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How To Introduce A Rescue Dog To Your Home

How To Introduce A Rescue Dog To Your Home

Introducing a rescue dog into a loving home is one of the most rewarding things you can do; however, it can also be a daunting time for both of you. 

For the dog, it’s moving into a brand new environment where it has no idea what to expect. For you, it’s wanting your dog to feel loved, but knowing it will be a period of adaption that can be difficult. 

So, what can you do to make this period easier for your new rescue dog?

It Takes Time 

It takes time for your dog to form new relationships and become comfortable in its new surroundings. Different dogs will acclimatize at different rates, but it’s normal for rescue dogs to take some time to get accustomed to their new home. 

Many owners find it takes a good few weeks before they really see their dog’s true personality come out. It is not so different than if you were adjusting to a new home — a dog is no different. They may be shy at first, but with time, you will see them come out of their shell. 

Stick to the Schedule 

Dogs feel comfortable when they have a schedule and they know what they can expect from the day. To make the adaption to their new surroundings easier, it’s a good idea to keep the dog on a similar schedule to what it was used to at its rescue home for the first few days. 

You can gradually change the schedule over time, but it helps to keep things familiar when it comes to food, exercise and sleep. This will mean that despite the change in environment, the dog will at least have a familiar schedule.

As the dog becomes more used to its new environment, you can gradually introduce new treats like those available at CeeBeeDoo

Take It Slow

There’s no need to hurry the process of integrating your rescue dog — it will happen in its own time. Try to remain calm and quiet around your dog for the first few days and don’t over stimulate it. The integration into a new home can be scary for them, so it’s easier to gradually introduce it to new experiences. 

The more time that goes by, the better you are going to understand your dog’s feelings and signals, and you can begin to do new things like taking it to the dog park.

Take Advice 

Adopting a rescue dog can be hard for anyone, especially if it’s your first time, so seek advice when you need it. Your vet is a great resource who will be able to guide you through this process and enable you to make the best decisions. 

We all want our new rescue dog to be able to settle into its new home and feel relaxed and comfortable as quickly as possible, so preparing and taking good advice can really help. The main thing is to give your new dog a loving home, and with a bit of preparation, everything else will fall into place.

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