Your adopted dog's first day at home

Adopting a dog is one of the most exciting moments of your life. But it's also one of the most stressful for the dog. It goes from a familiar environment (the shelter with its companions and routines) to a completely new one: your home, your smell, your noises.

This guide covers exactly what to do in the first 72 hours + the first month, based on the knowledge of shelters and veterinary behaviourists.

The basics before arrival

Buy and prepare beforehand:

• Bed or mattress: the right size, in a quiet but not isolated area. Washable.
• Bowls: ceramic or stainless steel (not plastic, it irritates gums). Food + water always available.
• Crate: a personal refuge, especially for puppies. Size: big enough to stretch out but not too big.
• Fixed 1.5-2m lead + H-harness: NO choke collar. NO retractable lead in the first few days.
• Food: the SAME brand it ate at the shelter. Gradual change 7-10 days later.
• Toys: a Kong to fill with food (entertains + reduces anxiety), a rope to chew, a ball.
• Brush: according to coat (bristles for short, comb for long).
• Dog shampoo: in case you need to bathe it in the coming weeks.
• Initial parasite treatment: ask the shelter if it's up to date. If not, spot-on + tablet.
• Poo bags: at least 1 large pack.
• ID tag: with your phone number (the microchip already comes fitted from the shelter).

Cost of a complete setup: €150-300 depending on the quality of the products.

The moment of arrival

Before getting home, take it for a short walk around the area — it will wee and start getting familiar with the smells. Go into the house calmly. Do NOT introduce it to everyone at once (family, invited friends). The first hours: ONLY the immediate family it will live with.

Take it to its bed area. Let it explore at its own pace. Speak in a calm voice. Offer it water. Don't force it to eat if it doesn't want to.

It's normal for it to sniff everything for hours. It's its way of mapping the space. Some dogs hide, others stay glued to you. Both reactions are normal.

The 3-3-3 rule of canine adjustment

A practical rule taught at shelters:

• 3 days — coping: the dog is overwhelmed. Reduced appetite. It may be very quiet or very nervous. It may not respond to its name. It's not "antisocial", it's processing the change.
• 3 weeks — adjusting: it starts to understand the routine. Its first signs of comfort appear: relaxed yawns, stretched-out postures, barking at the doorbell. It starts to bond with the family.
• 3 months — settling in: it now feels "at home". Its real personality emerges. It may show previously hidden behaviours (some good, some problematic). It's the time to start more serious training.

The first night

It's probably the hardest. The dog is in a new place and alone. Strategies:

• Put its bed in your room for the first few days (not necessarily on your bed)
• A blanket with the smell of the shelter, if it brought one
• A soft toy or an item of your clothing with your smell
• Soft music or white noise if it's very anxious
• Reward (in a calm tone) any moment of calm

If it cries, do NOT respond immediately — it reinforces the behaviour. Wait until a pause, then check on it briefly. But don't leave it crying for 2 hours straight either — it worsens the trauma.

The first walk

If the dog is ALREADY fully vaccinated (most adopted adults are), you can go out the next day. If it's a puppy and doesn't yet have the full course, do NOT go to public areas until it's complete.

First walk:

• Harness + fixed 1.5m lead
• A familiar, quiet area (not a park full of dogs yet)
• Duration: 15-30 min (no marathons)
• Let it smell. It's its way of reading the environment.
• If it gets scared of something (car, bike, person), don't drag it. Wait. Offer a treat when it calms down.
• Reward in a kind voice when it wees/poos in a suitable spot.

Encounters with other dogs: in the first few days, avoid them or be selective. Cross the street if you come across an unknown dog. Once there's a bond (week 2-3) you can introduce it to friendly dogs in a neutral area.

Establishing a routine in week 1

Dogs thrive on a predictable routine. From day 1, establish something like this:

• 07:30: short walk (15 min) + breakfast
• 13:30: short walk (15 min)
• 20:00: long walk (40-60 min) + dinner
• 23:00: last walk (10 min) + off to sleep

Adjust to your schedule but keep it consistent. After 2-3 days, your dog will start to anticipate the walk and meal times.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Overstimulation: constant visitors, a crowded park, taking it everywhere from day 1.
2. Changing food abruptly: causes diarrhoea + digestive stress. Gradual change over 7-10 days.
3. Bathing it on the first day: unnecessary extra stress.
4. Expecting it to be perfect from day 1: possible toileting accidents, barking, etc. It's normal. Don't scold — use positive reinforcement.
5. Leaving it alone for more than 1-2 hours in the first week: separation anxiety develops quickly.
6. Not setting clear rules: if it gets on the sofa the first week, don't tell it off the second. Decide the rules from day 1 with the WHOLE family.
7. Comparing it with your previous dog: every dog is unique. Give it time to show its real personality.

First visit to the vet

Ideally in the first week (days 3-5, when it's more settled):

• General check-up (weight, teeth, ears, skin)
• Verify the microchip + that the details are correctly registered in your name
• Check the vaccination course (what's still pending)
• Parasite plan (internal + external)
• Advice on diet for its size/age/activity
• If it's an adult adopted with no history, basic blood work (kidney, liver function)

If you adopted through Mizuu, the dog's health record is already in its digital passport — the new vet can read it without repeating tests.

In short: complete setup before its arrival, first hours with the immediate family only, the 3-3-3 rule (3 days/3 weeks/3 months), a consistent routine from day 1, first vet visit in the first week. Patience and consistency are the key — your new companion will thank you for it over the next 10-15 years.