Download Resource – Your New Dog
Introduction
WVHS is so excited you decided to adopt!
We want this to be a positive experience so that you and your new dog can live happily together for a long time.
Here are some tips for starting out on the right “paw.”
First Day Home
Bringing a new dog home can be stressful and exciting for everyone involved. Remember that your new dog has probably been through a lot the last few days. They may have been lost on the streets or surrendered by a previous owner before being taken home by you. Being adopted into a new family can be extremely overwhelming.
What To Do
- Establish a routine
- Allow your new dog to get used to their new home
- Allow your new dog to adjust to their new life
Introductions
If you have other pets at home, take your time introducing your
new dog to them. It is always a good idea to do a scheduled
meet-and-greet at the shelter with your other dogs before
adopting your new dog. This is a required part of the adoption
process at West Valley Humane Society
See our handout “Introducing Your New Dog To Your Resident
Dog” for more information on how to do a successful
introduction. Other animals, like cats, take longer getting used to
having a new dog in their home. See our handout “Introducing
Cats To Household Pets” for more information on how to do a
successful introduction with cats.
Training
Training is an important step to take that should be taken early, no matter what age your new dog is. Socializing puppies is crucial to their development & will help you have a well-rounded adult dog. We recommend training for all dogs using positive, fear-free reinforcement techniques.
3-3-3
Your new dog will need time to decompress from the time they have spent in the shelter. The general rule of thumb is it takes 3 days to decompress from the kennel environment, 3 weeks to start to settle into a routine, and 3 months to truly relax and feel at home.
G.I. Upset
Your new dog may experience diarrhea when they first go home. GI issues are common with stress & diet change. We feed mixed food at the shelter. Some GI issues are expected when switching to a routine diet. This will generally resolve in approximately 5 days. Canned, pure pumpkin or fresh/pureed pumpkin is a great addition to their current diet. Pumpkin is a great source of nutrition & fiber. Plus, most animals find it to be a yummy treat! A good rule of thumb is 1 tsp of pumpkin for every 10 pounds that your animal weighs. Plain, unsweetened, Greek yogurt is also a great option. It has probiotics that help replace healthy bacteria in their stomach. 1 tbsp is an adequate amount per day. If the animal is showing additional symptoms, such as lethargy, vomiting, dehydration, etc., please fill out a vet check form for the shelter veterinarian. If it is an emergency, please take your pet to your veterinarian.
