Top 10 tips for adopting a dog with Kendall Schulz

During our Season of Happiness in September 2024, we asked the paw-some, Kendall Schulz - Adoption Services Director and shelter dog expert from Helen Woodward Animal Center - to answer your forum questions and Instagram queries on all things dog adoption. Here are her top 10 tips for adopting a dog.

Top 10 tips for adopting a dog

1. Learn as much as you can about their health and history
2. Prep the house before you bring your dog home
3. Set boundaries
4. Pe patient and relaxed
5. Slowly introduce other family members
6. Create a safe space for them
7. Use positive reinforcement after ‘mistakes’
8. Prepare for an adjustment period
9. Look into training classes
10. Enjoy the experience!

1. Learn as much as you can about their health and history

When it comes to adopting dogs from shelters, it can be difficult to understand their personality straight away. That’s why it’s important to find out as much about your new pooch as possible to help them settle into their new home and feel more comfortable:

"Start by collecting as much information as possible about the pet’s history and health. While shelters may not always have a full background, ask for any available details. This might include past medical records or behavioral assessments. Understanding the pet’s history can help set realistic expectations and prepare for any potential challenges.”

2. Prep the house before you bring your dog home

Before they’ve even set a paw through the front door, make sure your home is ready for them:

“You’ll want to puppy-proof your home. Even if you’re getting an adult dog, making sure your home is ready for a new canine companion is so important for their integration and well-being. Make sure there’s nothing on your tables that your dog can reach. Dogs are curious creatures and often explore with their mouths, we want to make sure they can’t get to expensive and dangerous things!”

3. Set boundaries

When you adopt a rescue dog, regardless of what age they are, you need to set boundaries from day one. This can include anything from crate training, putting in child gates to stop them going upstairs, or even just basic dog training.

4. Be patient and relaxed

Once you’ve brought your adopted dog home, remember this is just the start of a process that requires calm energy and a lot of patience:

“They’re coming from an incredibly stressful situation, you want to make sure your home is a place of relaxation and comfort to them. Don’t freak out if your new pal doesn’t eat on their first day in your home, this is totally normal. It’ll take a little while for them to get acclimated to your home and patience is key!”

5. Slowly introduce other family members

This includes kids and other furry family members, particularly other dogs or cats. It’s best to give them one new experience at a time and to not rush any introductions. Try to familiarise your new rescue dog with other people and pet smells, and allow them to settle before welcoming in unfamiliar territory.

6. Create a safe space for them

Set up a safe space for them somewhere at home. This could be their crate, a dog bed under a table, or a cozy corner somewhere, Kendall explains why”

“You’ll want to create a safe and comfortable space for your future furry friend. This space should be quiet and free of sudden disturbances. Having a safe zone helps the pet acclimate more comfortably and reduces stress."

7. Use positive reinforcement after ‘mistakes’

This is particularly important if you’ve adopted an older dog, one who might need a bit of extra training to unlearn any bad habits. And, of course, mistakes are going to happen! Just remember, they’re trying their best in a scary, new situation so see any incidents as learning opportunities. Plenty of treats, pets, and reassurance can make a big difference.

8. Prepare for an adjustment period

Every dog will settle in at their own pace, there’s no right or wrong amount of time, so be sure to prepare you and your other family members for this:

“You’ll want to be ready for an adjustment period when bringing a new pet into your home. Pets with unknown backgrounds may need time to adapt to their new environment. This is particularly important for families with small children. Educate the children on how to interact gently and respectfully with the pet to help ease the transition.”

9. Look into training classes

This is an especially helpful tip if you don’t know your new pup’s history or medical past. Look to find some one-on-one training classes with an experienced behavioralist or trainer to find out what needs to be done. Not only will this make for an all-round happier pooch, it’s also a safety precaution for your sake too. 

10. Enjoy the experience!

And, finally, embrace this adoption experience - you’re doing an amazingly selfless thing by bringing a shelter dog into your family:

“Besides all of the smiles any pet can bring, adopting an orphan pet brings the added satisfaction that you’re saving a life. Worldwide, roughly 3 million animals are euthanized in shelters, of those 80% are healthy or have very treatable illnesses. When you adopt an animal you are giving them a second chance to live their best life with a loving family and helping shelters help animals and people.”

Well said, Kendall!