What to Do Before and After Adopting a Dog

This is a simple informational guide so that people who have never adopted a dog know how to go about it. Adopting a dog is wonderful news both for them and for us, since we will both be starting a new life as a family. It is very important to understand their needs and to have everything ready so that they feel comfortable.

Preparing their space

It is important to remember that our dog will feel strange in their new home. Only with time will they learn how to behave, and only by giving them a proper upbringing can we help them find their feet.

Our new dog will need a comfortable, well-padded bed to sleep in, a water bowl where clean, fresh water must always be available, and a food bowl where we will put their food at the appropriate times. They will also need a toy to play with and chew on; we should buy a toy they cannot break apart or swallow.

It is important to have at home a bag of the same food they were eating at the shelter, or a bag of the new food we want to give them. Remember that the food should be good quality and always appropriate for their life stage: puppy, adult, working or sporting dog, or senior.

We should also avoid leaving things on the floor, such as cables or anything edible within reach elsewhere in the house, since in a moment of distraction they could get up to mischief.

Understanding the dog

For a dog, leaving a shelter, pound or kennel to move into a home is a very radical change. Everything is new, everyone is a stranger, they can no longer hear the other dogs, and so on. Knowing this, it goes without saying that the main thing is to be very patient.

The journey from the shelter to the house can be traumatic if made by car; many dogs are afraid of travelling by car and can become very anxious. That is why it is important to set up a space in the car where they can travel safely.

During their first days at home we must be very patient, kind and above all affectionate. We need to build an emotional bond with them, so there should be no telling off, no hitting (in fact you should never hit a dog, under any circumstances) and no cross looks. If they break something, if they wee or poo indoors (which they will, and it is completely normal) or anything similar, keep a friendly face and be patient.

First steps after adoption

The best thing we can do immediately after adopting a dog is to go to a vet to have them vaccinated, treated for parasites and given an initial check-up. This will make sure their health is good and their vaccinations are up to date, and also that they are not carrying any internal or external parasites, such as fleas or ticks, that could be passed on to us. If the shelter has already carried out these checks, we can then move on to the second step: going home.

Before going indoors, it is highly advisable to take a walk around the neighbourhood, obviously always with the dog on a lead. It is important to let the dog sniff everything, relieve themselves and start to feel that the surroundings are familiar. If the dog is an adult, it is even advisable to make it a long walk (a couple of hours at least) so that they can relax and burn off some energy.

Obviously, if the dog is under three months old, we will not take them out for walks until they have had all their compulsory vaccinations. It may seem trivial, but the truth is that an unvaccinated puppy can even die from diseases that are very easy to cure in a vaccinated dog.

Once we get home, we should show the dog where they will be sleeping (the room we have prepared for them, the kitchen for instance) and let them get used to it. If there are other people in the house, they should not overwhelm the dog with fussing and excitement; they should simply let the dog sniff them and let the dog be the one to interact. There will be plenty of time later on for everyone to build a more personal relationship with them.

To sum up this last part: it is important that the dog arrives home relaxed and stays relaxed there. We should show them their space, give them water, and food too if it is mealtime, introduce them to the family, and so on, but without great excitement. Everything is so new to them that we should not overwhelm them.

It is very likely that during the first few days they will be very active indoors, anxious, curious, and may even cry at night. This is completely normal and we should not worry about it; as the days and weeks go by we will see them relax and settle into their new family.

Habits and training

It is important that from day one strict routines are followed for going outside, whether for walks or to relieve themselves. If they are a puppy, we should follow a few simple tips so they learn to relieve themselves outdoors.

If they are an adult dog, we should set times for going out for walks, toileting and so on, and always stick to them, since the dog will quickly get used to that schedule. That said, it is normal for them to have accidents indoors during the first few days; there is no need to make a fuss about it.

The same applies to the house rules to be followed, such as whether or not they are allowed on the sofa.

Although many people say goodbye to their dog when leaving the house, the truth is that this is a bad habit. Our dog interprets our talking to them as meaning that we do not want to be apart from them and yet we are leaving anyway, and that creates anxiety and stress. If, on the other hand, we simply leave when we need to, without looking at them or saying goodbye, they will understand that we are going because we want to.

Socialisation

Dogs need to be around other dogs and around other humans in order to socialise. It is such an important process that failing to do it means our dog may develop fears, phobias and aggression towards other dogs or people.

If they are an adult, we can begin socialisation more quickly, but always carefully, since we need to know our dog's temperament.

It is also completely normal for our dog to get on better or worse with certain dogs; just as with humans, dogs are selective too. If our dog growls a little at other dogs without going any further, we should not be alarmed: dogs have their disagreements too (although we should obviously prevent them from escalating).

Everything else will come on its own and at their own pace. Before long you will see the dog become the joy of the household: how they greet you full of happiness every time you come home, and how they shower you with affection. To them, you are their family; never forget that.