HOW TO INTRODUCE A RESCUE DOG INTO YOUR HOME

How to Introduce a Rescue Dog into Your Home

If you and your family decide that you have room in your hearts, as well as your home, for a dog, then before all else I urge you to give a rescue dog a new home as opposed to buying from a breeder. There are thousands of dogs that are desperate for a new home.

Some families, especially those with young children, can be wary of bringing home a rescue dog as they simply do not know the animal’s background and any mental scarring that may be present. It is an understandable concern and one that you can raise with the team that has helped to care for the dog during its time at the rescue home. Shelters will be able to offer advice on the type of home that is suitable for each dog, helping to allay any fears of danger.

Why You Should Rescue and Not Buy

Firstly, there are many good and professional breeders that look after their dogs very well, but on the flip side, there are many who don’t. Puppy farms can often be found with young puppies living in squalor, separated from their parents at too young an age and malnourished.

As people continue to buy from breeders, such puppy farms will continue to exist. If everyone elected to re-home a rescue dog instead of funding puppy farms, more dogs would be rescued and less raised in poor conditions.

Preparation and Patience

Before bringing home your new dog, you must ensure that your home is dog-ready. Remove all hazards, such as small objects they could choke on, holes where they can get out in the garden and other dangers that could cause harm. It is also wise to buy new toys and bedding, so as your new dog already has their own things from the moment they cross the threshold, as well as a collar and pet tag – you can click here to learn more about the different types of dog tags available.

In the first few days, there is going to be a lot of learning and feeling out, both on your part and the dog’s. They need to become acclimatised to their new environment and you have to demonstrate patience with them, while still disciplining if/when they do something wrong.

Ensure that the dog is now left on their own for long periods for the first week or so – as a rescue dog, they need that reassurance that they will not be left and, if they feel as though they have been abandoned, there is no telling how they will react. Slowly build up the time that they are left on their own before trusting them.

Children

When there are young children, you cannot be too careful. Introduce children to the dog before bringing them home so as they can familiarise themselves with each other. Throwing a new dog into a strange environment with excitable children that they have never met before can set them into panic mode.

When you do bring them home, try not to make a big fuss over it. Try to act as though it is a normal day, which means no welcoming parties – no matter how much everyone wants to meet your new dog. A calm dog is a happy dog.

Introducing to Other Animals

If your home is already the residence of other animals, then make sure to manage all initial interactions. Introduce your new dog to any other canines outside without any toys or food present and keep them on a loose leash.

For households introducing a new dog to a cat, do not give your dog the opportunity to chase the cat by ensuring that the feline is secure and has escape options at all time. Closely monitor interactions and try to keep them brief until you can be sure that it is safe to leave the dog alone with other animals.

Remember that it can take as many as a few months for your rescue dog to completely acclimatise to its new surroundings and for you to become familiar with its personality traits. Be patient, welcoming and, before you know it, it will be as though they were always part of t