Pet finder
Adopting a shelter dog may mean bringing home a stray dog or a dog someone has surrendered to you.
The streetwise stray, whether he was born in the bushes next to the laundromat or a youngster abandoned on the streets by his owner once-upon a time, can be difficult to integrate into your daily life. The “he followed me home, Mom” canine is a special and unique animal that requires patience, time, and understanding.
Your first few days with your pet are crucial. You will have to explain to your new dog where you are and what you expect. It is crucial to establish a clear structure for your dog with your family in order to make the transition as easy as possible.
A puppy needs more than a place to sleep and food. They require constant attention and care. Although it may seem like a lot of work at first, the puppy will be able to adjust quickly and become a good friend. Good habits are key to a happy life for your dog and you. You have the responsibility of helping your puppy become a happy, healthy dog. These are some helpful tips to help dog owners who are new to puppy care:
Before you bring your shelter dog home:
It is important to determine where your dog will spend most of his time. He may forget what housebreaking skills he has learned, as he will be experiencing a lot more stress from the transition to his new environment (from a shelter/fostering home to your home). A kitchen is often the best option for cleaning up after pets.
Crate training is a great option for your dog. Make sure you have it ready and set up before you bring your pet home. Learn more about crate training your pet dog.
You should dog-proof the area your pet will be spending most of his time in the first few months. Tape loose electrical cords to the baseboards, store household chemicals on high shelves, remove plants, rugs and breakables, set up the crate and install baby gates.
Your dog’s training begins the moment you get him. Make sure you have a list of words that everyone can use to give your dog instructions. This will prevent confusion and make it easier for your dog to learn his commands. Are you unsure which commands to use or how to communicate with your dog? Learn how to talk to your dog
To ensure your dog’s safety, you should bring an ID tag with your number printed on it. If your dog is microchipped, register your contact information with the chip company if you have not done so already.
Day One:
Moving is stressful. Your new dog will feel the same. Before you introduce him to strangers, give him the opportunity to adjust to your home and family. Children should be able to understand how to approach the dog. For more information on how to introduce dogs and children, visit this page.
Remember to ask your dog what he ate when you pick him up. To avoid gastric distress, you should repeat this schedule at least for the first few days. Switching to a new brand requires that you do this over a time period of approximately a week. Start by adding one-third of the new food to three-quarters of the old food for several days. Then switch to half of the new food, half of what was previously used, then to one-third of what is old and one-third of what is new. Check out our section on Dog Nutrition for more information.
Your dog should be secured on the return trip, preferably in an enclosed crate. Dogs can find car trips stressful so it is important to keep your dog safe.
Take your dog to the toilet immediately after you return home. Spend some time with him for a while so that he gets used to it and can relieve himself. Be prepared for any accidents, even if your dog relieves himself at this point. Even the most well-trained dog can be thrown off-track by new sounds and smells, even if he is used to them. Want more housetraining tips for dogs? You can also visit our Dog Housetraining section.
Start your routine of feeding, toileting and exercise. Your dog will require family time as well as brief periods of solitude from day one. If your dog whines when you leave him alone, don’t be afraid to comfort him. Give him attention when he is good, like chewing on a toy, or relaxing quietly. Source: Preparing Your House for a New Dog.
For the first few days, be calm around your dog and avoid any excitement, such as at the dog park or with the neighbors. This will help your dog settle in more easily and will give you more time to get to know him.
You may have used other objects, such as leashes, hands and magazines, feet and chairs, or rolled up newspapers and magazines to train your dog. You might get a different reaction to words like “come here” or “lie down”. Perhaps he was raised in a home and never had to interact with children. You may have to be patient with your dog because of the endless stream of unrealized expectations and scrambled communications.
Keep him away from balconies, decks, and elevated porches. All cleaning supplies, bleach, detergents, and other medicines should be kept out of reach of your puppy, preferably on high shelves.
You can remove poisonous houseplants such as holly, mistletoe and holly or hang them high up so your dog cannot reach them.
To keep your dog safe, close the lids on the toilets, remove any electrical cords from the floor and unplug them. Keep plastic bags and ribbons away from your puppy’s reach.
The following Weeks:
Many people say that they only begin to see the true personality of their dog after a few weeks. As your dog gets to know you, he may seem a little uneasy initially. You should be patient, understanding, and consistent with the feeding, walking, and other activities you have in place for your dog. This schedule will let your dog know what you expect of him and what you can expect of him.
You may want to discuss it with your veterinarian so that your dog is up-to-date on all vaccinations. To ensure your dog is having fun, pay attention to his body language. This video explains how to spot signs of aggression at the dog park.
You can have a happy and long-lasting relationship with your dog if you stick to the schedule that you set. This will ensure your dog gets the attention, food, and potty time he needs. In no time, you’ll become bonded! To learn more about creating a feeding schedule, visit How Often Should Your Dog Be Feed?
Ask your veterinarian for recommendations if you have any behavior problems. To help your dog overcome behavior problems, choose a trainer who uses positive reinforcement methods. For more information about reward-based training, visit Dog Training
Regular checkups are recommended for your puppy. Discuss with your veterinarian any signs of illness you should be aware of in the puppy’s first months.
Make sure your puppy gets proper nutrition. To help your puppy grow, he needs a balanced diet. The first year of your puppy’s life is crucial for proper growth of his bones and teeth. A growing dog will require more calories than an adult dog. Look at the labels and choose a food that is specifically designed to provide the right amount of protein and fat for your puppy. For the recommended feeding times and serving sizes, refer to the food packaging. Do not give your dog bones, leftovers or large snacks between meals.
Responsibilities of the Newly Adopted Dog’s Parents:
- Never leave your child alone with your dog. You should not even turn your head to answer the phone. The relationship between children and dogs that we see on television is fictional and does not reflect the real dog-child relationship.
- The family should not encourage rough play, wrestling or for the dog to chew on other people’s clothes or body parts. This is especially true if an adult plays with the dog. If the child stimulates the dog in the same way, it could cause injury to the child.
- You should ensure that your dog is fed in a secure area away from children. This is both to allow for privacy and to discourage guarding behavior. Dogs should be given small portions so that they don’t have to guard the bowl. Dogs shouldn’t be allowed to guard empty bowls.
- Children are most likely to be bitten by their neighbor’s or friend’s dog. Two things are important: When your child is visiting a friend or family member, watch out for your dog. Dogs can tolerate many things from their family, but will not tolerate visiting children. Children visiting your home may be less friendly than your children or behave differently. This could cause your dog to become upset or provoked. If your child is visiting friends with dogs, it is important that you (as responsible parents) meet their dog before you let them visit your child’s house. It’s a good idea for your child to inspect the dog’s size and general appearance. Also, ask the dog’s owner where the dog gets his food and if they have any bones or chewable toys. Your child can then either request the dog be put away or make sure that the dog doesn’t possessiveness issues.
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