Introducing a New Dog to Your Home

Bringing a New Puppy (Dog) Into Your Home

When you bring a new puppy into your home there are several precautions you need to take and various things you can do to make your home environment safe for the puppy.

Before you bring the new puppy home, make sure you have reduced the possibility for accidents.

• Hide cords that the puppy will be inclined to chew.
• Make sure doors can be secured.
• Have all harmful foods such as raisins and chocolates put away so that the puppy can not eat them.
• Arrange a small safe area for the puppy to call "home" when you can't be there to supervise it. Investing in a safety gate is one option. A crate can provide a safe haven for the puppy as well as be an ideal accessory when you're housebreaking the puppy.
• Carefully supervise all introductions to other pets. Never leave the puppy alone with your other pets until a bond of friendship has formed between them.

Introducing a dog into your home:

• A mature dog or possibly a senior dog you may have adopted from a shelter will most likely be beyond the chewing and destructive behavior stage. However, it's always better to err on the side of caution.
• Give them a designated space that they can call their own. It may be a bed in the corner of the living room or bedroom, or even a crate if that is what they are comfortable with.
• Again, it is essential that they be introduced to other pets in the same manner as you would introduce a puppy to your current furry family members.
• Anytime you bring a new pet into your home, be sure to give it an adjustment period and some observation time. There's always a tendency to hover over the animal or constantly want to play with it. However, they need some time just to watch the household activity and size up their new home from their designated or chosen point of safety.

By VeronicaHB from Asheboro, NC

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We rescued a dog 4 weeks ago from the SPCA, he is a Husky/Greyhound cross we think, could be a Husky/Shepherd cross. The vet says Greyhound. He is very shy and skittish, does not want to play at all, gentle, good with kids and other dogs, but very reticent. What can we do, how can we get him interested? He will only come into our living room when we are not there, if we are he stays in his bed in the dining room.

By David

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By Deeli 12/08/2011

Schyresti's last paragraph says it all!

Be patient and also don't fret because sometimes it takes a few months for a rescued pet to completely trust, relax and be themselves. The day your baby does feel at home it will be something so simple and so subtle that he/she does that will bring you to tears and your hug of appreciation at that will seal the deal :-)

One of the many cats I've rescued absolutely despised everyone including me. She would spit and hiss if you tried to pet her and most of the time she hid in the basement. She wasn't a jumper so when the winter weather passed I let her out in my tiny fenced yard, when I was home with the back door left open for her to come in and out, so that she could at least enjoy something more than being couped up in the basement or avoiding everyone.

It was about a month later when one day she came inside and dropped a little bird at my feet and looked at me with such satisfaction. It was the look on her face and that she was just standing there staring at me that let me know she finally felt safe. I truly believe that little bird was her gift to let me know she was happy and content and from that moment on she was definitely at 'home'.

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