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Things You Need To Know When Adopting A Dog

BLLАR wants to make sure that your new furry family member is safe and comfortable. Our dogs may be under stress after a long flight, and are a run risk, especially in the first few weeks post adoption. We strongly encourage you to use a Martingale collar at all times. We also require the use of  Web Master Ruffware harness, (we are not affiliated, its just nearly impossible to escape from) and GPS tracker devices. Please also re-register their microchip in your name within 48 hours – this can be done online, takes 5 minutes, and the cost is $0-$20 depending on the company you choose.

If you pick your dog up from a foster home, his Fi GPS tracker can be transfered to you for $99 Fi GPS/LTE plan fee (collar is free). You can also purchase Fi GPS Tracker using our referral link. Fi will send you and the rescue free collar band.

Fi GPS Tracker

 

Caring for your new adopted dog requires more than love alone. What dog essentials do you need to keep them safe, sound and satisfied? Use this dog adoption guide to make sure you have everything you need as a rescue dog parent.

Welcome Your New Dog Home

Before you bring your new best friend home, you’ll need to make sure your home is ready for them. Follow these tips to ensure a smooth transition.

Give Your New Pet Some Space

Puppies

You wouldn’t give a 2-year-old baby unsupervised access to your whole house, right? The same rules apply to new puppies.

Pet parents can create that area using bay or pet gates, exercise pens, crates or other barriers. And get creative when you need to, she says: “The flip side [of using exercise pens] is to put, for example, the couch inside an exercise pen so the puppy can’t get to it.”

In addition to things like furniture and cabinets that can be expensive for puppies to chew on, pet parents must also ensure any items that are unsafe for a puppy are out of reach of their newest family member. “Move fragile, tippable or potentially dangerous items like cleaning supplies, food and medications to inaccessible locations,” says Jennifer Coates, DVM, from Fort Collins, Colorado. “Tuck electrical cords under carpeting and keep cords for blinds out of reach.”

Pet parents should allow their new puppy to be unsupervised only in their designated small space, accompanied by appropriate chew toys, until they’re around 12-16 weeks old, “when you’re seeing he’s begun to understand his toys and what not to chew on,” Bloom says. “Then, experimentally, give him another 100 square feet of space.”

If your puppy behaves in their newly expanded quarters, expand it again. If your dog continues to behave, expand it again and again until they’re well behaved throughout your home.

Adult Dogs

“Moving into your home is stressful for your new rescue dog. Even if the dog’s previous living environment was unpleasant, it was at least familiar,” Bloom says, adding that stressed dogs tend to act out. “Your dog has just moved to a strange new place, and it can take time for dogs to adjust.”

Here are common signs of a stressed dog that you can look out for:

  • Panting a lot, even when it’s not hot
  • Barking at every little noise
  • Licking, yawning or drooling
  • Refusing treats
  • Hiding

Because you never know how a dog will react to new environs at first, “assume adult dogs are not housetrained and will chew on everything,” she says. That means pet parents should treat their new adult dog as if they’re a puppy, by giving them a small space as described above—at least at first. Because adult dogs have stronger bladder muscles and more fully formed brains, you can allow them to more easily win your trust.

“I will tend to be a lot faster giving the dog access [to the rest of the house] as long as they prove reliable when they get their first set of access,” Bloom says. If they get it wrong, she adds, don’t get upset—simply adjust their access to your home accordingly.

Puppy-level safety rules also still apply to adult dogs, Dr. Coates says. “You can’t be completely confident in what they’ve learned in their previous homes,” she says. “For dogs who aren’t used to crates, try giving them a chew or a toy filled with peanut butter when you have to step away. Most older dogs will adapt very quickly to new house rules when they’re implemented consistently and kindly.”

Senior Dogs

Preparing your home for a senior pet means anticipating the aches and pains that can come with age, Bloom says. For example, if you have hardwood floors or tile floors, you may need to cover them with something that gives your new pet a bit more traction.

“As they age, their muscle mass will deteriorate, and they have a little less balance and a little bit less control as they walk, so they tend to slide around and it can be painful for them,” she says. “So it’s a good idea to have runners or rugs, something so that your dog can get around on the tile or hardwood without being in pain.”

Confining your senior pet to a small area may also be a good idea, Bloom says, especially if they exhibit bladder control issues or symptoms of canine cognitive dysfunction, aka dog dementia. “Make sure they have something fun to do [in their area],” Bloom says, pointing out that games, training and activities help keep dogs’ minds sharp as they age.

Understand Accidents Will Happen

No matter how cute and perfect your new pet appears to be, chances are there will be some hiccups as they adjust to their new space. “Your dog has just moved to a strange new place, and it can take time for dogs to adjust. Expect to see changes in your dog’s behavior as he relaxes into your home over the course of 3-6 months,” Bloom says.

That’s especially true for puppies, she says. After all, they have been taken away from Mom and siblings, as well as the place they once called home. “They tend to be more flexible brain-wise, given their young age, so they adjust faster, but it’s still a stress,” Bloom says. “And obviously, puppies are going through a lot of different changes as they become adults, so their behavior will change more or less constantly for at least a year in most cases.”

The short version: “[Dogs] will get into trouble in their little area, whatever it is,” Bloom says—and when they get it wrong, it’s up to pet parents to guide them toward more appropriate behavior using appropriate toys, treats and plenty of compassion.

Identify a Vet

Your veterinarian will be a crucial ally in supporting and maintaining your new dog’s health—so it’s important to choose the right one.

Ask people you trust about what veterinarian they’d recommend

Check Your Calendar

Do you have any vacations coming up? What about long nights at the office? With a new pet in your life, your schedule isn’t as flexible as it once was. That doesn’t mean you have to give up your social life or that trip to Bermuda—it just means you have to do a little extra planning. Research pet sitters, pet boarding centers and pet hotels in advance of any travel you have planned (or find out how to travel with your dog). And if your day-to-day schedule can be unpredictable or keeps you away from home for long periods, consider hiring a dog walker or dropping your new dog off at doggy daycare.

Dog Adoption Checklist

  • Dog Food. To prevent tummy upsets, start by feeding your new dog the brand they were eating prior to coming to your home. If that is unavailable feed your dog a boiled turkey and pumpkin mix. Then, you can gradually transition to another dog food, depending on  your dog’s own preferences.
  • Food and Water Bowls.
  • Collar. A collar is an essential piece of safety equipment for all dogs. It’s where you’ll display their ID tag with their name and contact information, in case they get lost, as well as any health tags required by the city or county where you live. We recommend using a martingale collar, a harness and two leashes for a new rescue for a first month.
  • Leash. For outdoor walks with your pup, these are a necessity. Start with a standard (not retractable) 6-foot leash, which will keep your dog close and safe while you learn more about their outdoor behavior.
  • Poop Bags. Leaving your dog’s waste on the ground isn’t just rude; it’s a public health hazard. Don’t be that guy.
  • Dog Treats. Whether you’re training your dog to sit or just showing them a little love, say it with a dog treat.
  • Dog Bed. A cozy place to sleep will help get your new pet settled in your home.
  • Toys. All dogs need toys for mental and physical exercise, whether it’s chewing, chasing or snuggling.
  • Nail Trimmers. Clippers can keep your pet’s nails comfortably short and safe.

List of Recommended Dog Food Brands

You probably already know that dry food may contain harmful ingredients and can contribute to an illness or allergies. Below is the list of brands we trust to feed our own dogs. We are not affiliated with any of these brands and recommend them because your dog’s health is very important to us. Most of these brands can be found on Chewy.com.

Click on a brand to learn more.

List of Recommended Vitamins and Supplements

Below is the list of recommended supplements that work. We are not affiliated with any of these brands and recommend them because they worked for our own dogs.