Housing a dog in your home requires careful preparation and thoughtful acclimatization. With these guidelines, you will ensure a smooth and safe experience for both the dog and your household.

🛠️ Before the dog arrives

🔹 Step 1: Prepare the spaces

🚫 Safety first – Remove hazards, secure trash bins, move toxic plants
🛏️ Calm areas – Create a space for the dog with a soft bedding
🥣 Separate resources – If you have your own pets, arrange separate feeding areas
🚪 Fences and gates – Check for escape routes in the yard or home

📸 [SCREENSHOT: A room set up with a dog bed, toys, and safety features]

🔹 Step 2: Gather important information

📋 Health information – Vaccinations, medications, emergency vet contact
🥘 Diet – Food type, portion sizes, feeding schedule
🐕 Behavior notes – Fears, triggers, familiar commands
📱 Contact information – Owner's number, backup person, veterinarian

🔹 Step 3: Plan the arrival

📆 Choose a calm day – Avoid holidays, visitors, or busy moments
🕒 Clear your schedule – Be home for the first 24–48 hours
👨‍👩‍👧 Involve your family – Brief your household on how to greet the dog
🔇 Eliminate distractions – Minimize noise and commotion

🐾 The first day

🔹 Step 4: Arrival and initial steps

🌳 Meet outside – Greet the dog first outside the home
🧘 Calm energy – Don't get overly excited, speak softly
🧸 Familiar belongings – Use toys, bedding, or blankets brought by the owner
🚶 Slow introduction – Bring the dog inside calmly, allowing it to explore at its own pace

🔹 Step 5: Establishing routines

⏰ Feeding schedule – Maintain the dog's regular mealtime
🚽 Outdoor trips – Initially every 2–3 hours
🐕 Exercise and stimulation – Follow the usual walking and play routine
🛏️ Sleeping arrangements – A quiet sleeping space free from disturbances

🐕‍🦺 If you have your own pets

🔹 Step 6: Cautious introductions

🚪 Separate spaces at first – Keep the dogs apart during the initial days
👃 Scent introduction – Allow the dogs to sniff each other's blankets or toys
🌳 Neutral meeting – First encounter outside
👀 Supervision – Actively monitor their first interactions

🔹 Step 7: Managing multi-dog situations

🥣 Separate feeding – Avoid competition or resource guarding
🧍 Individual attention – Spend time with each pet separately
👁️ Watch body language – Tension, stiffness, growling
🚪 Escape routes – Provide a way for each dog to retreat in peace

📅 The first week

🔹 Step 8: Ensuring comfort

📏 Consistent rules – Keep the same boundaries as in the dog's former home
🎉 Positive reinforcement – Reward good behavior
🚪 Gradually increasing freedom of movement
📸 Keeping in touch with the owner – Daily photos and updates

🔹 Step 9: Adjustment challenges

🐾 Signs of anxiety – Panting, restlessness, destruction
🍽️ Changes in appetite – Monitor eating habits and report changes
😴 Sleeping difficulties – Restlessness during the night is normal at first
🚫 Indoor accidents – Clean thoroughly, do not scold

🔐 Safety and emergency situations

🔹 Preparedness for emergencies

🐾 Veterinarian information – Both your own and the on-call vet
💊 Health background – Allergies, medications, illnesses
📞 Poison control center – Keep the number handy
🧰 First aid kit – Basic supplies for treating wounds

🔹 Home safety

🧪 Keep hazardous materials out of sight – Cleaning agents, medications, small objects
🧱 Check fences and gates – Especially in the yard
🚧 Monitor gates – Ensure all doors and gates are locked
🚪 Visitor protocol – Inform family or guests about the dog’s presence

🚨 Warning signs – When to call the owner?

• Repeated vomiting or diarrhea
  
  
  

• Not eating for over 24 hours
  
  
  

• Aggressive behavior towards the caretaker or other pets
  
  
  

• Symptoms such as apathy, constant panting, breathing difficulties
  
  
  

• Attempts to escape or destruction
  
  
  

❤️ Building trust

📸 Regular updates – Pictures and videos keep the owner calm
📞 Open communication – Report challenges immediately
📋 Follow instructions – Maintain agreed-upon rules and routines
🚫 Professional boundaries – Do not make changes without the owner's permission