| You have done your research and found the | | | | five tries to get it right. That is why you should |
| perfect dog for your home. He or she is a shy | | | | purchase small quantities at first until you find the |
| but sweet little or big bundle of fur. You have | | | | brand your dog will eat. The only thing you want |
| brought your dog home. The first thing you do is | | | | to make sure you do is avoid anything with lamb |
| to let your dog sniff around and get used to you, | | | | meal in it. Lamb is difficult for a dog to digest. |
| your family and your house. Now comes the fun | | | | The first day your dog is home with you, it is a |
| part. How do you acclimate your rescue dog to | | | | good idea to keep the doors closed of any rooms |
| your home and your family? Hopefully, you found | | | | that you do not want your dog exploring. Until |
| something out about your dog's situation before | | | | you can determine the level of housebreaking |
| you picked the little girl or boy out. A good rescue | | | | your dog has experienced, it is best to confine |
| society should tell you if your dog was just | | | | them to a certain, preferably uncarpeted, area of |
| neglected or abused or both. They may not tell | | | | the house. Put those potty pads down near |
| you exactly what the situation was that your dog | | | | doorways. If your dog has had any level of |
| faced or for how long, but they should let you | | | | housebreaking, it will probably do its business on |
| know how traumatized the dog was. | | | | the potty pad if it hasn't been taken out for a |
| Depending on what your dog faced before it was | | | | walk in a while. It is a good idea to take your dog |
| rescued, you are going to have to handle your | | | | out every couple of hours at first for two |
| dog with care. In order to get your new friend | | | | reasons. The first is to get it used to walking with |
| acclimated to your home and your family, you | | | | you on a lead. The second is so the dog can |
| are going to need to have lots of patience and | | | | relieve itself outside and not on your favorite rug. |
| lots of love. Once the people from the rescue | | | | You will get to know how often the dog really |
| society who have brought your dog to you have | | | | needs to go out after a short period of time, |
| handed you the leash and left, it is reality time. | | | | probably a couple of days. |
| The first thing you want to do is to get your dog | | | | The first night your dog is home with you can be |
| familiar with its new surroundings. First of all, take | | | | difficult. I recommend trying to get your dog on |
| your new pet outside so it can relieve itself. Then | | | | the weekend so you are not having to get up to |
| come back in and take the dog to the parts of | | | | go to work or school the day after you get your |
| your house or apartment where you are going to | | | | dog. It may be difficult to get this beautiful bundle |
| allow it to roam and let it sniff around to get | | | | of fur to sleep the first night. He or she may |
| familiar with its surroundings. The next thing you | | | | want company because of being in a strange |
| need to do is to let the dog get used to each | | | | place. You can put a treat in your dog's crate and |
| member of the family. Let the dog spend some | | | | very firmly but gently tell your dog to go in the |
| time with each person. If you have little ones, | | | | crate and stay. Let the whimpering begin! If you |
| teach them not to jump or make fast | | | | are very lucky, your dog will go into its crate and |
| movements with the dog. That might frighten the | | | | go right to sleep. If not, your dog will begin |
| dog and he or she will instinctively either jump at | | | | whimpering or outright barking as soon as |
| the person or shy away and perhaps relieve itself | | | | everyone has gone to bed. Come back to the |
| on the floor. Teach them to stay very still and | | | | crate and pet the dog for a minute to reassure it |
| extend their hands, palm up, to the dog and allow | | | | that everything is okay, then say stay and go |
| the dog come and sniff. Then, they can slowly | | | | back to bed. The next time it whimpers, ignore it |
| extend their hand to pet the dog or give it a | | | | for a while and see if it will settle down. Normally |
| treat. Find out from the rescue society if the dog | | | | they will. If not, you repeat the going to reassure |
| likes a particular treat so you can make sure you | | | | it routine a couple more times and then |
| have them on hand when the dog is brought to | | | | eventually, it will settle. The first night our dog |
| your home. | | | | was with us, my son and I took turns keeping |
| Now, the next thing to do is to just relax and get | | | | her company. After the first night, she was okay |
| to know your dog. If you haven't purchased a set | | | | though and settled down and went to sleep |
| of bowls, dog food or a crate your dog can call | | | | without any problems. Guess it was just that first |
| home yet, now is the time to do it. Take your | | | | night in a new home with a new crate. Our dog |
| dog for a ride to the nearest pet store. All of the | | | | has not slept in a crate in a long time now. She |
| major chain pet stores allow you to bring your | | | | pretty much has the run of the house since she |
| pet in on a leash. This is a good first outing for | | | | has shown she can be trusted. She sleeps in her |
| you to try with your new pet. This is a good idea | | | | own little doggy bed which is on the floor of my |
| for a number of reasons. First, you will find out | | | | daughter's bedroom. This is perfectly acceptable |
| how your pet behaves in the car. Some dogs | | | | to us, but everyone must do what is most |
| love to ride in a car. Others aren't so good. They | | | | comfortable for them and their dog. |
| shake, whine, shiver, bark and generally are very | | | | The first days with a rescue dog are challenging |
| uncomfortable. A short trip to the pet store is a | | | | as they are with any new puppy that you bring |
| good way to check this out before you commit | | | | into the house. The dog has to get used to a new |
| to taking a long trip with your dog. | | | | routine and new people and is probably still |
| Now, once you are at the store with a good, | | | | suffering ill effects from the situation it had to be |
| secure leash on your dog, wander around, let | | | | rescued from. Your dog may be skittish, it may |
| your dog sniff at everything and ask one of the | | | | relieve itself any time you or some other |
| associates there what they would recommend as | | | | member of your family come near it, assuming a |
| far as supplies go. We were told to use ceramic | | | | submissive posture, rear end down on the floor, |
| or metal bowls for food and water because they | | | | looking up at you with a pitiful look and before |
| would be less likely to become contaminated then | | | | you can tell it that everything is okay, well, there |
| plastic. Then, we were told to get a crate | | | | is a puddle on the floor. If your dog starts to |
| because our dog had been crate trained. Make | | | | assume the submissive posture, grab it and put it |
| sure the crate gives your dog enough room to | | | | outside or on the potty pad to relieve itself. Either |
| turn around and lay down comfortably. Who | | | | that or tell that cute dog to come to you. That is |
| needs to be cramped? Crates are used to give | | | | sometimes all you need to do to keep the floor |
| your dog a place they can call their own where | | | | from getting wet. |
| they feel safe and secure. Of course, our dog has | | | | Your dog may have learned behaviors that are |
| chosen a section of our sectional which we have | | | | not acceptable to you and your household. When |
| put her for her. Make sure you get a pad or pillow | | | | your dog does something that is unacceptable, |
| for the bottom of the crate so your dog has a | | | | move it from the place that it is doing that |
| nice soft place to lay down. The only other things | | | | behavior and put it in a different location. Then tell |
| you absolutely should get at this time are | | | | or show the dog what you want it to do. When it |
| whatever type of dog food your rescue society | | | | responds correctly, offer positive reinforcement. |
| recommended and some treats for training | | | | Positive reinforcement of good behaviors through |
| purposes. A chew toy or two are also a good | | | | giving treats and saying, "good dog" when the dog |
| idea at this point. Another necessity are doggy | | | | is doing something you want it to do will keep it |
| potty pads. They sell them at just about any pet | | | | from resorting to those bad behaviors after a |
| store and until you and your dog are used to | | | | while. Remember, your dog wants to please you. |
| each others routines, they can keep floors and | | | | It just needs to learn what pleases you and |
| carpets from having to be shampooed on a | | | | displeases you. It also needs help to break |
| regular basis. | | | | negative behaviors it might have learned as a |
| Okay, so now you have completed your first | | | | method of survival. |
| adventure with your dog and you are back home. | | | | Rescue dogs are wonderful. They are so happy |
| You have spent some time getting acquainted. | | | | to be given a second chance at a good home |
| Now, while one member of the household is busy | | | | that they will work very hard to please you. They |
| figuring out how to put the crate together, one of | | | | do require a lot of patience and love. If you are |
| the others should give the dog some food and | | | | patient and caring with them, they will give back |
| water. Keeping your dog hydrated is very | | | | to you ten fold. After a year and a half with our |
| important. Make sure that water dish is at least | | | | little rescue, I hardly have to explain any more |
| half full and it has fresh water in it. I made it a | | | | that she is a rescue and doesn't play well with |
| habit to change the water in our dog's water dish | | | | others. She has developed a sense of self |
| at least twice a day. You don't like stale water | | | | through love and caring and now she is beginning |
| either, now do you? | | | | to act like, well, like a self-confident little dog who |
| If the first type of dog food you get your dog | | | | is well loved and cared for. We wouldn't trade her |
| doesn't seem to work out, as in, your dog | | | | for anything and we are so glad she came into |
| refuses to eat it, don't worry. Sometimes you will | | | | our lives. Have fun, be patient and give lots of |
| have to try several different types before you | | | | love! You will be rewarded greatly. |
| hit on the one your dog likes. It took us about | | | | |