Bringing home a new dog is exciting for everyone. For the dog, it can also be scary and stressful; it’s a new place, new people, and maybe even new animals. Every dog is different, so the length of time it takes for him (and you!) to adjust to the new situation is going to vary – a shy dog is going to take longer than a naturally outgoing “everybody’s my friend” type dog. Regardless of what your dog’s personality is like, there are things you can do to make the transition easier on the whole family and speed up the acclimation process so your new best friend will feel at home quicker.
#1 – Set Rules
Dogs are “creatures of habit” and like set rules they can learn, that never change. Before even bringing her home, decide if she is going to be allowed on the couch, in the beds, to jump on people, etc. Explain to everyone in the family that these rules are “solid” and can’t be changed. Posting them somewhere everyone can see them is a great way to make sure no one forgets.
Remember when she comes home that your rules are going to be all new to her. Give her a chance to learn them and don’t get frustrated if she makes a few mistakes – she may never have been inside a home before!
#2 – Set a Schedule
Schedules are also key. Know who is feeding your new family member and when. One of the most important is when he is getting to go outside to do his business. This is particularly important if you need to potty train – a schedule will make that process much easier. Don’t forget to schedule in training and exercise so no one forgets. Like the rules, post the schedule somewhere everyone can see. You can even assign tasks to different members of the family, or tell people to cross off what they have done for the day so everyone else knows. Cute idea: painting a chalkboard dog on a surface in your home – wall, cabinet, door, etc. is a fun way to make the schedule part of your décor.
#3 – Give Him A Quiet Space
A new dog is not necessarily going to want to be right in the middle of everything right away, and that’s okay. Allow your dog the freedom to adjust on his own time by giving him a nice quiet place to retreat to when he feels overwhelmed. A covered dog crate in a quieter room or corner is a good way to do this. Let everyone know what when the dog chooses to go to his “quiet place” that they should leave him be and let him come out on his own. This will ensure your dog doesn’t get tired, cranky and/or overwhelmed by all the new attention.
It’s also a great way to get him used to a crate. You can feed him in this space and give him chew sticks to chew. Leave the door open so he can come and go. This is very important for a dog who may have spent most his life in a crate and a have a negative association with one.
#4 – Slow Introductions
You don’t want to overwhelm your new family member – give her time to adjust. This means waiting a bit before trying to introduce her to other animals in the house (especially if you aren’t sure she likes other critters!). Let her get settled, and allow her and the other animals to get used to each other’s smells before seeing one another or greeting.
This also means you shouldn’t have everyone you know over to meet your dog on the night you bring her home. This is particularly important if the dog has fear or trust issues, or is super unsure about her new environment. Give her a bit to settle in and then only have one or two people over at a time to see how she handles it. If you come across issues with certain “types” of people, such as men or kids, a dog trainer can help you work with her on that.
#5 – Plenty of Toys and Treats
Nothing helps bring a dog out of his shell and make him feel comfy like play and treats (especially paired with training!) However, it can be hard to pick these out for a new dog, since you don’t know their personality yet. That’s where BarkBox can help! They’ll send you a box full of new goodies every month that your best friend is sure to love. Why? Because they have all been tested and approved by Scout, the official BarkBox product tester, for their likability. It’s like having a personal shopper for your dog! And, with their “Scout’s Honor” promise, they will happily change out anything your dog doesn’t love with something new-no fees and no fuss!
Enjoyed those BarkBox tips? Then share with your friends and continue to check back for new articles. In our next Barkbox article we will explore what to do for a dog with allergies.
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