Puppy Education

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Bringing a dog home from a shelter can bring up a lot of emotions for the newest member of your family. However, with some minor adjustments and major planning, your new pal will feel at home in no time. With some patience and a bit of TLC, your dog will feel like one of the pack in no time.

Once you’ve found out if you’re ready to bring a dog home. Read on to learn how you can make your newly adopted puppy feel at home.

Make a space for your new furry friend

Before you bring home your new dog be sure to dog-proof your home and make a space for them. Avoid setting up your dog’s sleeping space in a deserted area of your home, and try to make them feel as comfortable as possible. Add a dog bed or crate to an area of your home that is clean, light and cosy to make them feel at home. Dog crates appeal to a dog’s den-making nature and can aid the house training process.

Don’t host a big welcome committee

You might want the whole world to see your new best pal, but try to remember the dog you just adopted has been through a lot of stress. Before you start to socialise your new pet, let them get used to their new home. Bring your new dog straight home from the shelter and let them meet their new family members outside of the house. This will help to keep your dog stable throughout the upheaval of moving home. Remind your family to keep calm and not make a huge fuss of their new friend while they are figuring their new place out.

Give them a tour of their new digs

Now they have met their new family, take your new pet on a tour of your home. Keep them on the leash for now as you take them through each area of the house. Let them sniff around and get used to their new surroundings. Keep calm and relaxed so that they feel safe. Once they have entered the home and met the family, take them to their new quarters and let them off the leash. This will tell them that this area is theirs to enjoy and give them a chance to get used to their new surroundings.

Stay in the neighbourhood

Now that your dog has had a tour of their new abode, it’s time to get them used to walks and play. Play short games with them in your garden, come up with a walking routine that suits your schedule and be consistent. Start off with short walks, staying close to your home before moving on to big excursions. It is important that you understand how your dog reacts to loud noises, traffic, people and other animals before you can take them on long walks.

Get the timing right

Your new puppy may fall prey to separation anxiety after a long stay in the shelter. Take some time off to ease your new friend into life at your home, but be careful not spend too much time together and then suddenly be gone. This will bring back bad memories for them, and can come out in a number of symptoms including loss of appetite, suppressed bowel movements and hiding away from the family. Take a day or two off work to help them settle into normality, but keep a watch from a distance and give them plenty of me-time to explore their new home.