When adopting a dog through a rescue or shelter, the most important thing that you need to do is give your pup time to decompress. Dogs that have been in a shelter for a long period of time need to decompress and get themselves into a calm state of mind without worry and stress like they were feeling at the shelter; this also pertains to dogs that have been abused by a fellow human. You must have patience and help the dog feel safe in their new home. The most important phase that dogs go through when initially getting out of the shelter is what is referred to as the “Decompression Phase.”
Patience is crucial! Your new dog does not know where he/she is, who you are, whether they will be fed, be let out to relieve themselves or even be safe. Please give him/her plenty of time to acclimate and learn. Don’t rush them to interact with you, family members, neighbors, friends or your other dogs or cats. That is the first few weeks in your home.
It will take your rescued shelter dog an average of 7 to 14 days simply to decompress and begin to relax. It will take your new dog an average of 4-6 weeks to start to learn your routine. You will need to teach him your routine – you cannot assume he knows it. The best way for him to learn is through repetition and consistency: feed him, let him out or take him for walks at the same time each day, praising him when he does what you ask.
People want the dog to fit in and often make the biggest mistakes during this period of time. They will give the dog too much love, too much training, or too much attention. After the experience of living in a shelter, the best thing a dog can get upon getting out is space. Space will allow the dog to decompress from the emotional stress that they incur at shelters and or from abusive situations.
During this phase, allow the dog to see what his/her new life will be without expecting too much from them. Giving your dog limited access for a short time will help prevent his/her world from being too large and overwhelming. Depending on the dog, you can use a tall baby gate so that he can still observe their new world. Crating also gives a dog, a safe place to hang out. You can cover it with a blanket for that secure safe place and put padding and or blanket inside. It can also help with house training. Most people lack the ability to give this life-saving space to the dog and often times the dog will fail. The more the dogs fails, or the more severely his failures are, the more likely he is to end up being returned and not given a chance.
If your new dog is child-friendly, introduce the new dog to the children slowly. Never force the interaction or allow the dog to be cornered to or have too much stimulation and feel overwhelmed. Remember your home is new to your pup, and just as the dog needs to be taught to be respectful with children, children need to be taught to be gentle and respectful of the dog. Also, if your new dog is cat friendly, let the them decompress for at least a week by himself then slowly integrate the animals together. Never force the introduction, and always allow the cat a way to escape from the interaction with the dog.
Take the time to introduce your new dog to family resident dogs slowly. Keep the rescued dog separate from resident dogs for at least a week if not 2 so he/she can decompress and begin to form a bond with you. Then, slowly introduce your new furry friend to your other dogs; it’s always best to introduce the dogs away from the home such as on a walk or at a park to get acquainted. The next step after they seem to get along on the walk is to let them socialize in the backyard, when that is successful then you can let both the new dog into the home along with the resident dog together–you want the new dog to transition into the pack without incident.
The number one rule is to keep your new dog in their crate or separate room during decompression time and always when you are not home. After everyone is acquainted and comfortable, it is up to you as the owner to take responsibility to see if your pet can stay free in the home or if they should be crated. The last thing you want is to come home and find an awful accident because you left your animals unattended to make their own decisions. After the two-week shutdown, if your new dog is doing well, take the dogs on short walks together in the neighborhood. Ideally with one person per dog. Speaking of dog interactions, how do you know if they are going well? Look for: loose tail wag, soft eyes, wiggly body. You will know the dogs need some more space if you notice: very stiff posture, ears forward, hackles raised and/or avoidance. When introducing the dogs, allow a 3 second rule for the first sniff and then lead them away from each other. To learn more about the 3 second rule please visit:
http://www.thrivingcanine.com/letting_dogs_meet_the_three_second_rule
There is no rule that says a dog should be fed from a bowl. It is fine in most instances to get to know your new dog by hand feeding. Hand feeding meals can help the dog bond with you and your family. It also gives shy dogs confidence and teaches outgoing dogs a little self-control. Meal times should also be scheduled, setting feeding times will give the dog needed structure and security. Feeding your new dog will also help with house-training because if you know what and when your dog ate, you know when to give them a bathroom break.
While your dog may have been housebroken in their previous living situation this may not be the case in a new home. Dogs that are in shelters do not have enough potty walks, sometimes none, so be patient. Teach the dog where to eliminate, they can’t be expected to know where to go and what to do in a new environment unless he is taught and he learns by repetition, consistency and praise when he goes in the right place.
Remember that you made the decision to care for this dog and make him a member of your family. We cannot stress how important PATIENCE is during the initial stages with a rescued shelter dog. The beauty in all of this is watching his or her personality emerge as they learn to trust, gain confidence and feel safe.
If you need assistance during the acclimation period or with introductions to children, dogs and cats, or if certain behavior issues have surfaced at any time seek a professional to help you! PLEASE DO NOT GIVE UP ON YOUR NEW FAMILY MEMBER!! Realize the impact returning the pup will have on their emotional state and the negative effect on the future adoption of that dog. If you need help finding a trainer or Behaviorist reach out to the shelter or rescue and they can give you some recommendations.
