Have you ever wondered if you are taking proper care of your animal? Or what is the best way to take care of your adopted shelter dog or cat? It is a struggle and a question that many people ask themselves. Once you adopt an animal from the shelter, it can be hard to know where to start. This article is for all of those new animal owners or those who are thinking about adopting an animal.
Keeping your animal active
For dogs, activity and the amount of activity needed is heavily based on the dog’s breed, Jackie Walters, animal nurse at the VCA Emergency Animal Centre, tells new owners. “Certain high-energy dogs would be miserable if you stick them in a small apartment and they do not get the proper amount of walks,” she tells people that it is important to consider the dog breed before adoption. This can include looking at where you live, in the city or country, with a big yard or a park nearby.
Owners should also be considering the time that they have for this animal. Many people do not think that cats need activity, but they do. Taking time to play with your cat with cat toys, or getting them a cat treadmill are some good activity ideas. Many active work dogs will need to be outside most of the time and need a job/things to do throughout the day. Not all dogs will need as much activity; a smaller breed of dog, such as a Shih Tzu will be fine with a few walks a day and staying indoors.
From shelter to home
It is already stressful for an animal to be in a new home/environment. Especially from a shelter, with loud noises, overwhelming interactions with many strangers and more. Generally, it takes two weeks for an animal to settle in and to feel comfortable in a new place.
Dogs show many of their discomfort and stress signs through body language. Owners should be watching for these signs. “Their tale is between their legs, their ears are pulled back or droopy, they aren’t eating properly,” Walters advises on animal behaviour. Walters explains that keeping track of the eating and drinking habits of your animal can tell you how they are feeling.
“At the beginning, the animal may not be too confident; they may be shy and scared of going into the car or your home, and it will take a lot of treats,” Paul Aris, a foster parent and shelter dog adoptee, describes what the beginning of bringing a dog from the shelter home with you is like from his experience. “A loving family is the best place where a shelter dog can grow, It is helpful to have multiple people when handling behavioural issues or bringing a new dog into the home.”
When a dog has been through so much change and is going through another big change, it is best to keep things familiar to the dog as much as possible. This includes the same food, medicine and toys. For feline friends, keeping their litter the same can be very helpful to them adapting well. Keeping the environment calm is another very helpful tool. “After adopting an animal, give them bonding time with the immediate family in a calm environment, do not plan a party the day after,” Walters suggests for those who have an animal that is adapting to their new home.
How to best handle behavioural issues
Behavioural issues in animals can occur whether an animal is from the shelter or not, but when adopting an animal from a shelter, it is necessary to think about/learn about their past. “You don’t know what kind of situation they came from; they may have experienced abuse, and they need extra patience and care,” Walters gives her insight, something to keep in mind before or after adopting from a shelter.
Walters heavily suggests looking into training resources for reactive or troubling behaviour around Calgary. There are many resources in Calgary, but what could be best for your dog is seeking a behaviourist who knows how to help the animal.
“Puppies are great since their minds are blank slates and they can be easier to train, while older dogs may be set in their way,” Jackie gives the benefits of adopting a puppy from a shelter. Walters also highlights how difficult puppies can be to train, and how their behaviour is not easy. People need to think about common puppy behaviours such as tearing up things, not being litter box trained and causing other mischief. Puppies can be time-consuming and need a lot of attention.