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Introducing a new dog to your home is such an exciting affair. You get to welcome a new member to the family “pack,” which is beautiful. Dogs are fun to have as pets. They’re full of energy and can be empathetic. However, getting a new dog can be stressful for you and your dog—especially the dog—until you have developed a routine.
It can take a few weeks for you and your new pet to get used to each other and for the dog to adapt to their new home. This becomes even more pronounced if the dog has stayed in several shelters or homes before yours. Continue reading to learn how to help your new dog settle in your home. You’ll get some personalized decoration suggestions, along with some advice on establishing a comforting routine. Creating a safe and welcoming environment is important for the adjustment of your new furry friend. By understanding their needs and providing consistent care and affection, you’ll create a strong bond and help them transition smoothly into their new life with you. (keep reading for trendy decor item)
Bringing Home A Rescue Dog
When bringing a new dog home, you must be ready to commit to making this new lifestyle work. This is especially important if you’re bringing a rescue dog home. They’ve spent time at the shelter where there are many pets like them, so they weren’t a part of any “pack” (dogs are pack animals). Now that you’ve adopted the dog, it has to start mentally adjusting to a new lifestyle of belonging to a pack (your family), which may also be challenging.
So, you will have to change your daily routine to accommodate the latest family member. You also need to decide how the dog will receive house training. Will you train the dog yourself or hire a dog trainer or animal behaviorist?
Here are a few tips to help with bringing home a rescue dog:
- On the way home with the dog, you must stay calm and prevent anything that can unsettle the dog.
- When you get home, give them a tour of the house.
- Walk through the neighborhood with the dog to familiarize them with the new environment.
- Give them some downtime to rest, recharge, and process the change that just happened in their life.
How To Introduce A Newly Adopted Dog To Existing Dogs
If you intend to introduce a new dog to your home but already have one or more dogs, you must be extra cautious. Dogs are territorial, and things may go south when casually introducing a new dog. You must follow these steps to ensure a smooth integration of your new dog:
1. Start The Introduction Before You Complete The Adoption
If you’re adopting a rescue dog from a shelter, start by bringing your dogs to the shelter and let them meet the new member before you finalize the adoption process. That way, the new dog won’t be a stranger to them.
2. Be Available At The Start
You should bring the rescue dog home on a weekend when you’ll be at home. That way, you can monitor closely how the dogs interact with each other. Don’t leave the dogs alone together until they’re familiar with each other.
3. Meet-And-Greet On Neutral Ground
After adopting your new rescue dog, don’t take him home immediately. Instead, ask a friend or family member to walk the existing dogs to a neutral spot like a dog park and bring the new dog there, too. No one can claim territory here, so no one feels threatened. Shower them with pats and treats in equal measure.
4. Build Those Bonds
You need to build bonds with all the dogs. That is how to ensure your dogs are comfortable in your home. Spend time training, snuggling, and playing with these dogs individually and together.
5. Watch The “Hot” Zones
Watch out for places and things that seem to raise tension between the dogs so you can avoid them in the future. This may mean having separate water bowls for the dogs until they’re comfortable enough with each other and can lap from the same bowl.
6. Give Some Wiggle Room
The existing dogs may not be comfortable with the new rescue dog in their territory, so you may have to separate them at first. Let them have separate beds and different toys until they’re familiar with each other and can share.
Things To Do After Adopting A New Dog
It’s usually challenging for rescue dogs to adjust to a new home after adoption because they must adapt to a new environment, people, and routines. But there are ways to make that adaptation easier for them. Here are some tips:
1. Create a Safe Environment
Your home should present an environment where your new dog can feel safe and feel at home. You can create a spot that they can have to themselves. This corner should have its crate or bed and a few toys. You can personalize this corner even further by creating a dog portrait like the ones from Pixels Photo Art and display it on the wall.
Visitors will admire the portrait and may ask questions, getting closer to the dog and making it feel more appreciated. While this may not give the dog a sense of territory, the portrait will be a conversation starter, fostering interactions that benefit both the dog and your guests. This interaction not only enriches the dog’s socialization but also enhances the bond between you, your visitors, and your furry companion, establishing a warm and inviting atmosphere in your home.
Also, having a dog portrait is a way to make them a part of the family since every other member most likely already has more than a few portraits hanging somewhere in the house. If that is the case, why shouldn’t the latest addition to the family have theirs?
2. Give Your Dog Time to Explore
Don’t always keep them on a leash because this will prevent them from getting familiar with their new surroundings. Their freedom to explore will make them comfortable with the new home much quicker.
3. Maintain a Consistent Routine
You need to create and maintain a consistent routine for your new dog. Create a regular schedule for when you feed your dog and take them for walks every day.
4. Be Patient and Loving
Dogs have varying adjustment periods, and yours may need time to adjust entirely to their new home. You must be patient with them during this period, showing them constant love and affection. Don’t be harsh on them for struggling to adapt. This is even more important if he’s a rescue dog or if he has stayed in a shelter for a while because it will take longer for them to adjust.
How Long Does It Take For A Dog To Adjust To A New Home
Dogs can require varying amounts of time before they adjust to their new home. The time varies depending on factors like their breed and previous experience. Generally, dogs need between 2 to 3 weeks to adapt to a new home. However, they may require up to 3 months before completely adjusting behaviorally.
Signs Dog Is Adjusting To New Home
Every new dog owner wants to know how well their new dog is adjusting to the new home, but since dogs can’t talk (or at least, we don’t understand “dog-speak”), we need to look for other cues to help us know how well they’re settling. Here are seven signs to help you with that:
1. Relaxed Body Language
You can tell from a dog’s body language if they’re adapting well to their new home. They’ll appear more relaxed, friendly, and even playful with family members. You can tell they’ll rest more comfortably and look happier because they’ll wag their tails faster, especially when they see you. A dog’s behavior is an essential marker of how well he is adjusting.
2. Healthy Appetite
A healthy appetite is another sign that your new dog is getting comfortable with their new home. If you find your dog’s food bowl empty whenever you come to serve their next meal, it shows they aren’t too stressed.
3. Reduced Anxiety
Sometimes, a new puppy can show signs like excessive pacing or panting, which all point to separation anxiety. However, these signs gradually reduce as they adjust to their new home.
4. Exploration and Curiosity
A well-settled dog or puppy is naturally curious and loves to explore its environment. You will see it sniffing all the objects, places, and people in the environment, checking unknown places, and investigating rooms.
5. Bonding with Family Members
As your dog settles into their new home, it will seek and bond with your family members. They will follow you or other members of your family around the house and seek to play or cuddle with them.
6. Responding to their Names
Dogs are social animals and often belong to a pack. So, a sign your dog is adjusting to their new home is when they begin to respond to their name when you call them. It shows they now see themselves as a member of the family “pack.”
7. Improvement in Sleep Patterns
Generally, the first couple of nights a dog spends in a new home are very stressful for the dog. They may struggle to sleep and may become restless. However, as they become more comfortable, they will find a favorite spot in the home where they’ll sleep more comfortably.
Conclusion
With these tips, you’re better equipped to introduce a new dog to your home. Remember, you must be patient and allow them to acclimate at their own pace. That’s how to ensure they will adjust adequately to their new home. What other tips can you add to help anyone who plans to bring a new dog home?