The first days at home with a new dog

A quiet start is the goal

The first days in a new home can be a lot for any dog. A puppy may be away from its mother for the first time. An adult dog from a rescue may not have lived in a home for a while and may bring habits and worries you do not know about yet. Dogs Trust’s guidance on settling a rescue dog says it is normal for an adult dog to hide at first and not want to interact, and that letting the dog go at its own pace helps.

This guide brings together advice from Dogs Trust and the Scottish SPCA on preparing the home and the first week. It ends with an original notebook page for recording what you learn. It is not a training or behaviour programme.

Prepare the home before collection day

Both organizations suggest doing the practical work before the dog arrives. Dogs Trust recommends dog-proofing the house, checking for chemicals, wires, medicines and toxic plants, and planning where the dog will rest, sleep and eat. The Scottish SPCA adds removing anything that could be a choking hazard, checking for gaps a puppy could get stuck in, and closing off areas the dog will not be allowed into from the start.

• A den. Dogs Trust recommends a den in a quiet space away from busy routes through the house, where the dog will never be disturbed.
• Bed and bowls. Decide on fixed places for the bed and for food and water.
• Gates. A baby gate can close off stairs or rooms, as both sources mention.
• Essentials. Dogs Trust’s puppy settling guide lists items such as a bed, blanket, toys, food and water bowls, cleaning products for accidents, a collar and tag, and a lead and harness.

The Scottish SPCA also suggests limiting visitors and avoiding any planned building work until the dog has settled, and, if you can, being at home for a few days after arrival.

Find out what the dog already knows

Dogs Trust points out that adult dogs often have an established routine and preferences. Before collection, ask the rescue or breeder what the dog eats, when it usually eats, whether it has ongoing veterinary care, and whether it has any training or behaviour needs. For puppies, Dogs Trust suggests keeping the same food and schedule for the first few days before slowly introducing any change.

Write the answers down. They are the first entries in your notebook, and they help anyone else in the household follow the same routine.

Arrival day

The Scottish SPCA suggests a calm, quiet arrival and keeping the dog on a lead at first so it does not dart from room to room. Let the dog sniff and explore; once it is calm, the lead can come off as long as doors and windows are closed. Dogs Trust recommends exploring one room at a time with a puppy so it is not overwhelmed, and supervising a rescue dog in each room in case of unexpected hazards.

Dogs Trust advises against fussing a new dog. Wait for the dog to approach, keep your hands at your sides, and if it leans in, give a brief stroke on the chest or shoulders, then pause to see whether it wants more. If it does not approach, give it space.

The rest of the first week

• Keep the den undisturbed. Dogs Trust says the den is especially important in the first days. Make sure nobody, including children, disturbs the dog there.
• Avoid visitors. Both organizations recommend keeping the home calm and quiet at first.
• Keep walks short. Dogs Trust suggests short walks in the same place over the first few days, so the dog can learn its new area.
• Start toilet training. Dogs Trust advises starting from the first day, rewarding toileting outside, and never punishing accidents. Even adult dogs may need help.
• Build a routine. Dogs Trust recommends a predictable routine for meals, walks and bedtime, based where possible on what the dog is used to.
• Introduce other pets slowly. Dogs Trust stresses careful introductions to other dogs or cats. See our cat and dog introduction guide.
• Supervise children. Dogs Trust says children should respect the dog’s space and that children and dogs should always be actively supervised.

Keep a first-week notebook

Dogs Trust suggests keeping a settling-in diary for the first three months, noting likes, dislikes, behaviour and eating habits so you learn what is normal for your dog. This original Housemates page gives that diary a simple shape for the first week.

1. Head the page with the basics. Food and timing from the rescue or breeder, the vet’s number, and the den location.
2. Add one line per day. Where the dog chose to rest, when it ate, when it toileted outside, and how long the walk was.
3. Note one thing it enjoyed. A toy, a game, a spot by the window.
4. Note one thing it avoided. A room, a noise, a type of handling. Do not repeat it to test the reaction.
5. Circle anything to ask about. A change in eating, toileting or behaviour that worries you belongs in a call to your veterinary team, not a guess in the notebook.

Our pet-sitter notes tool is a good place to copy the routine once it settles.

Be patient and ask for help early

Dogs Trust reminds owners that every dog is different and some take longer to settle. It also notes that you cannot always know how an adult dog will behave at home from meeting it in kennels, and recommends seeking behavioural support if unexpected behaviour appears. Ask your veterinarian for a referral to a qualified behaviourist rather than trying to fix a worrying behaviour on your own.