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Your dog needs this first week as a time to destress and decompress.
The transition for any dog into a new home comes with a degree of stress, often more so for a rescue dog. Rescue dogs come from a variety of backgrounds, circumstances, and experiences - some easy and some not so.
The way your dog handles the initial first-week adjustment period in your home depends on his or her individual temperament, personality, age, breed type, and experiences.
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When adopting a dog, how your dog reacts upon arrival in your home will dictate your next steps. Whatever your dog's reaction is, remember to savor this time - the joy of giving a rescue dog a new life with you is rewarding beyond words.
Don’t despair when it gets a little challenging or if your dog turns out to be more fearful than expected. Dogly is here for you!
It’s very common for people to put unrealistic expectations on the dog they’ve just brought home and not see their dog’s first week through their dog's eyes. So let’s look at how your highly-feeling dog feels and talk about some things you can do to help smooth the adjustment period from the animal shelter to your home.
(The tips below are more for an adult dog but can also be used for a puppy or adolescent dog. One thing to remember with puppies, the focus should be more toward positive exposures and introductions for socialization.)
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Ideally, the shelter or local rescue group where you’ve adopted your dog has given you insights into your newly adopted dog’s behaviors, guidelines, and of course, your dog's medical history and medical records.
It's good to remember many dogs show different behaviors in your home than they've shown at the shelter or at the foster family house due to the stress of changes in their environment. So be patient, understanding and be prepared to adjust your expectations and goals when adopting a dog.
Although most dogs amazingly accept changes with a breeze, we need to understand how your dog feels to help your pup with the stress of the transition process. Respect and honor your dog's boundaries, give him/her plenty of space to adjust and make sure to reward good behavior. Be patient, understanding and consistent in all you do.
Imagine being transported from your regular routine and home to a strange place with different smells, sounds and routines. EVERYTHING is different. It’s like moving to another country and into someone’s house and being expected to quickly adapt.
This is why we need to have realistic expectations of what our dogs should do in the first week when in their new home environment. Consider where your dog has come from and what he/she is feeling.
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Some dogs may have never lived in a house before and only lived their lives in the shelter, on the streets, in puppy mills, or in kennels (like ex-racing greyhounds, for example). This means everything in your home is a new experience and can potentially scare your dog.
Everyday items that you might not think about like the vacuum, washing machine, television, the stove, coffee grinder, certain furniture, stairs, and even shadows can all spook your dog - at least initially.
When using these routine items, be mindful and give your dog...
Or if it’s loud noises like the vacuum, make sure your dog is in your specially created dog space and away from the scary noise so you don’t create one-time negative exposure that can lead to lifelong fears. Then your dog can get used to the vacuum at some later date when your pup is an old hand at everything and full of confidence.
Reacting to this strange new world, your dog’s body may be in stress mode initially. Rescue dogs might have gone through other previous life transitions such as possible re-homings from a previous owner, time spent in shelters, and or a foster home. If your dog has had potentially traumatic experiences, it makes sense that he or she might be uncertain as to what this new experience will bring.
And that's why you're here - to give your dog constant support to feel secure!
With all the life changes your dog has experienced, don’t rush anything. Be patient. Keep your daily routines consistent so your dog knows the exact time meals and walks will be, especially helpful for dogs who are overwhelmed or uncertain in their new environment.
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In the first week after adopting a dog, your focus should be on helping your pup decompress through this adjustment period.
Your dog has now entered a new and large life change. Dogs need time to decompress and process so they can adapt.
Decompression allows for stress reduction and decreases potential for trigger stacking which is the accumulation of stress over time.
Take your dog for sniffy walks using scatter feeds (tossing of high-value treats) in your garden/yard to help create positive associations or sprinkles (a toss of wet food into the grass) to really let your dog use his/her nose.
If your dog doesn’t show signs of stress, fear, or anxiety in your garden, take your pup for slow sniffy decompression walks and let the sniffing begin and last for as long as your dog wants. Sniffing helps dogs gather information about the neighborhood and world around them through their number one sensory tool: their noses.
Sniffing lowers your dog’s heart rate, tells your dog the health and species of animals in the area, and is mentally and physically stimulating and relaxing at the same time. And it makes your dog happy!
If you need to have people over during this time...
Use your pen or a baby gate (see above!) to have your dog in a designated, quiet, dog rest area with a stuffed enrichment toy or a licking mat. Your dog will have distance from the hubbub, and chewing and licking help dogs relax.
If you have children at home, this is a great learning opportunity for them to be involved in responsible dog ownership such as creating enrichment and DIY toys for your dog or joining you for sniffy walks.
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One of the most important things to do in the first week is to let your dog sleep. Rest or sleep allows stress hormones to return to a healthy level and for your dog's body and mind to heal. Adult dogs need on average 14 to 18 hours a day of sleep and puppies need around 18 to 20 hours.
Shelter dogs who are newly brought home are often overstimulated with all the new introductions so having a specific rest spot for your dog in the house will help your dog decompress, destress, and sleep.
Make sure all family members in your house know to not bother your dog while sleeping, especially children. Let sleeping dogs lie!
As your dog decompresses in the first week home, individual characteristics will start to show themselves and you’ll see a whole new dog. To ensure long-term success, remember that consistency is key. And with time and patience, you will be able to build a healthy relationship with your rescue dog.
Now that you know how to have a successful first week with your new dog, continue on to the next guide to learn potential behavioral issues that may show up as your dog begins to settle into your home life and how to set up your pup for success. You can jump into it here.
If you have any questions about acclimating your new dog as a happy member of your family, just ask in the community discussion in the New Pet Channel.
Or if you ever need more personalized dog training guidance, please reach out!
DISCLAIMER: The content of this website and community is based on the research, expertise, and views of each respective author. Information here is not intended to replace your one-on-one relationship with your veterinarian, but as a sharing of information and knowledge to help arm dog parents to make more informed choices. We encourage you to make health care decisions based on your research and in partnership with your vet. In cases of distress, medical issues, or emergency, always consult your veterinarian.