How to Introduce a Shelter Dog into Your Home

In the United States, approximately 3.1 million dogs enter shelters each year. While this number has declined in recent years, there is no shortage of animals that need homes. If you are adopting a new dog into your family, one of the best options is to rescue an animal from a local shelter.

Adopting a shelter dog can be a rewarding experience, and you will be helping address the serious issue of animal homelessness in the US. Bringing a rescue dog into your home may be challenging, but you can ease the stress on your new pet and your family by making preparations.

The dog you adopt may have entered the shelter as a stray or a pet that a previous owner voluntarily surrendered for various reasons. In either situation, you need a plan to make your dog comfortable and establish boundaries and routines from the first day you bring it home.

Before adoption day, you should have all the needed pet supplies, including food, bowls, treats, a dog bed, a leash, and a collar. You may also want to dog-proof an area of your home and plan to have your new dog spend most of its time in that space during the transition period. Dog-proofing should include taping loose electrical cords to baseboards, placing breakable items on high shelves, removing rugs, removing houseplants, and installing baby gates in doorways.

When the day comes to take your new pet home, one of the most important things to remember is to remain calm. It can be hard not greeting and handling your new pet with excitement, but staying calm will help reduce the stress your dog will feel when leaving a familiar place.

The day you introduce your dog to its new home and neighborhood is the time to begin establishing routines, rules, and boundaries. Taking the dog on a long walk in your neighborhood will help it release extra energy and get used to all the new sights, sounds, and smells.

Your dog should remain leashed when it enters your house for the first time. Have it sit or lie down as you open the door, and let it in only after you invite it. Once inside, you can calmly take your dog on a tour of the rooms in your home, leading it and allowing it to enter a room only after being invited. This establishes your leadership and reinforces ground rules it must follow indoors.

After introducing the dog to your home, show it its feeding area and allow it to have some food and water. Then, take it to its designated sleeping space, whether a dog-proofed area or simply a spot in the corner of your living room with its bed. At this time, you can take your dog off-leash, letting it know that this is its part of the home.

Now is the time to relax and give your dog space to relax and get used to its new home. Remain calm but assertive, and ensure your family does the same. Watch your dog’s body language, and allow it to come to you for affection. Soon your dog will feel at home, and your efforts to introduce it to its new space will pay off with a well-behaved, happy pet that will continue to learn and follow the rules you establish.