Adopting a New Dog is Exciting

Getting Started

Adopting a new dog is an exciting, wonderful, and happy time.  But bringing a new dog home is also an uncertain time.  What will our new dog be like?  Will it be a good match for our family?  Will it get along with our other pets?  Will it be everything we hoped for?  It can also be a time of major adjustment for your family as accommodation is made to account for the energy and needs of your new family member.  Families and dogs go through an adjustment period, so what can you do to help ensure that you both settle into a long happy life together? 

The 3-3-3 Rule

Dogs need time with you to learn what to expect and to develop a bond and trust with you.  In the first three days, it is likely that your new dog will be a little overwhelmed with their new surroundings and may not be comfortable enough to be themselves.  For example, don’t be alarmed if they don’t want to eat for the first couple of days because many dogs don’t eat when they are stressed.  They may shut down and want to curl up in his crate or under the table.  They may be scared and unsure what is going on.  They may also do just the opposite and test you to see what they can get away with, kind of like a teenager.  By establishing a routine and showing patience, you should see quick progress.  Taking time to get to know your dog and for them to get to know you early in the relationship is important so, for example, as tempting as it may be to take your newly adopted dog to the dog park in the first few days with you, it is probably not a good idea.  After three weeks, the new dog is starting to settle in, feeling more comfortable, and realizing this really may be their forever home.  They have mostly figured out their environment and are getting into the routine that you have set.  This is when you will start seeing their real personality emerge.  If behavior issues start showing, this is your time to be a strong pack leader and show them what is right and wrong.  After three months, your dog should be completely comfortable in their home.  You have built trust and a true bond with your dog, which gives them a complete sense of security with you. 

Expectations Count

Understanding the 3-3-3 Rule should allow you to have realistic expectations about the adjustment period for both you and your dog.  It is interesting to note that we have historically found that if a dog is going to be returned following an adoption, it is most often in the first three weeks and usually because of behavior issues that people aren’t prepared for and don’t know how to deal with.  Many rescue dogs settle in with few problems, and their adjustment period is brief and unremarkable.  Many dogs are on their best behavior during a honeymoon period of several days or weeks. They may experience stress, but they deal with it by being cautious and responsive.  Other dogs may deal with the uncertainty of being in a new home with other, more obvious stress responses that may include pacing and other overactive behaviors, attaching to one person in the family while being very shy of others, mouthing or jumping up on people, barking, chewing, and even hiding or trying to escape. So don’t panic if your new dog behaves in a less than desirable manner in those first days and weeks after joining your family.  Even if there are initial stress responses, over the course of a few weeks or months, most dogs settle in and become wonderful companions. What happens in the first few days or weeks is not necessarily indicative of what life with the dog will be like long term.  How you handle the stress response can certainly affect the long-term outcome. Equally important to remember is that while you may get a rescue dog that requires a significant adjustment period, it is usually much shorter than the time and effort it takes to raise a new little puppy!  And there is a whole lot you can do to make the transition easier.  By having awareness and modifying and redirecting any unwanted actions from the start, you can help your new dog become a good citizen. 

Plan and Prepare

Just like when you bring a new puppy home, when you bring home an older or rescue dog, being prepared is key.  Make sure you have basic supplies like food, bowls, collar and leash, bed, and toys.  In addition, you might want to consider setting up a confinement area, a place your dog will stay when you cannot provide supervision.  It is important to recognize that the dog will be new to your environment and giving him too much freedom too soon can set him up to make behavior mistakes (such as having an accident in the house or chewing the wrong thing).  Giving the dog a safe, confined place to be when they are not being supervised will help facilitate gradual and more successful transition.  Make the confinement area the place where your dog gets their meals and give them their favorite toys.  Ideally the confinement area will be in the same part of the home where you spend time together.  Crates, baby gates, and exercise pens all work well.   Get the whole family involved in deciding what the rules and routines will be for your dog and then help them learn those rules from the first day home.  Will they be allowed on the furniture?  Where will he sleep (ideally in the same room with you)?  Providing structure helps dogs learn the house rules and helps them feel safe.  Be aware that it is going to take time and patience and repetition for your dog to learn what is expected.  Start a house training routine right away.  Even if they were house trained in their previous home, they will need to learn what is expected of them in their new environment.  Just as you would with a puppy, set up a routine, confine your dog when you cannot supervise, take them out on a regular schedule, and praise or reward them for going in the right place.  Adult dogs will often housetrain faster and easier than puppies because their bladders are mature and they can hold it longer. 

De-Stress!

In general, try to keep stressful situations for your dog to a minimum for the first few days or even weeks (like not going to dog parks).  Keep in mind that just the act of moving from the foster home into another new home is stressful for most dogs.  It can take several days or longer for the dog’s stress hormones to return to normal levels once they feels safe and calm.  Take your time introducing your new dog to your friends, your friends’ dogs, and even the neighborhood dogs.  Remember that you will have this dog for the rest of their life so there is no rush.  Give them time and space to settle in and bond with you before they are thrust out into to the world. 

Timing is Everything

If at all possible, allow extra time in your schedule to help your dog adjust.  At minimum, bring your dog home before a weekend so you can spend extra time helping them as they settle in.  Ideally take a few extra days or a week or two off from work.  That doesn’t mean that you need to spend every minute with your dog.   In fact, it is best to get your dog used to short absences within a few hours of bringing him home.  Soon after you bring your dog home, take them for a short walk or bathroom break.  Then introduce them to their new confinement area.  Give him a great chew bone or a stuffed Kong and leave him in his crate or exercise pen for a few minutes.  Throughout the first few days, leave your dog alone in their confinement area for several minutes at a time.  Vary the time you leave them from 30 seconds to 20 minutes. Start by leaving them in the confinement area for a few minutes while you are home and gradually build up to leaving them for 10 to 20 minutes or so while you leave the house.  By keeping your absences short, matter of fact, and pleasant, your dog will learn that being alone in the new home is safe and that you will be back soon.  You can also make your departure a good thing for your dog by giving them a small treat each time you leave and each time you come back. 

Train For Confidence

Basic training commands of sit, down, stay, off, and come can begin the day you bring your dog home.  Use positive training methods.  Get started by referring to a book or online training video.  Beginning training right away helps dogs understand that you are taking care of them, and that they are safe.  It also helps build confidence.  For many dogs, training games are fun and will help them de-stress and settle in quicker. 

Some dogs, however, will be shut down at first and may have a hard time learning new behaviors or even doing something they already know.  Don’t worry if your dog is not as responsive at first as you might like.  If your dog seems reluctant, just make training games very easy, fun, and rewarding.  Try working with one simple behavior, like sit, and practice it until they seems ready to move on to other commands.   While training at home right away is beneficial, please wait a few weeks before taking your dog to a class.  Like the dog park, that is probably going to be too stressful at the start.  If you need help right away, consider having a trainer come to your home instead of going to a group class.  Waiting to start a class until your dog has settled a little, and until you have had time to bond can help you both get the most from the experience. 

With most dogs, bonding takes time.  

Socialization

Most dogs that are adopted through rescue groups, shelters, or private re-homing have had at least some socialization.  With some notable exceptions, like puppy mill breeding dogs, virtually all rescue dogs have lived in homes and have had exposure to people, daily activities, and common noises.  Even so, each dog’s experiences are different.  For example, one of our recent dogs originally lived on a ranch.  She had wonderful socialization around animals, people, and children, but because she had lived in a quiet country setting city noises like cars and even common household sounds like the phone ringing were initially very frightening and stressful to her.  It is nearly impossible for a new dog to be socialized to what is normal to you, so expose them gently and gradually to new things.  As you get to know your dog better, you will learn where and with whom they are comfortable, and where you will need to do more work to help them settle into their new life with you. 

Watch for Issues

According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy, the top several reasons dogs are given up to shelters are because of moving, landlord problems, cost, and lack of time, and not because of behavioral problems.  All dogs have behavioral quirks and individual personalities.  With a puppy, you learn about these things gradually as they grow and develop which gives you time to adjust, accept, and/or train to resolve any negative behaviors.  When getting an adult dog, you get to experience them right up front which can be a bit more overwhelming than the gradual process with puppies.  By being alert to any issues your new dog may have, you will also be able to address them as soon as they arise and hopefully before they become a habit.  Dogs can be very impressionable in a new environment, especially the first time they try a behavior.  Setting your dog up for success, rewarding the behaviors you want and redirecting those you don’t want from the first day home, can make a huge difference in the long run.  Learning about a new dogs behavior issues and quirks often triggers a common emotional response.  They may not be like your previous dogs at all.  It is human nature to compare your new dog to other dogs you have had, to the dog you had as a child, or to your neighbor’s dog. In some cases, a new dog will bring up feelings of grief and loss of a dog that has died.  It is normal to have these feelings.  If you find yourself comparing your new dog to another dog, try to keep some perspective, especially if the new dog isn’t measuring up.  With time, you can (and will) develop a deep and meaningful relationship with your new dog as well.  Each dog turns out to be wonderful in their own different way. 

Be patient

Give your newly re-homed dog more time than you think they need to adjust.  Wait until their stress hormones return to normal before taking them to places that may produce even more stress.  Always keep them on leash in open environments.  Use your confinement area to slowly and carefully give your dog more freedom as they can handle it.  Try to think from the dog’s perspective.  While we can never really know what goes on inside a dog’s head, it can be helpful to imagine what their experiences may have been and how it has shaped them.  Imagine what your emotional state might be like if you were suddenly plucked from your current life and forced to leave everything you know and love behind.  Then imagine being bounced around by strangers and put in shelters and foster homes where you were forced to live with new noises and food and routines and uncertainty, and then suddenly placed in a new family where you not only don’t know anyone, but you don’t know the rules or speak the language.  Be patient with your new dog.  Give them the best start possible in his new home.  And remember, with time and patience, everyone will settle in.