How to Make Your New Dog Feel at Home

It’s an exciting day to choose a dog from a rescue center and adopt it to bring it home. Your new pet is going to be another member of your family and being together is going to make you feel wonderful. The one thing that you have to realize, however, is that getting a dog isn’t like buying a stuffed animal. 

Getting a dog takes a lot of work, and you want to be able to ensure the smoothest possible transition. You need to take things slowly and remember that your dog may have passed through several homes before ending up in a shelter. It’s you who’s going to be introducing them to a new situation. Taking it slowly and earning her trust, reassuring her that your home is forever is important. So let’s take a look at the ways that you can make your new dog feel at home.

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1. Buy pet supplies in advance. Whether you go to a local pet store or you buy online with Bunty Pet Products, purchasing supplies ahead of time is really going to help you to be set up. You’ll need to have a sturdy collar, leash, harness, as well as ID tags, and you don’t want to make any sudden changes to your dog’s diet. Make sure you ask the shelter what food they are eating and then choose the same brand and then set up a crate or a playpen that’s large enough for them to stand up and turn around in. That can be the go to space when they want some time alone.It will help you with any issues when it comes to house breaking and it will ensure that your dog feels safe.
2. Take some time off work. It’s a good idea to take some time off from your job so that you can help your dog to settle in for the first few days. This is a great time to allow for bonding and introducing your dog to other family pets. When you do leave the house, you need to make sure that your dog has some enrichment toys so that they don’t end up with separation anxiety and crying after you. This will prevent them from crying and feeling like you’ve left them forever.
3. Take socialization slowly. It may be tempting to call all of your friends and family and tell them to come and meet your new dog when you first bring them home, but it’s really not a good idea. You have to give them time to bond with immediate family members as well as any pets. Take things slowly and make sure she’s got lots of space in those first few weeks.

Put together a routine. Most behavioral specialists when it comes to dogs will ensure that you have a care plan created before your dog comes home. Talk about how often, at what times the dog will be walked and fed and plan to feed and walk them going to and from work in the same places every day. This way she becomes more familiar with the local area.