You adopted instead of shopped! THAT’S AWESOME!!!! you’re already at the top of my awesome list.
Bringing home a rescue can be a bit overwhelming, scary, and exciting all at the same time. You more than likely have a dog who is 1 or older. They probably have some horrible backstory that the rescue group could not give you all the details on because they probably don’t even know. They more than likely temperament tested your new rescue but in all reality, your rescue was probably terrified of being at the shelter or rescue facility that they truly couldn’t be themselves. But…. the good news is most rescues work really really really hard to be sure the right dog goes home to the right family. To read the story about my rescue dog Jackson Click here!
Either way, you now have a new member of the family who is probably scared, is once again going to a new place with new people, and is completely unsure of what they’re going to do. In the back of their head, they’re probably thinking they will just end up back on the streets or in another shelter but YOU can prove your pup wrong!
Rule #1: CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULE, for the next week. When you bring home a new rescue the last thing you want to do is welcome them into your family then immediately leave them home alone. That is recipe for disaster. Your rescue is already scared, is in a new place with new people, the last thing that poor dog wants is to be alone. So take a few days off work so you can stay home with your new fur kid and get to know them and help them adjust to their surroundings. Show your new rescue around the house, take them in the backyard to hang out with them, and praise them when they go potty outside. Show them their comfy bed and once settled, take them for a nice walk around the neighborhood.
Rule #2: Potty Training again! Even though you have an older dog/teenage puppy that doesn’t mean they’re potty trained. Your dog is in a new place. They just came from a shelter or another facility where they probably didn’t get many potty breaks, so they more than likely ended up going to the bathroom in their kennel. They don’t know the difference between your house and a kennel so you HAVE to teach them once again that they need to go potty outside. That means taking them out every hour, bring treats, and make it a huge deal when they go potty outside. When they’re in the house be sure to keep an eye on them 24/7 so they don’t have accidents where you cant see them. Even though your rescue is older you still need to treat them as if they’re a puppy and potty train them again. They may catch on quick they may not, either way, you need to show them again. The rescue may have said they’re potty trained but once again your dog is in a NEW environment.
Rule #3: Crate train. Yes, the rescue may have said your new dog has separation anxiety or doesn’t like to be alone. Well, it’s time to help your new dog adjust so they can be alone. Crate training is not a horrible, mean thing. Most dogs who are crate trained actually like going in their crate and will often CHOOSE to go in their crate completely on their own. Why? because dogs like dens, they like quite dark places they can rest in peace or take their prized bone to chew on without being bothered. Crate training is not only a safe place for your dog to hang out in so they don’t destroy your house or escape the yard. It’s good to have a dog who is crate trained so if they ever have to go to the vet for an overnight or stay longer at the groomers. Crates are used at lots of places your dog may be so having them comfortable in a crate will help their stress level.
Rule #4: Rules and Boundaries: Be sure to have rules and boundaries set up for right when your dog gets home. If you start implementing them right away your new rescue will know no different so having them practice right from the beginning will help with training in the long run. When you first set rules to be sure they’re easy, you don’t want your poor new rescue to feel discouraged or even more scared. Set up rules so that your rescue can succeed and be successful i.e. no dogs on the couch (unless given permission), or I walk out in the backyard first. Just set up a few simple rules so your new rescue pup can start to feel more at home and comfortable.
Rule #5: Training! Start training your new rescue the day they come home. It will not only help strengthen the bond between you and your new dog. It will help the new dog learn how to communicate with you. By practicing basics such as sit, down, stay, wait, leave it, come, etc. You will start to lay the foundation for building a strong bond with your new rescue. Be sure to take things slow and if your rescue is nervous or scared then just hang out with them, let them adjust, and start when they’re ready.
The cardinal rule of a rescue dog is it will take WEEKS if not MONTHS to fully adjust and be comfortable around you and your family. They may try to escape, they may pee in your house or chew up your things. BUT you can’t let that discourage you and cause you to give up. Nobody said having a rescue would be easy but it’s no harder than having a puppy. Puppies do the same thing they’re just tiny and so innocent looking that they’re easy to forgive. Just because your rescue is older and no longer than 8 weeks old tiny little ball of fluff does not mean they know right from wrong or that they’re going to come into a new environment and be the perfect dog and know all the rules. It’s your job to help them, show them, guide them, and teach them the rules of your house. After all, YOU’RE their second chance. Make it a good one.
I promise you if you can get through the rough patches and the mess ups, you will come out with a dog who is so loyal to you and your family you won’t ever want to buy a dog again.
Thank you for rescuing!
xx
D