Give a dog in need a home

Welcome home
It may be home to you, but to your new pet it's a strange place. Here is some advice from Dr. Rich Medhurst, a veterinarian at Rosedale Animal Hospital in Toronto, that will help you get your shelter dog settled in happily.

• Bring a dog guard or crate in the car when you pick her up, so your new dog doesn't jump into your lap on the way home.

• Adopt your dog in the morning, so she can get acclimatized before bedtime.

• Once you're both home, keep things calm. Let her explore her new home without the distractions of appliances running full tilt. Keep your children quiet and controlled -- and never leave them alone with the new dog. Avoid visitors for the first few days, as well.

• Show your dog her bed -- a comfortable place that's clearly her own -- and make sure nobody bothers her when she's there. Bring a blanket or toy that smells like the shelter to put into her bed, recommends Medhurst.

• Make sure she knows where her water and food dishes are. Initially, advises Medhurst, it's best to feed your dog the same food she's been given at the shelter, then change her diet gradually, if you wish, after she's settled.

• Don't abandon your dog once she's home; get to know each other. Keep things low-key and relaxed, and take her for short on-leash walks. Establishing a routine for sleeping, eating, walks and so on will help her feel secure.

• Recognize that it may take time. Above all, be patient and gentle. "Most dogs," says Medhurst, "will adjust well to a caring environment."

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