How to Welcome a Shelter Dog

DiamondPuppy0809 · July 2009

I might adopt a shelter dog today. She's a small dog; Chihuahua/Spaniel cross. A little bit smaller than your average cat, I'd say. She's a sweetheart. Very energetic but also loyal. She was found roaming a mall parking lot. We're introducing her to our current dog, Max; Kelpie/Sheltie cross. He's good with dogs. But we don't know if Coco (the dog we're adopting) will like him or not. If she does, we adopt her - hopefully. If she doesn't, we're not about to get rid of our old dog to make way for her. I've read about how to introduce shelter dogs/any dogs to your home. You take them for a long walk around the area first. Once you get back, show the dog to all the rooms; the humans all go in and out of the rooms first, the dog after. It shows you're "claiming" the rooms - before the new dog even has a chance to. Are there any other things we should do? While introducing her to each room, she'll be on a leash because she has to have boundaries until she understands who's pack leader. And I know not to show her the rooms she won't be allowed in. Giving me tips and thumbs up is great. I want my new dog to be as balanced as possible. :]

ilyanthony1995 · July 2009

:shock: Ludies getting a new puppie! well, actually, you want your dogs to meet somewhere were NEITHER of them claim the territory...so maybe have them meet in a park area or something... you should bring a mussle, just in case...

ilyanthony1995 · July 2009

oh yea && remember..exersice..disapline THEN affectiion

*i watch ceaser millan too too much*

CallyKats Dachshunds · July 2009

Sounds about right to me Ludie, along with what ily said. psst: ily, don't worry-if I'm not on the computer and it's on, I'm watching him too. xD

DiamondPuppy0809 · July 2009

Yep, I'm hopefully getting a dog, not a puppy. xD She's about a year old. Cesar Millan is brilliant. I go by his rules. ;D And I know. We're meeting the two while I walk Coco (away from the pound). Max will wear a muzzle in case Coco has a spazz attack on him. He might get defensive (doubt he'd ever attack, but better safe than sorry). Alright, thanks guys. ^_^

ilyanthony1995 · July 2009

is coco the long haired orange one?

BuffyBoarding · July 2009

I have a 12 year old dog and we got a new pup from the shelter and never had any problems with the two of them. Both are males, we never followed any of the "rules" for new dogs. just kinda let them meet and then they roam the house. Both of my dogs are very well behaved when we need them to be.

DiamondPuppy0809 · July 2009

ilyanthony1995 wrote:

is coco the long haired orange one?

Yeah, she's the long-haired copper/red/orange/blonde colored one. xD She has patches of different fur everywhere. And the pictures the pound posted have no justice.

Buffy wrote:

I have a 12 year old dog and we got a new pup from the shelter and never had any problems with the two of them. Both are males, we never followed any of the "rules" for new dogs. just kinda let them meet and then they roam the house. Both of my dogs are very well behaved when we need them to be.

My dogs are always more complicated. $:\$ xD We've seen so many dogs that weren't socialized or trained or anything and they're great dogs. We try super hard with our dogs and they behave, but they have spazz attacks. D; So I'm going to be careful how my new dog gets socialized, trained, etc.

DiamondPuppy0809 · July 2009

Garfieldz Gal wrote:

-edit- How do you guys like these names? Maggie Delilah Sunny D; Sunny is my best friend's dog's name, but if I really like it I might just have to use it. So far, Maggie is the most voted on in my family... We were going to name her Meekah, but my dad doesn't like the name. >.> Apparently a really annoying lady had a really annoying dog named Meekah. D; Damn. ;_;

Just added that to my first post. ;D

ilyanthony1995 · July 2009

i like Maggie & Delilah the most

DiamondPuppy0809 · July 2009

ilyanthony1995 wrote:

i like Maggie & Delilah the most

. Hah, thanks ily. My sis doesn't like Delilah (not that she'll be her dog xD) I love the name Maggie

ilyanthony1995 · July 2009

haha....from the pictures you showed us..she looks like a maggie...

DiamondPuppy0809 · July 2009

Cybergirl · July 2009

So cute

DiamondPuppy0809 · July 2009

Sybhat3 wrote:

So cute

Aw, thanks.

She's been here about... 10 hours and she's already attached herself to me and my mom. ;D And she's so comfortable, like she's been living here for years! She's met 4 dogs today and has been great. I already love her lots! :]

iluvdogs111 · July 2009

Awww, cute!

*steals* :twisted:

CORY · July 2009

Awww. she is cute

<33333333333333333 I want her she seems to be a fun little dog. Teaching your one dog to dance? That is pretty cool.

iluvdogs111 wrote:

Awww, cute! *steals* :twisted:

Nawww. *steals her from Luvdogs* Then *sends back to ludie ;.;* I want her d:

DiamondPuppy0809 · July 2009

xD thanks for all the comments, guys. =D She really is a little sweetheart. She gets to go camping with us this weekend. :]

UnknownDreamland · July 2009

o.o She's gorgeous! You're making my secret small-dog-loving side come out. XD She's got some serious cutes going on. =D

DiamondPuppy0809 · July 2009

Hehe, she is pretty cute. I love big dogs, but I always lean towards smaller ones. I have more photos of her in the topic 'Maggie Fotografy' in Pets & Animal Photos. ;D

Howdy, Stranger!

How to Welcome a Shelter Dog

Comments