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How to help your newly adopted rescue dog settle in

Slow down

Many people would think when a dog gets adopted it the best day of their life, they should be happy and excited to see their new family and their new home, just slow down a bit, it's certainly a day that will change a dogs life forever, but for some the feeling of being overwhelmed may cloud everything else.


German Shepherd

and think

Simply being adopted can be a stressful experience for your dog and they have to face it alone. They have been taken out of a semi-familiar environment and plopped down where everyone and everything is new. German Shepherds are extremely loyal to the owners so at this moment they are feeling lost and unsure when they will see them again.  


German Shepherd

about them

You’re excited to start your life with a new family member, but your dog needs time to adjust to the change. It’s called the decompression stage, and there are specific ways you can ensure a positive experience for your new pup. Here are a few tips to help your newly adopted rescue dog settle in.


German Shepherd
  • Keep Calm 
    Dogs take emotional cues from the humans around them. They’re more perceptive than people give them credit for, and they easily know what others are feeling. If you’re in an excited, exuberant mood, they’ll pick up on your energy. If you’re calm and relaxed, they’ll feel the same.
    Dogs take emotional cues from the humans around them.

    Your main emotion when you first bring your dog home will probably be excitement, but remember your dog is already overwhelmed with feelings of stress, anxiety, and possibly fear. They have enough feelings of their own to worry about without adding yours to the list. Acting overly excited or offering your dog too much stimulus will be too much for them to handle. Do your dog a favor and keep your emotions in check for the first several days. Try not to get too excited or too loud, and control your temper when your dog is around.

  • Socialize Slowly 
    From the moment your dog walks through the door, they’re bombarded with new scents and sights. Everything from the people in your family to the pillows on your sofa will be unfamiliar. Depending on their history, so many new things can be intimidating. Socialization is an essential part of raising a dog, but too much too soon can be a bad thing. Make sure your dog gets ample ‘quiet time’ so that your dog can acclimatise to the new surroundings. Be observant to the dog’s responses and go at the dog’s pace. In your dog’s first few days at home, their mind will be working overtime to process all that’s happening.

    Introducing them to additional new things will send them into system overload. Give them at least a week of transition time before starting with socialization. And when you do start introducing them to new people and experiences, do it one step at a time. Instead of throwing them a welcome home party with all your family and friends, invite individual people over only after the dog has gotten used to you and the other people in your house. Don’t try to do it all at once.

  • Be Predictable
    One of the first things you’ll need to do when welcoming your dog home is earn their trust. Establishing a routine is a good way to set them safely on their feet. They’ll feel more confident and safe in their surroundings when they’re not guessing what new surprise they’ll be faced with next. They’ll learn to rely on your predictability and trust you to keep up their routine. If you already have a dog with a set way of doing things do not change that schedule for the new dog. Upsetting the resident dog will cause unneeded stress in the new dog’s life.

    Like anything new, a new dog can monopolize the attention of you and your family. It’s understandable, but it is important to keep your resident pets in mind. Don’t change the household routine for the new dog; work with them to fit into the current pet’s routine.

  • Establish Positive Associations
    An emotional association is a feeling connected to a specific person, object, or experience. Some associations are positive, like the feeling of security a crate-trained dog gets when they enter their crate, and some are negative, like the anxiety that’s brought up when a dog with motion sickness is asked to get in the car. It’s your job as your dog’s new guardian to make sure they have as many positive associations about their new life as possible.

    You want them to feel like their home and all the people, pets, noises, and experiences that come with it are the most wonderful things in the world. You do this by being quick to offer up the things you know your dog loves. Treats and praise are your best options. Make it your goal to help your dog form positive associations to everything in his new environment. Have treats and praise at the ready. If you’re taking out the vacuum cleaner for the first time, dole out treats. If the noisy garbage truck drives by, praise and treat. 

  • Forget Your Expectations
    The first time you interacted at the rescue, your mind is filled with all the wonderful things you and your dog will do together and the bond you’ll share. You imagine how your life will be in the future, and it’s natural to look forward to specific things. It’s important, however, to make sure you don’t develop unfair expectations

    It’s impossible to predict exactly how your relationship with a new dog will play out. You imagine the first few days together to be a whirlwind of fun and heartfelt moments to cement your bond, but that might not happen. The decompression phase is different for every dog, and expectations add tension to an already stressful situation. When things don’t go exactly as you imagined, it’ll be natural to feel disappointed. Your dog will add your frustration onto their own, and it’ll be harder for them to adjust to their new life.

  • Offer Patience
    Your dog’s new life starts the moment they leave the our rescue or their previous family home, but it will take more than a car ride home for them to feel completely comfortable. In general, newly adopted dogs don’t begin to show their true personalities until 6-8 weeks after being adopted. They spend the first few days decompressing and the next few weeks learning about their new lives. They won’t feel comfortable enough to fully relax until they trust the people around them and feel safe in their new environment.

    Trust is something your dog will have to come to on their own. You can’t rush them or force them; all you can do is wait while providing them with the love and support they need. The timeline is different for every dog, and they’ll benefit most when they’re given time and space. Instead of always being the one to initiate interaction, let your dog come to you. Let them do things at their own pace to secure a strong foundation for your future friendship. 

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    Our experienced rehoming team is always here to offer help and advice

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