So you've decided to adopt a dog? First-time adopters and might be wondering about the best way to welcome their new pal into their home.

Some things are common sense, like doing as much research as you can and ensuring that the basics – food bowls, beds, toys – are ready; however, there are also extra tips to be offered by experienced dog owners. Turning to one of the biggest groups of dog lovers and adopters online, I dipped a toe in the DoggySnaps forums and asked what users had done to welcome their new pals home.

1. Space

Everyone agreed that this is a good thing. Giving a dog time to breathe and become familiar with strange new sights and smells is really crucial. A half-hour walk around the neighbourhood can be really useful too, as it lets your new pup stretch his legs and acquaint himself with his new surroundings.

DoggySnapper tips:

starblue – if you have a generally food-orientated breed like a labrador, this can be to your advantage when helping them settle in and rewarding training with treats.

Angela M – you might well make mistakes, especially if you were misled about temperament by the previous owners / shelter but do turn to doggy behaviourists if you get stuck. With Angela’s perseverance and their help, Finn is on course for a transformation from semi-feral, nervous pup to great family pet, and is improving all the time.

champion – read DoggySnaps and ask questions! [I’d agree with you there! – Ed]

2. Bedtime

If you’re ever going to establish any sort of night-time boundaries, now is the time to do it.

You might get a lot of complaints from a dog required to sleep somewhere other than your bed, and how you deal with it will differ depending on the individual dog. Many owners justifiably recommend that you don’t give in to complaints at this stage as you might never establish yourself as alpha dog or foster separation anxiety issues. There are always exceptions, of course.

DoggySnapper tips:

Angus’ Dad – slept on the floor alongside the dog cage for a few days so that baby pup Angus could be in constant contact. Left bedroom door open for a couple of weeks after and the problem is long solved.

Jo and Toby – a couple of T-shirts thrown into the bed will help establish your scent.

3. Visitors

Here, it’s very important to consider the individual dog’s temperament. Some dogs are very calm or perfectly happy with strangers and can adapt easily to newcomers in their environment early on. Others might need days or even weeks before they’re ready to be introduced. Equally, once you’ve started introducing family and friends, observe your dog’s behaviour: do they respond better to coming home from a walk to find a new person there, or do they prefer to be on home ground when a stranger appears?

DoggySnapper tips:

maz23 – if they’re of a calm temperament and pretty much housetrained, let them do whatever they want! They’ll explore in their own time and settle in quickly.

starblue – if you know the previous owners, keep them away until you’ve established a strong bond in order to prevent confusion.

ajdtaz1 – Sometimes my dog Stella was nervous of visitors so I just let her sit by me for reassurance. That would generally be enough.

4. Helpful Gadgets

Recommended by Jo and Toby, DAP diffusers are Dog Appeasing Pheromone plugs which mimic the calming pheromones of a female dog. The resultant atmosphere is said to help calm nervous pups and adult dogs.

All the DoggySnappers agreed that a radio tuned to smooth jazz or classical music or a vet-approved relaxation CD can be very calming, and a great companion when your pup might eventually have to be left alone in the house for a while.

In summary, you wouldn’t expect every person to react in the same way so be sensitive to every individual dog’s needs; the more planning you do in advance, the more you’ll be able to establish boundaries, train your dog and have a happy long term bond with them.

Please feel free to add your tips and suggestions to the comments and pass this article onto friends who are planning to adopt a dog!