Six Rescue Pet Tips and Tricks: Dogs

This month, at Deceased Pet Care, we wanted to highlight something that’s near and dear to our hearts: Pet Adoption. October is National Adopt a Shelter Pet Month. We wanted to celebrate this month by giving you Six Tips and Tricks for bringing home your first shelter dog. Are you more of a cat person? Don’t worry, that’s our next blog.

Create a Covenant

Adopting a shelter pet is a respectable desire. I mean how can we say no to those sad puppy eyes and wagging tail. But while adopting a pet is nothing short of great, it is a big commitment. Make sure you spend time reviewing your finances, your schedule, and your additional commitments before bringing a pet home. It’s best to have your social calendar pretty clear for the first week as these are the busiest and most crucial times with your new adoptee.

Family Matters

Just as adopting a shelter pet is a big commitment for you, it’s also a big commitment for your family or roommates. Before adoption, have a sit down meeting with everyone in your house. Make sure you cover topics like who is responsible for walks, feeding, cleaning, training, and any additional cost or damage brought on by bringing home a pet. Setting clear expectations in the beginning can save a lot of frustrations or problems in the future. By making sure everyone is on board, you can create a safe and healthy environment where you pet know he’s loved by everyone.

Create a Safe Space

Moving from a shelter to a new home can be a mix of exciting and terrifying for your pet. It’s best to do everything you can beforehand and during to create a safe and comfortable space for the transition. Do a walk through your house. Look for anything that could cause harm to your new addition. This includes things like exposed cords, rodent traps, or anything that is easily destroyed by those curious jaws.

It’s also important your pet doesn’t get overwhelmed upon arrival. Introduce him to family members and friends slowly. Being surrounded by a bunch of new faces, no matter how loving can create severe anxiety in your pet.

If you have any pet already living at home, make sure you introduce them to one another on neutral turf. This can be done during a walk, or a play in the park. Make sure the senior pet doesn’t try and dominate the new relationship. You can create a safe and more smooth transition by letting them get to know each other outside the home and then bringing them into a common space together.

Establish the Alpha

This may seem strange, but a dog needs an alpha to follow. Make sure as the primary caretaker you establish yourself as the alpha. This is done with clear commands and consistency. If you don’t rule your dog, your dog will rule you.

Be Consistent

Consistency is key when bringing home a new pet. Your dog needs to feel safe and know he will be taken care of. Find out what time your new pup was being fed before taking him home. Make sure to emulate that schedule. If possible use the same food and slowly wean him to the food of your choice.

Take him for walks at the same time every day. Teach him to use the bathroom in the same location. Use the same commands with the same tonation. Combined, all these details will make you a safe and trustworthy own in the eyes of your pet.

Awareness and Attitude

It’s simple, but just being aware of your new pet will make a huge difference is establishing a safe successful foundation for your pet. Watch for changes in mood, bathroom habits, and sleep patterns. All these things are reflections of deeper issues.

When training, loving, and sharing space with your new pet make sure we show them what we want them to be, not remind them of who they aren’t. Encouragement and affirmation are far more effective tools for training and shaping your new family member into a loving, affectionate, and well behaved pet from the first day to the last.

At Deceased Pet Care, we know the endless joy and happiness that comes from having a pet as part of the family. By following the above tips, and researching many more, your rescue pet will be a welcomed addition for years and years. Thanks for doing your part to give local pets in need a loving, safe, and happy home.

Photocredit: aspca.org