Preparing your home before adoption day
What's going on
The week before adoption is the most important training week in the whole arc — because it's the week where you, the human, set the stage. The animal will be too overwhelmed in the first days to be 'trained.' Your prep does the training instead.
What to do — the checklist
Set up base camp
For a dog: pick the room or area they'll start in. Crate or pen with a comfy bed. Water bowl. A few simple toys. Baby gates separating the rest of the house. For a cat: a small quiet room with food, water, litter box, hiding spot, scratching post. Set this up before the animal arrives — not while they're standing in the carrier.
Pet-proof at their level
- Get on your hands and knees and look at the house from their height. Cords, sharp corners, things in mouth reach.
- Move plants — many common houseplants are toxic to cats and dogs.
- Move medications, chocolate, grapes, raisins, xylitol gum to a closed cabinet.
- Secure trash cans.
- For cats: check screens on windows, secure cords on blinds, latch washer and dryer doors.
- For dogs: pick up shoes, kids' toys, anything chewable that you'd be sad about.
Get the practical stuff
- ID tag with phone number (microchip should already be in place from us).
- Collar or harness, leash.
- Food the animal is already eating (we'll send some) plus a plan for transitioning if you want to change.
- Water and food bowls.
- Bedding.
- Crate or carrier.
- Baby gates.
- Vet appointment for a meet-and-greet in the first 1–2 weeks.
- Enzymatic cleaner for accidents (Nature's Miracle, Rocco & Roxie).
The setup is the training. Do it before they arrive.
Plan your schedule
Take time off if you possibly can — at minimum the first weekend, ideally the first full week. Practice the routine you'll have: feeding times, potty trips, walks, work-from-home pattern, bedtime. If you can't be home for long stretches, line up a dog walker or trusted helper for the first week.
Family meeting
Decide the rules together, in advance, in writing if needed:
- Is the dog allowed on the couch? On the bed?
- Who feeds, who walks, who scoops the litter box?
- What is the cat-only zone the kids cannot enter?
- What words will we use? ('come' or 'here'? 'off' or 'down'?)
- How will we greet the dog (sitting, calm, no jumping)?
- When is the dog's quiet time, and what does respecting it look like?
Consistency from day one is worth more than any training book. If everyone's on the same page, the animal learns the house rules in a fraction of the time.
What to avoid
- Don't plan the adoption day around a party, holiday, or out-of-town visit.
- Don't buy everything brand-new — the animal often does best with familiar smells. Ask if you can bring an old blanket from their sanctuary stay home.
- Don't skip the vet visit in the first two weeks.
- Don't assume the animal will 'just figure it out.' You are the structure.
When to ask for help
If you're not sure how to set up base camp, what supplies you need, or how to handle a specific household situation — kids, other pets, allergies, an apartment, a big yard — ask us. We've helped hundreds of families do this and we love this part of the journey.
Watch & learn
A few curated videos from trainers we trust. Click any thumbnail to play.
