We’ve been celebrating Adopt a Shelter Dog month the past few weeks, with tips on how you can help your local animal shelter (here  and here) and last week we took a look at how to find the right dog for your family. This week, let’s talk about setting your new dog up for success!

Be Patient, Be Realistic. In your mind, you know that you just adopted a dog and you understand that this dog is now a part of your family. So exciting! So why is your new dog hanging out in the corner, looking confused and uneasy? Try to remember that your new dog only knows it’s in a strange place, with people he doesn’t know. Newly adopted dogs don’t automatically understand that their life just took a turn for the better. All they know for sure is that they were at a shelter and now they’re somewhere new, with a few strangers that keep staring at them and smiling. Give them some time to adjust. They didn’t get the memo that life is about to be awesome, but they’ll figure it out in time! Some dogs settle in the first day, some the first week, and some take a few months before they totally relax into this new, safe, loving place. If only they spoke the same language as us, they’d learn this faster, but in the meantime, be patient.

Refresher Lessons: One of the pleasures of adopting an adult dog is that they’re often already housetrained or know basic obedience. However, it’s important to remember that although a dog may know the rules in one place (his old home, the shelter), it doesn’t mean he’ll automatically understand that the same rules apply in this strange place (his new home). It’ll be a big help if you spend some time doing a refresher course (alone, with a trainer, or in a class). Learning together will be a bonding experience for you and your new dog and it will help them learn the routines and rules of their new home.

Make Good Choices (so they don’t make the wrong ones on their own): Before you even bring your dog home form the shelter, think about this: where will they sleep at night and hang out while you’re at work? If you plan on crating your dog, be sure to get a crate before you come home with the dog. Crates may look like a jail cell to you, but many dogs find them to be a safe, quiet spot where they can go when they feel overwhelmed or tired. It’s also a safe place for them to hang out when they can’t be supervised. If exercised properly beforehand, crates, with a soft blanket inside, can be a comfortable place to spend a few hours. Left alone in the house, roaming freely, your new dog may feel uneasy (Am I supposed to guard this place? Taste the woodwork and shoes? Pee on that soft rug over there?), but in the crate they’ll know what to do: have a snack and a nap.

Keep them on Leash: Here’s an easy one, learned from experience. New dogs don’t know the property lines, the command “come”, and sometimes they don’t know their names yet! Don’t open the door, let them run out, and assume they’ll come back. Until they know the drill, keep them on leash.

Want more tips for bringing home a new dog? Check out the ASPCA’s list, then head down to the shelter to meet your new best friend!