I Adopted My New Furever Friend ... What's Next?
Essential Supplies
Leash and Collar: Your dog should wear a collar with an id tag (with an emergency contact number) at all times, for safety. A flat collar that buckles or clips is a good option for that kind of everyday wear. For walks, there are many different tools designed for all kinds of walkers; a martingale collar, or a slip lead, are designed with a similar cinching mechanism that is corrective when your pup is pulling, and is also designed to keep a pup safe and with you, should they attempt to back out of their collar when spooked. A trainer, or your adoptions counselor, can help guide you when picking the proper walking tools for your new pup
Food: Changing a dog’s food abruptly can cause diarrhea, sometimes for several weeks. To avoid this, continue feeding the same food provided by the foster home, or mix the old with the new to gradually adjust your dog to a new diet. Instructions on switching to a new food as well as guidelines on how much to feed your dog and how often should be on the bag itself, however most dog food brands also have this information on their website.
Food & Water Dishes: Pick a spot and leave them in the same place so your dog knows exactly where to go for water. Make sure the water bowl is clean and has fresh water at all times. If you are crate training your dog, feeding them in the crate is a great way to help build a positive association with their new safe space!
Crate: Crates make the adjustment period less stressful for you and your new best friend. Crates are useful for establishing a housebreaking schedule, preventing separation anxiety and teaching your pup to settle! The crate should be big enough for your dog to stand up, turn completely around and lie down comfortably in. However, if the crate is too big your dog may have accidents in it, so pay attention to crate dimensions and the dog weight/height it is recommended for.
Toys: Safe toys help dogs ease stress and, of course, have fun! Having toys available will ease the adjustment period. Always supervise your dog when playing with toys. You can leave him alone with heavy duty toys like Kongs, but check for damage periodically to avoid choking hazards. If you already have a dog at home and are bringing home a second dog, pick up toys and other high value items that could cause a scuffle! You can reintroduce them as your pups adjust.ke direction from you.
Puppy Proofing
Even if your dog is older, curiosity can get the better of him. Make sure your home is a safe place for him by putting yourself in his paws. Crawl around on the floor and check out any potential dangers. Electrical cords, poisonous houseplants, and any item small enough to swallow are just a few of the things that should be out of his reach. Veterinarians perform more surgeries to remove strange objects that a dog has swallowed than for anything else.
Even after puppy proofing, it’s a good idea to not leave him unsupervised in the house until he has learned what is off limits. That way he won’t have the chance to develop any bad habits while you’re not looking! You’ll also avoid having to buy all new shoes because he chewed up one from each pair. Dogs have no concept of how much something costs, and they don’t chew things to spite you; they do it because it is fun. Dogs also chew to relieve stress, so a dog who normally doesn’t chew things may do so when under stress. Make available appropriate chew toys and keep items you don’t want chewed out of reach, and don’t hesitate to use the crate, especially at the beginning of your time together! It helps keep your pup (and your belongings) safe, but it also helps them to feel safe, as well.
Meeting the Children
The kids are probably beside themselves with excitement about the new doggie. They probably can’t wait to play with him and show him just how much they love him. Prepare your children ahead of time so that they understand that dogs need boundaries, compassion, and respect, just like we do when meeting new friends!
Let your children meet the new dog BEFORE he comes home.
When your dog meets your children, keep him on leash and have your children sit down to say hello. Sitting will help them be calmer which will help your dog be more relaxed. Take it slow and invite your dog to smell your children.
Children should remember not to stick their face in a new dog’s face; it’s fun to get doggie smooches, but let it be the dog’s idea at the beginning. They need to get to know new people before they trust them, just like us. It is our responsibility to show them compassion and respect until they feel comfortable enough to come to us!
Always supervise children with dogs, no matter how small the dog. This is for the safety of your dog and your child.
Teach your children not to pinch, pull, or squeeze the dog.
If your dog is nervous, ask the children to give him a break until he gets comfortable with them.
Don’t let your children take the dog’s toys, and don’t let your dog take the children’s toys. Toys and food are high value items to a dog and they may attempt to keep a human from taking them away. An adult should always take the time to redirect the dog to something more interesting and trade.
Don’t let children walk the dog without adult supervision.
Set up a “safe” place for your new pet that is off limits to children. A crate is great for this. Instruct the children not to try and play with him when he is in his safe place.
Meeting the Other Pet(s)
Hopefully, the pets you already have are just as excited about the new addition as you are. It’s a big adjustment for your furry friends so expect a little bit of an adjustment period while they figure each other out!
Let your pet(s) meet the new dog BEFORE he comes home, if possible. We recommend taking the dogs on a walk together so they begin to feel like a pack. Walking them in the same direction takes the pressure off a head to head meet and greet and will help with a smooth integration.
When the new dog does come home, re-introduce all pets with the new dog in a crate for safety. Wait until all pets are calm and relaxed, even if that takes several hours, before introducing each pet on leash. Watch for signs that either pet is stressed, and separate if necessary. Do not try to push them to be friends too fast. Slower is better!
Crate the new dog periodically to give your resident pet a break, especially if he seems stressed or annoyed with the new dog. Your new dog may spend a lot of time crated in the beginning, and this is more than okay! They need time to observe the rules and routines of the home. A slow introduction is better in the long run for everyone.
Spend time individually with the new dog and the resident pet.
Supervise playing with toys to prevent spats. Providing one more toy than there are dogs is a good practice. This way, if one dog gets tired of a toy, there is an option other than stealing from the other dog. Wait a couple of weeks before giving them something of high value such as a stuffed bone or rawhide.
Enforce rules and instill a consistent and reliable daily routine right away with the new dog. Dogs thrive on rules and consistency, and the more consistent you are, the faster they will catch onto the patterns of their day. This will help with many things, including potty training.
Even if the resident pet is not a dog, many of the same tips apply. Supervise all interactions. Observe all pets for signs of stress and separate them to give them a break. Cats should always have a quick escape route and utilize the crate to assess your dog’s interest in your cat.
Adjustment Period
Moving to a new home can be stressful for dogs. It’s an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people. Some dogs experience stomach upset and diarrhea, or exhibit a loss of appetite for a few days. House-trained dogs may regress and have accidents. Some will shy away from you for a while until you earn their trust. Be patient with your new dog. It may take a while for him to trust you as it may take a while for you to trust them. How long it takes is different for every dog. It could take anywhere from three days to three months for your new dog to settle in. Just be patient with him and show him in all of your actions that he is safe with you. If you are having any problems or have any questions during the adjustment period about a dog you adopted from Wags & Walks, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will do everything we can to help ease the adjustment period for both of you.
If you’re adopting a puppy rather than an adult dog, expect an adjustment period for yourself, too! Adopting a puppy is like having a baby. There will be lots of potty breaks because their bladder isn’t yet fully developed. Expect to get up a couple of times during the night for potty breaks. If you work, plan to come home everyday at lunch to let your puppy outside to potty. If you can’t come home, consider hiring a pet sitter. Or, use an X-pen instead of a crate and set up a potty area on one side. Just know that a puppy HAS TO potty several times a day and plan accordingly. We recommend writing down every time the dog goes potty (both outside and accidents) so you can begin to see their patterns and how frequently they need to go out. Puppies will also chew on everything available, so don’t make anything available that he shouldn’t chew on.
Establishing the Rules
It can be tempting when you bring home a new dog to be a little lax on the rules. Resist the temptation now so you can avoid problems later on. It’s much easier to prevent a bad habit from starting than it is to break one. Not only that, but dogs, like children, like rules and structure. It makes them feel more secure to know exactly what is expected of them and exactly what happens if they don’t follow the rules. It also keeps order in the household. If you have other pets who already know the rules, they can get quite stressed out by an unruly newcomer. Whatever you do, do NOT feel sorry for your poor little rescue dog. Nobody wants pity, dogs included. For your dog’s best interest, put whatever sad past he may have had behind him and live in the current moment. He’s with you now, happy and cared for; he has no need for pity.
Do not leave your new dog unsupervised in the house unless he is crated until he has learned the rules. This way, you can prevent bad habits from forming. If you don’t see him, you can’t stop him!
No unsupervised time unless crated also helps with house-training. If he doesn’t have a chance to make a mistake, the bad habit won’t form. A good routine is triangular; the three points are: dog is in the crate for a period of time, dog goes directly from the crate outside to have an opportunity to potty, then the dog has some free time to roam in the house. Then, back to the crate they go, and the process starts again!
Do not let your new dog on the furniture or bed unless they are specifically invited! This will help develop a relationship where the dog looks to you for guidance, and will help immensely when you need them to listen to you! Even if you don’t keep it up for the rest of their lives, it’s always easier to let dogs earn new freedoms than it is to allow certain freedoms only to take them away later.
Expect your dog to break the rules frequently in the beginning. He is not being stubborn or difficult. Dogs have a hard time generalizing, which means that something he learns in the living room will have to be learned all over again in the kitchen and again in the bedroom. It’s easy to get frustrated when you feel like he should understand already, but he still doesn’t. It helps to have a sense of humor. It can take 30-50 or more perfect repetitions before a dog truly “gets” a command.
Licensing and Identification
If your city requires dogs to be licensed, get this taken care of right away. Licenses can usually be purchased at the Vet’s office. Even if your city does not require a license, it’s a good idea to provide contact information on your dog’s collar. If your pet is lost or stolen, microchipping is a good way to ensure his safe return. Collars can come off, but microchips are there to stay. Dogs adopted from Wags & Walks are microchipped prior to adoption – we will send you an email shortly after the adoption is complete to confirm your preferred contact information before transferring the microchip to your name.
Training and Behavior
Just like children, dogs need to be taught good behavior. Whether you’re bringing home a puppy or an adult, you can expect that he will do some things that you don’t approve of and maybe have some bad habits. Your dog will need to be taught how you want him to behave. The easiest and most fun way to teach your dog is to take him to “school” (training classes). You both get to meet other people and dogs. You get the benefit of expert knowledge and immediate feedback. Your dog gets socialization. It expedites the bonding process immensely! Both of you may even make a new friend there.
You can also work on teaching your dog yourself. There are lots of resources available, but it can be difficult to determine which information is bad and which is good. If your dog has habits you’d like to break, don’t give up on him. Teach him instead! Consistency and persistency are key. Be consistent with your verbal cues and hand motions – “sit” and “sit down” sound very different to a dog. One word commands combined with a hand signal are best! Be persistent with your training and set aside time to practice every day until (and even after) your dog reliably responds to your commands.
Training also makes dogs happy. Studies on the brain show that animals like to have their brains challenged. The mental exercise can be just as rewarding (and exhausting) to your dog as physical exercise. As long as you use balanced methods to teach your dog, he will LOVE learning. Training also helps your dog understand that they are supposed to take direction from you!
