Puppy Proofing

Even if your dog is older, curiosity can get the better of him. Make sure your home is safe for him by putting yourself in his paws. Crawl around on the floor and check out any potential dangers. Electrical cords, poisonous houseplants, and any item small enough to swallow are just a few things that should be out of his reach. Veterinarians perform more surgeries to remove strange objects that a dog has swallowed than for anything else.

Even after puppy-proofing, it's good not to leave him unsupervised in the house until he has learned what is off-limits. That way, they won't have the chance to develop any bad habits while you're not looking! Dogs chew to relieve stress or for mental stimulation. Make available appropriate chew toys and keep items you don't want to be chewed out of reach, and don't hesitate to use the crate, especially at the beginning of your time together! It helps keep your pup (and your belongings) safe, but it also helps them feel safe.

Meeting The Other Pets

Hopefully, the pets you already have are just as excited about the new addition as you are. It’s a big adjustment for your furry friends so expect a little bit of an adjustment period while they figure each other out!

• Let your pet(s) meet the new dog BEFORE he comes home, if possible. We recommend taking the dogs on a walk together so they begin to feel like a pack. Walking them in the same direction takes the pressure off a head to head meet and greet and will help with a smooth integration.

• When the new dog does come home, re-introduce all pets with the new dog in a crate for safety. Wait until all pets are calm and relaxed, even if that takes several hours, before introducing each pet on leash. Watch for signs that either pet is stressed, and separate if necessary. Do not try to push them to be friends too fast. Slower is better!

• Crate the new dog periodically to give your resident pet a break, especially if he seems stressed or annoyed with the new dog. Your new dog may spend a lot of time crated in the beginning, and this is more than okay! They need time to observe the rules and routines of the home. A slow introduction is better in the long run for everyone.

• Spend time individually with the new dog and the resident pet.

• Supervise playing with toys to prevent spats. Providing one more toy than there are dogs is a good practice. This way, if one dog gets tired of a toy, there is an option other than stealing from the other dog. Wait a couple of weeks before giving them something of high value such as a stuffed bone or rawhide.

• Enforce rules and instill a consistent and reliable daily routine right away with the new dog. Dogs thrive on rules and consistency, and the more consistent you are, the faster they will catch onto the patterns of their day. This will help with many things, including potty training.

• Even if the resident pet is not a dog, many of the same tips apply. Supervise all interactions. Observe all pets for signs of stress and separate them to give them a break. Cats should always have a quick escape route and utilize the crate to assess your dog’s interest in your cat.

Establishing The Rules

It can be tempting when you bring home a new dog to be a little lax on the rules. Resist the temptation now so you can avoid problems later on. It's much easier to prevent a bad habit from starting than it is to break one. Not only that, but dogs, like children, like rules and structure. It makes them feel more secure to know exactly what is expected of them and exactly what happens if they don't follow the rules. It also keeps order in the household. If you have other pets who already know the rules, they can get quite stressed out by an unruly newcomer. Whatever you do, do NOT feel sorry for your poor little rescue dog. Nobody wants pity, dogs included. For your dog's best interest, put whatever sad past he may have had behind him and live in the current moment. He's with you now, happy and cared for; he has no need for pity.

• Do not leave your new dog unsupervised in the house unless he is crated until he has learned the rules. This way, you can prevent bad habits from forming. If you don't see him, you can't stop him!

• No unsupervised time unless crated also helps with house-training. If he doesn't have a chance to make a mistake, the bad habit won't form. A good routine is triangular; the three points are: dog is in the crate for a period of time, dog goes directly from the crate outside to have an opportunity to potty, then the dog has some free time to roam in the house. Then, back to the crate they go, and the process starts again!

• Do not let your new dog on the furniture or bed unless they are specifically invited! This will help develop a relationship where the dog looks to you for guidance, and will help immensely when you need them to listen to you! Even if you don't keep it up for the rest of their lives, it's always easier to let dogs earn new freedoms than it is to allow certain freedoms only to take them away later.

• Expect your dog to break the rules frequently in the beginning. He is not being stubborn or difficult. Dogs have a hard time generalizing, which means that something he learns in the living room will have to be learned all over again in the kitchen and again in the bedroom. It's easy to get frustrated when you feel like he should understand already, but he still doesn't. It helps to have a sense of humor. It can take 30-50 or more perfect repetitions before a dog truly "gets" a command.

Training & Behavior

Just like children, dogs need to be taught good behavior. Whether you're bringing home a puppy or an adult, you can expect that he will do some things that you don't approve of and maybe have some bad habits. Your dog will need to be taught how you want him to behave. The easiest and most fun way to teach your dog is to take him to "school" (training classes). You both get to meet other people and dogs. You get the benefit of expert knowledge and immediate feedback. Your dog gets socialization. It expedites the bonding process immensely! Both of you may even make a new friend there.

You can also work on teaching your dog yourself. There are lots of resources available, but it can be difficult to determine which information is bad and which is good. If your dog has habits you'd like to break, don't give up on him. Teach him instead! Consistency and persistency are key. Be consistent with your verbal cues and hand motions - "sit" and "sit down" sound very different to a dog. One word commands combined with a hand signal are best! Be persistent with your training and set aside time to practice every day until (and even after) your dog reliably responds to your commands.

Training also makes dogs happy. Studies on the brain show that animals like to have their brains challenged. The mental exercise can be just as rewarding (and exhausting) to your dog as physical exercise. As long as you use balanced methods to teach your dog, he will LOVE learning. Training also helps your dog understand that they are supposed to take direction from you.