Mary Allen
Unfortunately, there are many animals that have to change their home again as they get older. For example, if the owner dies or life circumstances change and there is no longer room for the dog.
People can think of many reasons to give up an animal, and for them that means: getting used to it and adapting to a new life. But how is that actually? Do dogs get used to new owners quickly?
How long a dog needs to settle in always depends on its individual nature and the new local conditions.
Great that you want to give an older animal a home!
In this article, we will tell you how to make it easier for your new canine friend to settle in and what you should pay attention to.
In a nutshell: Get your dog used to its new home – this is how it works
The animal shelters are full, the public killing stations abroad are bursting at the seams. Full of dogs waiting for someone like you! Someone who will give an adult dog the chance of a new home!
Most dogs can regain trust after losing a loved one, being kicked out, or after a tough life on the streets. That’s how they are, our faithful souls, they don’t hold grudges against us and their hearts are always in the right place.
If you want to get your dog used to his new home, give him the time he needs. Don’t overwhelm him, give him peace and quiet, treat him with respect and offer him clear rules and structures right from the start.
With a lot of love and a bit of liverwurst, it will be fine!
Why do people give up their dogs?
Sometimes life doesn’t turn out the way we imagined and suddenly you find yourself as a single mother with three children and two older dogs.
Your heart bleeds, but for the sake of the animals, you decide to find a new home for them.
Many senior dogs end up in animal shelters when their husband or wife dies and there is no one to take care of them.
These dogs deserve a new home too!
Then there are also the people who, before purchasing an animal, did not think carefully about what that means and whether they can offer them a species-appropriate life at all.
When the dog is there, the excessive demands, displeasure, or simply the reality that looks different from the imagination comes with it.
The result: the dog is given up.
Based on these examples, you can clearly see that it is often not the dog’s fault when he suddenly finds himself behind bars and calls bitterly for his loved ones.
That’s why we need people like you! People who are willing to take on the challenge of introducing an adult dog to a new owner.
Do dogs get used to new owners quickly?
How quickly a dog gets used to its new owner depends on various factors, for example:
- The character of the dog (is he rather shy or open-minded and curious?)
- The character of the new owner (are you more shy and reserved or confident and patient?)
- How different is the new home from the old? (City vs. country, single dog vs. multi-dog ownership, are there children in the house and weren’t there before?)
- Daily routine and structures (are they easy for the dog to understand and are they repetitive?)
- Has the dog experienced bad things and is it possibly traumatised?
- How much liverwurst is in the house?
Good to know:
There is no general rule on how long it takes a dog to settle into a new home. It always depends on what circumstances he comes from and what he finds in the new home.
The fact is: with a lot of love, calm, patience, respect, and understanding, trust will soon follow and that is the ultimate boost for settling into your new home.
5 helpful tips to help your dog get used to you quickly
How Dogs Adjust To New Owners Quickly If you follow these tips, your dog will have an easier time adjusting to the new environment with all the new people:
Don’t overwhelm your new dog
Let your new protégé arrive in peace. Go about your usual daily routine and let the dog come to you on its own.
He should be able to look around in a relaxed manner, explore everything and not have to do anything. He can just be a dog and you can ignore him from time to time so that he doesn’t always feel controlled and observed by you.
Introduce clear rules from the start
You don’t want your dog to lie in your bed or stand with its front legs on the kitchen counter? Then make that clear to him from the start and don’t let him get away with unwanted behavior just because he’s “new.”
Dogs love rules and boundaries, they give them security and give them the impression that you are in control.
Create regularity and structure
Just like borders, dogs love repetitive structures in everyday life.
Knowing when your dog has his first lap in the morning when he gets his food, and when it’s time to rest will help your dog get used to you faster.
Give your dog enough rest
Adjusting to a new life is exciting enough. Make sure there isn’t too much hustle and bustle in the house for the first few weeks after his arrival.
Reduce inviting visitors for the time being and don’t overwhelm your dog with thousands of trips and new impressions.
Your dog now needs a lot of time to sleep, because that’s when he processes what he has experienced and experienced!
Familiarize him with his territory
At the beginning, you can always do the same laps. Your dog should be able to slowly familiarize itself with the new environment.
Walk repetitive paths for the first few days and weeks and then slowly expand your radius. You should also refrain from going for walks at first so that your dog knows where it belongs.
Animal protection dog acclimatization
There are marginal differences in adjusting a shelter dog to a new home or a well-socialized Labrador who ended up at the shelter because “the kids are tired”.
In the case of a dog from an animal shelter, the fact that many of these animals are traumatized and not used to living with people makes things even more difficult.
Of course, that doesn’t mean they can’t get used to it! It just takes a little more finesse and a little more patience.
Conclusion: This is how you can get an adult dog used to new owners
It doesn’t take rocket science to get an adult dog used to a new home. In some cases, it can even be easier than adopting a small puppy that still has to learn everything. But of course, that is always individual.
If an adult dog moves in with you, you should offer it the quiet it needs, don’t overwhelm it, and create clear rules and structures from the start.
With enough rest, love, patience, and respect, dogs can adapt to new people and environments well into old age.