It takes about three months for a shelter dog to feel safe in a new space. To help your new furry, give it time and peace. Photo: 123rf.com
Dogs are wonderful, so if you've fallen in love with a furry at an adoption fair and want to take one home, here's how to ensure integrating the new family member goes smoothly.
Living at a shelter is incredibly stressful for pets – it's like being in jail for humans. There's crowding, quarrels with tough-nut street dogs and the food is adequate but not gourmet. Also, other dogs will try and steal your stuff. It takes a toll.
A teeny minority of dogs settle in quickly, but most who come to a new home don't sleep well and are nervous of new sounds, smells and sights.
A rule of thumb is that it takes three months for a shelter dog to feel safe in a new space. To help your new furry, give them time and peace. Speak softly. Pet gently. Give them their food and then leave them to eat alone and in peace.
Ask the fosterer about health but, just in case, arrange for a vet visit within the first few days, just for a checkup. Tell the vet that it's a new pet and ask to pay for a little extra consultation time. Then, bring a list of questions!
Dogs who have lived on the street and in shelters need to learn to distinguish between play and for real. So games like tug-of-war that look like awesome fun to a happy secure pet may appear like a threat to a nervous pupper. For the first three months or so, play gently and make sure that the pet gets a cuddle or a treat, or both, to reward the behaviour.
