{"id":1371,"date":"2022-08-08T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-08T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pedigreefoundation.org\/2022\/05\/17\/its-adopt-a-shelter-dog-month-get-ready-to-bring-home-your-new-bestie\/"},"modified":"2022-09-02T15:44:26","modified_gmt":"2022-09-02T15:44:26","slug":"first-day-with-new-dog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pedigreefoundation.org\/first-day-with-new-dog\/","title":{"rendered":"Bringing Home Your New Best Friend: 10 Tips for Your First Day with Your Shelter Dog"},"content":{"rendered":"

Congratulations! If you\u2019ve made the wonderful decision to give a shelter dog their forever home, you\u2019re in for the journey of a lifetime. But before you run right over to the shelter or rescue to pick up your new best friend, make sure you and your home are prepared for the days ahead.<\/p>\n

\"black<\/a><\/u><\/h4>\n

1. Stock Up on Supplies<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Make sure your home is ready for your new best friend. Have food, a leash, collar, crate or gates, bed, bowls, treats, toys\u2026it seems like a lot, but you can have tons of fun preparing for your new family member! If you do forget something, you can always make a trip to your local pet food store with your new bestie \u2013 nearly all pet food stores welcome furry friends inside. Don\u2019t forget a special treat for your new pup while you\u2019re there.<\/p>\n

2. Dog-Proof Your Space<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Look around your home with a dog\u2019s eyes. Be sure to remove anything hazardous or valuable that your new dog could damage. Clean up anything a curious dog might chew while exploring a new environment, like kids\u2019 toys, food, shoes, or small household items. This extends to your backyard \u2013 check for large branches or plants like poison ivy. Some plants can even be poisonous to dogs. Check out this helpful guide<\/a> for more information to see if you\u2019ll need to remove any plants in your home.<\/p>\n

3. Have Your Paperwork in Order<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Yep, it\u2019s unavoidable; even adopting a dog comes with paperwork. Bring your driver\u2019s license or other government ID to fill out your application and be prepared to pay a possible adoption fee at the shelter. While you\u2019re collecting your paperwork, take this opportunity to research veterinarians in your area and set up an initial appointment. Your pup will need regular visits to the vet, so start that relationship right away!<\/p>\n

4. Making the Trip Home<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Though you might be excited, your new pup is bound to feel anxious, unsure and even scared leaving the shelter. Some dogs can also be anxious when riding in cars. If you\u2019re driving, try to bring someone with you so one of you can help keep an eye on your dog and you can drive safely. Use a safety harness or crate to keep your dog secure in your vehicle. Don\u2019t forget to bring towels in case your dog gets sick or has an accident while on the drive.<\/p>\n

\"black<\/a><\/u>5. Give Your Dog an Outdoor Welcome<\/strong><\/h4>\n

When you arrive home, let your dog ease into his new surroundings by starting outside. Let him sniff around, and learn the designated potty spot. Reward your new bestie with a treat for doing his business in the right place. While you\u2019re still outside, introduce her to family members, one at a time. Let each person offer a treat, to make a good first impression!<\/p>\n

6. Take a House Tour<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Bring your dog into the house on a leash and give him a tour, keeping the mood relaxed. If he starts to chew or grab at objects, redirect with a firm \u201cleave it\u201d and offer an appropriate chew toy instead.<\/p>\n

7. Be a Homebody<\/strong><\/h4>\n

For the first few weeks after you bring home your new furry friend, plan to stay close to home. This will give you time to learn how the dog will respond to different types of stimuli before exploring more unfamiliar territory. Use this time to establish a walk and play routine, which will help you bond with each other. Especially in the first few days, it\u2019s a good idea to take your dog outside often. Even if she was potty trained in her previous home, your pup needs a little time to learn your house rules and she may regress slightly until she adapts.<\/p>\n

8. Spend Quality Time Together<\/strong><\/h4>\n

As excited as you are to introduce your new family member to the world, limit visitors for the first few days. Your dog needs time to get comfortable with his new space, and with the people who live there. Consider waiting to introduce your pup to other dogs in the area so your dog can get adjusted to his new life and you can ensure his vaccinations are up-to-date.<\/p>\n

9. Learn to Speak “Dog”<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Even if your new dog is an adult or has already been trained, consider finding a class or trainer whom you trust for additional training. Training helps establish reliable communication between a dog and his owner \u2013 it will help you recognize and interpret your pup\u2019s behaviors and help ensure your pup always knows what you expect of him. All he wants to do is please you!<\/p>\n

10. Feel the Love<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Above all, be patient. Give your new dog time and space to adjust and establish a routine you\u2019re both comfortable with. In no time you\u2019ll have the bond you dreamed of, and a new best friend for life. Again, congratulations on your new family member. Thank you for saving a life!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Congratulations! If you\u2019ve made the wonderful decision to give a shelter dog their forever home, you\u2019re in for the journey of a lifetime. But before you run right over to the shelter or rescue to pick up your new best friend, make sure you and your home are prepared for the days ahead. 1. Stock […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3008,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,45,49],"tags":[51,11],"class_list":["post-1371","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-informative","category-shelter-stories","category-tips","tag-dog-lovers","tag-tips"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBringing Home Your New Best Friend: 10 Tips for Your First Day with Your Shelter Dog - Pedigree Foundation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Pedigree Foundation - Every dog deserves a loving home.\u2122 With your help, we\u2019re making a difference every day!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pedigreefoundation.org\/first-day-with-new-dog\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Bringing Home Your New Best Friend: 10 Tips for Your First Day with Your Shelter Dog - 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