How to Get Used to a New Dog
To get used to a new dog, establish rules early on, such as not allowing it to climb on furniture. If you're lenient at first and then try to establish rules later, you'll confuse your dog. For the first 3-4 days, keep socialization from friends and family to a minimum so your dog can adjust to its new home. If you have any other pets, introduce them to the new dog in a neutral setting, like a friend's house, since your other pets may become territorial and aggressive. Additionally, if you have children, tell them what they should avoid doing around the dog, like approaching it when it's eating or grooming, since they may startle it.
Establish rules early. While it may seem like a better idea to let your new dog relax during the first few days of its arrival, it is important to let it know exactly how things work in its new home from the start. Being lenient for this initial period will only serve to confuse your new pet and make it more difficult to establish the rules later on. Be kind but firm in letting it know what will and won't be allowed. For example, do not let your new dog climb onto the furniture if it will not be allowed to do so later on. If it jumps on a couch or chair, firmly say “No” and gently guide it off. Make sure rules are consistent. To get your new dog settled comfortably, and to adjust to your new pet, make sure that you and your family members are all on the same page about your house rules and uphold them accordingly. It is important that your new dog does not get mixed messages from its owners about how it should be behaving. If necessary, write out a list of the most important pet-related house rules and hang it on the fridge or wall where everyone can see it. Some rules might include: “No pets on the couch” “Don't feed the dog any table scraps” “The dog should never be walked without its leash and harness” A feeding schedule A list of acceptable treats and amounts Keep socialization to a minimum. During its first few days with you, make sure that you don't overwhelm your new pet with social activity. While it is still adjusting to your home and family life, your dog should not be burdened with extra stress or over-excitement (e.g. meeting friends and relatives). Adjustment periods vary between dogs based on breed, age, and history, but a minimum of 3-4 days should be allotted to getting your new pet acclimated at home. Introduce yourself when entering a room. Your new dog will likely be a bit jumpy for the first few days that it spends in your home, while it adjusts to new sounds, surroundings, and routines. Make an effort to announce yourself when approaching it so that it doesn't get startled or feel ambushed. Use a soft but clear voice to greet your dog (e.g. “Hi Spot, it's me!”) and let it gradually get accustomed to your presence. Help kids get friendly with the new dog. If you have children, help them adjust to your new dog by explaining everything that their new pet will need (food, walks, grooming, training, etc.). Tell them clearly what behaviors to avoid (such as approaching the dog to play while it is eating), and explain that they will have to be patient with their new friend. Supervise games while they play with the new dog, have them feed it treats and make lists of tasks they can do to help with its care (e.g. filling its food and water bowls). Introduce pets to the new dog. If you have other dogs or cats, let them meet the new dog in a neutral place before bringing it home, like a friend's house. Animals can be very territorial, so meeting a new dog at home can cause aggression or defensiveness in your other pets. Make sure that there is plenty of everything at home (e.g. toys, food bowls, sleeping spots) and supervise play for the first couple of weeks to make sure your pets are getting along. Make an effort to keep your pet's routines the same while phasing in your new dog. Keeping all your animals happy and comfortable will help for a smoother transition. Go for regular walks. Establishing a regular walking routine is an important step in getting used to your new dog, and vice versa. Walking your pet establishes leadership, enables bonding, and is mutually beneficial health-wise. Choose a time, once a day, that you will be free to walk your dog and stay consistent about walking your dog at that time (e.g. after supper, every evening).  Be sure to walk your dog for at least 20-30 minutes a day. If your dog is a larger breed that needs more exercise (e.g. a Rhodesian Ridgeback), walk it for longer, or more than once a day. Feed your dog at regular times. It is important to feed your dog every day at the same times to let its mind and metabolism adjust to them pattern. It is also important for you, as an owner, to have a set routine for feeding your pet to keep it up consistently and have it accommodate your schedule. Choose a place to feed your dog that is comfortable for it and convenient for you; always feed your dog at this spot, when possible. During the first few weeks with your new dog, set a timer or alarm to remind you when it's time to feed your new pet. Establish regular “potty breaks”. Dogs should be given the opportunity to go outside to eliminate at least every 6-8 hours, if not more often. Set a particular schedule for when your dog will be let out to relieve itself- once it recognizes the pattern, its anxiety about bathroom breaks will be eased. Set an alarm on your phone or watch to remind you when to let your dog out, or set up a schedule where you and members of your family take turns bringing the dog outside. Clean up any accidents in the house promptly, but don't scold or hit your new dog for having an accident in the house. Teach your dog basic commands. To bond with your pet and assert your leadership, teach it basic commands to follow when prompted. Communicate what you want your dog to do by gesturing, and gently holding or pulling its collar. Use positive praise and treats when the dog fulfills your command; repeat the process often. The five basic commands your dog should know are: Sit Stay Lay down Kneel Come Buy your new dog a crate. Crate training is a good way to alleviate your new dog's anxiety about its new home and manage its behaviour by containing it while you are away. Dogs have a natural denning instinct, so your pet's crate can be a safe, comfortable place for it that it will avoid soiling (making it an effective way of house training, if necessary). Make sure to buy a crate that is large enough for your new dog to stand up straight in, lie down comfortably, and turn around without difficulty. To find out what crate size is appropriate for your dog, visit the Association of Professional Dog trainers website at https://apdt.com/resource-center/choosing-right-crate-size/. Introduce it to the crate. Avoid forcing your dog into its crate - the crate is not a punishment, and your dog should feel at home in it. Set up the "den" and leave it open for your dog to explore, with some treats and toys in it to draw interest. When you first close the crate door behind your dog, be sure that there is food to keep its interest and stay closeby, talking reassuringly to your pet.  A trick to drum up your dog's interest in the crate is to lock it OUT of the crate, with its dinner locked inside. After a few minutes your dog will absolutely want to be in its den, and have a positive (food-based) association with it. Prepare your dog for being alone in the crate. Sit next to your dog's crate for a period of 10-15 minutes while it is locked inside, then leave the room for a few minutes and come back. Repeat this several times a day, gradually extending the amount of time that you leave the room. Once your dog can stay quietly on its own for 30 minutes, you can consider leaving the house with your dog crated. Leave the house. Start leaving the house for short periods of time with your dog crated. Leave toys in the crate and try crating your dog 10-20 minutes before you leave so that it is not directly associated with your departure. Keep the following tips in mind: Do not give your dog any prolonged or enthusiastic goodbyes before leaving - be matter of fact and leave the house without making a fuss. Continue to crate your dog periodically when you're at home so it doesn't associated being crated with you leaving, exclusively. When returning home, be very low key and avoid indulging your dog's excitement about seeing you. Crate your dog at night. Crate training should happen at night as well, when both you and your dog should be sleeping. Start by placing the crate it your bedroom, or just outside so the dog does not feel alienated. As your dog seems more comfortable and sleeps through the night, try moving it to another area of the house so your dog can get used to sleeping on its own. Stop crate training when it is no longer necessary. Crate training should only last until you trust your dog to be alone unsupervised at home - depending on the dog, this can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Once training is done, leave your dog's crate in the house somewhere, open for it to retreat to whenever it wants. The crate can still be used to transport the dog (e.g. trips to the vet). 
Establish rules early. Make sure rules are consistent. Keep socialization to a minimum. Introduce yourself when entering a room. Help kids get friendly with the new dog. Introduce pets to the new dog. Go for regular walks. Feed your dog at regular times. Establish regular “potty breaks”. Teach your dog basic commands. Buy your new dog a crate. Introduce it to the crate. Prepare your dog for being alone in the crate. Leave the house. Crate your dog at night. Stop crate training when it is no longer necessary. 