You can make a difference in your new dog's life.
Regardless of your experience with dogs, whether you've had 1 companion or 20, bringing a rescue into your home can be a joyful, entertaining, but sometimes challenging endeavor.
Each dog has her own unique set of characteristics and experiences—some good, some not so good—
and it's up to you to help them learn how to live harmoniously within your family.
Rise to the challenge and ensure your new rescue has a successful entry into your home life
by educating yourself about rescue dogs, training methods, crate training, and more.
Guidance for Adopters of Rescue Dogs. These guidelines offer suggestions for picking up your dog off transport, introducing your new dog to your current dog and/or cat, and more.
Decompress for Success. Adopting a new dog is all about changes for both of you. Use this guide to make the first few weeks fun and stress-free, and you will build a foundation for a lasting relationship.
Training
Your new dog doesn’t come to you with a set of perfect behaviors in place. A little attention to leadership in the beginning will strengthen your bond and will result in a happy and well-behaved dog.
The top experts give you their tips for training. Get a jump on training with these Top 10 Training Tips.
We recommend crating your dog until you are certain that he/she understands the "rules of the house." Learn how to size a crate, why crating is beneficial, and more.
Videos
Before you Adopt
Commitment Factors
Think through these three key factors before choosing a dog to join your family.
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What Rescue Dogs Experience
Understanding what your new rescue dog has been through can help you make his/her transition easier.
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WHILE YOU'RE WAITING FOR YOUr NEW DOG TO ARRIVE
What to get before you adopt
In addition to the items discussed in the video, be sure to purchase an ID tag with your dog's name and your address and phone number. We also highly recommend crating your dog until you are certain that he or she knows your house rules and can abide by them when you are away. Learn more about crate training by reading the handout above.
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Adopting a puppy?
Teach your puppy from the get-go that she will get rewarded for being a "good student." Puppy training can be fun and the payoff will be huge. Follow along with Stonnie Dennis as he teaches the basics in these videos.
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BRINGING YOUR NEW DOG HOME
Bringing Your New Dog Home (Part 1)
Follow these easy and fun steps when introducing
your new dog to your home. The time you spend together will strengthen your bond and ensure that your dog understands what you want from her.
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Bringing Your New Dog Home (Part 2)
From entering your home to identifying potty space, these simple guidelines will help you create a plan for a smooth transition.
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your first 30 days with your new dog
What to expect with your new dog (Part 1)
Commitment and exercise are important for a happy, healthy dog. This video is for active people and nonactive people alike.
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What to expect with your new dog (Part 2)
Develop a schedule to help create a calm attitude in your dog.
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*Thank you to InsideOut Dog Training for these informative videos
Additional Links and Information
Everything you wanted to know about caring for your dog (from the ASPCA)