Bringing your dog home!

A slip lead (Most important!) You cannot take your new dog home

without one.

A crate. You will need this in the car for the dog to travel in. You

could possibly use a harness and pet seat belt, but its very hard to

know what size harness would fit your new dog before you get

them. An ill-fitting harness is less than useless as it is easily

escapable.

Something to put in the base of the crate, a blanket or mat or

something similar. We would also suggest taking a towel or two

and some wet wipes in case the dog is travel sick. 

Ideally you will have also of done your research into pet insurance.

There are many different policies that cover different things and it

is worth shopping around for the one that suits you.

Before your dog travels, its best to ensure that all areas that the

dog will have access to, is clear of any hazards. Any wires that can

be chewed, things put away that you may not want a dog to chew

etc. Set up a safe space for the dog. Using a crate with three sides

covered, is usually the best idea, as they can feel more secure in

them. Make sure you have all the equipment you need so there’s

no last minute dashing to the pet shops.

On the day/time that has been confirmed with the foster carer,

you can go ahead and collect your new dog. The most important

thing will making sure you have brought the slip lead with you.

This will need to go on the dog before you can take them. If

possible, the best way is to bring the crate with you to the fosters

door, have them put the slip lead on the dog, then the dog goes

into the crate. Once dog is in crate, carry the crate back to the car

and place the crate in. That way there is very slim chance that the

dog can escape.  

At the other end, when you arrive home, we suggest doing the

same in reverse. Take the crate out of the car, carry it to your

home, with the dog inside. Then once in your home and secure,

you can open the crate door and let them come out at their own

pace. 

ENSURE THE SLIPLEAD STAYS ON. At least for the first few

days and depending how nervous the dog is. The lead should be

on when taking the dog out to the garden to toilet as well. 

Once arrived, give them the chance to go out to the garden to

toilet. Once back inside, show them where their water bowl is as

they may be thirsty after their journey. 

Do not make a big fuss of them, and let them decompress as they

may be stressed out after their journey into a new home. It's all

very new to them. 

They may still be wary of household noises, though they would

have started getting used to these at the foster home. 

Don't overfuss them, don't be in a rush to bring visitors over or

take them out to parade to everyone. Give them to chance to learn

their new home first.

Do bear in mind, some dogs will arrive and act like they've lived

there all their lives. Others will be more cautious and slow to settle

in, so we've tried to include the most common issues that may

pop up. 

Please do be aware that your dog may try to give you

the slip and escape. It is in their nature to flee if they are

scared. Therefore do be careful when opening the front door,

any windows they could get out of, and out in the garden. We

suggest they wear a slip-lead for the first week inside the

home, and when out in the garden until they've settled and

have learnt to trust.  We suggest keeping your new dog in the

home/garden for at least the first two days, to allow them to settle

in a little, before attempting to go out on walks. DO NOT LET

YOUR DOG OFF LEAD UNTIL YOU ARE CERTAIN THEY WILL

RECALL. This will take time and training.

The most important thing to remember is that when your dog

arrives in its new home, it is going to be overwhelmed and

scared. This is completely normal. If you think about it, they've

gone from the only place they've known, to have been put on a

bus which has been travelling over the course of a few days with

stops along the way. They have then gone into a foster home for

what might have been two days, or may have been two weeks,

possibly longer.  After this, they've then had another journey to

your home! Its completely understandable that they may be

unsure and scared of what is going on.

We will tell you what food the dog is on before they arrive. We

suggest keeping to the same food for the first week or so. Don't

worry if your new arrival has diarrhoea for a day or so. This is

usually down to stress due to the change. If you are worried or the

dog seems unwell in any other way, then please see your vet for

advice, but it is quite a common occurrence due to the upheaval. 

Therefore it is very important that after they have arrived, to let

them have some space. Do not make a big fuss and show them

to a safe space, with a bed and some water, where they can

start relaxing after their journey. Let them come to you. 

This can take a few minutes, a few hours or longer, but its essential

not to overwhelm them with attention and fuss early on. Some of

these dogs have never known any of the sounds of a household so

may be scared by the noises of TV, the washing machine, the

hoover, children playing etc. Therefore hold off on having visitors

over to welcome the new addition, try to keep the household as

calm as you can. 

Don't allow children to run over and try to

cuddle/pet/play with the dog as this can be very overwhelming

and scary. 

They will need patience and support from everyone in the home,

to learn the routine, to learn where to go to the toilet, where they

can and cannot sit and sleep. 

We suggest having a crate set up for them, ideally covered

over 3 sides, with bedding, as their safe space. 

Its not unusual for them to cry when left alone at night, so you will

need to decide early on whether you will allow them in your

bedroom/on the bed etc, as once you allow this behaviour it can

be hard to undo it. They will be fine to sleep in the crate if you train

them to. Be prepared to stay up with them and help them settle for the

first few nights. Don't forget, this is all still very new for them. 

Make sure that you let everyone in the household know that they

should keep their distance and allow the dog to go into its safe

space if they want to. Allowing children to run up to the dog, and

trying to stroke it or hug it, is not advised as the dogs can startle

easily. 

When you take the dog outside to the garden, make sure they

have a slip-lead or long lead on for the first week, or two if they

are skittish and its taking sometime for them to learn to trust

you. If something spooks them, such as a loud noise, or an

unexpected movement, they may try to bolt and escape. 

Make sure you keep doors shut to area's you don't want them to

go into yet. Its best to only allow them in in one/two rooms to start

with so they don't panic. 

Do not let them off lead until you have had the chance for them to 

bond with you and have had the opportunity to learn recall in a secure area. 

Try to get them used to you leaving for short periods at a time, 

BEFORE you're due to go back to work etc. It can be very scary for them 

to have been with you 24/7 for a week, to then being left alone completely. 

Be clear on the rules you intend to have. Follow them early on. Its very easy

to feel sorry for the rescue dogs, but if you allow bad behaviour in the beginning, 

you will find it harder to have them unlearn it later. You will need to set clear 

boundaries from the start. Do not let them walk all over you as this more often than 

not, leads to trouble! Try to keep to a routine if possible. 

We always suggest puppy training classes and socialisation, to allow these dogs to

learn to be well behaved members of the household.

The dogs can be introduced outside the home, if the resident dog

is likely to be stressed with your new arrival. Otherwise in the

home with a careful but instant introduction unless a specific plan

has been made with the guidance/advice of Love4dogs.

The children should have met your new dog in the foster home to

make sure they are a good match. As exciting as it is welcoming a

new pup into your family the children (and adults) need to give

the dog space or they can potentially damage the relationship

before it starts. We advise a space were the dog can have peace

and no touching whilst the dog is asleep or eating.

If introduced carefully and restfully your child and your dog should

make a perfect companion for each other.

Please speak to the Love4dogs admin team for further advice as each dog 

is unique and different. 

Sometimes your new addition may have a bit of a pong to them.

They are usually bathed with their fosterer but it can sometimes

linger a little. Try to avoid overbathing if you can. Especially early

on when they are still getting used to you and they may be

stressed out.

Below are some common issues that may pop up and can be

treated at home. But if you are concerned at any point, your first

port of call should be to your vet! 

In a real emergency, where the dog’s life is potentially at risk,

please take the dog to a vet immediately.

Common issues that can usually be resolved at home are:

Diarrhoea: this can be quite common after the long journey to the

UK. It can also be stress induced. So even if they have been in the

UK for a while before they arrive to their new home, they will still

likely be stressed out from the new move. Feed Chappies tinned wet

dog food for a few days and ensure plenty of fresh water. 

As an alternative, try boiled white rice and plain boiled chicken until 

the stools firm up a bit. Keep an eye out for blood in the faeces; 

if this persists more than 24 hours it is a cause for concern.

If there is excessive vomiting and diarrhoea – multiple times over a

short period – this could be a sign of Giardia. This is relatively easy

to treat with a 5-day course of Panacur paste - obtainable from

your vet (hopefully without a consultation fee).

Coughing: add a teaspoon of manuka honey (Aldi/Lidl is cheapest)

to half a pint of warm water and stir to dissolve. Pups may not

drink it at first, but encourage them to lick it from your fingers and

they will develop a taste for it.

If it’s kennel cough, the dog will sound like it’s heaving up a fur-

ball and this may last a week. Garlic tablets are a good way to

combat this. Dorwest Garlic tablets for dogs contain the correct

dosage for dogs and are a good option. Another option is to

spread some manuka honey onto a piece of garlic bread – once a

day until it resolves. Do be careful not to overdose with garlic as

too much is toxic to dogs.

Kennel cough is contagious, so avoid contact with any other dogs

e.g. in the park; unfortunately, it will very likely be passed to

resident dogs (even if they have been vaccinated, as there are so

many different strains) but it will normally resolve without the

need for any veterinary intervention.

Head shaking: use a dog-friendly ear cleaner and check for grass

seeds or ear mites. Assess if it might be the collar causing the

shakes if the pup is not used to it.

Scratching is not likely to be caused by fleas as the dogs are

treated before leaving Romania. It can be a sign of stress or dust

mites and should ease with time.

Excessive panting: please consider if your home environment

may be too hot for the dog (especially underfloor heating). The

dogs are used to colder temperatures in Romania.

Dominance towards other pets or people 

Anxiety including separation anxiety

Food or resource guarding

Hiding away or fearful

Growling or snapping

The important thing is to stay calm. Say NO in a firm but calm

voice and show them that you are in charge in the household if

they show bad behaviour. If you let them walk over you early on,

they will carry on thinking they can do so further down the line.

NEVER hit a dog, this will not teach them anything except to be

scared of you. 

If you are worried about any behaviour, do please get in touch

with us and we can help advise. Sometimes a behaviourist may be

required if it is something more ingrained. 

Remember that every dog is different. Some dogs won't have any

issues at all. Some may have a few.