How to welcome your dog in his new home?

D-Day has come. All decisions are final. The choice of breed, where to adopt him, gender and age of the dog are decided. It's official.

Regardless of all the rational decisions registered and decided upon, the choice of the animal always remains a matter of mutual affinities and love at first sight.

Adopting a dog for the next 10 to 15 years is the beginning of a story of love, complicity, trust and mutual respect. Buying a dog of any kind is making sure you have a faithful companion for the years to come.

In this article, we give you tips that will be very useful when your dog arrives in his new home.

Transporting your dog after adoption

Now that everything is in place to welcome the new family member, you have to go and get him.

It is important to ask the breeder or seller about the food the dog is already used to in order to provide him, at least at the beginning, with the same food to avoid health problems. You can always change it later.

For a short car ride, it is usually enough to sit close to the dog and calm him down. It is therefore preferable to have a driver and a passenger to take care of the dog you have just adopted.

A towel may be necessary to limit the accumulation of hair on car seats as nervous dogs tend to shed a little more or in case of potential damage related to increased anxiety.

In the event of heat, it is possible to open a window and let him breathe through the opening while making sure that he cannot jump out. The car ride is stressful for the newcomer, but when short, it goes rather well and the animal tolerates it without too much trouble.

For a longer trip, there are some points to observe in order to preserve the dog and offer him a trip as relaxed as possible:

• Make sure you have a passenger to take care of the dog during the trip or a driver so you can take care of him.
• Allow some time before dusk on the return trip so that the newcomer can get acquainted with his new surroundings before dark.
• Make sure that the dog is not fed at least 5 hours before the car trip to avoid an upset stomach.
• Keep a towel, bag and paper towel in case the newcomer has a slight mishap due to the stress of the move.
• If the journey is long, take a break for a walk every hour.
• If the dog's behaviour changes and intense panting and watery discharge of the fangs occurs, then it is best to stop for a short while, calm him down and walk him until his behaviour returns to normal.

The means of transport and the way of doing things can vary according to the route to be taken. If the purchase was made via the web in another country and the dog has to take a plane, then it is necessary to ensure that the breeder or seller will provide a crate that is adapted to the animal and in compliance with the standards established by the air carrier company.

The arrival in his new home

Once there, it is best to take the dog out of the car and let him discover his outside environment. If he's a puppy, he is usually shy and doesn't really need a leash because he is inclined to stay close to humans. In any case, he's easy to catch if he starts running away.

Showing him the place reserved for his natural needs is the first thing on the list. Next, introduce him to the rest of the grounds. After the car trip, he is usually delighted to discover this new playground.

For an adult dog, it is preferable to keep him on a leash to prevent him from running away as soon as he arrives. He must discover his new environment and adapt to it little by little.

Be calm with your new dog

Overly enthusiastic demonstrations will only excite the newcomer, whatever his age. It is therefore preferable to surround him with quietness and let him come to each member of the household at his own pace.

Quiet contact should continue for a few days after arrival to allow the new family member to slowly become familiar with his new friends and surroundings.

Letting him come to you for games or cuddling is often the best way to go. In any case, with a dog, it never takes long before he comes to seek attention of new family members.

Let him discover his new environment

Once he has met everyone, he can set off to discover his new home. Inside, he will tend to sniff everywhere because all smells are knew to him.

Letting him do this without disturbing him, while keeping a watchful eye on him, will allow him to feel good everywhere and thus discover his new home his own way.

Show him his bed

After a little while, he will be tired and will try to lie down or cling to feel safe. It's time to let him know where he will sleep by bringing him to his little bed, pillow, dome, etc.

Where will he go to relieve himself?

After his nap and as soon as he wakes up, take him outside or into his litter box so he can relieve himself. Sometimes it may take a little while before he understands what he needs to do, but after rest, the dog often needs to relieve himself.

Once this is done, don't hesitate to caress and compliment him cheerfully so that he understands this is the right way and that he wants to do it again the same way.

The new rhythm of your adopted dog

The dog must find his own rhythm in the schedule of his new home. These steps are simple but he must still take the time to adapt to know the specific areas of his new home where he can meet his own needs, such as :

• Finding water
• Eating
• Sleeping
• Relieving himself
• Activities

The first few nights

Each owner will establish a different routine for the first few nights. Some prefer to put the dog to bed with them and take him out as soon as he wakes up, while others prefer to put him directly in his bed or in his designated place and respond according to the animal's need to go out.

Several methods can be used, just find the right one that works for your household.

When a new dog arrives, the important thing is to give your dog time to get to know his environment, the other animals and the people in it.

Once he has adapted, he can learn to appreciate visitors and other friends, but until then he must be able to learn how to manage all the activities of the household before learning about strangers or other new elements.