How to Bring Home a New Rescue Dog

Adopting a rescue dog gives the pet a forever home and provides the owners with the satisfaction that comes from saving the life of a dog that is at a possible risk of euthanasia. Selecting the appropriate dog for your situation and preparing your home properly can help create a smoother transition from rescue animal to family pet. Doing things correctly at the beginning lessens the chance the dog will need another home due to incompatibility or adjustment problems.

Things You'll Need

  • Crate (optional)
  • Gates (optional)
  • Dog food
  • Collar or harness
  • Leash
  • Food bowl
  • Water bowl
  • Toys (optional)
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Instructions

  1. Selection

    • 1

      Select a rescue organization based on your experience and needs. Many shelters provide minimal evaluation due to limited kennel observations. Breed rescue organizations typically evaluate dogs in a foster home setting, providing a fuller understanding of the dog's behavior. Visit and talk to several rescue sources.

    • 2

      Work with the rescue group to select a dog that has experience with your situation, such as small children, cats and other pets in the home. Choose the opposite sex of a current dog to improve compatibility, advises the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

    • 3
      Some breeds require a lot of exercise.

      Consider rescuing a dog based on your time limitations and activities you plan to do with the dog. Although younger dogs may adjust easier to a new home, the advantages of rescuing older dogs include a known temperament, they're often housebroken and past teething and they have less exercise needs. Avoid puppies and high-energy breeds unless your schedule allows adequate exercise, play and training time.

    Preparations

    • 4

      Prepare your home by removing unsafe items. If you already have dogs in your home, temporarily remove their toys to avoid fights while the dogs adjust, suggests the ASPCA.

    • 5
      Crates provide a safe place until the dog adjusts.

      Set up a crate or confinement area. Obtain items such as toys and food and water bowls and enough of the dog's current food for one week.

    • 6

      Make a veterinary appointment to provide a checkup, parasite check, vaccinations and other medical needs not already provided by the rescue. Ask the rescue to allow your veterinarian to check any dog not already health-cleared before adoption.

    Other Pets

    • 7

      Arrange to take your current dog or dogs to meet the new dog in a neutral, calm environment where they can see and sniff each other, suggests the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Have an adult hold each dog on a leash and walk near each other to allow time to become familiar.

    • 8

      Bring the dog home and allow it to meet any current dog in the yard or outside before taking it in the house. Once relaxed, take the dogs in quickly and supervise them at all times, crating one or both when you cannot watch them.

    • 9

      Stop any rough play and confine high-value treats, toys and feeding to crates to avoid fights. The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine also advises that a new puppy or dog be prevented from bothering an older or sick dog and to crate or remove current dogs from the room when you need to restrain the rescue dog.

    • 10
      Never force your cat to be around the new dog.

      Keep the rescue dog on a leash, in a crate or behind gates while allowing the family cat to get used to the new dog. According to the Colwill Animal Learning Laboratory at Brown University, it may take weeks or months for your cat to adjust to a new dog.