Bringing Home Your New Dog

 

New Surroundings and New People Can Be Scary for Dogs

Getting a new dog is an exciting and happy time for people. For your new dog, however, being in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people can be scary. It is normal for a dog in a new home to try to protect themself from this frightening situation by attempting to run away. In fact, running from new, unfamiliar surroundings or people is one of the most common situations in which dogs become lost.

It can take several weeks or months before your new dog is comfortable with you and your family. To keep your dog safe during this time, ASSUME YOUR NEW DOG IS SCARED AND MAY TRY TO ESCAPE.

To protect your new dog from running and becoming lost and in harm’s way, we urge you to carefully follow this guide for safely transporting and transitioning your new dog. Patience and precaution will make this experience as safe and comfortable for your new dog as it is joyous and fun for you and your family.

 

Download our Safety Guide

Critical Safety for Your New Dog

Transition Timeline

The transition to a new place with new people will take some time for your new dog. The common guidance during this time follows the 3-3-3 Rule, outlined below. Keep in mind that all dogs are different - some may transition more quickly while others may take longer. Be patient and supportive and let your dog go at their own pace.

3 days

In the first few days at a new home, a dog may feel overwhelmed and scared. They may not want to eat or drink, and may find a hiding spot in the house to curl up in. During this new and confusing time, dogs are extremely vulnerable to escaping and becoming lost.

Give your new dog space and do not force interaction - let them come to you. Be patient and maintain a calm and positive attitude. Carefully follow the guidelines below to protect your dog from escaping and becoming lost and in harm’s way.

3 weeks

Within three weeks, most dogs start to feel more comfortable in their new home. They are familiar with their surroundings, are learning their routine, and beginning to let their guard down.

Even though they have a greater level of comfort, dogs may still feel uneasy and try to escape. Continue to take precautions to protect your dog from escaping and becoming lost.

3 months

After being with their new family for a few months, most dogs feel comfortable and secure. They are starting to trust and bond with their new people, and their personalities begin to shine through.

It is important to remember that any dog can become lost given the right circumstances. Continue to maintain vigilance and take precautions to keep your dog safe throughout their life. See our section Keeping Your Dog Safe for more information.

Pre-Pickup Safety Checklist

  • Check Outdoor Fencing

    If you have a fenced-in yard, walk the perimeter and carefully check the fencing.

    • Make sure there are no gaps that a dog could push their way through, including gaps between the fence and the ground. If a dog can fit their head through a gap, they can push their body through.

    • Make sure all gates are securely closed.

    • Make sure there is nothing that your dog could climb on and jump over the fence.

    • Even after checking your fence, it is important to keep your dog on a leash in the backyard for at least the first few weeks (see the section Keeping Your New Dog Comfortable and Safe at Home below for more information).

  • Create Space to Eat

    Create a quiet space away from people for your dog to eat. They may feel too nervous to eat with people hovering nearby. An empty room or far corner should work.

  • Create Safe Space

    Create a calm, out-of-the-way space that your dog can go to if they feel overwhelmed or uneasy. This will allow them to have a spot where they can feel safe if they become scared.

    • Put your dog’s crate in this spot. Cover the crate with a blanket, leaving the front open so that they can freely go in and out.

    • If your dog is not comfortable going in a crate, create a similar den-like environment by putting a blanket over a coffee or end table.

  • Talk to Children about Dog Safety

    Make sure children understand the basics of how to prevent a dog from escaping their new home. For instance, do not open doors if the dog is not secure, keep fence gates securely closed, and always use a Martingale collar while walking or transporting the dog.

Safety Items to Have before Picking Up Your New Dog

 

Martingale Collar

 
 

Seat Belt

 

Leash

 
 
 

Crate

 
 

Transporting Your New Dog Home

  • Before walking your new dog to your car and while they are still inside, make sure they are wearing a properly fitted Martingale collar. A properly fitted Martingale collar is snug but not tight. When pulled, the collar should tighten, but the two links that attach the loop to the rest of the collar should not touch. In other words, you should not be able to pull the loop completely taut.

  • Attach the leash to your dog’s Martingale collar. If you prefer to attach the leash to a harness, securely connect the harness to the Martingale collar. This will keep your dog safe in case they slip their harness (dogs can slip an appropriately sized harness). Another option for a harness is to use two leashes - one attached to the harness and one to the Martingale collar.

  • Walk your new dog to your car. Maintain a secure grip on the leash. Secure your dog in the car in a crate, or attach a seat belt to your dog’s Martingale collar (or a harness connected to the Martingale collar). Do not release your grip on the leash until the the crate door is fully closed and securely latched, or the seat belt is securely attached. If you do not have a crate or a dog seat belt, you can use the car seat belt by running it through the handle of the leash.

  • If you travel with open car windows, make sure the opening is small enough that your dog cannot fit their body through.

Transitioning Your Dog from Car to House

  • If you have a garage attached to your house, pull your car into the garage and securely close all garage doors.

  • Before opening any car doors, check that your dog’s seat belt is still buckled into the car. Dogs may occasionally step on seat belt buckles and release the belt.

  • If your dog has been transported without a crate or seat belt, do the following before opening any car doors: attach a leash to your dog’s Martingale collar (or to a harness securely connected to their Martingale collar), crack the window, dangle the handle of the leash out of the window, and then put the window back up. This will allow you to have a hold of the leash from outside of the car before opening the car door.

  • After you have opened the car door but before letting your new dog out of a crate or unhooking them from a seat belt, attach a leash to their Martingale collar (or to a harness securely connected to their Martingale collar). Maintain a secure grip on the leash. Loop the handle around your wrist for the most secure grip, or securely attach the leash to your body, such as around your waist.

  • Your new dog may not want to get out of the car right away. Be patient, calm, and positive. Remember that your dog may feel overwhelmed and scared. Maintain a secure grip on the leash the entire time.

  • When your dog is out of the car, walk them to the house and inside. This may take some time. Maintain a secure grip on the leash until your dog is inside and the door is completely closed and securely latched.

  • Keep house windows closed to prevent your dog from pushing a screen out and escaping.

Keeping Your New Dog Comfortable and Safe at Home

  • Give your new dog space to decompress while they get used to their new home. They are likely stressed and nervous in their new surroundings and need time to adapt and adjust. Here are a few things you can do around the house to help make your new dog comfortable and keep them safe as they transition into their new home.

  • Do not give your dog any opportunities to escape from your house! Dogs can seize the opportunity to break out through even the most slightly ajar door.

    • Keep a barrier between your dog and exterior doors. The safest option is gate that is tall and sturdy enough that your dog cannot get over it. After you set up the gate, observe your dog around it to make sure they cannot knock it down or jump over it, even when motivated to do so.

    • If you do not have a gate, be extremely careful to keep your dog in a separate room with the door closed each time an exterior door is opened.

    • Each time you bring your dog into your house, make sure the door is completely closed and securely latched before letting your dog off leash.

  • Your yard is also a new, unfamiliar place for your dog that they need to become comfortable with. A fence will not necessarily stop a dog who wants to escape. Dogs have become lost after scaling six-foot fences. Even if your yard is fully fenced, keep your new dog on a leash when you take them out for at least the first three weeks (remember all dogs are different, so some may take more time than this). Always use a Martingale collar.

  • Slowly introduce your dog to new, unfamiliar experiences, such as taking a walk, running, hiking, boating, meeting new people or dogs, going to new places, etc. You do not want to overwhelm your dog with too many new experiences too close together.

  • Your dog may not feel comfortable eating during the day, even if given a safe space away from people to eat. Make food available so that your dog can eat when they are ready. If you crate your dog overnight and they are not eating during the day, leave their food in the crate with them at night.

  • Fresh water should be available to your dog at all times.

  • Place things for your dog to chew on in their crate or safe space. Chewing is one way dogs may relieve some of the anxiety that they feel from being in unfamiliar surroundings. One great chew thing is a peanut-butter filled kong that has been frozen.

  • Your dog should not be left alone to chew on toys or objects they could pull apart and swallow, including toys made out of rope.

  • Allow your dog to come to you rather than approaching them and trying to force them to interact. Forcing interaction is likely to scare your dog and make it difficult for them to feel comfortable in their new home. As they adjust, they will become more at ease with you and more willing to approach and interact with you.

  • Teach children what to do and not do around your new dog. Children should let the dog approach them rather than approaching the dog, and stay away from the dog while they are eating or playing with a toy. Teach them to be gentle when touching the dog, not pull the dog’s fur, ears, or tail, and not climb on the dog.

  • See our section Keeping Your Dog Safe for more on how to keep your dog safe throughout their life.