What to Expect After Adopting a Shelter or Rescue Dog

Enter Misty!

Finalizing the decision to adopt Misty https://thepanachepaws.com/2019/07/01/adopt-dont-shop-6-essential-facts-about-adopting-a-shelter-or-rescue-dog/ AND,

after undertaking the adoption process https://thepanachepaws.com/2019/07/11/adopting-a-dog-from-a-rescue-or-shelter-the-4-step-adoption-process/

it was finally time for Misty to be home.

Her foster mom and I decided to meet up halfway, so I made the one and a half hour drive to Daytona Beach. Arriving at our meeting point, I signed the final contract. Not yet knowing how Misty would respond to a car ride, I decided the best way to travel with her to my home was with a crate. The rescue explained to me also that Misty was very accustomed to being in a crate. We waved goodbye to her foster mom and we were on our way.

Pausing at the stoplight before our turn onto the highway, Misty’s breathing begins to deepen and I begin to worry. For the duration of the ride, it became clear Misty DID NOT like crates.   Her breathing was heavy, she was pawing at the door of the crate, and anxious. After our LONG car ride home, we went for a short walk around the block to calm nerves, and had some water. It was time for Chatita, my current pug, to meet Misty, our new pug.

Misty and I entered my home to meet Chatita. They each took long, deep smells of each other, decided one wasn’t a threat to the other and vice versa, and Misty began to tour the house and become accustomed to her new home. Right away, in this moment, I established the “No Couch Rule” with Misty. Pugs have very small, vulnerable legs and I didn’t want to start off on the wrong foot.

I wouldn’t say the next couple of days were stress free or easy or that the two new pug sisters got along well. Chatita, being the dominant and ornery pug she is, tested her boundaries with the new pug Misty. There were a few arguments, mostly over food. Chatita would push Misty out of the way. If Misty was smelling something scrumptious is the grass, Chatita would poke her head right next to Misty’s and proceed to push her out of the way. After a few weeks of coaching and monitoring, the two settled in together and started becoming friends.

A year and a half later, they are best friends, snuggling and snoring together, and enjoying car rides and trips to the beach.

In hindsight, the process wold’ve been much easier if I had done my homework. I wish I had known this:

Tips For Introducing Your Newly Adopted Dog to Your Home and Family:

1. Gather 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.

Depending on if your new dog is house trained, you may also want to purchase some puppy pads, as well as a bed or crate to sleep in. It is also a great idea to put away valuables, shoes, and cleaning items up off of the floor. 

2. Establish House Rules

Before your new furry friend arrives, take some time to figure out a few rules and make sure your whole family is in line with these rules. Will the dog be allowed on the couch? Are certain rooms in your house off limits? Set up a walking and feeding schedule as well.

3. Plan the Arrival

Recommends the arrival when you can be home for a few days. When you take this time to properly introduce the dog to your home and family, establishing the rules and schedules, and giving the time and attention your new dog needs to become accustomed to his new surroundings and family, it will be better longterm.

4. Ensure all pets are healthy

The Humane Society also recommends that 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.

This will help ensure a virus will not spread to your current pets in case your new dog accidentally brings one into your home.

5. Take your new dog to the vet

Within a week or so of bringing your new dog home, make a vet appointment and have a checkup. This is the best time to validate shot records and make sure they are up to date. You can also check if your new dog has been spayed or neutered or needs to be.

6. The Cesar Milan Way

According to  

Cesar recommends introducing your new dog into your home with some helpful and insightful tips.

1. Remain calm

When you pick the dog up, everyone must remain calm. It can be tempting to greet the new family member with excitement, but this is not the time to do it. Accept the dog into your space, but do not give more than a minimum of attention or affection yet. You’re about to remove the dog from a place that’s become familiar and take her to somewhere entirely new. And remember: This step must remain in effect through the entire process.

2. Take a long walk

When you get home, keep your dog on the leash, because you’re now going to go on a long walk through her new neighborhood. This serves two purposes: It will help drain her excess energy and bring her to a calm state, and it will get her used to the new smells, sights, and sounds.

3. Introduce your home

After the walk, keep your dog on the leash for a proper introduction to the new pack den—your house, apartment, condo, etc. Bring the dog to the front door, but do not let her enter first. If you can, get her to sit or lie down as you open the door. Then, you enter first, not allowing her to follow until you invite her in.

4. Take the tour

Once inside, keep your dog on the leash and lead her from room to room. Do not let her sniff or wander around. Use the leash to keep her at your side. Spend a few minutes in each room before moving on to the next, and make sure each time you go first into the next room. Every door is an opportunity to establish your leadership, you go first, the dog waits your invitation to enter or exit. Be consistent! Do not let the dog follow you into the next room until you give permission. If you have a backyard, patio, or other outside area, treat it the same way.

5. No touch, no talk, no eye contact

During the tour, don’t speak and use only body language or simple sounds, like “Tsch!” or a finger snap, to communicate or correct. Your dog is overwhelmed right now, so the less stimulation, the better. This will help keep her focused on you.

6. The feeding area

Once you’ve completed the tour, bring the dog to the place where the food and water will be and offer a reward with some water and a few bits of food, but not a whole bowl yet; your dog is still on her leash, remember?

7. The dog’s bedroom

Likewise, if you have a special place you’d like the dog to stay when she needs to be out of the way of household activities, take her there. This is where you can finally let her off-leash. That place can be where her bed is, or a spot in the corner of the living room where you want her to lie, or her crate. By letting her off the leash here, you are telling her, “This is yours.” Don’t be surprised if she immediately decides to settle down and ignore the family for a while. This doesn’t mean she hates her new home. It means that she has found her place in it.

8. Exude calm-assertive energy

Once you’ve completed the above process, establish yourself as the Pack Leader by going through the rest of your day exuding calm-assertive energy. Everyone in the household should ignore the dog. You can acknowledge the dog if she joins you, of course, but don’t go overboard with affection yet. Just as you’re still getting used to her in the house, she’s getting used to being in her new house. You’ve gone a long way already toward teaching her that this is your territory and you make the rules. Now, she’s going to observe so she can figure out what the rules are, and who’s who in her new pack.

With these tips I hope your new dog’s transition into your family and home is smooth helping them live that best life.