Settling a dog into your new home

Bringing home a new dog is exciting, but it can also be a big adjustment for both of you. Whether you’ve adopted an adult dog or welcomed a new puppy, taking the time to prepare your home and establish a predictable routine will help them settle into their new environment.

Thea the dog settling into foster home

Before your dog arrives

Creating a safe and comfortable environment is one of the best ways to support your dog’s transition.

Dog-proof your home

Remove or secure household hazards, including chemicals, medications, electrical cords, batteries, toxic foods and poisonous plants. Ensure fragile items cannot be easily knocked over or broken.

Set up a safe space

Give your dog a quiet area where they can rest undisturbed. Provide comfortable bedding, fresh water, appropriate chew toys and enrichment activities to help prevent boredom and stress.

Check your backyard

Make sure fences and gates are secure and there are no gaps your dog could escape through. Outdoor areas should include shelter from sun, rain and extreme weather.

Long-haired dog cuddling a duck toy on his bed in a house

Helping your dog settle in

Take it slow

The first few days and weeks should be calm, predictable and low-pressure.

  • Give your dog time to explore their new surroundings.
  • Establish consistent routines for feeding, toileting, exercise and rest.
  • Avoid overwhelming experiences such as busy dog parks, large gatherings or meeting lots of new people immediately.
  • Reward calm behaviour with treats, praise and enrichment activities.

Gradually introduce positive stimulus

If you’ve adopted a puppy, positive exposure to new people, places, sounds and experiences is particularly important during their early development.

Introducing your dog to others

Every animal adjusts at their own pace, so introductions should be gradual and carefully supervised.

 

Introducing your dog to other dogs

For the best chance of success:

  • allow both dogs to become familiar with each other’s scent before meeting
  • introduce them in a neutral location away from the home
  • keep early interactions calm and positive
  • provide separate feeding, sleeping and resting areas
  • give each dog opportunities for space and downtime.

 

Introducing your dog to cats

Start with physical barriers such as baby gates or glass doors and allow both animals to observe each other from a safe distance.

When you introduce them, be sure to:

  • reward calm behaviour
  • allow your cat access to elevated escape routes and safe hiding spaces
  • keep initial sessions short and supervised
  • move at the pace of the most cautious animal.

If either pet shows signs of fear or stress, slow the process down and return to an earlier stage.

Bonded dog and cat snuggling in the sun

Introducing dogs to children

Children and dogs should always be supervised when interacting.

To encourage safe and positive relationships:

  • let your dog approach children in their own time
  • teach children to remain calm, gentle and respectful
  • reward your dog for calm behaviour
  • never force interactions
  • ensure your dog always has a safe place to retreat to when they need space.

Dog and child playing in park

Dogs Bondi and Bellie smiling in the park

Recognising signs of stress

Dogs communicate through body language. Learning to recognise early signs of stress can help you support your dog before they become overwhelmed.

Common signs include:

  • lip licking
  • yawning when not tired
  • excessive panting
  • frequent blinking
  • tense posture
  • ears pinned back
  • tail held low
  • avoiding interaction or moving away.

If your dog regularly appears stressed, pay attention to the patterns in their environment to identify and reduce potential triggers where possible.

When to seek help

Settling into a new home can take time. If you’re concerned about your dog’s behaviour, stress levels or interactions with people or other animals, seek advice from a professional, like a qualified dog trainer or your local vet.

If you adopted your dog from RSPCA WA, you can always give our team a call for tailored behaviour advice on (08) 9209 9323. 46 Settling a dog into your home

Early support can help prevent small issues from becoming bigger challenges.

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