Bringing Home a New Dog

Here at Healthy Pet Products we know how exciting it is to bring home a new dog or puppy! Naturally, there can be some challenges at first. Not to worry, we’re here to help!

Whenever you are ready to bring home a new dog/puppy, make sure you are prepared with the basics prior to your new dog’s arrival:

  • Food/water bowl and a designated area
  • Crate and where the crate will be (*Never use a crate as punishment*)
  • Leash, collar, ID tag, steak in the yard if there isn’t a fence
  • Designate which door and yard area you will use for bathroom breaks
  • Kong (this helps keep your new dog stimulated)
  • Training treats
  • Bed

Tips to Pet Proof Your Home

  • If you bring home a puppy it’s a good idea to not give them full range of the house until potty trained
  • Introduce your new pet to one room or area at a time. This helps your new dog adjust and keeps you in control of the process
  • *Depending on the layout of your home you might want to introduce your new dog to one floor (without carpet) at a time. Use a baby gate to keep them from rooms they are not allowed into just yet
  • Pick up any shoes, socks, kids’ toys, etc.
  • *these are easy targets for your new dog to destroy due to anxiety of being in a new home
  • Using a leash on the dog/puppy for the first dew days might be helpful. This is a great way to stay in control (for a one dog home) and redirect the new dog away from areas or negative behaviors.

Talk to Your Family Before Hand

Discussing a schedule with your family prior to bringing your new home is very important to the well-being of your new family member. Make sure everyone sticks to this daily routine to ensure less stress and anxiety. It will be beneficial if you follow a guide like the example below:

  • Who is going to get up first and let the dog out to go to the bathroom (As mentioned before, having a designated door that the dog will be let out of to go outside is important. This will help encourage your dog to start going to the door on his or her own when they need to go to the bathroom).
  • Who is feeding and what times
  • When the dog will be taken on walks during the day
  • If you have a multi-person family it would be best to split up these responsibilities among everyone! This way the dog has a chance to get to know everyone in the family and form bonds with the entire family.

*This is also a great way to encourage children to form bonds with your new dog

Bonding

One way to bond with your new dog other than using treats, affections, training, etc., is to keep them on a leash and keeping the leash on you. By doing this, your dog is forced to stay close to you, get more attention from you, and trust and connect more

Use the dog’s name frequently during this time when rewarding or giving attention: “Hi Buddy,” “Good boy, Buddy”

*This is a great tool if the dog ends up “bonding” to one partner and you want to develop trust between the dog and another person. For example, dogs that are nervous around men or dogs not used to being around children

The Rule of Three for Rescue Dogs

The first 3 days after rescuing—Feeling overwhelmed:

  • You might not see your dog’s true personality in these first three days after rescuing, and these first three days might be the hardest.
  • Sticking to your daily routine and maybe modifying it based on your dog’s needs is incredibly important during these first three days
  • Being scared, nervous, curled up, reserved, etc. are all examples of common behaviors during the first three days of rescuing

3 weeks after rescuing—Starting to feel comfortable/behavior issues potential

  • Since your dog is adjusting to a new home and family and becoming more comfortable with their new surroundings, you might start to notice behaviors.
  • Now is the time to correct behaviors, stick to the routine, and not give up
  • It might be in your best interest to find a trainer prior to bringing home your new rescue that you’re comfortable with.

3 months after rescuing—trust, personality, comfortability

  • At this point your new dog should be relatively comfortable in his or her new home; he or she should be more trusting and adjusted to the new environment and schedule.
  • Now is the time you will see his or her true personality and traits