How to Help Your Rescue Dog Settle into the Family Home Quickly

If there is one living creature on this planet that can bring warmth, comfort, and joy, it’s got to be a dog! For families up and down the UK, bringing a furry friend into the home can truly be a magical and rewarding experience. While many people opt for puppies, others like the idea of rescuing a dog from a shelter and giving it a forever home.

If you lean toward the latter, you need to be aware that many rescue dogs come from difficult backgrounds. For that reason, they may require extra attention and time to adjust to their new surroundings. As long as you’ve got plenty of love and patience, you can help your new rescue pooch settle into the home quickly, while creating a special bond that will last a lifetime. Here are just a few ways to do just that.

Visit Your Vet

Once your rescue dog walks through the front door, don’t waste any time in taking them to see a vet. You’ll want to make sure they’re given a once over so you can be confident their health and wellbeing are in check. Use your appointment as an opportunity to speak to your vet about any worries or concerns. They can provide plenty of tips to help the new member of the family settle in with ease. Your vet can run all kinds of tests to check for any health conditions too.

You may find your vet advises your pooch to follow a raw food diet. There’s a good reason for it too. A raw diet can bring all sorts of benefits to your pooch, including a shinier coat, improved dental health, healthier skin, and increased energy. ProDog Raw are experts in this field. They have a selection of raw food for dogs that you can stock up on. You can use their raw dog food delivery service too, meaning all the essentials can arrive on your doorstep.

Create a Safe and Comfortable Space

When you welcome a rescue dog into your home, they’re bound to feel nervous and unsettled. After all, they will be going into a completely new environment. In the beginning, it can be difficult watching your pooch look frightened and scared of the unknown. Therefore, to make things easier and help them feel more at ease, it’s your job to create a safe and comfortable space. For instance, setting up a designated zone that’s equipped with a cosy bed, some toys, and a water bowl will give your dog somewhere they can go and relax.

Just make sure this space is free from potential hazards. You’ll want your furry friend to feel safe and secure in this zone. Also, bear in mind that your dog may keep retreating to their safe space at the start. Once they start to adjust and get to know their surroundings, you’ll find your dog will come out of their shell and start exploring.

Establish a Routine

It doesn’t matter what type of dog you’ve brought into the family home, if there’s one thing they thrive on it's routine. As their owner, you need to establish a consistent daily schedule from the beginning. It’s going to take a few weeks for rules to be cemented, as you will be getting to know your rescue dog too.

To make things easier, set specific times for walks, feeding, playtime, and bedtime. Consistency provides a sense of predictability and stability for your pooch. Once they get into a rhythm, your dog will feel more at ease in their new environment.

Introduce Gradually

While your first thought may be to introduce your rescue dog to every family member and friend straight away, it’s vital to take things slow. If you’ve got young kids in particular, their excitement and joy may frighten your pooch and cause them stress and anxiety. Therefore, you need to practice the art of staying calm and ensure they’re careful when petting and stroking your dog.

Give it time to introduce your furry friend to new people, situations, and environments. Also, allow your dog to dictate the pace of these introductions. If you’ve got other pets, you must introduce your new dog to them graduallytoo. Ultimately, all you will want is for your animals to gel together well and create a bond.

Bringing a rescue dog into the family home can be a wonderful act of kindness. Regardless of the age, breed, or gender of your four-legged friend, following the tactics above can help your dog settle in much quicker.

You need to remember that each dog is different, especially in terms of adjustment period. For that reason, you must practice patience and be on hand to give lots of love, attention, and of course, cuddles!