5 Tips for Welcoming a New Dog Into Your Home
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After you’ve decided that bringing a dog into your life is the right choice for you, the next step is finding the perfect pup. Many people adopt their first dog from a local shelter or rescue organization. These organizations are filled with wonderful dogs who have been through a lot in their lives—but have come out on the other side happy and healthy. If you are adopting your new best friend from a shelter, these tips will help you start off on the right foot with your new fur buddy. Even if you aren’t adopting from a shelter, these tips can be useful when introducing a new dog to your home and family. Bringing home a new dog can be scary for everyone involved — especially the new dog! There may be some initial fear and uncertainty, as well as lots of noise, strange smells, and odd sights that may seem unfriendly or threatening. Follow these tips to help create an easy transition for everyone involved!
Make the homecoming ceremony.
Dogs love rituals, so start your dog’s welcome home ceremony right away! You can do this while you are at the shelter, or when you get your new dog home. Make a big deal out of bringing her into her new home. Bring her into the space she will be spending most of her time in first, then introduce her to the rest of the house. You can do this by letting her walk through the house on her own terms, smelling everything, and exploring at her own pace. This is a great way to help her feel more comfortable and safe in her new home. You can also have a friend or family member bring your new dog home from the shelter in their car, so that she can smell them and know that she is being brought home by a friend.
Give your new best friend plenty of solo time.
Any dog who has spent time in a shelter or boarding facility is going to have a few fears and anxieties that are going to need to be worked through. Your dog may be scared of noises and smells, be unsure how to interact with new people, and/or completely stressed out from all the new experiences. Help your new dog feel safe, secure, and unthreatened by giving her plenty of space to explore her new surroundings by herself. Doing so will let her take all the time she needs to sniff, mark, and get to know her new home—without the pressure of having to be social and friendly right away. Let her know that you’ll be there when she is ready to get to know you!
Establish basic rules and boundaries.
Although you may want to go slow and be patient with your new dog, you can’t just let her do whatever she wants. Instead, you need to establish some basic rules and boundaries from the get-go. This will help your new dog know what is appropriate behavior, and what is not appropriate. It will also help her feel secure and unthreatened, as she will know what to expect from you. Some basic rules include always walking your dog on a leash when outdoors, keeping her out of areas of the house where she does not belong, asking her to sit and stay when you need her to do something, and feeding her twice a day at the same time every day. You may want to bring your new dog to a training class to help you and your dog get off on the right foot!
Let the dog acclimate to her new space.
Just as your dog wants to get to know her new home, you need to help her get to know her new “space.” There are lots of parts of a dog’s life that humans often take for granted, and these areas may be completely new or strange to your new dog. For example, your dog’s sleeping area, eating area, “bathroom” areas, and even her walking paths around the house may all be extremely new and strange to her. Spend some time getting to know your new dog’s preferences, and let her get to know you and your habits as well. This will help your dog feel more comfortable and secure in her new space.
Confine your dog when you’re not with her.
Even though your new dog is getting to know her new space, you still need to make sure she stays in the areas of the house where she belongs when you are not with her. This is especially important in the beginning, as your new dog will be extra curious and unsure of herself. You don’t want her to get into any trouble while she is figuring out her new surroundings!
Don’t force interactions or contact.
It is easy to want to start petting, holding, and cuddling with your new dog right away. And while your dog may want that, too, she may also be feeling very overwhelmed and unsure of herself. So don’t force your dog into any interactions or contact that she is not ready for. Instead, let her come to you in her own time, and respect that she may need some time and space to get comfortable in her new home.
Conclusion
Bringing a new dog into your life is a big commitment—especially in the beginning, when everyone is feeling insecure and unsure. Follow these tips to help your new dog ease into your home, and know that you will get there! It may take a little extra patience, care, and compassion on your part, but it will be worth it in the end.
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