Ready for your gorgeous Pawrade doggo? There are plenty of reasons to be excited – but the adjustment can also be overwhelming. After all, you want to start things off properly and bond with your new furry pal as quickly as possible.

However, you’ll quickly see that establishing a relationship with dogs is similar to becoming close with people. For one, a real bond with a dog takes time – but just like with a long-time friend, once the bond is forged, it’s there for life.

Luckily, you can do plenty of things to make sure you hit the ground running once the pup arrives. And we’ve got a couple of words of advice to help it fall in love with you right away!

Show Some Patience

Remember how we said that making friends with a dog is similar to befriending a human in a lot of ways? Well, here’s one of the main ones: it takes a lot of patience. And though some people and some dogs just click and become best buddies overnight – in most cases, it can take months or weeks.

Regardless of which breed it is, every dog is its own individual. They’ve got different personalities, and some of them aren’t as quick to warm up to brand new surroundings and people. Dogs are like us in that way – when we’re dropped in a completely different place with people we don’t know, there’s always at least a short adjustment period.

So, that’s the first thing you need to do if you want to hit it off with your doggie – practice patience. Even if a dog doesn’t bond with you right away, try not to take any of it personally. More likely than not, they’re just adjusting to a lot of new smells, sounds, and sights.

In fact, becoming someone’s pet can be a stressful period for any dog – and you should do your best to keep them comfy and send off some positive and calm vibes; especially during the first few days that they’re with you.

Also, while you might be tempted to show off your new best buddy to everyone, take them to a lot of places, and do all sorts of fun activities – there will be time for that later. If you sense that your dog is fearful or shy, they’re probably overwhelmed by the sheer amount of new stuff. Give them time to adjust to the house and your family – then start rolling out other neighborhood spots and people.

Create A Schedule

A lot of people function best when they’re sticking to a routine – and that’s precisely what dogs do too. If you set a clear schedule from the very first day, you’ll help them adjust more easily. There’s a reason why our routines are usually our “comfort zone” – we know what to expect and there are no nasty surprises.

Dogs tend to thrive on schedules for the same reason – they know what you’re expecting of them, which is important considering verbal communication isn’t exactly a possibility.

So, how do you set a clear routine for your dog? Start by feeding them at specific times each day – the same goes for daily walks, bedtime, and potty breaks. In the life of an average dog, those are the daily milestones they go through.

However, there are plenty of other daily activities or games you can teach them to expect at certain times – including cuddle time and (some much-needed) exercise time. And as weird as this may seem, try not to spend any more time with a new dog than you plan on spending on an average day – you want to “set expectations” for their daily routine pretty early.

Be Clear And Consistent

Every relationship has certain boundaries and rules – and it’s usually best to make them clear early on. Doing the same with your new doggie is a good idea as well.

When it comes to training, you need to be clear on what you want and consistent with any rules you decide to set. It’s also essential for everyone else in your household to stay on the same page. You need to collectively decide which behaviors to reward and which to demonstrate as unacceptable.

If you and your parents, partners, or roommates all have different rules for the dog – the puppy will get frustrated and confused pretty quickly, and so will you. So, for example, if you decide that the dog shouldn’t be on the furniture, everyone needs to agree on and stick to that rule. Don’t start sending mixed signals!

Of course, in the end, there’s one surefire recipe for bonding with a new dog: be kind and show them love – and your doggo will respond in kind right away!