How to Take Care of Your Rescue Pet On Their First Day at Home

Many people desire to have a pet, a dog, in particular, to keep them company but only a few consider pushing through with the idea. Perhaps this can be attributed to the fact that owning a pet entails various responsibilities to ensure the overall well-being of the animal that you want to take care of. The responsibility is even heightened when you adopt or rescue a pet because you have to be able to handle their trauma. This article concentrates on how you will be able to take care of your rescue pet on their first day into your home, or even the first week or month thereafter.

Before You Take Your Pet Home

Before you take your pet home, there are quite a few things that you need to prepare such as planning how and when you will bring him home, as well as preparing the things that he needs. You should also dedicate a portion of your home to be his private space. In parallel to this, your home should be ready for your pet’s arrival.

Plan How and When to Bring Your Pet Home

Make sure that you have a plan on how and when you will bring your rescue pet home. If necessary, you can even take a few days off work just to plan how you will pick him up. As much as possible, avoid picking a rescue dog at the beginning of a long vacation because he may be accustomed to this setup, which is not your usual routine. When you pick him up, you should also bring him straight home without having to make unnecessary and distracting stops.

Prepare the Things Your Pet Needs

Before you pick up your new rescue pet, make sure that you have prepared everything that he needs. The animal lovers behind Pet Haver suggest that you gather all the supplies that will make him feel safe and comfortable. Apart from a leash, along with a food and water bowl, you should also provide a bed for your pet, as well as a pet gate, grooming supplies, toys, and treats. It will also be a good idea to have some training pads as well as some pet-friendly cleaners on hand to address certain accidents in the early stages of your potty training.

Dedicate a Safe Space for Your Pet

If your existing pets already have a dedicated space, make sure that your new rescue pet will have one too. While you may have a certain aversion to a dog crate, you can rest assured that most pets see this as their own space where they can spend some time alone. During his adjustment period, this is where you can visit him frequently.

Make Sure Your Home is Ready

You should also ensure that your home is ready for the addition of a rescue pet. Just like you would when you child-proof a home, you need to walk through your home and keep items that may be harmful to your pet. You may also want to discuss with the other members of your family what their roles and responsibilities will be when it comes to rearing your new pet.

First Day with a New Pet

There are a few things that you need to carefully look into during the first day of bringing your rescue pet home. Both of you may be uncomfortable with each other at first but rest assured that when you show him around and introduce him to the members of your household, you both will begin to be at ease with each other. Also, try to feed him or start training right away just to gauge the extent of where he will follow. Don’t forget to book a schedule with a vet too.

Show Your Pet Around

One of the first things that you need to do during the first day that you take your rescue pet home is to show him around your home. In this case, you can opt to keep him on a leash while allowing him to sniff and explore the interior of your home, as well as your yard. While doing so, be firm in letting him know what is off-limits. You can also show him a designated potty space.

Introduce them to Members of Your Household

After letting your pet explore your home, the next thing that you need to do is to introduce him to the members of your household, including the other pets that you may have. For you to be able to do this effortlessly, what you can try is to introduce both people and pets one by one. Thus, you can ask the other members of your household to stay in another room or step outside for a while, while you are introducing one family member.

Try Feeding Your Pet

As soon as everyone is already introduced to your pet, the next thing that you can try is feeding him. Every dog is different, with some making the feeding time effortless and seem like a breeze, and others making this time a challenge. In terms of the latter, once again you have to be patient. Keep in mind that your rescue pet is still adjusting to his new environment, which means that he may still be uncomfortable eating. To make your pet’s adjustment a bit easier, you can also try feeding him with what he is used to in the shelter. After some time, you can already transition him to another kind of diet that is approved by your vet.

Begin Training Right Away

You can already begin training your rescue pet the first day that he arrives in your home. However, you don’t have to be too extensive in his training. As mentioned above, merely being firm in showing him the areas in your home that are off-limits can be considered as training enough. Even showing him a designated area where to relieve themselves is also a training session in itself.

Book an Appointment with a Veterinarian

You should never forget to book a schedule with the vet as soon as your new rescue pet arrives. They are the ones who are in the best position to help you rear your pet, informing you of their needs health-wise. The vet will also be able to guide you when it comes to the nutrition that your pet needs.

First Week with a New Rescue Pet

Get Your Pet Comfortable

The next thing that you need to focus on after successfully getting through the first day of bringing your rescue pet home is the week that follows. During the first few days, your pet may still seem to be uncomfortable, but don’t worry because getting at ease in a new home usually takes time. Just make sure that you pay attention to him because, in the next couple of days, your pet may want to explore his surroundings more. Otherwise, you may still notice him hiding under the table or not going out of his crate.

During the first week of your dog’s stay in your home, make sure to limit his freedom first because this will keep any of his unwanted behaviors at bay. In parallel to this, you should also consider that your new pet may have some sort of quirk when you introduce or expose him to new experiences such as when you meet other people while you are on a structured walk. All these experiences may be new to your rescue pet, which means that they are not aware of how to react properly. Just be patient, positive, and reassuring, and soon, he will learn how to handle these things.

Create a Routine

During the first week of your pet’s stay in your home, you should gradually establish a routine that you can follow. For instance, set a time when you will go for a walk around your neighborhood or go back to the basics of potty training if necessary. You should also set a time for feeding and tend to stick to the schedule that you set. Make sure to be firm as well, restraining yourself to allow behaviors just because you feel sorry for your pet.

The First Month with a New Dog or Cat

After you and your pet survive the first week of being together, the next thing that you need to look forward to is the first month and from then on, spending many years with your pet. Make sure that your pet has the necessary vaccines, particularly if you intend to enroll him in a group training session. During the classes, you should also pay attention to the body language of your dog to make sure that he is having a good time. Stick to the original routine that you have created, having the flexibility to vary it as necessary.

While it is true that it can be quite overwhelming to be faced with the responsibility of taking care of a rescue pet, your efforts will prove to be worth it in the end. When you give your pet the proper care and attention he deserves, you will gain their trust and loyalty. From there, you will have a buddy that you can count on for a long time.