5 Tips and Behaviors to Know when Bringing Home a New Dog

Bringing home a new dog can be challenging for everyone—your family, your pets, and especially your new furry friend.

Shelters can be stressful, and even dogs from foster homes need time to adjust to a new environment. The first few weeks are crucial for setting your new dog up for success. Allow them time to decompress and settle in. These small efforts can make a big difference in creating a smooth transition for both pets and people. This post will cover common behaviors you can expect to observe when bringing a new dog home and some tips for how to work through them with your new family member!

Common behaviors during transitions:

Here are some common behaviors you can expect to see and work through during that transition period. These behaviors are common when shelter dogs are adjusting to a new environment and learning to trust you!

1. House training – expect accidents!

We may or may not know if your shelter dog is already house-trained but even the most perfectly house-trained dog may have accidents in a new home. Expect this! Your new dog will need to know where the potty-area is at their new home and will need to learn how to let you know they have to go out.  Don’t let your new dog roam the house unattended until you know that they have fully learned about house training in his/her new home.  

2. Separation Worries. 

It is common for dogs to be nervous in a new home and worried that they are being abandoned.  They may try to follow you everywhere and whine, cry, bark or howl when they can’t see you.  Use enrichment toys to give them something to do while they are alone. Try to be patient with them while they learn that they are now in a safe home.  If your dog’s stress about being alone persists, please reach out to us for help as they may be suffering from separation anxiety.

3. Fear toward you or other members of your home.

It’s not uncommon for a new dog to accept one of the family members but not the others. Go slow with the new dog and allow him time to warm up to each person individually.  It could take weeks for your new dog to learn to trust new humans but with time and patience it usually works out.

4. Hyper, over-aroused or destructive behaviors

Some dogs will sleep a LOT for several days and seem a bit lethargic. This is normal!  The opposite may be true for other dogs. They may have a hard time relaxing and you could experience hyperactivity and/or destructive chewing.  Make sure your dog has plenty of exercise and provide enrichment toys when they are alone.

5. Not eating

It’s not uncommon for dogs not to eat for a couple of days while they are de-stressing.  As long as the dog is drinking water and peeing normally it’s probably just part of the process.  Continue to provide food and try leaving the food in their quiet space/crate to see if they will eat when you are not watching them. The opposite can also be true and your dog could be eating but experiencing diarrhea due to stress, change in environment, etc.  If they have eaten nothing in 2 or more days, or diarrhea persists beyond a few days, please contact your vet (or our clinic).  

Safety Tips When Bringing Home a New Dog

While dogs are transitioning into a new home, there is a higher likelihood to see fearful behavior and escape attempts. These behaviors may decrease within the first few weeks, or it may just be part of the dog’s personality. Here are some easy tips to keep in mind to prevent any escapes:

1. Be hyper-vigilant near doorways!

Be extra aware around doorways. A new dog does not have a connection with you yet, and may try to bolt out the door when you open it, even if you only have the door cracked open for a moment. The same is true with exiting cars – be extra cautious letting the dog out of the car, and make sure you have hold of their leash before you let them out of the car. 

2. Don’t leave a new dog unattended in your yard

If you have a yard, do not leave your dog unattended outside. Some dogs can jump over or dig under fences, either just because they want to escape, or because they see something on the other side. Keep them supervised in the yard while you are learning about your dog’s behaviors.

3. Pay attention to your dog’s body language when on-leashed walks

Be sure to be vigilant while walking your dog. Some dogs may dart unexpectedly at/away from loud noises, small animals, big trucks, or other triggers. If you are not holding the leash tightly, they could pull out of your hand and run away, potentially into harm’s way. Do not assume they will walk politely the whole time, and do not let children walk the dog. 

4. Use safety gear and slowly phase it out

Keep a lightweight leash (“drag leash”) attached to your dog’s collar for the first few weeks. Don’t hold the leash; just let it drag on the ground behind them even indoors. Use this as a point of contact instead of grabbing for their collar if you have to guide them around. Also keep a Martingale Collar on your dog. This type of collar prevents your pup from slipping out of their collar on walks. 

5. Never leave dogs unattended with children

Please teach your children, and any children that visit, never to pull, hit, lay on, climb on, or poke any part of your dog and never to tease, frighten, or scream around the dog. Please provide reasonable supervision for children at all times with a new dog. If the dog or the child appears unsure or nervous, be safe and put the dog in another room. Dogs should have a safe place in the house they can go to at all times.

Understanding your New Dog: Canine Body Language

There are several signs that a dog is scared or uncomfortable to be aware of. Wide eyes, pinned back ears, tail tucked, excessive drooling (without food around) and lip licking are all signs that your pup is uncomfortable. If you see any of these signs, back off and give them space; do not force your dog to continue in a situation they are uncomfortable in. Let them set the pace with your relationship, even if it is slower than you expected!

Fearful dogs often exhibit subtle and obvious body language cues that signal their discomfort. Common signs include crouching or lowering their body to appear smaller, tucking their tail tightly between their legs, and flattening their ears against their head. They may avoid eye contact or display “whale eye,” where the whites of their eyes are visible. Other behaviors include excessive yawning, lip licking, panting, or trembling. Some fearful dogs may freeze in place, while others might attempt to flee or hide. Recognizing these signals is essential to understanding a dog’s emotional state and responding with patience and care to help them feel safe.

Please review the following graphic created by Dog Latin to understand more about canine body language in different situations!  

Final Thoughts on Bringing Home a New Dog

When bringing a rescue pet into your home, it’s vital to allow them time to decompress and adjust to their new environment. Transitioning from a shelter or foster home can be overwhelming, as everything—sights, sounds, smells, and routines—is unfamiliar. During this adjustment period, pets may display behaviors like shyness, fear, or even hyperactivity that don’t reflect their true personalities. Patience is key; giving them a calm, structured environment and plenty of time to settle can help them build trust and feel secure. Rushing to judgment or expecting instant perfection may lead to misunderstandings. By offering compassion and understanding, you give your new pet the chance to thrive and show you who they truly are.

If you’re doing research ahead of time and are currently looking for a new dog to bring home (good for you), head to our adoptable dogs page to see who is currently available for foster or adoption!