A Guide for Successfully Introducing Your New Rescue Dog or Cat to Home
There is absolutely nothing quite like bringing a rescue dog or cat home. You’ve opened your door (and your life) to a creature who’s been waiting, sometimes for a very long time, for exactly this moment. However, getting that relationship started on the right foot is important for everything that comes afterward.
Start Very Slow
Your instinct is to introduce your new dog or cat to everything at once. Resist it. What a rescue needs most at first is to feel that they’re safe. Give them a little space with their bed, some water, maybe a little food, and a few items that smell familiar. Let them explore the area at their own pace.
Give Them Time
A lot of rescues come from difficult environments. That might be an abusive home, but it also might just be years spent in a shelter. When your new pet goes quiet or hides behind the couch, it’s not personal.
Follow the “3-3-3 rule”. It takes three days for a rescue to decompress, three weeks to start learning your household routines, and three months to really start to feel at home. You can’t rush any of these phases.
Introduce the Household Slowly
Make sure to introduce the other members of your household slowly. Adults should greet your new addition one at a time. Kids need to meet them calmly. Let your new dog or cat approach people on their own terms. Crouch down, don’t make eye contact, and let them smell you. If you have other pets, don’t make direct contact at first. Let them sense one another from behind a closed door and then slowly increase contact.
Your Rescue Needs Routine
Chaos is kind of the rule for most rescues. For your new addition to really get comfortable, you need to start building a routine right away. Stick to a set feeding time, go for walks around the same time every day, and be as consistent as you can when it comes to your own schedule.
Watch for Stress
Watch your rescue’s appetite, energy, and behavior in those early weeks. Hiding, excessive panting, not eating, or unusual reactivity are signs of stress. If something doesn’t feel right, check in with your vet.
Bringing a rescue home is the beginning of an amazing story. Give it the start it deserves, and both of you will be better for it.
Want to set your new rescue up for success? Stop by Critters Pet Shop or get in touch. We’re happy to help.