How To Make Your Rescue Dog Feel At Home

Welcoming a rescue dog into your home is one of the best things any potential pet owner can do.

Many first-time rescue owners are a bit skeptical about their rescue, especially for the first few days. Boundaries need to be respected and the dog needs to feel safe before those boundaries can drop.

So many dogs are kept in kennels and animal control pounds waiting to get a loving home, and this is how you can give them one. So, here are some ways to make sure you give your rescue the best rescue possible.

Start With Food

Food is a universal language of care, compassion, friendship, and companionship. This goes for humans and animals alike. There’s a reason the restaurant industry is so large – everybody loves food.

Rescue dogs are no exception to this rule. You have no real idea what your rescue has gone through, and so to begin making them feel comfortable in what is now their forever home, food is the best place to start.

But what food? There are so many options out there nowadays that you can get option paralysis trying to decide. A sure bet that any dog will love is raw dog food, rather than processed food.

Raw dog food is like the human equivalent of a 3-course meal at your 5-star restaurants! Show them you love them, and that you are here to care for them by giving them the best.

If you are looking for high-quality raw dog food, then you should take a look at Bella and Duke’s stock. However, always make sure to consult a pet nutritionist beforehand!

Give Them Their Own Space

This is very important for any dog, and even more so for a rescue. Again, you have no idea why the dog was rescued or what conditions the dog-faced in its previous life. You can’t control that, but you can control your own home and your own environment.

Give them a nice cozy bed, with plenty of blankets, some cushions, maybe a few dog toys, and make sure they know that’s their own space.

Try to avoid things like cages or kennels or dog houses, as you don’t want your furry friend to feel trapped. Keep it open and keep it theirs. This means trying not to interfere with them when they are in their space; treat them like a teenager. They need to come to you! This leads us nicely onto;

Don’t Smother Them

Show them bounds and bounds of love, for sure, but always know when to stop. Smothering them, again, can make them feel controlled and trapped. These are feelings you want to avoid with any dog.

Give them time to settle into their new surroundings and take it all in. It is a huge change for them, and they need to get used to their new home as well as their new family.

If you have children, this needs to be a top priority – make sure your kids understand this. It can ease the process of your rescue feeling more comfortable.

As a last tip, always let your dog explore their surroundings in their own time – don’t force them. They’ll get curious and explore at a pace that is comfortable for them.