What to Expect When You’re Expecting… to Adopt a Dog

Bringing home a new dog is simultaneously one of the most exciting and terrifying things that I have ever experienced. Finding a dog that you love and want to give a home to is really exciting. I immediately wonder if he/she will like belly scratches or sleep in my bed. I want to know his/her favorite toy or favorite treats. Getting a new dog is exciting. It’s so exciting that you’ll probably want to take that dog home right away. However, there is usually a waiting period before your application is approved and you can bring the dog home. The amount of time that this take can vary a lot from shelter to shelter and within the same shelter depending on the time of year, day of week, or the dog you applied to adopt. Instead of being impatient and daydreaming about all of the fun you’ll have with your best friend, you should use this time to prepare yourself and your home. You’ll definitely have to buy supplies like food and bowls, but I want to use this post to tell you about other things you can mentally prepare for when adopting a new dog and how I’ve learned to get through the first hours, days, and weeks.

It’s overwhelming to be responsible for another creature.

I’ll be honest, this is the most stressful part of bringing home a newly adopted dog. It scares me every time I bring home a new dog. You’re used to your own routine. You get up at a certain time, go to work, come home, cook, etc. With a new dog, you have to make time to get up to feed him/her or go for a walk. Maybe you have another dog and are already used to this, but it can be a big adjustment if you don’t. The number of small changes that you will have to make can be overwhelming. The most important thing to remember is that you don’t immediately need to plan out every day of your life for the rest of your dog’s life. Incorporating small tasks, like feeding, into your schedule become automatic with time. The extra steps you’ll have to take to make sure your dog is exercised and fed are well worth it for the love you will receive in return.

It seems like my new dog doesn’t like me.

What if you just committed to keep a dog for life, but he/she doesn’t like you? Well, this is always possible, but I’ll assume that you picked this dog for a reason. You probably had a connection with him/her when you met, so there’s a good chance that everything will be fine. It’s also important to remember that he/she probably won’t be attached to you right away. How would you feel if you were suddenly brought to a new home, with people you have never met before, and no one could explain to you what happened. Your dog may take more or less time to adjust and bond with you depending on his/her past. This warm up period could take longer if a dog lived somewhere else for his/her entire life and suddenly ended up in the shelter. They don’t know who to trust and they’re probably heart broken. No matter what your new dog’s past is, it will take time for your bond to develop. There are no rules for predicting how long it will take. It’s also important to remember to respect your new dog’s boundaries as it will help them feel more comfortable. And sometimes, it can be two steps forward and three steps backward, so be patient.

I don’t know what he/she wants or he/she won’t listen to me.

Uh oh, your dog won’t sit when you give the command. Your new dog probably hasn’t quite figured out that you’re the person in charge, yet. You should be patient with your new dog and begin to establish a trusting and healthy relationship. This means that you should avoid getting angry over his/her lack of obedience. Using high quality treats and giving clear commands when your dog is looking at you, is the best way to get your new dog to listen. It could also be the case that your new dog doesn’t know the command that you’re telling him/her. If you have experience with previous dogs, then you can probably teach most basic commands yourself. There are also a lot of resources online to help you. However, if your dog is really starting from scratch and you don’t know where to begin, then this is the time to begin working with a reputable trainer. Dog training should be a positive experience for both you and your dog and it can be a great way to bond. It’s important not to panic over your dog’s disobedience. There are many things that you can do to help your dog behave better, but they take time. A common mistake is pushing your dog too far too fast or not giving the dog the time he/she needs to get used to his/her new house and training. If you can’t figure out what to do, you can reach out to the shelter where you adopted that dog. Shelters don’t want to have dogs returned for many many reasons, and will usually point you in the right direction. Your vet can probably also help with this.

I can’t tell if he/she is sick.

It takes time to learn what is normal for your dog and what is not. This can be an even bigger concern if this is your first dog and you don’t really know what warrants a trip to the emergency vet or what is minor. You should remember that everyone starts somewhere and it’s always okay to ask friends with dogs or, even better, call your vet if you have questions. I am always on high alert for illness for the first few months after adoption. For me, a lot of this concern is based on the fact that I only adopt senior dogs, which can be abandoned for health issues or they are more susceptible to age related diseases. This is something you should be aware of because there is never a guarantee that all health issues were noticed and treated at the shelter (true for dogs of all ages). This shouldn’t scare you, but you should be aware that after the first few days, you’ve already spent more time with the dog than anyone at the shelter. That’s why it’s extremely important to have your dog evaluated by a veterinarian within a week after he/she has been adopted.

I don’t know what my dog will do when I leave the house.

I have to admit, I always expect the worst when I leave a dog home alone for the first time. I wonder about whether they’ll have separation anxiety or be destructive. I know that I tend to have separation anxiety and I have to be aware of putting that on my dog. I always want them to know that I’ll be back and that it’s okay to be there without me, while simultaneously convincing myself that my dog will be fine. I have some things that I always do when I get a new dog that help with my anxiety and set him/her up for success. The first thing is that I always start by leaving my dog for short amounts of time and work up to longer absences. It’s important for your dog to know that you come back and if you can make him/her comfortable at home without you, it could help prevent destructive behavior and anxiety. It will also help you feel confident that your dog is safe at home alone. This is why I like to pick up a newly adopted dog on a Friday or Saturday if possible. You don’t want your first absence to be an 8-hour work day. Another thing I do is set up the house to reduce the number of things that can happen while a dog is alone. If I don’t know whether the dog is a toy destroyer, then I won’t leave stuffed toys in his/her reach while I’m gone. I will also put all shoes, bags, or other miscellaneous items away in case my dog decides to chew on something. I shut the doors to as many rooms as possible (especially the bathroom) and reduce the number of places I have to worry about things away.

Tiger Lily's first weeks at home (September 2018)