Before adoption day, prepare for the dog you are bringing home. Have a safe way to travel, a quiet resting space, basic supplies and clear care instructions. A conversation with the shelter or foster carer can help you choose what is useful and avoid buying things that do not suit your dog.
Ask the shelter before you shop
Get practical details you can use at home:
- What food does the dog eat, in what amounts and at what times? Are there veterinary diet instructions?
- What collar, harness and travel setup have they used comfortably? Have they tried to slip their equipment or escape through doors or fences?
- What helps them rest? How have they responded to a crate, being alone and everyday handling?
- What has staff actually observed around children and other animals? Ask about fear, guarding, growling, snapping or any known bite history, and what support is recommended.
- Who should you contact after adoption, including outside the shelter’s normal hours?
Ask where the history is incomplete. An unknown response to cats or children needs an introduction plan; it is not evidence that an introduction will be easy.
Collect medical records, including vaccination dates, parasite treatments, test results, surgery and any ongoing conditions. Get written medication instructions and confirm when the next dose or treatment is due. Bring these records to your new veterinary practice. The ASPCA recommends establishing veterinary care shortly after adoption.
Arrange the journey home
Have an ID tag with your current phone number, a fixed-length lead, and a suitable collar or harness ready at pickup. Ask staff to check the fit, demonstrate how to use the equipment and explain when it should be removed. Choose the setup for your dog before travelling rather than postponing a harness until the second week. The ASPCA’s dog-care checklist includes identification and a leash.
If you are driving, arrange a secured, well-ventilated travel crate or a suitable vehicle-restraint harness in the back seat. Check the product’s fitting instructions and ask the shelter which option the dog can tolerate. Keep the dog secured during the drive and never leave them alone in a parked car. ASPCA travel safety
Get the microchip number and registry details. Confirm who will transfer the registration and check that your current contact information has been recorded. A microchip complements a visible ID tag; both need up-to-date details. AVMA microchip guidance
Set up the space and supplies
Choose a quiet resting area and prepare:
- A bed with washable bedding, plus food and water bowls.
- A supply of the dog’s current food, following any veterinary instructions.
- Secure gates or barriers where access needs to be limited.
- Waste bags, towels and cleaning products suitable for the surfaces, used as labelled.
- A small selection of suitable toys, chosen with the shelter’s advice about the dog’s chewing habits.
The ASPCA’s dog-care checklist covers the basics. Extra toys and decorative accessories can wait while you learn what your dog enjoys.
If you plan to use a crate, have the right size ready and ask about the dog’s experience with it. Introduce confinement gradually and positively. A dog who panics or tries to escape needs veterinary or veterinary behaviorist advice and a different management plan. VCA crate guidance
Check doors, windows, cords and anything within chewing reach. Test garden gates and inspect fences for gaps before allowing access. Use the ASPCA’s home-preparation advice as a starting point, including its guidance on checking plants. Secure bins and put medication, cleaning products, food and small objects out of reach. Follow cleaning-product labels and contact your vet immediately if you suspect toxic exposure. ASPCA household-product guidance
Agree the household plan
Decide who handles meals, toilet trips, exercise, medication and overnight care. Arrange cover for work hours and unexpected delays. Ask the shelter how to manage introductions to resident pets, and prepare separate spaces before pickup. Humane World’s introduction guidance explains why supervision and separate resources matter.
Children and dogs need active adult supervision. When that is not possible, separate them safely. Agree that nobody disturbs the dog while eating or sleeping, and show children where the dog can rest undisturbed. AVMA advice for families
Have veterinary help ready
Choose a veterinary practice before pickup and arrange an initial visit shortly after adoption, with timing based on the dog’s health and shelter instructions. Save its number and the nearest emergency clinic’s details. ASPCA adoption guidance
If your dog refuses food, eats noticeably less or seems uncomfortable eating, contact a vet promptly. Do not wait two days or assume the change is only settling-in stress. A diabetic dog that misses even one meal needs urgent veterinary advice. VCA appetite guidance
Trouble breathing, collapse, repeated attempts to vomit without producing anything, or a swollen or painful abdomen need immediate emergency care. Suspected ingestion of medication or a toxic substance also needs immediate veterinary help. Cornell emergency guidance
Before you leave for pickup, check the fitted equipment, transport, records, food, resting area and care cover. Then use our guide to the first week after adoption for arrival day and settling in. This article gives general information; your vet and adoption organization can help tailor the plan to your dog.