Bringing a New Dog Home: Tips for a Warm Welcome

After Bringing a New Dog Home

Whether your new pal is a puppy or an adult, bringing them home requires an adjustment period. Stay home with your new dog during this time as much as possible. You'll have a smoother adjustment period if you can spend a week or two together from the outset.

Introduce the Dog Room

Depending on temperament, your new dog may bond with you right away and make themselves comfortable at home, or they may act reluctant and withdrawn at first. If they're shy or fearful, help them acclimate to their new digs by taking it slow. Let your dog chill in the room you designate as canine central. Leave the door open so they can see through the pet gate while remaining in the security of a known area. Once they're comfortable and relaxed in their room, you can let them investigate the rest of the home at their own pace, allowing plenty of time to sniff and search.

If you have small children in the home, supervise their time with your new pup. Aggressive touching or petting a dog in an unfamiliar setting can increase stress and cause anxiety, making acclimation take longer.

Teach House Training Basics

Make potty training a priority. Even if your dog was at the top of their game at the shelter, they may have accidents in an unfamiliar environment. Start training immediately, and keep it consistent. Take your dog outside first thing in the morning; before bed; and after meals, playtime and naps. Here's a general guide for how often dogs of different ages may need to relieve themselves:

• 2 months old: every two hours

• 3 months old: every four hours

• 4 months old: every five hours

• 5 months old: every six hours

• 6 months: about every eight hours

When you can't closely supervise your dog, confine them to a crate. Because they dislike messing where they sleep or eat, dogs will let you know when they need out of the crate to do their business.

Accidents happen and are part of learning. But dogs don't understand they've done anything wrong unless you catch them in the act. Dogs also learn faster when they're rewarded rather than scolded (don't you?). Catch them in the act of doing what you like and reward them with praise or a treat when they potty outside. Dogs that get "paid" for behaving well repeat the good behavior.

Begin Obedience Training

In addition to house training, consider investing in behavior training. You can begin puppy training as early as 7 to 8 weeks old, but older dogs can learn, too. Training not only teaches desirable behaviors, but it's also an excellent bonding opportunity. Dogs enjoy pleasing you and want to learn. As your dog gets a handle on the basics (sit, stay and lie down), you can introduce more advanced commands like shake, roll over and fetch. A dog's ability to learn directly correlates to your ability to work with them. Be patient as they try to understand what you want.

Be Consistent

Nights are often an unfamiliar experience for dogs in a new home, especially puppies. They may whine at first, tempting you to tend to every whimper, but it's better to establish some ground rules early on. They need to know they can sleep in a dog crate or bed throughout the night and you'll still be there in the morning. If you let unwanted behaviors go just because your dog is new to the house, it will take longer to teach the house rules. So, if you don't want your dog on the furniture, don't make exceptions — it'll only confuse them. Make sure everyone in the house agrees to the rules, too.

Finally, keep loud noises and overactive scenes to a minimum at first. Too many stimuli too soon could increase the risk of your dog becoming withdrawn and anxious. As they get more acquainted with their new surroundings and routines, you can get back to normal.

Above all else, be patient and nurturing with your new dog, and you'll make a friend for life.