A new dog at home Calm, practical support

Make their world
small at first.

A thoughtful welcome is less about a perfect first day and more about safety, predictability, rest and learning what helps this individual dog feel secure.

France

Prepare the French side of the move

Put identification, a local vet and safe arrival arrangements in place before bringing the dog home.

Practical details and sources

Keep copies of the transfer and health documents, confirm the I-CAD change of keeper and ask for the dog’s familiar food and routine. Make a plan for quiet rest, controlled introductions and short, predictable outings.

For a move from abroad, discuss the I-CAD import process and travel requirements with a vet in advance. A pet passport or travel certificate does not by itself complete all French registration steps.

Sources and checked date

Local information checked 18 September 2026. Check the official source for subsequent changes.

Lire ces repères pour la France en français

Préparer l’accueil en France

Anticipez l’identification, le suivi vétérinaire et une arrivée calme avant d’accueillir le chien.

Conservez les documents de cession et de santé, vérifiez le changement de détenteur I-CAD et demandez les habitudes alimentaires. Prévoyez repos, présentations contrôlées et sorties courtes et prévisibles.

Pour une arrivée de l’étranger, préparez avec un vétérinaire les documents de voyage et la procédure d’importation I-CAD. Le passeport ou certificat de voyage ne remplace pas à lui seul toutes les démarches françaises.

Sources et date de vérification

Informations locales vérifiées le 18 septembre 2026. Vérifiez les changements auprès de la source officielle.

Begin here

Your new dog does not need to meet everybody, visit everywhere or prove anything. Give them time to sleep, observe and build trust at a pace they can manage.

Prepare for an ordinary week.

Agree who will feed, walk, train and supervise the dog. Register with a veterinary practice, consider insurance and emergency costs, and arrange safe transport. Ask the breeder or rescue what food, sleeping routine, cues and equipment the dog already knows.

Create a quiet resting area where nobody disturbs the dog.
Remove medicines, toxic foods, trailing cables and chewable hazards; secure gardens and doors.
Have a suitable harness or collar, lead, identification tag, bedding, bowls, food and a few safe chews ready.
Confirm the microchip number and complete the keeper transfer promptly.
Plan introductions to children and resident animals carefully, with separation available.

Keep familiar things familiar. Continue the food and routine used by the previous home at first where possible. Make changes gradually unless a vet advises otherwise.

Expect disruption—not failure.

Offer a quiet toilet opportunity, water and a calm route to the sleeping space. A puppy or newly rehomed dog may be unsettled after losing everything familiar. Staying close enough to respond can be kinder and safer than leaving a frightened dog to cry alone.

Keep the night uneventful: low voices, low light and brief toilet trips. Do not punish accidents or distress. If using a crate, introduce it as a comfortable, positive space; a closed crate is not a shortcut for teaching a dog to cope alone.

Let trust arrive before the visitors do.

Use a predictable rhythm for meals, sleep, toilet trips and gentle activity. Keep walks and new places manageable, avoid a procession of visitors and watch the whole dog for signs they need space. Some dogs eat less, sleep more or have toilet accidents while adjusting; persistent or worrying changes need veterinary advice.

Observe

Notice sleep, appetite, toileting, movement and what helps the dog relax.

Connect

Reward voluntary check-ins and calm choices. Do not force touch or interaction.

Protect rest

Young and stressed dogs need substantial undisturbed sleep.

Book care

Arrange the appropriate veterinary check and discuss vaccinations, parasites and prevention.

Decompression is individual.

A rescue dog may show more or less behaviour as they become comfortable. Treat popular timelines such as the “3-3-3 rule” as a conversation prompt, not a timetable or scientific promise. The rescue’s assessment is useful, but behaviour can change in a different environment.

Offer choice, use barriers and separate spaces to prevent pressure, and assume house-training may need refreshing. Avoid testing how the dog copes with busy places, unfamiliar dogs or being left. If you see fear, guarding, panic or aggression, contact the rescue and seek appropriately qualified support early.

Read the practical behaviour guide →

Growing up is not a straight line.

Teething

Most puppies lose their baby teeth and gain adult teeth over roughly three to seven months, although timing varies. Provide size-appropriate, supervised chew options and redirect mouthing calmly. Avoid extremely hard chews that could fracture teeth. Bleeding that does not settle, a broken tooth, marked pain, facial swelling or difficulty eating warrants veterinary advice.

Adolescence

Adolescence often begins around six months and may continue towards 18–24 months or longer, particularly in larger dogs. Expect changing confidence, greater interest in the environment and temporary lapses in familiar skills. Lower the difficulty, reward what you want, protect sleep and continue gradual social learning. A teenager is not being deliberately difficult.

Continue with training and enrichment →

Evidence & next steps

Checked guidance, clear limits.

PDSA: First day and night with a puppy
Royal Kennel Club: A puppy’s first weeks
Dogs Trust: Crate training
Next: buying or adopting responsibly · Next: understand behaviour

General information cannot assess an individual dog. Contact a veterinary practice about health concerns and the rescue, breeder or an appropriately qualified behaviour professional about significant settling or behaviour problems.

Reviewed 17 September 2026 · Review sooner if guidance changes

Work with the dog in front of you.

Understand their behaviour