Your arrival-day checklist.

Before the van reaches you

• Confirm your phone is on loud.
• Keep the driveway or entrance accessible.
• Close gates and external doors.
• Prepare collar, harness and lead.
• Prepare water.
• Prepare a quiet room or rest area.
• Keep other pets separate.
• Keep children calm and supervised.
• Avoid visitors.
• Have poo bags and towels ready.
• Keep lights soft if arriving late.
• Make sure an adult is available for handover.

At handover

• Let the driver guide the pace.
• Avoid crowding the van.
• Avoid loud greetings.
• Do not allow off-lead movement outside.
• Use a secure collar, harness and lead.
• Keep the first few minutes calm.
• Ask any urgent questions before the driver leaves.

The first objective is simple: get your dog safely from the van into your home. Everything else can wait.

The first hour at home

For the first hour, your dog does not need a tour of the whole house. They need a small, quiet, predictable space.

• Enter calmly.
• Offer water.
• Show the resting area.
• Keep voices low.
• Allow sniffing without pressure.
• Avoid hugging, lifting, crowding, or forcing affection.
• Let them decompress.
• Take them outside for a toilet break only if safe and controlled.

Some dogs eat straight away. Some do not. Some sleep. Some pace. Some hide. All of these can be normal after travel. Do not judge your dog’s personality by the first hour.

What not to do on arrival day

• Invite friends over.
• Take your dog to the park.
• Let your dog off lead.
• Introduce every family member at once.
• Force cuddles.
• Bathe them immediately unless necessary.
• Allow children to crowd them.
• Introduce resident dogs at the front door.
• Leave external doors or gates open.
• Use poor-fitting equipment.
• Panic if they do not eat immediately.
• Expect instant bonding.

Your dog does not need a perfect first day. They need a safe one.