Home prep for your new fluffball
Getting a new dog is exciting but can be stressful for both of you until you establish a routine. It might take days, months, or longer for you and your dog to adjust, especially if they've lived in different homes or shelters before. Be patient, and use these tips to help your dog adapt and create a trusting relationship with you.
Preparing your home
Gather supplies
Prepare the items your dog will need in advance. You’ll need a flat-buckle or martingale collar and identification tag, a harness and a 6-foot nylon leash, food and water bowls, a bed—and toys! We recommend toys that are unlikely to be swallowed, such as Nylabones (not to be confused with rawhide, which we don’t recommend), until you have a sense of whether your dog will shred or ingest toys.
You might also consider an appropriately sized crate or enclosed pet playpen that’s large enough for your dog to stand up and turn around in for use as a safe, quiet “den.”
If you know what kind of food your dog has been eating, buy a small bag to keep their diet consistent. You can always change food down the road, but you’ll want to gradually mix the current food with the new food to avoid upsetting their stomach.
Establish a routine
Determine your dog care regimen in advance with the human members of your household. Who will walk your dog and when? How often will you feed your dog? Will your dog be allowed on the furniture or will they initially need to adjust to a crate? Where will they rest at night? Are there any rooms in the house that are off-limits?
Plan the arrival
Arrange for your dog to arrive during a weekend or when you can be home for a few days. Get to know each other and spend some quality time together. For the first few weeks, you’ll want to make sure you establish a routine with your dog so they know what to expect and grow to trust you, but don’t rush your new dog into unfamiliar situations. It can be tempting to take them to a busy park or dog park or to bring them to the pet supply store to pick out toys, but most dogs will be overwhelmed simply by the transition to your home. So keep things as quiet and consistent as possible for the first week or more. Feed and walk your dog, and come and go from work around the same times each day.
When you do leave home, consider leaving your dog with an enrichment item, such as a stuffed treat toy or puzzle food bowl. This provides mental and physical distraction and can prevent issues such as separation anxiety.
Prepare for house-training
Assume your new dog is not house-trained and work from there. Be consistent and maintain a routine. Bear in mind that many house-trained dogs might initially eliminate in your home while they get used to a new environment and routine; you can prevent this by taking them out every few hours.
Ensure all pets are healthy
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 dog. New family members can be stressful for pets, so you want all pets in your home to be mentally and physically healthy before adding any additional stress.
Take your new dog to the veterinarian within a week for a general health check, vaccinations and a preventative flea/tick medicine. It’s likely that your shelter, rescue or reputable breeder already vaccinated, microchipped and spayed or neutered your dog, but if not, you’ll need to request a microchip and make a spay/neuter appointment as well.
You'll need to make appointments for booster vaccinations throughout your dog's life. Most veterinarians will email you helpful reminders.
