5 Tips for a Stress-Free Pet Adoption Process

Adopting a pet is often exciting. If it’s been a long planning process for you or your family, it can be especially fulfilling. However, the haze of excitement can cloud the situation as well, and you shouldn’t assume it is without some stress and challenges. It’s important to prepare for all parts of the process when searching. Don’t let those puppy eyes cause you to be blinded by love. 

Adding a new member to your family shouldn’t be taken lightly or rushed into. Luckily, there are some essential tips to help on your journey. By following the tips below, you can create a peaceful and loving home for your pet and make the process less stressful. 

1. Take Your Time

If you’re an animal lover, this might be the most difficult tip for you. There are so many animals that are in shelters and need a good home. But you can’t adopt all of them. One of the hardest things can be taking your time and deciding the best pet for you. Though you may want to rescue every stray you see, slow down and prepare. 

Preparation starts with adapting your home for the new arrival. It can be expensive to buy all you need for a pet. It can be stressful to have to run out to find a leash, bed, and bowls the same day you get your pet too. Try to get as much as you can ahead of time so you’re ready for the pet’s arrival. Taking the time to prep early lets you fully enjoy the process and makes the pet transport less stressful. 

2. Do Your Homework

This tip closely relates to taking your time. Before you settle on a dog, do some research. It’s important to choose a pet that fits your lifestyle. For example, if you have kids, you should talk to the shelter about temperament and check if the dog is good with children. Allergies might determine which pet will work best for your health needs. How active you are can also affect what pet is best for you.

Some people may be fixated on having a specific breed based on certain preferences or appearance. Take the time to make sure your life works with that dog. It’s far easier to adopt an animal that fits your lifestyle than to force a pet into your life. For example, if you’re gone all the time and don’t like to exercise, a high energy dog likely isn’t a good match. Likewise, if you live in a smaller city apartment, a smaller dog might fit better than a huge husky. 

3. Find a Reliable Vet

Just like it’s best to prep your home ahead of time, it’s also beneficial to look for a local vet before adopting. Establishing medical care for your pet can really take your stress level down. It can sometimes be a challenge to find an opening. Getting this nailed down before you bring your fuzzball home takes the panic out of searching if an emergency happens. You can get their vaccinations and potential spay or neuter scheduled as well.

Starting them young with the vet also gets them used to it. This lowers their stress level — and yours — when they need to go in. Not only does this keep your new loveable pet healthy, but it also is their ticket into other places. Many trainers, doggy daycares, and boarding places require up-to-date health records. A groomer may even want to make sure they are current on their shots.

4. Establish a Routine

Pets thrive on routine and tend to struggle in chaos. Most dogs want to please their humans, but this can be hard to do if there are no rules. Try to create order and consistency in their environment. One way you can do this is by using consistent command words. “Off” might always mean to get off furniture and people, for example. 

Placing their food and water in the same place and feeding at the same times daily is helpful as well. So is having the same rules for bedtime. If you want them to sleep in their kennel, don’t let them sleep in your bed half the week. These routines are especially helpful when adopting a shelter dog. They can start to relax as they learn what to expect and what comes next.

5. Practice Your Patience

Go into this adventure knowing it is a process. If you go into it with the expectation everything will be perfect by day two, you’ll be setting yourself up for a stressful experience. Change can be hard, and everything falling into place can take time. Practice patience, and try to understand your dog’s perspective. Every dog has a different past, and it will take time for them to adjust.

If you easily become overwhelmed, they will sense your frustration and stress. Try to remain calm and understand it’s an adjustment period. During the first few days, your dog will likely feel overwhelmed and even scared. They will need several months to build trust with you as their human and bond. During this time, stay consistent with the routines you hope to establish and show them love.

Welcome Home Your New Pet

Adopting a pet into your family is a lot of work, but it can be rewarding. Following the tips outlined in this article can make the process less stressful. If you take your time and have patience and a plan, it will all go a lot smoother.

Give yourself and your new pet grace. Working together to build love and trust will take time, but it will also be rewarding. Soon, you’ll be each other’s best friend, and it will be hard to imagine life before they came into your world.