How to Help Adopted Pets Adjust to Their New Homes

The amount of time it takes for pets to adjust to a new home can vary depending on the personality of the animal and what it has been through before being adopted. Dogs, for example, can feel comfortable in a new environment anywhere from two days to two months. Patience and preparation can help you make the transition smoother and easier for both humans and animals.

Things You'll Need

  • Basic care items (differs depending on the pet)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase the necessary items before bringing your adopted pet home. If you are taking in a reptile, ensure that you have a terrarium of the appropriate size, heat lamps and substrate for the floor. If you are adopting a dog or cat, obtain leashes, food and water dishes and a bed before you welcome your new pet. If you are well prepared, you will be able to devote more energy to your pet's psychological needs during the adjustment.

    • 2

      Obtain the pet during a time when you will be at home to supervise for several days. This way you can monitor the animal for destructive behavior. Regardless of the type of animal you adopt, your presence over the first several days will help it adjust to humans and will allow you to prevent the animal from causing damage to your home or to itself.

    • 3

      Take your new pet to a veterinarian. Adopted animals sometimes suffer from illness or are not up-to-date on their vaccinations. A vet will examine the animal for health problems and give it any shots it needs, allowing you to rule out health problems if you encounter issues with your pet later on.

    • 4

      Establish rules immediately if the pet you have adopted is a trainable animal. Your pet may have lived with no rules in its previous home, or may have been abused for misbehaving. Firm guidelines and gentle but consistent training regarding barking, potty training and off-limits furniture and objects can help your pet adjust to a healthy life of structure.

    • 5

      Give the animal affection. Socializing a new pet can be a challenging aspect of adoptation since animals may have been neglected or abused. Do not force your new pet to interact with humans if it acts afraid, but if it responds positively to your presence, give your pet affection and attention to help it become comfortable with positive human touch and interaction.