4 things you must remember when bringing a dog home

Whether you are bringing home a puppy or an adult dog, introducing them to your home and making them feel settled is not always easy. Here are some important things to remember.

1 – The travel home
If you are travelling a long way to bring your dog home then you need to be mindful of how your dog might react to being in a car. Cars can be scary places for dogs as it is an enclosed, noisy space that moves and has a constantly changing picture out of the window. Ideally it is best to take your dog on short trips initially to get them used to a car, but if you are fetching your pet home for the first time then this might not be possible, so be prepared and get the right equipment. This might mean a travel crate, a properly fitted dog-guard and some absorbent material and cleaning product in case there are any accidents. Be sure to remember water if the journey is long.

2 – Showing your dog around
One of the most important things to remember when bringing your dog home is that they won’t want to be crowded, so allow them space and take things slowly. A dog needs to be shown the garden first, so let them sniff around and go to the toilet.

Once they have looked around the garden, you can let them explore the house a little. Have a pre-made sleeping area made up for them with a basket or crate and some nice treats or toys inside to play with, but be mindful that your other pets might want to play with the toys too. You should have an easily accessible water bowl nearby.

3 – Introducing your dog to children
The experience of bringing a dog home can be overwhelming and while a child’s first response to seeing an adorable puppy might be to run towards it and play, the dog should be allowed to make the first approach when it feels ready. This is less likely to result in the dog feeling threatened and reacting badly. It is important, especially with dogs that have physical or emotional problems that you explain to your child that they need to be patient and gentle until the dog is more comfortable.

4 – Introducing your dog to other dogs
Dogs are social in their nature but lots of different factors can play a part in how they interact with other pets, such as their upbringing. One way that you can avoid any arguments at the front door is to introduce your pets to each other elsewhere where they will feel less threatened, such as the park. If their first meeting doesn’t go well then separate them and reintroduce them once they have calmed down. You could also introduce the new dogs scent to your home by dabbing its head with a cloth and then spreading the scent around your home, so that your current dog will be used to the smell.

It might take a while for your dog to become settled with other dogs, so you should keep an eye on them and be ready for any disagreements that occur. Dogs will usually get used to each other’s presence after the first couple of weeks.

Cats have very different personalities to dogs and you should supervise them for several weeks in order to minimise any spats. Allowing your dog to chase your cat is a big no-no and will only lengthen the time it will take for them to become friends.

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