​Bringing home your new dog: The first two weeks

• When you get to your home, keep your dog leashed and walk them calmly through the front door and while keeping him leashed, walk around your home.  NO FREE ROAM.
• Use a crate. It will be a safe haven for him in a time of uncertainty. It also keeps him isolated from other pets, and helps him make good choices like NOT peeing inside or destroying your shoes.
• Once you have done a quick tour with the dog, take him to his crate area.  The crate should be in an area of the house that is neither isolated nor in the middle of everything.  You want your new dog to observe you and your family without feeling stressed and overwhelmed. 
• With the dog still leashed, walk him to the door that you will be using to take him out to potty and take him out.  Bring him back in and put him in his crate.  Let him rest.  It’s important to establish the routine and structure of the crate straight away. 
• After some time, leash the dog and remove him from his crate, feed him his meal and then go outside for a potty break.
• Then back inside for some “out of the crate time” (still leashed). NO rough play, NO wrestling, NO couch, NO beds, NO laps, NO kissy face, NO free roam through the house, NO interactions with any other pets, NO visits from your friends and family, NO trips to Petco and NO car rides (other than to the vet). The goal for these first few weeks is to help your dog learn the structure/rules/boundaries of your home.  
• After free time, its back outside (still leashed) for potty and then back in for some crate rest.
• Once you put your new dog in his crate ignore him.  Let him rest.  
• The first few weeks for an adopted dog should be very simple.  Feeding/access to water/potty breaks/limited free time in the house/crate time…repeat.
• Limit introductions to immediate family and caregivers. He doesn’t need to meet your neighbors, your friends, and other animals yet.
• Avoid long, overstimulating walks. If you have a yard, use that for outside time. Your dog will manage just fine with minimal exercise for this period.
• Set him up to succeed. That means avoiding complicated training and socializing situations for now. Celebrating his successes together and avoiding harsh corrections will strengthen your bond.
• If you already have a dog, it is very important to introduce your dogs slowly.  Do not force the dogs to interact, let them determine the pace of the introduction.   The initial meeting should be done in a neutral location.  Keep interactions short and positive.  If tension arises, try again later and praise and reward both dogs for positive behavior.  Keep toys, treats, food or any other items that could cause a fight out of dogs’ reach and put away.  Never leave the dogs together unsupervised.