Creating a Space For Your Fur Baby

I had pets all my life growing up. A new dog in life is an exciting event and fun venture, but it’s also one that can be stressful for both you and your pup until you’ve settled into a routine. It can take days, months or longer for you and your pet to adjust to each other and for your dog to to get use to your home, especially if your new pet has lived in multiple homes or shelters in the past.

Preparing Your Home

If you know what kind of food your dog has been eating, buy a small bag to keep their diet consistent. You can always change food down the road, but you’ll want to gradually mix the current food with the new food to avoid upsetting their stomach. When you do leave home, consider leaving your dog with an enrichment item, such as a stuffed treat toy or puzzle food bowl. This provides mental and physical distraction and can prevent issues such as separation anxiety.
Be consistent and maintain a routine. Bear in mind that many house-trained dogs might initially be eliminated in your home while they get used to a new environment and routine; you can prevent this by taking them out every few hours.

Welcoming A New Family Member

Elevating the bowls to a level that is more comfortable for them can make it easier for them to eat and drink. A good level is often between their elbow and shoulder.

Although beautiful and durable, hard flooring like hardwood, laminate, or tile is not good for dogs. It’s more difficult to walk and run on hard floors securely. Pets with mobility concerns often walk cautiously on these floors, with a short stride and hunched back to guard against falling. This posture can lead to stiffness and soreness in their muscles and, ultimately, to reduced activity around the house throughout the day, causing stiff, sore joints. This is often why older dogs appear to sleep more.

If you already have dogs or cats at home, make sure they are up to date on their shots and in good general health before introducing your new dog. New family members can be stressful for pets, so you want all pets in your home to be mentally and physically healthy before adding any additional stress. A crate may look to you like the canine equivalent of a jail cell, but to your dog, who instinctively likes to den, it can be a room of their own and can make crate training easier in some cases. The crate should be roomy enough to allow your dog to stand up, turn around and sit comfortably in normal posture. Make mealtimes a (supervised) puzzle for animals’ mental and physical enrichment. You may need to help and encourage your older pet to go outside more frequently to eliminate. Think of what you did when they were a puppy – taking them outside every 2-3 hours throughout the day to avoid elimination in the house. They may need a harness that offers comfortable support around their hind end if they have trouble holding the posture to urinate or defecate. Talk to your veterinarian or rehabilitation therapist about the best options for your dog.