Your new dog has arrived but before you collect you need to have a slip lead, seat belt attachment or a crate for the car. A slip lead will keep your dog safer and dogs cannot back out of these like collars. It is quick to fit unlike collars and harnesses that need adjusting. Take them straight home and be careful when removing from the car as the dog does not know you and some can be very scared.
If you have another dog it is always best for them to meet on neutral ground so maybe a little walk near the house or in the garden. Keep your new dog on a lead in the garden for a while until you can see if they are likely to be escape artists. If they are nervous it is not advisable to walk them in the first few days or week. Give them time to get used to their new environment and their new family. When you do venture out into the big wide world then please double lead your dog using the slip lead plus a lead attached to a harness. If they slip out of the harness then the slip lead is in place to stop them escaping. Please use the double lead until you feel your dog is relaxed enough in their new environment and have a bond with you.
Most of the dogs are used to outdoor or kennel life so the house will be alien to them. They may not want to come into the house initially because of all the home noises. They need to get used to the family too so it might all be a bit overwhelming. Give them time and space to come round on their own terms. If they will not come in the house, then bring them in on a lead. Give them a space of their own to rest which is quiet and peaceful. They will be exhausted from the trip. Some dogs like a crate as a secure space but others are quite happy with a quiet spot or a little covered den. You might think you have the most well behaved dog but once they have recovered and you will see their character begin to come out.
They can be hungry when they arrive and some are a little underweight too so they may become obsessed with food until they realise food will be regular. Start off with a bland diet of white fish & rice or Chappie. Chicken can make their tummies worse. Feed this for a few days whilst gradually introducing their new food to the diet until they are completely on the new food. You may need to feed some smaller meals 3-4 times a day initially especially if they need to gain some weight. Then go to 3 slightly bigger meals then 2 meals a day. Basically the amount of food should be the same but split up into different meals whether it be 2 or 4 meals a day. They can have terrible manners for a while. Suddenly there are food smells and that nose goes up! They will counter surf and sometimes try to get food off the worktops so please be aware of this. If you have another dog then it is best to feed them separately for a while. The new dog will be hungry and does not know if your other dog will take their food. Also be careful with any chews or treats for a while and only give treats they can eat quickly. Please take away toys until your dogs are more used to one another then introduce the toys while supervised. You may have to take them away again for a while until you can try again. Remember these dogs have had nothing so sharing new things can take some time.
They may not want to drink water when they arrive, they will be dehydrated as the trip is not normal to them so they will not eat or drink properly although it is provided. If they are not drinking then add some water to their food. Some will not drink indoors so put a bowl or bucket outside. Some also prefer rain water to tap water. They also make take a while to pee or poo for the first day or so. This is normal.
Please be careful when opening external doors. If you have a busy road then please put your dog behind a door or use a tall dog gate to keep them away from the door when opening. They can sometimes bolt out the door in the early days as they are scared of their new environment and see the outside world as what they are used to.
Let the dog settle at home with their new family before you invite people round. Perhaps meet people outside initially so they can get used to them with some space. If you have children then please make them aware the dog needs space and does not need to be overwhelmed. The dog will come to you when they are ready, when they start to feel a little better – it is slowly, slowly sometimes but it will pay off.
If you have another dog it is always best for them to meet on neutral ground so maybe a little walk near the house or in the garden. Keep your new dog on a lead in the garden for a while until you can see if they are likely to be escape artists. If they are nervous it is not advisable to walk them in the first few days or week. Give them time to get used to their new environment and their new family. When you do venture out into the big wide world then please double lead your dog using the slip lead plus a lead attached to a harness. If they slip out of the harness then the slip lead is in place to stop them escaping. Please use the double lead until you feel your dog is relaxed enough in their new environment and have a bond with you.
Most of the dogs are used to outdoor or kennel life so the house will be alien to them. They may not want to come into the house initially because of all the home noises. They need to get used to the family too so it might all be a bit overwhelming. Give them time and space to come round on their own terms. If they will not come in the house, then bring them in on a lead. Give them a space of their own to rest which is quiet and peaceful. They will be exhausted from the trip. Some dogs like a crate as a secure space but others are quite happy with a quiet spot or a little covered den. You might think you have the most well behaved dog but once they have recovered and you will see their character begin to come out.
They can be hungry when they arrive and some are a little underweight too so they may become obsessed with food until they realise food will be regular. Start off with a bland diet of white fish & rice or Chappie. Chicken can make their tummies worse. Feed this for a few days whilst gradually introducing their new food to the diet until they are completely on the new food. You may need to feed some smaller meals 3-4 times a day initially especially if they need to gain some weight. Then go to 3 slightly bigger meals then 2 meals a day. Basically the amount of food should be the same but split up into different meals whether it be 2 or 4 meals a day. They can have terrible manners for a while. Suddenly there are food smells and that nose goes up! They will counter surf and sometimes try to get food off the worktops so please be aware of this. If you have another dog then it is best to feed them separately for a while. The new dog will be hungry and does not know if your other dog will take their food. Also be careful with any chews or treats for a while and only give treats they can eat quickly. Please take away toys until your dogs are more used to one another then introduce the toys while supervised. You may have to take them away again for a while until you can try again. Remember these dogs have had nothing so sharing new things can take some time.
They may not want to drink water when they arrive, they will be dehydrated as the trip is not normal to them so they will not eat or drink properly although it is provided. If they are not drinking then add some water to their food. Some will not drink indoors so put a bowl or bucket outside. Some also prefer rain water to tap water. They also make take a while to pee or poo for the first day or so. This is normal.
Please be careful when opening external doors. If you have a busy road then please put your dog behind a door or use a tall dog gate to keep them away from the door when opening. They can sometimes bolt out the door in the early days as they are scared of their new environment and see the outside world as what they are used to.
Let the dog settle at home with their new family before you invite people round. Perhaps meet people outside initially so they can get used to them with some space. If you have children then please make them aware the dog needs space and does not need to be overwhelmed. The dog will come to you when they are ready, when they start to feel a little better – it is slowly, slowly sometimes but it will pay off.