First 7 Days With a Rescue Dog: What to Expect

The first week with your rescue dog sets the tone for your life together. Focus on routine, patience, and decompression. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Day 0: Prepare your home (puppy-proof, set up a safe zone, stock up on supplies).

Day 1: Go outside first, then slowly introduce your home. Keep things quiet.

Day 2: Allow slow exploration, introduce other pets carefully, watch eating/pooping.

Days 3–7: Build routine, expand activities, work on potty training, and focus on bonding.

Want a printable checklist to make this week easier? Download my free Adoption Survival Kit.

The first few days and even weeks can also be overwhelming for you and your rescue pup. So, let’s ensure the first week goes as smoothly as possible.

This day-by-day guide will help you make the most of your first week together.

Day 0: BEFORE you bring home your new rescue dog

A successful transition from shelter to home starts even before you bring your dog home. Do these four steps to prepare your home for a dog:

1. Dog/puppy-proof your house.

Make sure no electrical wires are hanging on the floor, pick up small items a dog may find enticing to chew, and gate off areas of the home you don’t want the dog to have access to.

📖 Get tips on how to best puppy-proof your home.

2. Walk through your yard.

Check that your fence is in good condition with no areas where the dog may squeeze or dig under the fence. Check the gates to make sure they are closed and latched.

3. Create a safety zone for your dog.

Give your new rescue dog a safe area to decompress, this will help them feel more comfortable.

An open crate in a quiet room is a great tool to create a comforting den-like area.

If you choose not to use a crate, then set up an area with a dog bed, blankets, water, and chew toys.

📖 READ: How and Why Crate Train Your Dog in 3 Easy Steps

4. Stock up on supplies.

It’s best to go to the store or order your dog supplies before you bring home your pup. Do not take your new dog to the pet supply store on the way home. This would be much too overwhelming to start your relationship together.

You will need food, food/water bowls, a collar, a leash, and an ID tag. Of course, a few toys and a chew bone would be nice too.

Here is my Amazon shopping list for my recommended dog products.

Day 1: Bringing your dog home

We have adopted eight dogs and fostered many more over the years, so to say I’ve gone through this phase many times is an understatement.

The following advice works and will make your life easier and your dog’s transition into your home much smoother. Take your time, do not rush any of these steps.

1. Outside before inside

When you arrive home after picking up your new pup, introduce them to the outside of your house first. Let them take in all the new smells and surroundings.

Show them where they will go potty in your yard. And then take them for a long walk, at the very least around the block.

2. Introducing your new dog to the inside of your home

After the walk, enter and introduce your dog to your house slowly.

They will be stressed for the first few days, so the smaller the new area is, the more comfortable they will be. Restrict access to one area of the home.

Keep them on a leash for at least the first day, preferably the first three days. You don’t always have to hold on to the leash; they can drag the leash around with them, but this gives you quick access to them if needed.

I do this with each of our foster dogs. It helps the dog not get overwhelmed, stay out of trouble, and limits potty accidents.

3. Keep the first day and week quiet and low-key

The first day your adopted dog comes home should be uneventful. Keep things quiet and calm. As tempting as it may be, don’t invite your friends to meet your new pup.

Don’t take them to the dog park. Avoid overwhelming situations altogether.

Wait until they have a chance to get to know you and their new home first. Give them plenty of quiet time to settle in.

4. Get to know your new dog

Sit back and observe your new best friend. Let them approach you. Don’t overwhelm them with too much affection right away. Remember, the first few days are all about decompression.

If you have kids, don’t allow them to hang on the dog, hug them, put their faces to the dog’s face, etc. In other words, help your kids understand the dog needs time and space for a little while.

Learn to read your dog’s body language. It will help you bond and understand your dog so much better!

5. Bringing a new dog home to another dog

If you have other pets in the home, keep them separated for the first 24-48 hours.

Remember, your new dog is stressed. Meeting another dog just adds to that stress and can result in a dogfight.

Even if they are the friendliest dogs in the world, or if the dogs have met before. Bringing another dog into your home is different than a casual meeting, and dogs react differently when it is in their territory.

Whenever we bring in a new foster dog, they are separated from our dogs for a full 24 hours. The 24-hour rule is required by the rescue I work with. I will admit, it was very hard the first few times we brought in a foster dog.

It’s so tempting to want to bring the dog in and let everyone play.

To get my full protocol on adding a second dog…

📖 READ: The Best Way to Introduce a Second Dog Into Your Pack.

The first meal

Don’t worry if your dog doesn’t want to eat the first few days, this is completely normal. Most dogs won’t eat when they are stressed.

If you can feed them the same food they were eating in the shelter to alleviate any upset stomachs and diarrhea. And make sure they drink plenty of water.

Wean them to a new food next week. For this first week, keep things simple.

📖 READ: How long can a dog go without eating?

The first night

Your new dog is most likely going to be exhausted the first few nights. But some dogs may cry, howl, or bark when it’s time for bed.

We put a crate in our bedroom for our new foster dogs to sleep. This helps the dogs feel more comfortable knowing they aren’t alone.

Some people feel that a crate is cruel. It is not… a crate will keep them safe when you are sleeping. Imagine if they were allowed to roam around the house without supervision, a house they aren’t familiar with… oh, the trouble they could find!

PRO TIP: Want a detailed day-by-day adoption checklist? Download my free Adoption Survival Kit.

Day 2: Expanding their world

Your dog may want to explore their surroundings more. You can open another area of the home for them to get to know.

Every dog is different; so, don’t be concerned if your newly adopted dog prefers to hide under the table or in their crate. This is perfectly normal and part of the decompression process.

But if your dog is ready to explore, take it slowly. Do not give them full access to your home just yet.

Keeping their “freedom” to a minimum will help keep unwanted behaviors at bay. I know… You look into those puppy eyes and wonder what they could do that would be so terrible!

When a dog is stressed and in a new environment, stuff happens… potty accidents, chewing, marking, and who knows what else!

Other pets

If you have other pets, you may introduce them now. If it is another dog, make the meeting outside in a neutral area. Take them both for a long walk together before entering the home again.

If you have a cat, then I suggest keeping the introduction on the cat’s terms. Using a baby gate to give the cat a space to escape if desired.

Remember, your new dog may have never seen or experienced things you take for granted. Stairs, TV, kids, bicycles, can all be strange to a new dog.

It’s always interesting to me that with every foster dog we bring in, each one has some sort of quirk. Many of our fosters have never been on a walk, so when we walked by a big boulder or someone riding a bike, the dog would jump back out of fear.

It’s important to keep all this in mind when introducing and exposing your dog to new experiences.

Always be patient, positive, and reassuring. Don’t avoid the things that make him fearful, but slowly show him there is nothing to be afraid of.

Eating and pooping

Most dogs will eat on the second day, but again, there is no reason to panic if they don’t want to eat yet. As long as they are drinking water, they will be okay.

Some dogs also don’t like to potty in strange places, so don’t be surprised if they haven’t pooped yet… especially if they haven’t eaten.

This is a little gross but look at their poop for the next few weeks. Even if the shelter or foster home gave them a clean bill of health, sometimes worms and parasites can creep up during times of stress. Any signs of abnormal poop warrant a visit to your vet.

Days 3-7: Building Trust and Routine

The next few days are about comfort and connection.

• Sit on the floor, let them approach.
• Observe where they settle — move their safe zone if needed.
• Start establishing routine: feeding, walks, potty, play, sleep. Routine = security.
• Add small outings like short neighborhood walks.
• Expect potty accidents — go back to basics.
• Be a confident leader: calm, consistent, reassuring. Dogs take cues from your energy.

What happens after the first week?

Congrats, you made it through the first week with your new rescue dog! Was it easier or harder than you expected?

Remember, every dog is unique. Don’t compare your dog to someone else’s. Your pup may need more time, and that’s okay.

📖 Next, read about the 3-3-3 rule for dogs to understand the bigger picture of adjustment.

And don’t forget, Rescue Dogs 101 has resources to help you every step of the way.

FAQs: First Week With a Rescue Dog

Final Thoughts

The first week is about decompression, building trust, and establishing a routine. Keep things simple, quiet, and consistent. Celebrate the little wins, and be patient with setbacks.

👉 Download your free Adoption Survival Kit to get checklists and guides for this week and beyond.

📖 And don’t forget to learn about the 3-3-3 Rule for Dogs, the bigger picture of how long it really takes for your dog to adjust.

You’ve got this. It may feel overwhelming now, but a few months from today, you’ll look back at this first week with a smile, amazed at how far you and your dog have come.