Dog Adoption Guide

In most cases, you will not know much about your rescue dog’s history. Over the next few weeks and months, you will discover many things about your new rescue dog – what their likes and dislikes are, what they thrive on, and what they fear. You will learn how well socialized your dog is, and what their level of training is. Be patient with your rescue dog and yourself on this journey.

Be aware that a rescue dog’s behavior in a shelter environment can often be quite different from a home environment as the shelter setting can be quite stressful for most dogs. Spending longer time in a shelter (two months or more) can significantly influence a dog’s behavior.

The following guide will help you through the first few weeks and months of your new family member’s arrival. If you have other pets, please look at the link at the bottom of the page that has tips on how to introduce your new dog to your resident pets. 

Take some time to prepare. To make the transition from shelter to home as easy as possible, it is important to provide your new dog with as much structure as possible and be clear about certain things before your rescue dog arrives.

• Get clarity where the dog will and will not be allowed. Are bedrooms are a no-go zone? Then close the doors. Is the dog not allowed in a certain area of the house? Use baby gates to fence off the area.

• Will your dog sleep in a designated area (crate, laundry room, etc)? Make sure to set it up and start the routine on day one.

• How will you contain your dog outdoors? If you have an outdoor fence, make sure it is secure. Some dogs are natural born Houdinis, and others are strong enough to break through unstable fencing. If you do not have a fence, do you have a cable or long line set up?

• Clearly define the family/household responsibilities: who will walk the dog, who is responsible for feeding, and who will be the one training the dog?

• Get all of the necessary items, including ID tag, collar, 6-foot leash (NOT RETRACTABLE), food, water and food bowls, a crate and bedding, treats, and some toys. If you find your rescue dog is struggling a bit with settling into his new environment, an Adapted collar or spray can help calm them down. Ask your vet for advice on how to use it.

• We also recommend you get a treat pouch and carry treats on you any time your new dog is around, so you can reward them on the spot. A dog needs to be rewarded in under 3 seconds to be able to know what they are being rewarded for. Clicker training can also be helpful to capture the behavior quicker than praise or rewarding with a treat. If you click, then treat every time your dog is performing a good behavior, the dog will realize that a click means they are doing something good and they will be rewarded.

• Doggy proof your house: put loose cables away, store household cleaners and medications out of reach; remove plants, rugs, etc. Move anything you do not want your dog to get ahold of out of their reach. (There is a list of items that are toxic for dogs on the Toxins page under the dog tab.)

Bringing them home

Ideally, plan to bring your dog home when you will be able to spend a few days at home with them, such as a long weekend or taking a week off of work. This will help your dog settle in and adjust to being in your home. It also gives you the chance to supervise your dog as he learns the house rules.

Think about how to transport your dog home – consider bringing someone else along to drive the car while you comfort your dog. Putting your dog in a harness or crate in the car helps keep them safe and restrains them so they can settle. If you are on your own, bring a nice chew treat like a bully stick or a pig ear to help your do enjoy the drive.

When you get the dog in your car, let them sniff first and get familiar with this new area before you take off.

Before taking the dog into your house, take him for a 30-40 minute walk. This allows them to burn energy and it also gives you time to bond with them. Have some treats on you to reward them when they have done something well. This will quickly make you their best friend.

Ideally, you want to make sure your dog goes potty before you get back home. It should help to avoid immediate accidents when you get home.

Ask the shelter/foster about the rescue dog’s feeding schedule and replicate that for the first few days to avoid gastric stress. If you would like to change the brand of food, do it slowly over the course of a week. Dogs have more sensitive stomachs than humans do and depending on your dog’s nature, moving to a new home can be stressful for them.

Entering your house

When you bring your new dog into your house for the first time, keep them on the leash while you show them around, both inside and outside. Let them sniff and take things slowly, at their own pace. Keeping them leashed will provide guidance and help you intervene before they get into anything or accidents happen.

Show your dog where their food and water bowls are.

After a stroll inside their new home, take your dog outside for a potty break. After all these new impressions, your dog may need to do a bit of business. Reward your dog if and when they urinate or defecate outside.

If you have other pets at home, make sure the introduction is done safely and respectfully for all animals.

Moving is stressful for humans and dogs: Wait until your dog has settled in before inviting strangers over, maybe wait one or two days. Also take it easy with introducing children to your dog; you do not want the animal to be overwhelmed. The greeting should be calm and without a lot of excitement (we know that can be a challenge).

If you cannot supervise your dog, limit their access to one room or area. This will help manage your new family member and avoid accidents of all kinds.

Leaving your dog by itself for short periods will also help to avoid separation anxiety. Leave your dog alone when you go to get the mail or take out the garbage, and then increase it to leaving them alone when you have to go out for short interval. Gradually increase the alone time. If your dog whines or barks, wait for them to be quiet before you return inside.

House training accidents can happen. Even if your dog may have been house trained before, being in the shelter may have taught the dog something else. Be prepared and expect accidents.

Do not leave your new rescue dog alone with your existing pets. You will need to monitor and control their interactions for a while before leaving them alone.

You may not know what your dog’s previous experience were. Be patient and forgiving if things do not go the way you would have expected.

Establish a routine and start your schedule of feeding, play time, training, potty breaks, etc from the first day. Dogs like it when they are given structure. Its best to start reward-based training with your rescue dog right from the start – training is a fun way to bond and establish a line of communication.

People often find that the first few weeks are like a honeymoon period where you get to know each other. Your rescue dog’s true personality may not show itself until later. Make sure you provide as much structure as possible during this time, follow the schedule you established so that your dog knows what you expect from them and what they can expect from you.

Once your rescue dog has all necessary vaccinations, you may start taking them to group training classes!

If you come across any behavioral issues, you are not familiar with, seek help from a dog trainer or behaviorist.

Start having your friends and family over to pay low-key visits. These should be short and calm, without a lot of excitement. This way your dog will get used to meeting strangers in your home and get to know new people.