Your first week with an adopted dog: a day-by-day guide

Adopting a dog is one of the best decisions you can make. For your dog, though, the day they arrive is a huge change: new smells, new people, unfamiliar noises, and no routine to hold on to. What you do in the first week shapes how they settle in.

This guide gives you a day-by-day plan. It is not a test: every dog has their own pace, and what matters is that yours feels their new home is predictable and safe.

Before they arrive: get your home ready

Having the basics ready lets you spend the first day on what matters most: being there for them.

A quiet corner with a bed, water and, if they use one, an open crate. Ideally away from the front door and busy areas.
A dog-proof home: cables, cleaning products, medicines, rubbish, and toxic plants out of reach.
A well-fitted collar or harness with an ID tag showing your phone number. You should fit one or two fingers between the collar and the neck, no more.
The same food they ate at the shelter or foster home. Ask for the brand and the amount.
House rules agreed with the whole family: who walks them, when they eat, whether they can go on the sofa, and which words you will use for each thing. Consistency helps enormously.

The 3-3-3 rule

Many shelters use a rough guideline:

3 days to get over the initial overwhelm. Eating little, sleeping a lot, or hiding is normal.
3 weeks to start understanding the household routine and show more of their personality.
3 months to truly feel at home.

Treat it as a guide, not a schedule. A dog who spent a long time in a shelter or comes from a difficult situation may need much longer.

Day 1: a calm arrival

Go straight home from the shelter and take a short walk around the area before going in so they can relieve themselves.
Let them explore at their own pace. If your home is large, start with one or two rooms.
No visitors or welcome parties. Friends and family can meet them in a few days.
Don't force interaction. Sit nearby, talk calmly, and let them come to you.

If they whine or don't sleep that night, it's normal. Stay calm and never punish them: they are somewhere completely new.

Days 2 and 3: predictable routines

Routine is the most reassuring thing for a newly arrived dog.

Fixed times for meals, walks, and rest.
Short walks on quiet routes, always on a lead. If they are fearful, double up: a harness and a collar, each with its own lead or with a double lead. A firework or a motorbike can make them bolt, and a dog who has just arrived doesn't know the way home yet.
Reward calm behaviour: a gentle stroke or a treat when they are relaxed reinforces that state.

During these days they may have a poor appetite or slightly loose stools from stress. If they eat nothing for more than a day, vomit, you see blood, or they seem very low, call your vet.

Days 4 and 5: vet visit and paperwork

Even if the shelter says they are healthy, book a check-up within the first week or two. Bring their vaccination record or passport and every report you were given.

Go through the vaccination and parasite-control schedule with your vet.
Check that the microchip scans correctly and that the ownership transfer to your name is registered. Your shelter or vet will tell you which registry applies where you live.
Look up local legal requirements, such as licences or insurance for dog owners. In Spain, for example, Law 7/2023 on animal welfare includes third-party liability insurance for dogs.

With up-to-date chip details, whoever finds your dog if they ever get lost will be able to reach you.

Days 6 and 7: first steps in training

Once they are calmer, you can start learning together.

Short sessions of about five minutes, with treats, at home where there are few distractions. Their name, "sit", and coming when called are a great start.
Teach them to be alone gradually: step out for a few seconds, come back without fuss, and slowly build up the time.
If you have other pets, make introductions calmly. With another dog, meet on neutral ground and walk side by side. With a cat, start with separate spaces and swap blankets so they get used to each other's scent.

Common mistakes to avoid

Too much at once: visitors, busy parks, car trips.
Letting them off the lead in the first days. They haven't bonded with you yet and don't have a reliable recall.
Switching food abruptly. If you want to change it, mix both over about seven to ten days.
Punishing accidents indoors. Clean up without drama and take them out more often.
Mistaking stillness for settling in. Some dogs are very quiet at first because they are overwhelmed; their real personality shows weeks later.

When to ask for help

Talk to your vet or a trainer who uses positive reinforcement if you see intense fear that doesn't improve, growling when you touch them or approach their food, or destructive behaviour or non-stop barking when they are left alone. Most shelters also offer support after adoption, so don't hesitate to get in touch.

Your first week doesn't have to be perfect. With patience, routine, and plenty of affection, your dog will discover they have reached their forever home.

This guide is for general information and does not replace advice from your vet.