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Dog Adoption: Tips for Bringing Home a Rescue Dog

Dog Adoption - Happy Breath

Dog Adoption | Getting a dog is an exciting time for any dog parent or family. Unfortunately, there are instances where they might be abandoned or suffer neglect. This is probably why dog shelters receive and house many such rescue dogs for kind pet parents to rehabilitate and love. These dogs may have a difficult time adjusting to a new home. But this is not entirely impossible. Therefore, if dog adoption seems a bit overwhelming, it’s a normal concern. However, with a little bit of time and effort, it can be one of the fulfilling things you can do.

Here are some tips you can use to bring a rescue dog home safely.

Tips for Rescue Dog

Prepare for its Arrival

Before you get a rescue dog home, make sure your house has everything that it may need to spend at least a night comfortably. These things may include a bed, kennel, food, dog bowl, water bowl, treats, and some toys. As your dog adjusts, you will find out if you need more things to make it comfortable.

Introduce the Family and Other Pets

Once you have successfully welcomed the pet into your house, make sure you introduce the family and even other pets to the rescue dog. This way, it will get know about your family and know how many people are in the house. You may have to do this repeatedly until they are well-familiarized with your house members. However, make sure you bring in one person/pet at a time in an isolated room that has a place the rescue dog can hide if they get overwhelmed.

Give the Dog Its Own Accommodation

A rescue pet may need some time on its own. This may be because of the trauma they have faced previously. Therefore, it is always a good idea to set up their own space in the corner of a house. This protects you and even them from being overwhelmed by the environment. A kennel or a sleeping bag with blankets and towels may be a good start for their own space.

Dog-Proof The House

Dogs that come through dog adoption may be very unruly. They may even react or get extremely curious about certain things, which may be normal in a household. Therefore, make sure your house is dog-proof in the sense that you have stowed away all such items such as cable, baskets, and even décor. Ideally, you can put up a fence, so your dog is confined to a certain part of the house.

Take It To The Vet

Ideally, you should retrieve your dog’s medical history from the shelter you have adopted it from. This is important so you may know if any underlying conditions need treatment. However, even if there is nothing of this sort, make sure you have a vet visit planned for your canine. This will be a good opportunity for you to get them vaccinated and get an idea of their general health.

Keep it Busy With Toys

Toys are an excellent way to make sure your pet is busy and distracted. However, make sure you get your pet toys that are not a choking hazard. There are also many food-dispensing toys that dogs love. They are a great way to keep them busy for a long time. Other than this, a ball, Frisbee, or a chewing toy make great additions.

Start training early-on

Don’t leave your canine’s training for a later time. Try to establish some ground rules as soon as you bring them home. This will give them a push-start and allow you to see if they can be trained easily or if you’ll need help in this regard. Furthermore, make sure you start with basic commands so they can remember them easily. Don’t forget to treat them if they do! This type of positive reinforcement goes a long way for such pets.

Keep Track of Favorite Foods

Once your pet is at home, you can feed it basic food as everyone else does. However, with time, make sure to change its diet and see what food it like more. This can be a positive sign for the pet, telling them you care about their needs. If you adopt a puppy, make sure you give it a high-calorie and protein-rich diet to be energetic and healthy. However, if you adopt a senior dog, then consult a vet for additional dietary help.

Choose a name if you want

If your rescue dog doesn’t have a previous name, you may choose a sweet one for your dog. However, if you want to change it, make the new name a part of your training. If your dog responds to the new name, make sure to give them a treat. Once you are sure they have adjusted to the name, you can discard the old name completely.

Establish a routine

Once you feel your rescue dog has adjusted to your family and new environment, you can begin by taking it out on walks around the neighborhood or nearest park. This will be a great bonding time for you and the pet. Maybe have different family members take turns so the family can bond. Furthermore, make sure to keep your dog’s grooming a top priority from the beginning. You can have a groomer come over or do everything yourself. Ideally, grooming entails oral health, hair care, and nail clipping.

Give it love

Finally, the most important tip for dog adoption is giving your new pet a lot of love. You will have to be patient but know that once your dog is comfortable with you, it will never leave your side and stick by you through thick and thin. Ask your family members to do the same.

The Bottom Line

Dog adoption is one of the best decisions you can make. You don’t only gain a new friend and supporter, but you give a dog a new and loving home that they deserve. Use the above tips to ease into the process and make sure to give your new pet ample time to adjust to you and your home.

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