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Hold a family meeting to create rules about caring for the dog

Will he be allowed on furniture? What about the beds? Where will he sleep and eat? Who is in charge of walking him? As a family, you should aim for consistency with your decisions to avoid confusing the dog. Consistency will also prevent the dog from creating his own rules!

Have the necessary items your dog will need

ID tags, a collar and a 6 foot leash, food and water bowls, food, dog toys, a crate and bedding, and basic grooming tools.

Bring your new dog home when you can be there for a few days

We always recommend making sure you have some serious time at home with your pup when you first are fostering or adopting. Ideally, try to work from home for a day or two, and be sure to plan on spending a lot of time home for the first few weeks as he gets settled in and you establish a routine together.

Just before you bring your dog into the home, take him for nice, long walk

This is a great opportunity to tire him out, and also to let him start getting used to his new neighborhood, the sites and smells.

Plan on some accidents

Even the best-trained dogs can forget their manners in a new home. Try not to get too upset if he goes to the bathroom inside. It could be nerves, stress or confusing. Immediately upon arrival in the house, take the dog to the yard or bathroom area. Spend some time with him back there, and be sure to reward him heavily when he uses the facilities properly!

Patience is key

Remember to temper your expectations. This is a whole new world for your dog, so give them time to adjust to your home and your lifestyle. Be patient, and you will be amply rewarded.

Never leave them unattended with another family dog or child

Under no circumstances should you leave a foster or new adopted unattended with child or another family pet. We suggest waiting a very good amount of time until you are confident your dogs get along fully, and recommend crating or separating the dogs when you’re not at home.

underdogs recommendations

Pet Insurance

RECEIVE 10% off MONTHLY PET INSURANCE! You can only plan for so much! While not a necessity, having pet insurance can relieve some of the stress and financial impact that an injury or illness to your pet can have to your household. We highly recommend Healthy Paws Pet Insurance. They’ve already saved our butts, and our wallets, a number of times.

And, as an Underdogs partner, for each application filled out completely here using this link, we’ll receive $35 and you’ll receive 10% off their rate!

Why Healthy Paws? They’ve created a very affordable, comprehensive pet insurance plan and backed it up with an unparalleled commitment to customer service. From a pet parent’s perspective, you’ll clearly understand what is covered and what is not covered. We also love the super fast claim reimbursements (often in 3 days or less) and compassionate interactions with the Healthy Paws team. And, they have an app that makes it super easy!

vet

For check ups, dental work, injuries, or general medical needs, we love Rock Creek Veterinary Hospital!

Rock Creek Veterinary Hospital
625 Flatiron Marketplace Dr. Suite A
Broomfield, CO 80021
www.rockcreekvet.com

Dr. Patrick Kalenzi, DVM, is not only a great vet, he is a proud supporter of Underdogs Animal Rescue!

For serious orthopaedic, neurology, ophthalmology, cardiology, or oncology needs, we recommend VRCC, Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital.

Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital
3550 S Jason St.
Englewood, CO 80110
www.vrcc.com

Boarding

We highly recommend finding someone you trust and can develop a personal relationship with on Rover.com. We’ve had great luck with at-home pet sitting, dog walking, and boarding through Rover.com.

Tarek, Lauren & Sydney

When Tarek and I initially started doing our research regarding puppy adoptions we quickly became discouraged about the process. Many rescues and adoption agencies felt so cooperate and competitive that we put our search on hold. When a friend recommended…

read more

Jenn & Moonoi

I first saw Moonoi (Moon) from photos that Mo (of Underdog Rescue) had shared of a little dog from Thailand looking for a home. There was one photo that stuck in my mind of this little cutie in her bandana. Oh! Such sweetness and pride! I thought about her for three weeks…

read more

underdogs happy tails

  • Tarek, Lauren & Sydney

    When Tarek and I initially started doing our research regarding puppy adoptions we quickly became discouraged about the process. Many rescues and adoption agencies felt so cooperate and competitive that we put our search on hold. When a friend recommended…

    read more
  • Jenn & Moonoi

    I first saw Moonoi (Moon) from photos that Mo (of Underdog Rescue) had shared of a little dog from Thailand looking for a home. There was one photo that stuck in my mind of this little cutie in her bandana. Oh! Such sweetness and pride! I thought about her for three weeks…

    read more