How To Help Your Rescue Dog Settle In To Their New Home
Rescuing and rehoming a dog can be one of the most beautiful things. To be able to give a dog a safe, loving home and the opportunity of a future they deserve is really incredible. I have rescued a number of dogs over the years and I will continue to do so for as long as I am able to because I truly believe that every dog matters. There is something very special about the bond you can develop with a rescue dog.
It’s a bit of a myth that rescue dogs are harder to live with and raise than puppies because no dog is a blank slate from a genetic and epigenetic point of view, no matter their age or experience. Anyone raising a puppy will attest to how difficult that role can really be! However, what you can find with rescue dogs is that there is the potential for past experiences to impact them. Some of these might include whether they missed out on proper socialisation, whether they have experienced past trauma, how many homes they have had, whether they are used to the environment that they will be living in (this can be particularly tricky for street dogs rescued from abroad) and how long they have been living in kennels for. Again though, this doesn’t make them any harder to raise than a puppy necessarily and really, it’s even more reason to give them a loving home. Some rescue dogs slot straight into family life and need very little training and some rescue dogs need everything from scratch, just like a puppy. Some rescue dogs need help to deal with certain emotions, but some puppies do as well!
If you’re reading this then I assume you’re about to rescue a dog or have recently rescued a dog and are looking for help to settle them in. Congratulations on their arrival! Getting off to the best start possible is incredibly important and the first few days are quite critical in helping them to settle in quickly. Here are some tips for your first few days and weeks with your new rescue dog.
Remember to be patient and give them time
A new environment is almost inevitably going to feel a little overwhelming for a dog. Being with strange people, in a strange place with strange sights and smells is a lot to deal with. Now that they are safe and loved, your rescue dog might need some time to process past issues and trust isn’t built overnight. We have to remember that even though our rescue dog might be an adult dog, we can’t expect them to immediately act like your neighbours highly social adult Golden Retriever who they have raised since they were a puppy! Sometimes, when the rescue dog is an adult dog especially, there can be a lot of expectation that the dog slots straight into normal family life, but actually time is really what they need. I’ve worked with many rescue dogs from abroad in my time and there are a number of similar issues that tend to crop up with them. One of those is a worry around traffic and the fact that the environment they are now living in was introduced too soon for them whilst their stress levels were relatively high still. It never hurts to give your new rescue dog a decent few days or even a week just at home with you, getting to know you and where they now live before introducing other bigger things into their life. Patience is absolutely essential with a rescue dog so be prepared for things taking time and build that into the time you’ve planned for their initial few weeks with their new family. Allow your dog to explore their new home at their own pace, avoid forcing interactions by letting them approach you in their own time and reward small steps they make with treats and praise.
Create a safe and comfortable space for them
Your home is brand new and they don’t know it yet. They might feel a little overwhelmed at first and as exciting as it is to now have your dog at home, they might need a little space from the hustle and bustle of life at times. Build a little space in your house that is in a quiet area where they can retreat to if they feel they need to decompress and adjust at their own pace. Pop a bed, some water and toys in the area and maybe offer them some really tasty chews there too. It could just be a quiet corner of the house, or a crate if they are crate trained. Keep this area accessible at all time so that they know they can retreat there if they feel they need to and if you have children, remind them that this is their dog’s quiet corner and to leave them be if they are there.
Establish a consistent routine
Building a routine into your rescue dog’s day helps them predict what is going to happen and when and this can help them settle into your family life a lot quicker. Knowing what to expect and when can help to reduce anxiety and help them feel more secure. You can adjust this routine over time if need be, but a nice predictable routine to begin with will really help. You might want to reduce the number of visitors you have for a few days initially, just so they can settle in slowly and so that they don’t feel overwhelmed with too many new things at first. Setting regular times for feeding, walks and play and helping them with training early on will help them adjust to their new life.
Train them early using reward based methods
Helping your dog understand what is expected of them can avoid confusion, frustration and stress for them. Reward based training is a beautiful way of building trust and a loving relationship between you and your dog. Start by rewarding them with treats, play or praise when they do things you really like. Getting help from a professional dog trainer sooner than later will really help them settle in.
Gradually socialise them
We don’t always know the background of our rescue dogs and whether or not they will need help with certain areas in life. In my experience, it is always a good idea to work on the basis that you’re starting from scratch, as if they were a puppy and to work through a socialisation plan just as you would a puppy. That involves introducing different environments, people, animals, noises, experiences slowly but surely, carefully and considerately and always watching for signs of stress if anything makes them feel uncomfortable. If you notice that some things make your rescue dog feel uncomfortable, seek the advice of a professional dog trainer sooner than later.
Providing a loving and safe home for a rescue dog is a truly wonderful thing. If you have just rescued a dog or are about to rescue a dog, I hope everything goes really well for you all and I hope you all have a wonderful life together. Helping a rescue dog settle in to your home requires compassion and patience and with a little bit of planning and time, you should all find your feet together in no time.
Remember, every dog is unique, so what works for one may not work for another. Adjust your approach based on your dog's individual needs and by following these tips to help them settle in, you should be well on your way to amazing adventures together very soon.
If you're looking for personalised guidance to help your rescue dog adjust, please don't hesitate to me. I’m here to support you every step of the way. Please head to the Book Now button to get in touch for a no-obligation chat.
