Tips & Advice for Adopting a Dog

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Adopting a dog can be a very exciting and life-changing experience for both you and your new best friend. With so many animals in need of loving homes, every adoption makes a difference. We’ve put together a few tips for welcoming home your new family member.

1. Time to Adjust

It may take a few days or up to a few weeks for your dog to decompress and adjust to their new life. Many rescue dogs have unknown histories, come from stressful shelter environments or have been transported long distances before they land in your home. Know that it will take time for your pup’s personality and comfort level to normalize. In the meantime, you may have to deal with some potty accidents and unexpected behaviors – your new dog may be particularly clingy or aloof as they adjust.

2. Build Your Relationship

This is what it’s all about! Of course, you and your dog’s goofy and sometimes codependent relationship will develop over time; but when you make some extra effort in the beginning, it goes a long way. Take time out of your day to play with your dog and start training some basic obedience with Pocket Trainers. If your new pup is particularly shy and taking a while to adjust, you can hand feed them their breakfast and dinner – many owners see a difference in their dog’s trust and confidence in just a few days.

3. Stick to a Routine

To help both you and your new dog adjust to life together, it can be really helpful to build a routine that works with your daily life. Start with taking your pup out to potty first thing in the morning, before bed, after mealtime, and after any playtime. Consider a feeding schedule – do you plan to feed your dog once, twice or three times a day? Most adult dogs do fine with one or two meals a day, but young puppies typically need to be fed more often.

Staying at home now? Keep in mind how your schedule might change in your more ‘normal’ life. What time do you leave and get home from work?

4. Balance New Experiences with Downtime

We all want to show our new best friend off, introduce them to new family members, jump into adventures. This is the fun part of having a dog in your life! Unfortunately, right now with social distancing, that isn’t entirely possible, though that may not necessarily be a bad thing. Be sure to balance new, exciting experiences with plenty of rest and relaxation. For the first couple of weeks, keep new experiences often and short. This not only keeps your dog from getting overwhelmed but builds their enjoyment of new experiences.

Recently add a new member to the family? Not sure if they’re a chicken fan or more of a lamb connoisseur? Try a BIXBI Sample Pack. $10 gets you samples of our most popular RAWBBLE Dry and Freeze-Dried, a bag of Peanut Butter Pocket Trainers and a $10 gift certificate good to use when your dog picks the recipe they like the best! 

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