Read About Dog Adjusting to New Home

While puppies are easy to place, many people are kind enough to adopt older dogs. Here´s some ideas for helping them be comfortable in their new homes:

1. Dogs thrive on routines. Try to find out anything you can about the dog´s routines before you adopted him. Some things to check on include: indoor or outdoor dog? How old is he? What kind of collar is he used to? What has he been eating? What kind of schedule was the dog on for feeding, walking, sleeping? Is the dog spayed/neutered? How old was the dog when the surgery was done? Has the dog had any puppies? Are there any known health issues? Lots of questions, but the more history you have for your new pooch, the better prepared you will be to welcome your new family member.

2. Before the pet comes home, discuss his routines and family responsibilities. If the details are worked out in advance, things will go more smoothly. As much as possible, have all the supplies for the new dog at home. It´s also a good idea to discuss with family members how the dog´s training will be done, and to agree on specific commands and rules. This will help the new dog adjust comfortably, because there will be less confusion. Pups really don´t like confusion. They don´t know how to act, and they can become moody and unpredictable.

3. Shelter/rescue animals come from a variety of backgrounds, but most of them will be a little insecure at first. If you take your new pet in hand, immediately giving him limits and rewards, you will be rewarded with a happy, active pet. Make sure that you are playing with your dog, getting him enough exercise, and not trying to get him to do too much too fast. For example, you may want to limit your new dog´s movements until you are sure the housebreaking is effective. You can expose your pet to more of the house a little at a time, as all of you are comfortable with each other.