Rescue dogs can make great companions and can transform your home into something better. These dogs make great pets and can adapt to becoming a member of your family if you let them. That said, bringing home a rescue dog isn’t the same as bringing home some other types of dogs. For example, a rescue dog may have some past trauma that you have to help them overcome. Rescue dogs may also have aggression and other behavioral problems due to this trauma.
That said, we feel that rescue dogs deserve a home as much as any other dog. For this reason, we’re here to help you make the adoption process go smoothly. Read on to learn more about our 10 tips for bringing home a rescue dog. We cover what a rescue dog is, how to adopt them, and much more.
A rescue dog is a dog that has been rescued from an abusive home, neglect, or otherwise negative situation. These dogs can also be rescued from abandonment or even the death of their previous owners. Depending on who you ask, rescue dogs can also be dogs that have been dropped off at shelters by people who found them or by people who can no longer care for them anymore.
Typically, rescue dogs are placed in shelters where they await their new home. While rescue dogs have the potential to become affectionate and productive members of a new home, adopting them can come with unique challenges. Therefore, it’s important to understand more about them before you consider bringing home a rescue dog.
It’s also important to note that a rescue dog may also be referred to as a type of service dog that rescues people from buildings, fires, and rubble. For this article, we won’t be focusing on that type of rescue dog.
People with the time and patience to train and work with rescue dogs should adopt them. You need to spend time with them, have enough space for them to adjust in your home, and have the financial resources to pay for food, vet trips, and other expenses. You must also be patient with them as they adjust to your home because it will take longer than most puppies or dogs from breeders. That said, anyone can adopt a rescue dog if they take the time necessary to understand them and give them room to grow.
The price of a rescue dog varies based on the agency, dog breed, and sometimes even their age. Typically, a rescue dog won’t cost you more than a puppy or a dog directly from a breeder, so you can save money on a rescue dog. Expect to pay around $50 to $500 for a rescue dog if you plan on adopting them and bringing them home.
You’ll also have to consider other costs that go along with owning a rescue dog. For example, yearly vet trips can cost anywhere from $250 to $1,000. Additionally, feeding a rescue dog might cost upwards of $1,000 to $2,000 each year. Grooming costs can also be important to consider if the breed has a coat that sheds often or needs to be cleaned by a professional.
Bringing home a rescue dog isn’t always easy, plus it might not be the same as bringing home a dog that you’ve purchased from a breeder. That said, we have some tips that can help you and your new companion adjust to their home. Learn more about our 10 tips for bringing home a rescue dog below.
The most important tip is to be prepared. You need to be physically, mentally, and emotionally committed to bringing home a rescue dog before you even think about bringing one home. From there, having the necessary supplies on hand is a good idea. These supplies vary based on the size of the dog and what you plan on accomplishing, but some great things to have include:
These are only some of the supplies that you should consider. You should also consider medical supplies you might need, like insulin, if the dog is diabetic. Dog-proofing your home is also a great idea, and it can prevent your rescue dog from damaging your home or escaping when it’s in the backyard.
One of the best tips that we can give you is to follow the 3-3-3 rule for rescue dogs. This isn’t an exact science or something that will work for every rescue dog, but it can help you temper your expectations. The 3-3-3 rule is simple and focuses on the first three days, three weeks, and three months for a new rescue dog that enters your home. To break down the rule further, we’ll start with what you can expect in the first three days.
You should expect the rescue dog to feel nervous, overwhelmed, and even scared for the first three days. They might not approach you, or you might not be able to touch them. Rescue dogs may also hide somewhere in your home during this time, which is why having a room designated for them and away from other animals is huge. Once the three-day period is over, the dog will usually be nervous but start to settle in. You’ll find that they have routines, become more approachable, and are less scared of you and other animals in the home. This will take place for the next two months until the dog starts to get comfortable during month three.
Once the dog is comfortable, its true personality will make itself apparent, so this is a good time to start with training, socialization, and other interactions. Ultimately, you must be patient when bringing a rescue dog into your home. Otherwise, you might end up with problems.
A rescue dog’s health history will tell you a lot about them. Before you consider bringing home a rescue dog, make sure you take some time to learn about its health. Most shelters will have this information on hand, so don’t be afraid to ask.
On the other hand, adopting dogs from agencies or individuals is risky because they might not have all of the health records on hand. The good news is that there are plenty of resources and websites you can use to find this information on your own.
Routines are huge for rescue dogs. An established routine ensures that the dog will have things to look forward to and wait for throughout the day. Routines will also help them remain calm as they wait for food, which is especially important for rescue dogs that may not have had a steady supply of food in the past.
To establish a routine you can set aside a time for taking your dog on walks, going to the bathroom, and eating meals. When the dog first arrives at your home it’s best to start with a meal routine. Then, you can branch out from there and start adding things like treat time, playtime, and a bathroom routine. This will help you continue to give your rescue dog an order, which will help them relax.
Rescue dogs don’t always come from the safest situations. Unfortunately, this may lead to behavioral problems and cause the dog to feel nervous or even aggressive in the face of humans. While this isn’t true for all rescue dogs, giving the dog some space will still help them adjust to their new home, even if they’re a well-behaved dog.
One great way to give your new rescue dog some space is to give them a room that’s dedicated to them. You can keep their crate, toys, and bed in this room while they get through the adjustment period. We also recommend keeping them away from other animals or dogs in the house until they adjust. This can lead to issues, aggression, and territorial disputes. You should gradually introduce them to your other pets.
When you bring your rescue dog home, you’ll usually have a health record to take a look at. That said, it’s not always accurate, or their health may have changed in the meantime. For this reason, it’s important to bring them to the vet within a week of having them in your home.
While it doesn’t have to be exactly one week, it’s a good idea to bring them to the vet in the same month that you bring them home. In fact, it is good to schedule the appointment before you have the dog to ensure that you can have them checked for things like fleas and other health conditions.
This is a lesser-known tip, but it’s one of our favorites. Did you know that exercising with your dog can help them release nervousness and energy? If your rescue dog is keeping you up at night or barreling around your house like a wild animal, it’s time to play with them.
They might not be open to playing right away, depending on their situation, so you might have to give them some time and space first. That said, playing with them or taking them on walks is a great way to burn through some of that energy and nervousness.
Rescue dogs can be unpredictable sometimes, so if you have little children in the house we recommend against letting them interact with the dog without supervision. If your child pets them the wrong way or accidentally pulls on something, the dog might lash out, so you should always be in the room when your child is interacting with a rescue dog.
The good news is that the chances of this happening are rare, so you don’t usually have to worry about this. What’s more, it’s only a big cause for concern in younger children. If your child is an adolescent or teenager you shouldn’t have to always be present with them. The size of the dog can also play a role here, so keep that in mind.
When you bring home a rescue dog you should have some type of training plan in mind. You can wait until the dog is more comfortable in your home, but you should start sooner rather than later. The training plan should focus on positive reinforcement methods that incorporate treats and toys as rewards, and you should never resort to yelling or scolding them. You can train them in whichever way you feel is necessary, but we recommend teaching them some commands. In fact, many dog breeds will respond well to training and respect you more as their companion if you train them.
Aside from commands, you can also focus on socialization training. Once the rescue dog is comfortable, start bringing them to dog parks or having them play with your other animals in a supervised setting. If the rescue dog is a puppy, this can help with their growth and development. You can also focus on leash training to start taking them on walks or even progress to off-leash training once you think they’re ready. Overall, the type of training you focus on is entirely up to you, but we recommend at least some type of training to get started.
Last but not least, we recommend microchipping your rescue dog. It’s a great way to keep tabs on them and to ensure that they can make it safely back to you if they escape. You should also register your dog so that anyone who finds them knows that they have an owner and a place to bring the dog back to. While this might seem trivial, it’s a lot more effective than only having a collar and hoping that they’ll find that way back to you if they end up getting lost.
Additionally, many adoption agencies will cover the cost of microchipping if it hasn’t been done already, and most rescue organizations will go ahead and microchip the dog before adoption. Therefore, this might be already done in some situations.
If you’re interested in adopting a rescue dog, there are a few things you can do that are standard for most shelters. However, some of the steps we cover below will vary based on the shelter and the state that you’re located in. For this reason, it’s important to do your research before you attempt to adopt a rescue dog.
Follow the steps below to start the process of bringing home a rescue dog.
Typically, these are the steps that you’ll have to follow if you want to adopt a rescue dog.
Have questions about bringing home a rescue dog? Check below for answers to any of your potential questions or concerns that we haven’t covered already.
Yes, you should consider renaming a rescue dog. In fact, it can be beneficial for their health. This is because the rescue dog might associate their name with abuse or a dangerous situation that they had to go through. For this reason, renaming a rescue dog can give them a sense of relief. This makes renaming your rescue dog one of the more beneficial things that you can do for them.
A rescue dog will adjust to a new home after around three months. Many proponents of the 3-3-3 rule claim that they will start to get comfortable between the 3-week and 3-month period. However, your results may vary and this can depend on the dog. What’s more, the age of the dog can also determine how long this process takes because puppies will likely bounce back faster. Therefore, remain patient and give a rescue dog about 6 months to fully adjust to their surroundings.
No, rescue dogs are not inherently dangerous. While a rescue dog can be dangerous, this is not true for most rescue dogs. Plus, by the time a rescue dog is ready for adoption, there’s a good chance that they’ve had some type of behavior training or an adjustment period that has led to calmer behavior. Even if you adopt a dangerous rescue dog, you can always train away bad behaviors with the right training methods and positive reinforcement.
Rescue dogs are great companions, and with a little bit of love, they can become a great addition to your family. Even if you have other animals or children, you don’t have to worry about rescue dogs causing problems once they get through the adjustment period. Plus, training and love will go a long way in helping rescue dogs relax and adjust to their new home.
When it comes to adopting a rescue dog, take some time to learn everything you can about them. Look into their medical records and their previous living situation to determine if they’re the right fit for your home. Also, consider bringing home a rescue dog from a reputable adoption agency to get the best fit for your home. Plus, shelters and rescue agencies will have more current and accurate information about the dog you’re adopting available.