After You Adopt a Shelter Dog – Know What to Expect

This is the second of a two-part series about adopting a shelter dog. In Part 1, I took you through what to expect when you arrive at the shelter. In Part 2, I take you through what to expect when you bring your shelter dog home. Whether you’re an experienced dog owner who has decided to get another dog to replace a long-departed best friend, add a second dog to your home, or are a new dog owner who needs some coaching, here are some tips I hope you find helpful.

On the Way Home

If you’ve found what you believe to be the perfect dog for you (and your family), have signed the paperwork and made the commitment, you’re off for the drive home. Once you have the dog in the car, place a call to your vet (if you haven’t already) and make an appointment to have your new dog checked out. While you have the shelter’s evaluation, you need a wellness exam to ensure that you know exactly your dog’s state-of-health. Some dogs may be underweight, need a nail trim, have a mild skin infection, need vaccinations, etc. Do not underestimate the importance of this exam.

Second, while you may be tempted to stop at PetSmart, Petco, or other dog stores on the way home to let your new pup pick out a toy(s) — DON’T! Your new dog already senses from the car ride and you that it’s going to a new home, but, YOU don’t know for certain how your dog will react with other people, with other dogs in an environment outside the shelter. If you are able to read your dog’s body language, then maybe stop for a pup cream treat where it can still be safely with you in the car.

But if you want to play it safe, drive directly home, Let your dog slowly decompress, and then you can observe it over a period of days to see how it interacts with everything around it You want to start building a bond with the pup and gain its confidence and trust before you take it to another environment. And, again, you do not want to expose it to an environment and other dogs / people until you know its state of health.

When You Get Home

You should already have a plan in place as to how you’re going to introduce your pup to its new home, where it’s going to sleep, what rooms it will have access to, and the routine that you’ve established regarding feeding schedules, play, potty breaks, walks, etc.

If you already have another dog in the house, hopefully you already had a meet and greet at the shelter to see how the pups would interact. Whether you did/didn’t, remember that where your current dog is concerned, your home is ITS territory. I suggest that you set up a line of demarcation, where you have a gate or cordoned-off area in your home, so that the dogs can see each other, sniff, but not immediately interact.

Do not be surprised if there is barking and some chaos. That’s to be expected, because you’re dealing with animals. However, excessive barking, jumping, growling, or any other bad behavior from either dog should immediately be quashed by you. You are the pack leader and establish what behaviors will and will not be tolerated by your pups.

If your new dog is small enough, hold it in your arms. If not, then have it leashed alongside you. Your body language and voice will be send signals to your current pup that this new “kid on the block” is treasured by you and welcome. You will also reinforce to the new pup through your voice and actions that your home is safe. Be calm, cool, and yet have a voice of authority.

Depending upon the reactions of both dogs, hopefully, all will be well. With new dogs, as they explore the rooms in your home, they may be followed by your other dog(s). That’s fine. Everyone is curious. In my home, as I introduced a new pup to the pack, the pup was followed for the first 24 hours by the other dogs and then everyone lost interest.

Your New Pup and The Children

Most people take their children with them to the shelter to help pick out their perfect pal for life. But there’s a HUGE difference between the shelter and your home. The children will be excited and want to play with the dog right away, take it outside, and all other kinds of interaction. So, it’s extremely important that you explain to your children that the dog needs its space and time to get used to its new surroundings. Teaching your children from the onset to respect their new dog is absolutely critical to setting the dog up for success and for a happy home.

When your children are interacting with the pup for the first time in your home, avoid having your children pet the dog, by putting their hand over the dog’s head. Instead, have them make a loose fist, with fingers tucked, and gently hold their hand a few feet from the dog, and let the dog come and sniff. Fingers remain safe, and when the dog is more relaxed, then you everyone can slowly start petting the dog on the back, sides working your way to the head.

Getting Used to Your Home – How Long will It Take

For you to have a successful adoption and a dog for life, remember that at this time, the dog comes first. Dogs are sentient beings.  They feel emotions, they have memories.  Some dogs enter homes and immediately blend in as if they’ve lived there all their lives. But that’s not the norm. It may hide in a corner for a few days, may not want to eat right away.  Remember that these dogs still don’t know you and you have to earn their trust, so give them time.  Let them see your routine and how the house runs and what it sounds like.  It may take your dog several weeks before it truly feels comfortable and fits in.  And this is especially true, if the dog was adopted and returned not once but several times.

Under your supervision, let your dog explore the house, the rooms where you will allow it, the backyard or terrace/balcony. But do not give your new pup, complete run of the house at first, because it will be too overwhelming. If you have a crate for the dog, then introduce the dog to the crate but do not force it inside. Dogs have to learn that crates are a secure, safe place and want to go into it by themselves.

Training Your Dog

In Summary

As you and your pup are getting accustomed to each other, you’ll also see how much training your dog has actually had. Ninety-six percent of dogs in shelters who were surrendered by their owners received zero training. You should have a pretty good idea what rules in the house the dog is going to live by. Will you allow it on chairs, or the bed, or only on the floor.  Does it know sit, stay, down, come, leave it.  Make sure that you have a training plan in place, and if you don’t get one set up pretty darn quick.  There are plenty of how to videos out there, and more importantly, some really good trainers, who can assess and evaluate your dog and put you both on the right path. But what’s important is consistency. Consistency in everything, from potty breaks to feeding to exercise to play to sleeping, napping and practicing training.

In Summary

Dogs are four-legged children. They are only going to behave and be wonderful dogs if you invest the time in them, and yes, some will take longer than others, and yes, some will be a trial and test your patience. Just like children.

You were at the shelter, so you know what a noisy, stressful place it can be for so many pups. Again, give your the new pup a chance to get acclimated to you on its terms and timeline. Shelter dogs know when they’ve been given another chance at happiness. Don’t give up on it or expect too much, too soon, and you’ll be deeply rewarded.