Bringing Home a New Dog: Essential Tips To Follow

If you are getting ready to bring home a new dog, you are likely equal parts excited and nervous. That is totally normal!

Whether you're adopting a puppy or welcoming an adult rescue dog, those first few weeks are critical for setting the tone of what life with your new pup will be like. So, how do you make the transition smooth and successful?

Here’s a breakdown of what to do when you bring your new dog home.

1. Dog-Proof Your Home

Think of your dog as a toddler with superpowers. That means anything chewable, swallowable, or climbable is fair game. Tuck away wires, secure trash cans, block off unsafe areas, hide your shoes, and get down on their level to spot any potential dangers.

According to Trupanion, nearly 90% of accidental pet poisonings happen at home.

Removing hazards like houseplants, cleaning products, or small objects matters more than you might think.

Learn More: How To Dog-Proof Your Home

2. Make a Vet Appointment

Even if your dog seems healthy, a vet visit within the first week is a must. You’ll want to check for parasites, update vaccinations if needed, and get a baseline for their health.

If your dog was adopted, many shelters and rescues will have already started the vetting process. However, following up with your vet helps build that long-term care relationship and allows you to address any concerns you have quickly.

Learn More: How To Choose a Veterinarian

3. Keep a Leash On, Even Indoors

Obviously you'll leash your dog when taking them outside. But keeping a leash on your dog inside the house during the early days gives you quick control for gentle guidance. It's especially helpful when teaching boundaries and preventing accidents or chaos.

What’s more, it’s easier to pick up a leash than grab a dog’s collar, and it’s also less invasive for your dog. If you have a nervous dog that may react if you get a little too close a little too fast, a leash is a safer option and helps your dog learn to trust you without feeling overwhelmed.

4. Use a Crate

If you’d use a crib for a baby, think of a crate in the same way.

Crate training isn’t about confinement. It’s about creating a safe, calm space. Dogs naturally seek den-like areas, and crates help with everything from potty training to anxiety.

Using a crate also provides your dog with a safe place to stay if you are unable to supervise them. A new dog should never be given free rein of your house right off the bat. So, if you are unable to supervise your new dog, pop them in their crate.

5. Always Keep ID On Them

Whether it’s a microchip, ID tag, or both, your dog should have some form of identification on at all times (with the exception of when they are safely crated). This is particularly true in those early days when they’re more likely to bolt out a door or sneak through a gate.

Petco Love reported that microchipped dogs are 30% more likely to be reunited with their owners compared to those without chips. So, be sure your new dog is chipped and that their information is registered to your name.

6. Use Baby Gates

Freedom is earned, not given, so it's essential to slowly give your dog access to your house as they prove they won't chew your furniture or have accidents. Baby gates can help gradually give them more freedom as they prove they are trustworthy.

Baby gates are also a lifesaver for setting boundaries, especially when your dog is still learning the layout of your home or off-limit rooms (like a nursery or your kid's room).

7. Supervise When Out of the Crate

Again, freedom is earned, not given. When your dog first comes home, anytime they are out of the crate, you should be watching them to make sure they don't start engaging in unacceptable behaviors (i.e., chewing, going potty inside, jumping on counters, etc.).

Remember that your home is completely new to your dog. Even if they came from a foster home where they learned basic commands and were potty trained, they don't know the rules in YOUR home. So, supervise them and help them learn the boundaries so they don't get into trouble.

If you can’t supervise them, pop them in their crate!

8. Wait To Introduce Them To Other Pets

If you already have a dog, the idea of your pup having a new friend to play with is likely one of the reasons you got a new dog. However, rushing intros and forcing interactions quickly can create tension and even result in a dangerous situation.

Give your new dog time to adjust before making introductions to other pets. That first week should be all about decompression and bonding with you, not navigating other furry personalities.

Even if your current pets and the new dog interacted during a meet and greet, keep them separate at first. Then, slowly introduce them through pack walks, baby gates, exposure while crated, and leashed time indoors where they are in different areas of the same room.

The goal is peaceful coexistence before full interactions.

In addition, if you are getting a dog from a shelter, waiting at least a week before introducing your dog to the new dog can help prevent the spread of any illnesses the shelter dog may have. It’s not uncommon for shelter dogs to have ailments like kennel cough or giardia.

While these are generally not life-threatening, it’s always good if you can prevent any potential spread of these types of issues.

Learn More: How To Safely Introduce a New Dog to Your Dog

9. Supervise Around Kids

You may have background on how your new dog does with kids, and that information likely indicated that they would be good with kids. However, even the most patient dogs can get overwhelmed, especially in a new environment.

In fact, more than 50% of dog bite victims are children, so it’s critical to monitor your kid’s interactions with any dog.

Teach kids how to respect your dog’s space, and always supervise interactions to prevent accidents or misunderstandings. Also, consider minimizing interactions between your new dog and your kids at first, especially during the decompression period.

As with introducing your new dog to your current pets, peaceful coexistence before full interactions is the goal.

Learn More: How To Safely Introduce Your New Dog to Your Kids

10. Limit Visitors and Adventures

Everyone will want to meet your new dog, but you should wait before making those introductions. Too many new people or places too soon can overwhelm your dog and delay their ability to settle in.

Most behaviorists and trainers recommend a “low-stimulation environment” during the adjustment period to avoid fear-based reactions or anxiety. So keep those initial interactions to just the people in your home, and limit walks to your neighborhood only at first.

Slow and steady wins the race.

Learn More: How To Introduce Your Dog to New People

11. Be Patient

Here’s the truth: your dog might not eat for a couple of days. They might bark, have accidents, or cry in the crate. If they are really nervous, they might not go to the bathroom at all for a couple of days.

This is all normal. Adjustment takes time, and your calm, patient energy goes a long way.

Remember that your dog is learning everything from scratch. This includes your routines, your house, and how to trust you. Some dogs adapt in days, while others take months. So, stay calm, go slow, and don't expect perfection.

Remember: the dog that walks through your front door on day one may be different personality-wise from the dog that is in front of you in three weeks or three months.

Learn More: Dog Decompression

12. Start Training Immediately

Don’t wait for bad habits to form. Start teaching basic commands and enforcing rules from day one. Training builds communication, trust, and confidence for both of you.

Training sessions don’t have to be long. Even though some trainers say sessions can last 45 minutes, the AKC recommends five-minute sessions. Ultimately, the length of your training sessions will likely depend on your dog’s attention span and your schedule.

But, no matter what, you should start training immediately.

13. Be an Advocate for Your Dog

One of the best ways to build a bond with your dog is to advocate for them. But what does that mean?

It means helping them understand that you have everything under control and will handle situations that arise that may make them uncomfortable.

So how do you do this? If you see your dog is uncomfortable in a situation, place your body between your dog and the situation that is making them uncomfortable. The physical act of showing your dog you will protect them builds trust and solidifies a relationship.

14. Be Consistent

Dogs thrive on routine. It helps them feel safe and settled in a new space. Feeding, walks, rules, and bedtime should follow a predictable schedule.

For the first few weeks (or longer), try to maintain a fairly consistent routine to help your dog settle in.

15. Restrict Access to Toys

Until you know your dog’s play style, don’t leave toys out unsupervised. Some dogs tear apart plush toys in minutes and ingest the pieces, causing blockages. Others guard resources like bones, resulting in fights.

Controlled access helps prevent problems. Additionally, making it a point to monitor your dog when they have a high-value chew bone, even after they are settled into your home, can help ensure no altercations break out between them and any other pup you have in the house.

It’s always better to be safe than sorry in these scenarios.

Learn More: Things Should Always Supervise Your Dog With

16. Feed Away From Other Animals

Honestly, this is one you should do all the time. To prevent food aggression or resource guarding, feed your dog in a separate space from other pets.

Even if it seems like all your pets can eat together peacefully, you never know when an issue may arise, resulting in a potentially dangerous situation. It’s not worth the risk.

17. Follow the 3-3-3 Rule

This general guideline gives you a timeline of your dog's potential adjustment period:

• 3 days to decompress

• 3 weeks to start learning routines

• 3 months to truly feel at home

Every dog is different, but knowing this rule helps you set your expectations and avoid frustration.

Learn More: The 3-3-3 Rule

Final Thoughts

Those first few days with a new dog are a whirlwind, but a little structure and patience can go a long way.

Focus on creating a safe, predictable, and loving environment. Soon enough, your new dog won't just be a pet; they'll be family.

Sources

1. Gunter, B. (2025, March 4). Pet Poison Prevention Month: How To Protect Dogs & Cats. Retrieved from https://www.trupanion.com/pet-blog/article/pet-poison-prevention

2. Gibeault, S. (2024, July 17). How To Fit Dog Training Into Your Busy Life. Retrieved from https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/fit-dog-training-busy-life/

3. Quarracino, A. (2021, October 19). Do Lost Pets Find Their Way Home? Retrieved from https://petcolove.org/lost/articles/do-lost-pets-find-their-way-home/

4. Natalie. (2020, October 5). 10 Facts About Kids and Dog Bites. Retrieved from https://safer-america.com/10-facts-about-kids-and-dog-bites/

5. Off Leash K9 Training. (2013, September 23). How Long Should I Work My Dog on Obedience per Day. Retrieved from https://www.offleashk9training.com/how-long-should-i-work-my-dog-on-obedience-per-day-dog-training-northern-virginia/