Your dog's first week home

Dogs, Adopters, Dog behaviour

 

Dogs feel comfortable with routine and consistency 

  • Get into a predictable, structured routine as soon as you can.
  • Be consistent – things must always be allowed or never be allowed, such as are they allowed on the sofa or not?
  • Make sure your dog has a quiet place to retreat to if necessary and never disturb them when they are there. Some dogs like crates, but this needs to be trained specifically.
    » Read our advice on crate training
  • Sniffing and chewing are calming behaviours for dogs, so give them lots of long lasting chews or Kongs, and throw treats on the floor for them to sniff out.
  • Do lots of games that require your dog to think. Mental stimulation tires dogs out as much as a short walk!
    » Discover some thinking games for dogs
  • Keep to quiet walks and build up to busier walks as you get to know each other.
    » Read our advice on quiet walks
Happy cat settled in bed

New cat

Preparing for a new cat

Cats, Adopters, Kitten

Secure room for a newly adopted kittem

Secure room set up for cats

How to choose and set up a secure room for newly-adopted or nervous cats

Cats, Adopters, Kitten

Letting your cat outside image

Letting your cat outside

Letting your cat outside for the very first time is nerve-wracking! Here are some tips on how to prepare your cat for their next adventure 

Cats, Adopters, Cat behaviour

Our site uses cookies to give you the best experience. Find out how to manage your cookies or click accept and continue using our site.