Dos and Don'ts When Bringing Home a New Rescue Dog

This new transition can be challenging, but welcoming a new family member is absolutely worth it! Our certified behaviorist – who has years of experience working with rescued animals of all ages and behavioral needs – has compiled the following recommendations to help make this transition as easy as possible. She has included some real world examples with her two rescued dogs, Lily and Tish.

DO: 

1. Be chill! When your new dog is getting to know you, it will be helpful for them to learn you are a safe, calm, and predictable person. There is a lot of excitement involved in just being in a new place and you are already a celebrity to your dog; a very important and exciting person. It can be overwhelming. This is a great time to plan a quiet weekend in with lots of couch time. Timeline: the first few days.  
2. Expect to potty train. Here are the first two steps:
   1. Set your dog up for success. Do not let your dog run loose in the house unless you know they have recently gone to the bathroom and take them out frequently.
   2. Reward your dog every time they go in a correct place (this means going out with them to the yard every time so you can reward, and carrying treats with you on walks).
      Timeline: Two weeks. At this point, continue on with these first few steps for another week, and now you can calmly interrupt any potential accidents and bring them outside. If you are still having accidents after three weeks – contact us for help!
      *Lily picked up housetraining pretty well although we did have to interrupt a couple accidents. Tish continued to have accidents and we had to buckle down on the basics and use a crate.
3. Reward behaviors you like (and DO use food!). So often we’re focused on what we don’t want dogs to do (chewing, barking, digging, jumping up, etc.) that we forget to notice what we like. Do pay attention to your dog when they are “being good.” If you pay those behaviors with attention, praise, and treats you’ll get more of what you like. Timeline: As much as possible!
   *When I brought home my dogs Lily and Tish, I didn’t want them to beg under the table when I was eating. So instead, I rewarded them for laying nearby on their beds. I got up and went over to them. Now when I have a meal, they wait patiently in the other room.
4. Expect your plans to change. As you get to know your new dog and they settle in, you’ll learn more about what they are and aren’t comfortable with. This may mean shorter walks or smaller outings than you were thinking. Timeline: At the dog’s pace.
   *For me with Lily and Tish this meant, instead of:
   –watching an action movie on the TV (too loud and scary!) we watched the quiet Great British Baking Show.
   –taking our usual walk a few blocks (too exciting, plus squirrels!) we just went to the end of the street and back.
   –driving to a hiking spot (whining and panting in the car!) we went to a close by park for a short sniff walk.
5. Go at the dog’s pace. Slower is faster when working with fearful animals. And remember, though we’re used to streaming everything instantly, dogs are still on biological time (i.e a much slower pace than we’re used to). Timeline: Whenever you can.
   *These days Lily and Tish are relaxed watching Star Wars, take our usual walk and barely notice squirrels, but Tish is still worried on longer car rides and gets too excited in new places. We’re working on it at her pace. 
6. Watch your dog’s body language. Look for relaxed, loose body language and pay attention to any stiffness or discomfort. Try the treat test: has your dog stopped showing interest in a favorite treat? They may be nervous or upset. Timeline: Always a great approach.
   Watch this video from Fear Free Happy Homes on dog body language.
7. Respect the growl.  If your new dog snarls, snaps, or growls consider this good information about what they are comfortable with. Don’t scold or punish. Stop what you are doing and give your dog space. Timeline: Always, and especially when children are around. Do contact me for help. See our page on Introducing Dogs and Children. 
8. Do give your dog a safe place and do slow introductions with all family members (people, dogs, and cats). A great way is to have the new person sit and toss treats slowly away from them onto the ground (instead of hand-feeding which can be too scary). Timeline: Always a good idea. Contact me for tips on dog and cat introductions.
   *When I have friends over, I put Lily and Tish away in a quiet room. Before I introduce them to friends, I have my friends sit down and give them treats and instructions to let the dogs choose to approach and then slowly toss treats away.
9. When training, start at home with few distractions. Then slowly increase the difficulty. When working on some basics – sit, come, watch me – start in your house in a quiet room. Then, move it to the family room, then the backyard, then on a walk, then at a busy park. And practice, practice, practice. Timeline: Always a great way to work on things.
   *Lily and I practiced “Leave it!” in the kitchen, then in the backyard, then on walks with things I wasn’t too worried about her sniffing…so, that one day, when I really wanted her to drop that scary bone she’d snatched up – she did it! And then looked up at me like, “Of, course I did, we’ve practiced this!”
10. Say, “Yes!” Look for ways to say yes to your dog. And make all of their new experiences as positive as possible. Show your dog how to succeed in the human world: what they can chew on, where they can dig, and how they can best get your attention. Build a great positive relationship with your new friend! Timeline: Forever! 
11. Schedule a vet exam to establish care. Let your dog get settled in first before the visit, but get an appointment on the calendar (since most vets are booked out). You will need this to continue your dog’s monthly flea, tick, and heartworm treatment and any prescription foods and medicines. 

DON’T:

1. Let your dog off lead to explore the house. It’s OK to let your dog drag the lead. Timeline: the first day (and you may use the lead until the dog will come to you and is potty-trained).
2. Engage in high energy rough-housing. Let your dog get comfortable with you first and get to know your dog’s body language. Timeline: At the dog’s pace, at least the first few days. 
3. Plan to take your dog on an adventure. Just exploring a new home and getting to know a new family will likely be plenty of excitement for your new friend. Even a long walk might be more than your dog needs today. Timeline: At the dog’s pace, three days to three weeks. 
4. Send your dog outside on their own to explore the backyard and potty. Instead, accompany your dog outside so you can supervise and most importantly reward them when they potty in the right place! Timeline: three weeks.
5. Expect your new dog to “know” things. Sit, stay, come, leave it, wait…even their name –the dog may need a refresher on all of these with a new person and in a new place. Navigating the human world is more of a skill for dogs like learning to play a sport, learning to dance, or playing a video game –it takes practice and they can get rusty.  Timeline: Until you’ve practiced these things with them in multiple locations. 
6. Plan to introduce your dog to new people. Get to know your dog’s body language and favorite treats first so you can prepare to make great introductions. Timeline: Until you know your dog’s favorite treats and their relaxed body language.
7. Let your dog off lead to explore the backyard. Keep your dog on lead so that if your dog gets into something, tries to dig, or won’t come back in you can use the lead. It’s OK to let the dog drag the lead. And, it is not a good idea to let your dog be alone in the backyard unsupervised. Timeline: three days to three weeks (until you are sure the dog is safe in the yard and will come back in when you want them to).
8. Do the big stuff: Give your dog a bath, take your dog to the vet, groom your dog, or take your dog to the groomer. Let your dog settle in first. Get to know their body language and favorite treats so you can make all of these firsts great experiences. Timeline: first month (unless an emergency, of course!).
9. Accidentally reward behaviors you don’t like (or may not like in the future). Begging? Jumping up? Teeth on skin? Barking? Pay no attention to things you don’t like. Wait for a pause and reward. Or ask for a different behavior and reward. Timeline: Always smart! 
10. Punish your dog, scold your dog, or say, “No!” or “Off!” and expect them to understand. Instead, teach your dog what you want them to do. Timeline: Forever!

If you need additional assistance, reach out – we are happy to help!
Email us at Adoptions@PasadoSafeHaven.org or call Pasado’s Safe Haven at 360-793-9393.