in a private corner of one of the quieter areas of the home. Should your dog pick a corner that they like to relax in, put the crate there. When your canine is relaxing in its safe space, you mustn’t disturb them. While you may want to go in for a cuddle, you need to read your dog’s body language. The last thing you want to do is cause them any added stress. This goes for anyone else living in your home. Once your dog gains confidence, they may let others join them in their safe zone.
Slowly Introduce Other Family Members
If you have others living in your home, make sure to introduce them to your rescue dog slowly. Your canine has plenty to explore and learn about in their new forever home. Because of this, too many new faces could quickly become overwhelming. During the first couple of days, it’s best to keep your rescue dog separate from young children and other pets. Once they start adjusting to their new surroundings, you can start showing them to their new family members.
Other pets must be kept under control when they first meet your new rescue dog. Should you rush the process, this could cause all your pets to become overwhelmed which is something you don’t want! Those who have kids need to ensure they know how to interact with the new addition to the family. With that in mind, it’s advised to tell your children to be gentle and not pull on your dog’s ears or fur.
Keep Visitors Away (For Now)
When you let your loved ones outside the home know you’re getting a rescue dog, they’re bound to be excited and cannot wait to meet them. While you may not think twice about letting your pooch mingle with your nearest and dearest right away, this could provide too much stress and anxiety at first.
Your rescue dog needs to get used to everyone they’re going to be living with first. This includes people and pets. Once they start to get their bearings and feel more relaxed around you, then move on to bringing guests around to say hello (and a cuddle of course!).
Take Things Slow
When welcoming a rescue dog to your forever home, you need to master the art of patience. Things aren’t going to be hunky-dory in 24 hours. It may take a number of weeks or longer for your pooch to fully settle and feel comfortable around you. Don’t take this to heart. You haven’t done anything wrong! Try and put yourself in your dog’s shoes. They’re bound to be terrified and anxious being in an unfamiliar environment. The best thing you can do is be patient and understanding of their needs.
Over time, you will start to see improvements. Whether it’s your dog sleeping through the whole night or their tail begins wagging, each accomplishment makes a massive difference in the long run. Make sure other family members follow suit too. While it will be hard to see your canine in distress at first, they’re bound to feel more at ease over time. Just keep doing what you’re doing and they’ll soon feel more comfortable.
Create a Routine
A routine for your rescue dog is important for many reasons. For one, routines can provide reassurance. They can also be soothing to both pets and people. When your rescue dog rocks up, try and create a routine from the beginning, and make sure to stick to it! This will involve setting times for when they eat, go for a walk, or when the lights go out.
When you create a routine, this will help make your rescue dog feel calm and give them the reassurance of when their next meal will be or when everything happens. This approach is especially valuable for rescue dogs who haven’t had the best start in life. Your dog may be frightened and insecure. Implementing a routine could soothe your pooch quickly.
Keep Walks Short
If there is one thing your rescue dog is going to enjoy before you know it, it’s going for walks! You’ll find most dogs love nothing more than walkies. But, it’s wise to keep them slow to begin with. Those who enjoy walking will be itching to get out and about with their best friend in tow, but you need to start off slow but steady.
For the first week, stick to the same location for walks and try not to tire your rescue dog out. They need time to get used to their new area and get their bearings. Once your pooch starts to recognise their surroundings, this will help them settle in quicker.
Keep a Diary
New rescue dog owners may benefit from starting a diary, at least for the first 3 months. This can be a place where you can jot down anything about your pooch. From their likes to dislikes, eating habits to behaviours, when you put pen to paper and see everything in black and white, this can help you get a better understanding of your dog and their wonderful personality that goes with them!
When you’re able to recognise what is and isn’t normal for your dog, you can make changes if necessary. You’re bound to notice changes over the first couple of weeks in your pooch. If you have any worries or concerns about your dog’s behaviour, make sure you note these down too. This is because you can speak to your vet about any issues and have everything jotted down to fall back on.
Provide Lots of Love
This one goes without saying – make sure to give your rescue dog plenty of love! We guess this isn’t going to be hard for you. A warm, calming tone can soothe your canine and make them feel relaxed. During the first few days, your new furry friend may be bursting with excitement and run riot around the home. Rather than raising your voice, try to let them do their thing. Soon enough, they’re going to settle down.
As the bond between you and your rescue dog grows, they will feel more open to you grooming and stroking them. This can be a fantastic way to show your love for your new best friend. But, as we’ve mentioned, you need to read your pooch’s body language first. If they show signs of fear or aggression when you touch them, you must back off and give them space.
Maintain a Consistent Diet
Dogs are known for having sensitive stomachs – your rescue pooch included! When you bring your furry friend home, make sure to feed them the right diet. Should you change their food, this can cause your pooch to feel unwell, or potentially trigger diarrhoea. Remember, your rescue dog is bound to be stressed and nervous, so eating the wrong foods can bring on a range of health problems that could cause further distress.
Because of this, it’s best to maintain the rescue shelter’s diet for a couple of days. After this, you can begin gradually switching to their long-term food. Doing so will lower the chance of an upset stomach. There are numerous factors that will determine what you should be feeding your dog. This includes the breed and age of your pooch.
Take Shelter Recommendations Seriously
Dog shelters regularly perform tests on canines before they’re adopted and whisked off to their forever home. This may involve testing how the dog reacts to other people and dogs. It’s essential you pay close attention to any advice and guidance you are given from the shelter.
The shelter will know a great deal more about your rescue dog than you do. This goes especially for their temperament. If your pooch is known to have toy possession issues, for instance, do not be tempted to test this, particularly during the first few weeks.
Get a Vet Checkup
One of the best things you can do when your rescue dog joins the family home is to take them to see your local vet. Having your pooch checked over by a professional will make sure they’re in good nick and there aren’t any causes for concern.
While the rescue centre may provide health information regarding your rescue dog, it’s still a good idea to get an up-to-date overview of your pooch’s health. If you have any questions, make sure to address them with your vet.
The first few weeks are bound to be daunting for your rescue dog. After all, they will be in a completely alien environment. What’s more, you have no idea what kind of background they’ve been in and are used to. For this reason, it’s your duty to do everything you can to support your pooch and help them feel calm and at ease in their forever home.
We’re not going to lie and say the transition period will be easy. But, as long as you remain patient, give your dog space, and take things slow, they will soon feel less stressed and if anything, be on the journey to spoiling you with lots of kisses and snuggles!