I have recently adopted a dog from the pound, any advice on helping her adjust to a new life at home?

I have recently adopted a boxer/ sheperd mix from the pound. She is around seven or eight months and extremely skinny. We have her home and she seems to have bonded with us, gets along with our other animals, but is very skiddish, and she wont eat. Does anyone have any advice on helping her adjust?I have recently adopted a dog from the pound, any advice on helping her adjust to a new life at home?
Treat her good, look out for her, create a bond, and such.. :)


Bring her to the vet to make sure she doesn't have any sickness' and such, just like a checkup :)


I'm very proud of you! You adopted not from a pet store, but from a pound! That's so wonderful :)


Your dog will get used to your/her new home, just give her time.


Take care of her, and give her lots and lots of love!!I have recently adopted a dog from the pound, any advice on helping her adjust to a new life at home?
He is still young and that is good. Pound puppies take a little longer to adjust. They have to get to know you.





Both of my dogs came from the pound. They can a few months to really settle in. Just be patient. Be kind to them.





One good way to bond with your dog is to start obedience training. It is good for them to learn that you are the boss and it also teaches them good dog behavior. When you teach them sit and stay, then lay, leave it. Work with new tricks every week or two and praise them. It is good for bonding and it is just wise to train your dog anyway.





Like someone else said, take her to the vet. Make sure she doesn't have worms or anything obstructing his bowl. He could be skinny from not eating well, or there could be a medical problem. Get advice on a nutritious diet to help him gain weight. The vet can help determine a healthy weight goal.





Another good way is to eliminate all table food/snacks/treats and only feed her at meal time. But set a time limit then take up the food after about 15-20 min. She will learn that she needs to eat when she has food down for her. Dogs learn that one fairly quickly when you control the food.
First of all, lots of love and attention! very important. Second, put the new dogs food and water in a seperate place than the other dogs/cats. They need to feel that they have their ';own'; space. Try getting some soft and hard food and mix it up. Maybe it just doesnt like the food you are feeding it. In time, your new dog will adjust to its new surroundings, but to a dog and being in a new place, it needs to feel comfortable. Having its own place to eat and knowing that ';someone'; else wont be invading its food will help. Good luck!
she will eat when she's hungry. dogs won't starve themselves, unless sick. don't coddle her when she acts skittish. ignore that behavior. but make a big deal about her coming up to you; act happy with high voice. if she is extremely skinny, be careful about over feeding her. a lot of people want to fill up the food bowl to force weight on thin dogs. this can lead to food bloat, which can be potentially deadly. small, frequent meals are best.


definitely consult vet if non-eating continues.


good luck!
Make sure she sees a vet to rule out anything physical. Otherwise just give her time.
Sounds like she probably came from an abusive home and if she spent any length of time in the pound that's no walk in the park either. Also with her being so young she has probably already had a lot of negativity in her short little life. However there are great ways to counteract all of this. Give her some space away from the other animals to have one on one bonding time with you and other family members but individually so as not to overwhelm her. Also if she is not eating do get her checked out by a vet but she may just need time to warm up. In my experience sometimes dogs just won't eat in a new environment for a while but when they get hungry they come around. However with her being so skinny at a young age her system maybe off. What you might try is going to Wal-Mart and getting some supplemental puppy formula and let her have a little in a dish and then put it on her food it will ensure she gets added nutrients she needs but she needs to eat her food too. Also you might try a softer kibble at first rather than some of the harder food brands. But not for too long as it can be bad for their teeth. Make sure she feels loved and a part of the family and consider a kong toy as its a great way to keep them entertained when you are not around. Walks, play, and lazing around watching tv or reading a book in the evenings are a great way to bond too! Good Luck with your new baby!
Yes - great job on adopting from the animal shelter! I am a huge advocate of rescued animals and very outspoken against irresponsible breeders, puppy mills and pet stores. Pound puppies make great pets!





I agree with taking her to the vet for an initial examination and first round shots and a spay if she needs them. The vet will also be able to make sure there is no physical reason she is not eating.





Most likely, her lack of appetite is caused by nervousness. She is in a brand new situation, and she is probably wondering (in her little doggy brain) if this is going to be a temporary stay or a permanent home.





To give her a sense of security, if you haven't already gotten her a crate, I would purchase one. It should be just big enough for her to stand up fully, turn around and lay down on her side. Set the crate up in a quiet area of your home, away from the front door and the television and place two or three washable blankets in the bottom of it. Show her that this is her personal space by throwing a few treats in the back and praising her when she goes in. She will see this as her den, and should retreat there when things get too overwhelming. Do not let your other pets or children bother her while she is in the crate, and never physically remove her, even if it is time to eat or go potty.





We had the same issue when my sister first adopted our dog, Chica. She spent nearly 23 hours out of the day in her crate because she was so nervous, and she jumped at the tiniest noises. She would only come out of the crate to go potty. It took a few months, but now she runs around our house not scared of anything and she eats every meal like she has never tasted food before.





Remember to be very patient and give lots of quiet treats and praise when she behaves the way you want her to. Good luck!
Im guessing based on the skittish factor she might have been abused by previous owners. Let her know shes very special. Cuddle her give her treats feed her the best food for her give her a special Comfy bed. You should even spoil her a bit she deserves it! Play with her daily but also give her space if she needs it. Never poke her nose or do anything unless she misbehaves. Try petting her and telling her shes a good dog. DON'T YELL AT HER.