Adoption FAQs

Congratulations! You are either considering adopting or are the new owner of a dog that will bring joy to your life in exchange for a healthy, responsible home.

What are your responsibilities as a new dog owner?

You are taking responsibility for your dog’s well-being by providing her with fresh food and clean water; training to be a responsible canine citizen; preventative and acute medical care; safe, comfortable, warm and covered surroundings; and appropriate exercise.

In addition, you are also responsible for keeping your dog safe by always considering her best interest as well as your own; complying with local and state ordinances; having her wear a collar and ID tag with name, address and phone number at all times; and never selling, abandoning, trading or giving her away. Bark Avenue Foundation will always accept a dog that you are no longer able to keep, although we strongly advise that you consider your ability to provide a lasting home before you adopt your pet.

If you are able to meet these basic needs and provide a responsible home, then adopting a pet is for you! We look forward to matching you with a wonderful, loving canine companion.

This guide will help you to establish a relationship and routine with your new pet, and welcome your dog into her new, loving home. It provides you with a shopping list, tells you what to expect in the first 24 hours, informs you of health and vaccine requirements, offers LA resources for the dog lover, and gives you contact information for Bark Avenue staff and trainers. Please feel free to let us know if you have any other questions!

New Pet Shopping List

Your new pet will be happy and healthy whether you dress her in Gucci or simply make sure she has a warm place to sleep and food to eat. Here are the basic supplies you will need to purchase before you bring your dog home.

  • Secure collar and leash
  • ID tag
  • Food and water bowls
  • Food* (wet or dry)
  • Flea control
  • Crate

*The first ingredient in your dog’s food should be chicken, pork, beef or lamb. Avoid foods that list ‘meat’ or ‘meat product’ as the first ingredient. Also avoid foods that contain corn, which is a common allergen in dogs.

You might also want to consider purchasing the following items:

  • Training treats
  • Toys and bones
  • Brush
  • Nail clippers
  • Dog bed
  • Poop bags

What to Expect in the First 24 Hours

Congratulations! You and your new pup are on your way to a long, lasting companionship. If you’re a first time dog owner or it’s been a while since you’ve lived with a four-legged friend, this next section will walk you through the first 24 hours at home with your new pet.

Leaving the shelter

Bark Avenue will supply you with a temporary or more permanent leash and collar. Check that your dog’s collar is secure, but not too tight before leaving the shelter. If you need assistance adjusting the collar, please notify a Bark Avenue staff member and they will help you adjust the collar.

Some dogs will be eager to leave the shelter while other dogs might hesitate. Your dog might jump right into your car or she might need a little encouragement. Each dog responds differently to big changes, but they all need a little patience and understanding until they adjust to their new situation. We suggest that you cover your car seat in an old towel or blanket, just in case your new dog gets carsick.

Please make sure that you hold your dog’s leash securely for the ride home and the walk from your car to your house. If you adopted a puppy, you can carry her from place to place. A new dog does not know that she is going home, and may not come back if she gets loose.

Getting supplies

Most pet supply stores allow dogs to accompany their owners into the store. This can be helpful when purchasing new supplies that need to be fitted, like collars or crates. Keep in mind, however, that other dogs are likely to be in the store. If you do not know how your dog will react to other dogs, we suggest that you leave your dog in the car with a friend or family member or leave her at home while you do the shopping. In the first 24 hours you will need a food and water bowl, food, a collar and leash, and a crate or pet pen to confine your new dog.

Arriving at home

Walk your dog outside where you would like her to potty before taking her into your house. She will likely begin to explore immediately and may decide to ‘mark’. Once she has had a chance to sniff around and potty, take her into the house on her leash. Show her to her bed, her food and water bowls, and show her any toys that are hers. Watch for things that aren’t puppy proof, like electric cords, waste baskets or cupboards that are easily nudged open. Giving her the grand tour on her leash allows you to observe and correct these issues without your dog getting into trouble.

Settling in

You can expect your dog to be more subdued than normal for a few days to a few weeks after bringing her home from the shelter. After all, it’s a big transition! Depending on her energy level, you might like to snuggle or play fetch in the backyard (but please make sure the yard is enclosed if she’s off her leash!). It’s best not to introduce your new pup to non-household members for the first day so that she has time to adjust to her new surroundings.

Potty training the first day

Your dog may or may not be potty trained, but don’t worry! Consistency and keeping an eye on your dog will likely prevent accidents. Take your dog outside every few hours and reward her if she goes potty outside. Developing a routine early will help your dog learn good potty habits. Don’t be surprised if your dog doesn’t pee or poop much in the first few days. Again, it’s the adjustment! You might even notice that your dog has diarrhea. This is normal too. If you see blood in your dog’s stool, however, collect a sample and contact a veterinarian immediately.

First meal

Your dog may not eat the first few days she is home with you, and this is normal. Feed her consistently at a regular time anyway. If she does not eat, take the food away after 15 minutes until the next mealtime. Her small appetite likely has more to do with stress than disliking her food. Do not switch her food in the hopes that you will entire her to eat something better. This will only create a picky eater. Once your dog begins to eat, start to ask for a small behavior (like sit or looking at you when you say her name) before you put her food down.

Bedtime

It’s best to keep your new dog in a crate at least for the first night. This gives her a secure place to sleep and ensures that she won’t get into trouble while you’re asleep. When you’re ready for bed, take your dog out one more time to potty and then put her in the crate gently but firmly. You can put her favorite treat in the crate so that she associates good things with the crate. Your dog may whine at first, especially if she’s still a puppy, but it’s best to ignore the whining so that she knows bedtime is bedtime. Giving her attention, even if you think you’re soothing her, will teach her that whining or barking is a good way to get out of the crate or get your attention.

If you have a young pup, expect to be wakened in the middle of the night because puppies have smaller bladders than adult dogs. If you hear your puppy whining at 2AM, it’s likely because she needs to go out. Take her out to relieve herself, but put her back in her crate immediately afterward. Going potty is one thing, but waking up in the middle of the night because it’s fun is another thing.

Waking up

As soon as you wake up in the morning, leash your dog and take her out of the crate to potty. If you can, tether your dog as you go about your morning routine, or put her back in the crate. When you’re ready to go, let her out of her crate and offer her breakfast. If she doesn’t show interest in her food within 15 minutes, remove it until dinnertime. Be sure to offer your dog some exercise and mental stimulation in the morning, especially if you’re going to be gone all day. For a mellow dog, this may mean a walk around the block. For a younger, more energetic dog, this may mean a jog and a game of fetch or working on basic obedience. Your new morning routine may require you to get up earlier in the day, but this is an important step to having a well-adjusted, content dog that is home alone. Before you leave, choose a method of confinement to keep your dog safe and out of trouble (crate for 5 hours or less; dog-proof room for 6 hours or more).

Coming home

When you arrive home, you should leash up your dog and take her out for exercise and a potty break. Arrivals should be calm. The more excited you are, the more worked up your dog will be when you return home. If you’re home for a short break, let your dog stretch her legs and give her a ‘work-to-eat’ or ‘work-to-play’ toy. If you’re home for the day, take your dog out for another exercise session.

Staying home

If you stay at home during the day, it’s still important to exercise your dog in the morning and evening. While you’re going about your day at home keep your dog tethered or crate her for a few hours at a time if you need dog-free time. Try not to give her constant attention that she might not otherwise get. This will only create tension and frustration once your routine returns to normal or when you are not home to lavish love and affection.

Introducing your pets

Introducing a new dog into a household that already has another dog or other pets can be stressful for everyone. As your pack gets to know and accept one another, here are a few things to keep in mind to ease the transition.

  • Allow a hierarchy to form, and respect it
  • Feed dogs separately
  • Pick up high-value toys and chews
  • Keep dogs separate when unsupervised
  • Brush up on your resident dog’s training as well as teaching your new one
  • Spend time with both dogs together and each of them separately

If you’re introducing your new dog into a household that has cats, rabbits or pets other than dogs, please be sure to work with a Bark Avenue staff member to make sure your dog is pet friendly. When you introduce your canine and feline (or other) friends, here are a few tips for a good introduction.

  • Keep your new dog and other pets separate to start
  • Watch for predatory signs, like freezing, crouching, standing stiff over the other animal or stalking and whining
  • Keep your dog confined and allow your other pet to roam for first introductions
  • Never leave pets together unattended
  • Have reasonable expectations

Questions? If you have questions about your new routine or your dog’s behavior, we suggest that you write them down and schedule an in-house session with a trainer. We recommend two trainers in the CONTACT INFORMATION section that work with Bark Avenue Foundation.

Health and Vaccines

An annual examination and keeping your dog up to date on vaccines will help to keep her healthy. Adult dogs need one set of shots annually, while puppies need multiple shots in their first year. Check with your veterinarian for a list and schedule of routine vaccinations. Even if your dog is already up to date on her shots, it is a good idea to identify your veterinarian in case of emergency. Keep your vet’s phone numbers in a convenient location. In addition to an annual exam and vaccinations, there are a few other things you should do to keep your pet healthy.

  • Use flea prevention
  • Discuss heartworm prevention with your veterinarian
  • Check for ticks and burrs in your dog’s coat regularly
  • Maintain an appropriate grooming routine, including trimming toenails
  • Watch for signs of illness, including runny nose, excessive eye discharge, excessive coughing or sneezing, more than 1-2 loose stools in a row, bloody diarrhea, excessive drinking, lowered appetite, loss of energy. Contact your veterinarian if you notice one or more signs of illness.

    • LA Resources For the Dog Lover!

    Dog Parks

    It’s a good idea to have basic obedience training and complete control over your dog before venturing into a dog park. You must also be absolutely certain that your dog is dog-friendly. Here are just a few of the many off-leash dog parks in Los Angeles. Search a complete list of Los Angeles Dog Parks.

    Griffith Park Dog Park

    N. of John Ferraro soccer field on N. Zoo Dr.
    Los Angeles, CA 90027

    Laurel Canyon Dog Park

    8260 Mulholland Dr.
    Studio City, CA 90046

    Runyon Canyon Dog Park

    2000 N. Fuller Ave.
    Los Angeles, CA 90046
    This dog park offers hiking trails and an off-leash dog area.

    Silverlake Dog Park

    1850 W. Silverlake Dr.
    Los Angeles, CA 90026
    This dog park has separate areas for small or timid dogs and large dogs.

    Books

    The Dog Lover’s Companion to Los Angeles, Maria Goodavage
    Jake the yellow lab and his owner Maria tour Los Angeles’ most dog-friendly restaurants, beaches, hotels and motels, dog parks, trails, and everything in-between.

    Dog Licensing Information

    All Los Angeles dogs over four months of age must be licensed. License your dog here:
    http://laanimalservices.com/petinfo_licensing.htm