How to prepare for your new dog:

5 things you must do

 Adopting a dog is exciting, but it can often mean a big life change for you and them. To make things easier and give your new dog the best chance of settling in, it’s really important to prepare for their arrival.   

 As well as having a moral duty to look after your new dog properly, you have a legal responsibility. Under the Animal Welfare Act, you must give your dog: 

• A suitable place to live
• A healthy diet and access to clean water
• The ability to behave normally
• Appropriate company
• Protection from pain, injury, suffering and disease 

So, to help you get ready for the big day and understand your legal responsibilities as a dog owner, we’ve created this ‘to do’ list.

The First Few Days:

The first few days in your home are special and critical for a pet. Your new dog will be confused about where they are and what to expect from you. Setting up some clear structure with your family for your dog will be critical in making as smooth a transition as possible.

Before You Bring Your Dog Home:

Choose where your dog will be spending most of their time. Because they will be under a lot of stress with the change of environment from their previous home to yours, they may forget any housetraining previously learned. Therefore a kitchen or a room with an easy to clean floor will often work best.
Be sure to have a dog crate set up and ready to use for when you bring your new dog home if you're planning on crate training.

Make sure the rooms are dog-proofed in the area where they will spend most of their time during the first few months. This could mean securing loose electrical wires out of the way; moving harmful household products to higher shelves; removing plants, rugs, and ornaments; setting up the crate, and installing child/baby gates as necessary.

Training your dog should start the first moment you have them. Make sure the whole family use the same commands and be consistent to avoid confusion.

Bring an ID tag with your phone number on it with you when you collect your dog from the rehomer so that there is an extra measure of safety for the journey home and the first few  days. If they're microchipped, be sure to register your contact information with the microchip organisation. 

The First Day:

On the day of collection we recommend that you complete our 4 week's free pet insurance form (if your dog is under 8 years old). For older dogs you can get a 10% discount voucher on a policy with our insurance partners - contact your rehoming coordinator for details.

Moving can be extremely stressful for pets! Give them time to decompress and settle in to your home and family before introducing them to strangers.

Make sure children know how to approach the dog safely.

Replicate the existing feeding schedule for at least the first few days to avoid any tummy troubles. If you wish to change brands, do so over a period of about a week by adding one part new food to three parts of the old for several days; then gradually add more of the new and less of the old food.

On the way home, your dog should be safely secured, preferably in a crate. Some dogs find car trips stressful, so having them in a safe place will make the journey home easier for them and you.

Once home, take them to their toileting area immediately and spend a good amount of time with them so they can get used to the area and go to the toilet. Even if your dog does a wee or poo during this time, be prepared for accidents. Coming into a new home with unfamiliar people, new smells and new sounds can unsettle even the most housetrained dog, so be ready just in case.
From there, start your schedule of feeding, toileting, and play/exercise.

From Day One, your dog will need family time and brief periods of quiet time.
For the first few days, remain calm and quiet around your dog, limiting too much excitement (such as family outings, dog parks or excited children). Not only will this allow your dog to settle in easier, but it will also give you more personal time to get to know them, including what they like and dislike.


We like these top tips from The Dogs Trust...

1: Let them settle in at their own pace
While most puppies are relaxed and inquisitive, adult dogs may be worried when they arrive at your home. You may find they hide at first and don’t seem to want to interact with you. Don’t worry – this is perfectly normal. To help them relax you should let them go at their own pace.

Allow them to spend time on their own without disruptions and come to you when they are ready. They may come over and look at you, sit nearby or drop a toy at your feet.

Avoid any visitors to the home during this time and make sure it is calm and quiet, so they get familiar with their new surroundings in peace.

2: Avoid fussing them and don’t force interaction
You don’t want to fuss your dog too much, especially when they first arrive and particularly if they appear uncomfortable. Wait for them to approach you and keep your hands at your side.

If they lean in, stroke them on their chest or shoulders for three to four seconds. Then wait to see if they initiate further interactions. This is to make sure they are enjoying it and feeling relaxed.

If they don’t seem interested and haven’t approached you for fuss, then don’t force it. Give them some space and allow them time to relax and feel more confident around you.

3: Allow them to spend time in their den area undisturbed
That den you created before your dog arrived will be particularly important during these first few days. They will learn that it is a quiet, safe space where they can go to spend time on their own. They can relax here and simply observe while they get used to the new household. They won’t feel exposed, and this will help to build their confidence.

You could add enrichment, treats and toys to this area to encourage them to use it and help them to learn that it’s a positive place. But, they should never be disturbed when they are here.

4: Start using food enrichment
Food enrichment can be a positive way to encourage your pooch to explore their new environment. Your dog may be unsure around you at first. This is something you can do without constant interaction which will feel less intense and help to build their confidence.

5: Keep walks short
You’ll no doubt be keen to start giving your dog lots of new and exciting walks. However, over the first few days you want to keep walks short and in the same location. This will give the dog time to get used to their new area and get their bearings.

6: Carefully introduce them to other pets
It’s important to ensure that your pooch is introduced slowly and carefully to any other dogs or cats that live in your home.

7: Create a routine and stick to it
Start to create a routine and stick as closely to it as possible. This will help your dog get used to their new home and start to know what to expect and when. Remember, this may, at least in part, be based around what they are already used to which will help them to settle.

8: Be understanding and patient
You are unlikely to know what the dog is used to from previous homes. They may, for example, have been allowed to sleep on their owner’s bed or on the sofa. If this isn’t something you want, then use treats and toys to make the den area much more appealing to them. Despite being an adult, they may never have been house trained and so could need help with this.

Being patient and understanding is so important to help them settle in. This also means looking out for signs that they are feeling anxious or frightened, so you can respond appropriately.

At PetRehomer, we often use the 3:3:3 rule of thumb, which represents rehoming milestones in a dog's journey... it often takes 3 days for your new dog to decompress from moving, 3 weeks for them to learn your routine, and 3 months for them to truly feel at home. Please do be patient!