Training a rescue dog: settling in & house training

Updated 25/07/2025

If you’re adopting a dog from a shelter, you’ll want to get as clued-up as you can on training a rescue dog, and how to help them settle into their new home. So to make the transition smoother for everyone, follow our guide to house training a shelter dog, where we explore potty training, crate training and more.

Training a rescue dog: a complete guide

Be patient

The first tip in this guide on how to train a rescue dog is to be patient with your new canine companion. They’ll need time to adjust when they first arrive home from the animal shelter, so allow them to have a sniff and explore, or retreat to a safe corner.

Either way, it’s important to make their first experience of their new home a positive one, so let them go at their own pace. 

Consider a pheromone collar or plug-in to help ease their initial anxiety. This can help them adjust to the foreign environment before they settle in and know it as home. 

Start basic training from the get-go

Training your rescue dog can start as soon as they arrive in their new home. This will look like establishing boundaries, and praising your dog for good behavior. Training a shelter dog should be slow and steady, so more advanced training can come later once your new pooch is comfortable in their new surroundings.

Reward your dog for good behavior

The secret to successful dog training is positive reinforcement. Arm yourself with the tastiest of treats and give your furry friend lots of verbal encouragement as well as a scratch behind the ears to show them they did a good job. 

Positive reinforcement training is regarded by professional dog trainers as the best way to train a dog, and experts strongly advise against punishing dogs for misbehaving.

Remember if you’re doing a lot of training, especially at the beginning of developing your relationship with your new furry friend, you may need to reduce their meals to avoid tummy upsets and unwanted weight gain. Choose treats carefully, avoiding too many fatty treats like cheese. It’s also best to stick to dog-specific treats so your pup doesn’t become unwell. 

Establish a routine 

Consistency can really help your rescue dog settle into their new home - it’s important for any pet, but especially fearful dogs that have come from a rescue shelter.

Routine provides stability, which may be something your new dog hasn’t enjoyed for a long time, or ever. Introduce your dog to their new routine straight away, and stick to it.

Keep everything your dog needs in the same place so they can find it easily, and mealtimes and walks should take place at the same time each day. This may be the first time your new dog has had their very own bed, bowls and toys. Make sure your furry friend has their own safe space to retreat to in case a little bit of alone time is needed.

Potty training a rescue dog 

A question on your lips is likely how do you house train a rescue dog - stick with us below for top tips on house breaking your shelter dog.

Assess if they’re house-trained

Before you start to work out a potty training routine, you need to know whether or not your rescue dog is housebroken, especially if you’ve adopted an adult dog. Housebreaking an older dog will require extra patience and commitment to training to help them understand the dos and don’ts of bathroom breaks.

Rather than waiting around for a potential accident in the house, see if they respond to the commands of ‘go pee pee’, ‘go to the bathroom’, ‘go potty’, or ‘outside’. Notice if they indicate to you they need to go - do they scratch or whine at the door, do they hold it in until they’re allowed outside? Observe their behavior and use your dog’s response as a starting point for potty training your rescue dog.

Take them for regular potty breaks

House training a 3-year-old rescue dog may not be all that different from potty training a puppy. For this reason, you’ll want to take them for regular pee and poop breaks (as often as every 45 minutes) and reward your dog with treats and praise for going in the right place. 

Never punish a dog for an accident in the house

If you’re housebreaking a rescue dog, accidents will happen. Dogs respond best to positive reinforcement, not punishment. This is true for all dogs, but especially when housebreaking a rescue dog. Negative reinforcement or any form of punishment could be triggering for dogs with unknown or traumatized backgrounds. It’ll cause your dog to be scared of you, and a frightened dog can be a dangerous dog. For your own safety and their mental wellbeing, make sure their potty training is a patient and calm experience.

How to crate train a rescue dog 

Crate training a rescue dog can provide anxious pups with a safe space to retreat to when it all gets a bit much, and can help to avoid some behavior issues. Learning how to crate train a rescue dog with separation anxiety also makes things far easier for when you need to leave the house.

That being said, rescue dogs can sometimes associate the crate with negativity, whether it was used as a punishment by previous owners or they found the shelter particularly traumatizing. 

Make the crate a space your furry friend actually wants to be in; consider getting a crate cover to make it feel safe and cozy, and reward them with treats every time they go inside.

Socializing your rescue dog

Socialization involves introducing your pet to other animals and people, but also new environments, sounds, and experiences. You may not know your rescue dog’s history or information about their previous homes, and it’s difficult to be prepared for the negative experiences they have already endured, so it’s important to keep socialization training positive and brief. 

Start by walking them down a residential street, keeping them tight on the leash and rewarding them for any positive interactions. You can gradually introduce them to other new experiences, like dogs and pet sitters, as time goes on. 

Train your rescue dog to be alone

When your rescue dog is settling into their new home, it’s important to supervise them constantly, not only to keep them out of mischief but also to ensure they feel safe and looked after. As time goes on, it will become important for your furry friend to learn how to be left alone. Start by leaving them for short periods of time and make sure they have access to everything they need while you're gone to make the experience as comfortable and positive as possible.

Preparing for your rescue dog: checklist

Make sure you’ve got all the necessary items before bringing your rescue dog home to make the transition from shelter to home as smooth as possible. Below find a list of things to get stocked up on before bringing home your new canine companion from the rescue shelter.

• Food and water bowls. 
• Food – to start with, this should be the same food they ate at the shelter. Make sure it’s suitable for their age, packed with nutrients, and doesn’t contain anything they’re allergic to (if they have been diagnosed with allergies). If you decide to change your pet’s diet at any point, speak to the vet about the best way to do it. 
• Healthy treats (essential for training and bonding with your pup). 
• Poop bags (important!).
• Pee pads (in case they’re not house trained).
• Toys – puzzle toys, chew toys, and soft toys.
• A dog crate that can be used both at home and for traveling.
• A cozy dog bed.
• ID tags with your details on them.
• An adjustable collar.
• A leash and a harness.
• Grooming products including a brush and shampoo. 
• A baby gate, if necessary.

Prepare for your first night with your rescue dog

It can be difficult to predict how a rescue dog is going to react on their first night home. Some settle down quickly and quietly whereas others may cry through the night. 

Decide where your dog will sleep before bringing them home. If you let them sleep on your bed the first night, you’ll need to be prepared to do this every night (which might be off-putting for some pet sitters). 

Instead, pet parents often choose to set their furry family members up with a cozy dog bed in a room nearby. Putting their bed inside a dog crate can help create a ‘safe space’ which makes them feel secure and keeps them out of trouble while you’re sleeping. The result is a better night’s sleep for everyone involved.

If your new dog has trouble the first night, offer them some comfort but don’t overdo it, as this can lead to separation anxiety.

How to help your rescue dog settle in

Ever heard of the 3-3-3 dog rule? Rescue dogs typically need three days to unwind from travel, three weeks to adapt to your schedule, and three months to fully settle into their new home. Here are some takeaway tips for helping your shelter dog settle in.

• Don’t overwhelm them – we know having a new dog is exciting, but it’s important to be calm and reassuring.
• Establish a routine. 
• Be patient, take things slow, and give them space.
• Spend quality time together. 
• Don’t make any assumptions about what your dog can and can’t do.
• Never punish them for getting things wrong.
• Keep visitors to a minimum.
• Provide them with exercise and mental stimulation.
• Consider using appeasing pheromones, sprays or diffusers to help calm your dog.

Useful resources

• How to crate train an older dog
• How to house train an older dog
• Puppy training for beginners: how to train a puppy