Taking in a Stray Dog: Tips & a Heartwarming update after 8 years!

Hello everyone, I want to update you on a special family member, Ember the dog. You see,  back in 2018 we found a stray dog, while we were living abroad in Guatemala.

Here is the video I made when we rescued her. She was so cute, but also deeply exhausted, hungry, and in need of medical attention! Wow- I can't believe she is already almost 8 years old!

To say Ember is a special dog is an understatement. We've built a whole family around her, and she is incredibly gentle and sweet with our two young children.

Here is Ember today. Ember is 8 years old, and our children are 6 and 3.

We believe Ember is a blessing, but such a successful adoption doesn't happen by chance.  There are several things we did right from the beginning that made this a seamless, sweet experience, and I'm happy to share what I've learned with you.

1. Stray Dog Medical Care 

There are a few things you can do before even visiting the vet to make the stray dog feel more comfortable and be more safe around your family. In the video where I shared my experience, I suggested a few simple things:

:: Collar and Leash set –  A big part of safety is just keeping the dog from getting back loose again, of course! These simple neoprene ones are long lasting. You'll be glad you have a simple set for just getting in and out of the car. Also, this is the type of leash that pro dog trainers suggest. More on training later. 

:: Diatomaceous Earth (Food Grade) – This is such a hot tip. Welcome to the biggest word ever, pronounced "Die-ah-toe-may-shus Earth" -- but it's SO key. Stray dogs often come with parasites, both external and internal. Food-grade diatomaceous earth is a natural way to help eliminate intestinal worms and can also be lightly dusted onto their coat and bedding to kill fleas and ticks without harsh chemicals. It's an essential first step in making sure your new pup starts their new life in better health. It's totally safe for the whole household and you don't need any kind of prescription for it.

:: Flea & Tick Shampoo – Fleas and ticks are just part of the package when you take in a stray, and they need to be dealt with immediately. A good flea and tick shampoo provides immediate relief for your new doggy friend and will prevent parasites from spreading in your home.

:: Neosporin – Stray dogs often have minor cuts, scrapes, or abrasions from life on the streets. The classic human grade Neosporin is useful for dog's wounds too, for faster healing. A little care and attention to these minor injuries shows love!

2. Basics for the Home

These are pretty obvious ones, but I have some opinions here too from experience that my help you.

:: Dog Crate –  This is a subject of debate, but I know for us as renters we were concerned that the dog might do damage to the inside of our home when we weren't there, so we got a crate as soon as we could. Crate training is a whole thing to itself, and we decided not to stick with it. 

:: Baby Gate  –  You'll find out fast that there are parts of the house you don't want the dog to be, especially if it sheds. We now have a baby gate for our stairs, for example. 

:: Dog Bed -- A simple, machine washable dog bed will be a great addition. We had trouble getting our dog to use one at first, she was so used to laying on the ground. But eventually and with a little training, she began to understand that the bed was just for her. What a sweet realization!

When it comes to nutrition, that's between you and your vet. But, a simple diet of rice and chicken is easy on the stomach for dogs and the softer food may be more similar to what the stray is used to eating if she's been living on the streets.

3. Training 

Next up, it's time to get trained. Everything else, like toys and treats is just extra! Getting training will make a huge difference.

:: E-collar–  The professional trainers we worked with suggested an e-collar. I was against it at first until I tested it on myself and found out that it genuinely was humane and would save Ember from real danger like roads, and other dogs. There are many available online, ours came with the training package we got with an in-person trainer. Here is one with good reviews and a 10% promo code through my link: G2XGWX6M 

Special training: We were able to get Ember trained to be an emotional support dog so that she could travel back to the US with us on the airplane. It helped us again and again.