5 Things To Remember When Bringing Home An Adopted Dog

I've looked at some of the things people must remember when they take an adopted dog home for the very first time so they don't mess anything up.

Bringing home an adopted dog is not the same as bringing home a new puppy because they've usually already lived with another family in the past. You want to make sure you get everything right when they're first settling in, so we're going to look at a few things you must remember.

Choosing the right environment

When they come home they will need a place to stay. Try to imagine how they're going to be feeling for the first few weeks. They'll be a little anxious and everything will be completely new to them. This means there is a good chance they're going to pee all over the place because any housebreaking rules they've learned will go out the window. The kitchen will probably be the best place to keep them initially because it will be a lot easier to clean up their mess.

Make sure your home is safe

You will also need to pet-proof your home until they've been broken in gently otherwise there is no telling what they will do. Don't think you need to carry out major changes to your entire home, but you will need to do something to the areas where they'll be spending time while you're not there. That might mean tying up lose cables, removing rugs from the floor, and moving anything expensive they could knock over. Once they've settled in everything can go back to normal.

Don't forget an ID tag

Take an ID tag with you when you go to pick them up and put it on them straight away. If they already have a microchip you can contact the company to have the address updated on the computer. This means if they try to run away when you're taking them home you will be able to find them again. They could also run away or get lost during the first few days if they're out the house, but an ID tag will ensure they can't get very far if the worst was to happen.

Sticking to the same diet

If your new pooch has been on a certain diet for months you can't just start feeding them something completely different because their stomach won't be able to handle it. Feed them the wrong thing and your home is going to look like a hideous swamp because of all the sickness lying around. When you pick them up make sure you find out what they're eating at the moment. If you want to change their diet further down the line you can always do it gradually.

Don't get them too excited

For the first few weeks you should refrain from getting them too excited because it will be easier for them to settle in. That might mean telling the children they can't run around the house like headless chickens. Maybe your dog isn't used to children and all the excitement that goes with it. Spend a lot of time with them so they get to know you, but you should also give them enough time on their own so they don't expect to be pampered non-stop.

Nancy Baker, the author of this article, is a freelance blogger who is currently writing for, Corefront, a renovation company in Calgary. She loves travelling and spending time with her family. You can also follow her on Twitter @Nancy Baker.

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