Do as much preparation in advance as you can before your dog arrives. Decide where your dog is going to rest and sleep, and remember that they be scared and frightened in their first few days. Make sure they have a quiet and cosy place they can retreat to away from the other household members, both the human and animal kind. Stock up on suitable bedding and puppy pads. Make sure you have food and water bowls and check what your rescue dog is currently being fed and plan to introduce new foods gradually. Having some calming pet diffusers such as Pet Remedy or Adaptil can also help your dog feel more at ease.

Give your dogs a few days to decompress before meeting the rest of the family. Make introductions to the rest of the family in a calm, controlled way – and keep your rescue dog on a lead at first, if you need to. Some of the dogs may not be used to prolonged human interactions and may prefer to keep their distance in the first few days. This is completely normal and you should allow the dog to set their own pace. Introduce your new dog to any existing pets in a neutral territory – with existing dogs, you could meet in the park then bring them both home together. If that’s not possible, make the first introductions in the garden, rather than indoors.

When it comes to bedtime start as you mean to go on. Your new rescue dog may want to sleep in your room, so if you want your dog to sleep in a separate room, start out as you mean to continue. Place an emphasis upon calm direction giving and maintaining the house rules. Being very clear about house rules from day one is much better for your pet’s long-term emotional stability. Focus on the rules and routines first, and a positive relationship will naturally follow. It’s all about striking the right balance between setting boundaries and developing a bond. Be consistent – it’s important for any dog, but especially so for a rescue dog that may have experienced lots of inconsistencies in its life.

Stress and anxiety can affect any dog, not just rescue pets. For some rehomed dogs, separation anxiety can be common. Try not to overly comfort a rescue dog in the first few days and weeks as this can create a sense of helplessness and possibly introduce a feeling in your dog that he can’t cope with life when apart from you.

Once your dog has decompressed from their arrival, provide your new dog with lots of opportunities to exercise and become familiar with his new surroundings, as this is an excellent way to bond and help him feel safe and relaxed.

A rescue dog might need training, but so would a puppy from a breeder. The first step for a new owner is to establish what is important for that individual dog. It may well be just establishing a basic set of commands like “sit” or “wait”. Be consistent and only use positive reinforcement and reward-based training, or join a local class.

Rome wasn’t built in a day so it may take your dog weeks or months to settle into their new environment.