Becoming a pet parent is not an easy task.

Most owners bury themselves in research over the best way to raise a puppy, to the best nutrition, and so on. After realizing everyone has a different way of raising a puppy, It shortly gets overwhelming. We thought we could by giving a list of things to consider when bringing a dog home.

Dogs can take up to weeks to show their true colors and personality. Most puppies or dogs will sleep a lot the first few days to even weeks until they realize they are safe.

Decompression.

It is super important to follow decompression protocols with your new pup. This means taking it slow with your dog. Start doing decompression walks around the backyard or neighborhood on at least a 15-20ft long line. Give them three to six days to adjust, and during this time take it slow with new people or dogs.

If you already have a dog in the home, follow at least a 7-14 day shutdown period where neither dog interacts with the other, just coexisting. Skipping this step can lead to more problems when the new dog gets older.

Enrichment.

Extra enrichment with treats or kibble inside their kennel or safe space. Especially if walking your dog is not possible yet, we recommend additional mental enrichment through puzzles, games, or scent work.

The stricter you are with a routine at first and more consistent, the easier it will be for your dog to adjust—plan for rigorous scheduling of feeding time and potty time. Plan to take them outside every 1-2 hours, depending on size and age. The more you prevent accidents in the house, the faster they adjust to a new living environment.

Focus on the bond.

Do not ask too much of your pup during the decompression phase, but focus on creating a bond that will help your dog adjust. Bonding during training might look like learning the foundation of obedience like a touch or learning their name. It focuses less on the dog performing than you starting the bond through meeting their needs with species-appropriate activities. Bonding can also start with simple tricks or manners that you reward heavily with treats or toys.

Whether your dog is a puppy or a shelter dog, the world has turned upside down. Know that regression will happen even with the best of dogs. The kindest thing we can do for our dogs is to be patient with them, learning a whole new environment. Remember, dogs have to meet their basic needs like food or shelter before authentic learning can begin.