Introducing a New Dog: Adjusting to a New Home
Written by Lauren Tsao, MS, CDBC, CPDT-KA
Introducing a new animal into your family is always an exciting (though sometimes, stressful) process. When Googling “adopting a new dog”, you will find a wide range of suggestions from science-based to personal opinions. This can make the process of introducing a new dog into your home smoothly seem challenging and taxing. However, it definitely doesn’t have to feel this way.
This blog post is going to outline some considerations you should have when bringing your new dog into your home and in later articles in this series, we will discuss topics like introducing your new dog to your children and your other pets safely. So, welcome to the community of dog-obsessed owners, and get ready for new adventures with your new canine pal! If you need additional help beyond this blog post, don’t forget Faithfully Yours Dog Training offers in-person training sessions in Jackson, MS metro area, and long distance training session options. Click the button below to contact us after you finish reading for further assistance.
Tip #1: Form a list as a family of the house rules you will have in regard to your new dog.
This tip should be set into action as soon as possible to lay the groundwork and foundation for your new dog on what is appropriate behavior and what is not. If you do not have your dog home just yet, this is a great first step to better prepare your family for the transition.
I like to sit down with families during pre-adoption consultations to discuss the formation of these home rules for your new dog and your family about their interaction with the dog. These rules are very personal and unique to each family, however, it is always helpful to have a non-judgmental expert help you form your rules because we can answer questions quickly about what choices are based soundly on scientific findings and which ones you really don’t need to waste time worrying about. (Pro Tip: It is perfectly fine for your dog to sleep on the bed with you without worry!)
My recommendation is to consider things you would like your dog to do, rather than coming up with an entire list of don’ts. For example, one of your rules being that your dog should never bark probably wouldn’t be realistic for many dogs or breeds. Barking is a natural behavior that dogs should be allowed to engage in for their overall welfare, however, we could outline when barking would be appropriate and when barking wouldn’t be appropriate.
For example, is the dog going to be encouraged to bark at squirrels in the backyard? Believe it or not, I have seen entire families fighting about this once the behavior starts because one family member wants to keep squirrels out of the garden and another family member just wants peace and quiet during their at-home work day. It is easier to discuss these expectations in advance than allow your dog or a single family member to set the pace for everyone going forward and then try to fix it later.
Tip #2: Allow your dog time to decompress and adjust.
One pitfall I see in many consultations with new owners is they believe the dog’s behavior they see the first month or two after bringing their dog home, is how their dog will always be. Putting age differences aside for a moment, this simply isn’t true for any dog.
Dogs will adjust to their new surroundings at their own individual pace and this usually has very little to do with their breed, but more to do with how the individual dog. So, try to keep in mind that just because you have owned a German Shepherd in the past, doesn’t mean that this new German Shepherd will behave anything like your old one. This statement also goes for the initial adjustment period into the new home. One dog may immediately feel like playing and exploring, while another dog might want to take in their surroundings for several days before they are comfortable.
When a dog enters a new home, we can see a couple of different reactions from the dog. One example is some dogs will regress on their potty training because they are confused as to where exactly their appropriate potty is now. This is easily fixed by returning to their own potty training plan in their new environment and giving them a refresher.
Another example would be that some dogs who are more fearful or reactive will present as stable or calm dogs for a month or two, however, when they become comfortable within the home, they actually feel more confident in their ability to react to certain situations and be safe. In a brand new environment, we can see the dogs shut down and not act as they would when they are comfortable and secure in their environment. Essentially we end up seeing a dog that is usually more prone to fight on the scale of fight or flight, presenting more flight-y behaviors at the beginning and then slowly becoming more reactive as they adjust. This confuses owners because they believe the dog suddenly changed and the dog didn’t change. Owners could also blame themselves for this change and generally, the change didn’t have anything to do with their dog ownership abilities. The dog was just suppressing these reactive behaviors for fear of what would happen should they present them in the new environment.
The best course of action is to allow the dog to explore their new environment on their own time with your support. Don’t rush into introducing them to everyone, everything, and pulling them around every room in your house as soon as you bring them home. Let them explore on their own and you be their cheerleader. I especially don’t recommend immediate introductions to other household animals as this can go wrong quickly. Decompression can take anywhere from two weeks to three months, so be prepared to see changes (for better or worse) as your dog adjusts.
Tip #3: Be happy, don’t worry!
Again, congratulations on your new pup! The best advice I can give you is to keep in mind this adjustment time is only a short period of their life. You might not feel that you are bonding with your new dog right away - that is okay and it is normal! You might not feel for several months that your new dog is 100% comfortable in their new home or with you - that is also okay and normal! Keep your chin up, hire a certified professional trainer or certified dog behavior consultant if you become overly concerned, and enjoy your new dog for who they are and all the life lessons they will bring you.
