Bringing your rescue dog home
- Bringing your rescue dog home can be extremely stressful for the dog so prepare the environment as much as you can before he arrives
- Make sure he has correctly sized collars, harnesses and leads
- Have a bed ready for your dog in a quieter part of the house. Your rescue dog will be suffering from sensory overload and will need somewhere to escape to
- If there are parts of the house you don't wish your dog to access put in child safety gates before he arrives
- He will need two bowls - one for food and one for water. Make sure he always has water available
- Try to feed him the same food he has been fed in kennels initially. If you wish to change his food phase it in gradually
- Try to keep the environment as calm as possible as he settles in
- As soon as you bring him home take him into the garden. If he goes to the toilet reward him with lots of praise. Keep encouraging him by taking him out often
- Have a selection of toys available for your dog. The best kinds are Kongs, rope toys and intelligence puzzles
- Start a routine straight away. Avoid anti-social behavior such as jumping on furniture (if you don't want your dog on the sofa) by coaxing him away with treats. Start the way you mean to go on!
- Introduce grooming into your dog's routine straight away. It is a great way to bond with your dog and will help him to trust you
- After a few days start introduce an exercise routine. In the earlier days stick to the same route to avoid sensory overload
- Take your dog to the vets for an initial health check
- For extra help 'The rescue dog - A guide to Success' by Vanessa Stead and Ann Stead is a great book packed with advice on training and socializing your new family member
