Looking To Adopt A Pet This Summer?
Here Are Some Tips!

Tips To Adopt A Pet This Summer!

With puppy and kitten season in full swing, now is a great time to get into a shelter and give an abandoned animal a forever home. But onboarding a new pet (especially an unfamiliar shelter pet) can be daunting for families, especially ones trying to balance work and kids. Here are some tips to make that transition into your home smooth both for you and your new furry friend! 

Adopt a Pet- Decompression and Giving it Time

Coming from the hectic environment of a shelter to your home can be a frightening transition for any animal! But understanding the rule of 3-3-3 can help you prepare for your new housemate.

The first 3 stands for three days; that’s usually how long it takes for a pet to acclimate to a new environment. For these first three days, your pet may act shy, aloof, or otherwise a little strange as they realize that this is their forever home. To help this process along, provide a space where your animal can stay or retreat should they feel overwhelmed—for both dogs and cats, a single, quiet room with a hiding space or comfortable sleeping spot will do. Dogs may also do well with kennels; if consistently rewarded for spending time in one, they may come to think of it as their “home base.” This can contribute to helping an excitable puppy or rambunctious dog learn self-regulation, a must when parents are working or young kids are in the home. 

The second 3 stands for three weeks; that’s typically the timeframe in which an animal will learn and adjust to your routine. To help your pet through this period, all you have to do is keep to your schedule, with adjustments made towards the new pet’s needs. Feed and play with them at consistent times, and set boundaries regarding when you have to work or rest. This is also a great bonding period between you and your pet, as the stable environment allows their true personality to start coming out. 

The final 3 stands for three months, in which an owner may start laying the groundwork for a positive relationship with their new pet that will span the rest of their lives. For both cats and dogs, new and undesirable behaviors may start to appear. Shelter pets don’t often have it easy, but with a little work and research, you can set them up for success. 

Adopt A Pet- Identifying and Curbing Undesirable Behaviors

Adopting a shelter pet doesn’t always mean trouble, but animals can learn some bad habits while waiting for adoption. 

King among these is separation anxiety; a very common behavior found in dogs and cats who may have been abandoned in the past. Dogs may bark, cats may yowl, and both may take their fear and frustration out on your furniture. This can be a very discouraging behavior for adopters, but, luckily enough, treating it can be simple. Limit them to their original decompression room—remove anything destructible within reach of your pet, and replace these items with toys and enrichment. Treat puzzles, chew toys, and catnip can occupy a pet for a while; make sure to take these away when you get back, so that the pet will develop an association between receiving good things and being alone. If the animal is still nervous, leaving a radio or television on can help provide environmental enrichment too! Through time and good habits, your pet will eventually learn that you’re not leaving them forever. 

Another hard one can be resource guarding—a behavior in which a pet feels insecure over their possessions and may react badly if they feel that they’ll be taken away. De-sensitization is important here, but can be daunting with bigger pets. The thing to do is start small; for example, if your puppy growls when she eats, start the process by just sitting next to her, and watching while she finishes her meal. Once she’s acclimated to that, move into petting her back while she eats, before eventually touching her head. You should be able to get to the point that you can stick your hand into her bowl without her growling, a good thing in case you ever have to take something dangerous out of her mouth. Ultimately, it may not be safe to do this with every pet—if the behavior escalates, seek a trainer! They work every day to solve issues like this; with advice tailored towards your pet, no problem is too large. 

Adopt A Pet – Introducing Pets

Bringing a new member of the family home when one already has a pet can be a very fraught time, no matter the species!

The key here is patience, and awareness. Dogs should meet on neutral ground; maybe even at the shelter, if the place you’re adopting from allows this. This ensures that the original dog doesn’t feel like his space is being intruded on, and that the two can make a good first impression, without one or the other feeling the need to assert their claim. 

Cats, in turn, are very scent-based creatures. Introductions are best done through doors, where the two can get used to each other’s smell in a comfortable, secure place. The original cat’s smell will already be everywhere, so take one of the new cat’s items and lay it somewhere the original will encounter it often. Within a few days the two can be let out to figure each other out, but be sure to monitor (and keep a spray bottle nearby) in case either gets defensive. As long as there is a place both cats can safely retreat from the other, no fur should fly. 

Introducing dogs and cats is much the same, but an owner should be very, very sensitive to both animals’ reactions and body language. Allow the two to smell one another through a door; if the dog repeatedly gets too excited, care should be taken to get him used to the cat’s scent before a proper introduction is arranged. When finally meeting face to face, it may be best to keep the dog on a leash, allowing the smaller, probably warier cat to approach at their own pace. If your cat chooses to hide, no problem! Just ensure that hiding places are available, and that the dog doesn’t hound the cat for attention. 

For the next couple of weeks to a month, it may be best to only allow the animals to interact with supervision. Watch the body language and trust your instincts; some animals may only ever grow to tolerate one another, but they should never be aggressive. 

Adopt A Pet- Setting your Pet up for Success

Ultimately, you can’t predict how any new pet will act upon coming into your home. But, you can set them up for success with a combination of patience, awareness, and research when required. Each animal may need something different, but adopting should be a rewarding experience that culminates in successful integration into your family and home. Never be afraid to ask for advice, or even reach out to your local shelter for further information— they’re here to help not just your pet, but you succeed too!

For Additional Reading To Adopt A Pet:

The 3-3-3 Rule 

8 Behavioral Problems Common With Shelter Dogs (+Solutions) 2020 (petlists.org)

Bringing Home A New Cat – The Complete Guide – TheCatSite