Day 0 (Arrival): Land Softly

• Go straight to the decompression room or safe area you set up.
• Keep voices low; open the carrier/crate and let your pet exit at their pace.
• Offer water first; a small meal later once curiosity returns.
• Dogs: quick on‑leash potty break before entering the home.
• Cats/small pets: place the litter/hide within arm’s reach of their resting spot.
• Skip visitors and photoshoots. Quiet is kindness.
• Bedtime plan: place crate/bed in your room (or nearby) for reassurance the first nights.

Days 1–2: Observe and Normalize

• Expect hiding (cats), panting/pacing (dogs), reduced appetite, or extra sleep.
• Start a simple schedule: fixed meal times; frequent potty trips (dogs) or spotless litter box; two or three short play sessions; calm lights‑out.
• Micro‑training only: name recognition and 2–3 easy reps (dogs: “sit,” look‑at‑me). Keep it fun and under 5 minutes.
• If you can’t supervise, confine to the safe area or crate (dogs). Prevent rehearsal of chewing/scratching/door‑bolting.
• Keep diet the same as previous home. No new treats or rich foods yet.

Species notes

• Dogs: Many need extra outdoor breaks. Reward outdoor toileting lavishly; quietly clean accidents (enzyme cleaner).
• Cats: Hiding is normal. Sit quietly nearby; play short wand‑toy sessions if they peek out. Offer vertical spaces.
• Birds: Park cage in a quiet spot; talk softly nearby; avoid aerosols/PTFE cookware; hands‑off unless bird solicits.
• Reptiles: No handling beyond essentials. Confirm temps/UVB with thermometers; offer hide boxes.
• Small mammals: Keep habitat in a low‑traffic area; short, gentle handling over a soft surface; constant hay for rabbits/GPs.
• Fish: Lights on a timer; test water; feed tiny amounts; avoid bright tapping faces at the glass.

Days 3–4: Structure + Small Wins

• Keep the same feeding, potty, and play windows. Predictability lowers anxiety.
• Expand exploration by one room at a time (cats/dogs) with supervision.
• Add short, positive training/play blocks (2–3/day). End while the pet still wants more.
• Introduce one new stimulus at a time: a vacuum heard from another room, a single calm visitor, a short car ride (dogs) or carrier practice (cats).

Species notes

• Dogs: Begin very short leash walks in quiet areas. Reinforce loose leash and check‑ins.
• Cats: Add a second litter box if expanding territory; keep scratchers accessible.
• Birds: Rotate perches/toys; brief out‑of‑cage time only if the room is bird‑proofed and the bird is calm returning.
• Reptiles: First shed/feeding check; avoid handling right after meals.
• Small mammals: Floor time in a pen; offer safe chews/tunnels; supervise kids closely.
• Fish: If the tank is fully cycled, consider a small water change; keep photoperiod consistent.

Days 5–7: Gentle Expansion

• Widen access if your pet is curious and calm; keep the safe room available as a retreat.
• Resident‑pet intros stay short and structured:
• Dog↔Dog: parallel walk, then brief neutral meet; end on calm.
• Dog↔Cat: scent swaps; feed across a door; gated visuals; dog on leash.
• Cat↔Cat: room rotation; crack‑door peeks; slow step‑ups.
• Predator vs prey (birds/small mammals/reptiles): separate rooms; no face‑to‑face.
• Invite one calm visitor max; let the pet approach; end if stress rises.

Sleep, Eating, and Bathroom Basics

Sleep

• First nights: keep dogs’ crate/bed near you; soothe with voice, not constant petting.
• For vocal puppies: late‑evening potty, a safe chew, white‑noise machine.
• Indoor cats: pre‑bed play + food; confine to safe room if night zoomies are wild.

Eating

• Keep the original diet for 5–7 days. Transition gradually (75/25 → 50/50 → 25/75 → 100%).
• Appetite dips are common in days 1–2. Call the vet if no eating after 24–48 hours or if paired with vomiting/lethargy.

Bathroom

• Dogs: take out after waking, after eating, after play, and before bed. Praise the moment they finish.
• Cats: scoop daily; box in quiet corner; add extra boxes as territory expands (one per cat + one extra).

Health Setup

• Book a wellness exam within 3–5 days; bring any records.
• Discuss vaccines/boosters, parasite prevention, diet, and spay/neuter timing.
• Scan/register microchip; fit an ID tag day one.
• Monitor for red flags: persistent vomiting/diarrhea, cough, labored breathing, extreme lethargy, pain, or no urination/defecation.

Kids & Family

• Teach the script: quiet voices, slow hands, no chasing/hugging; let the pet come to you.
• All interactions supervised for the first weeks.
• Assign simple jobs (refresh water, measure food, 5‑minute play timer) with adult oversight.
• Create pet‑only zones (crate, hide, perch). No kid access.

Common Mistakes (and Easy Fixes)

• Too much too soon: Reduce new stimuli; return to the safe room; rebuild routine.
• Inconsistent rules: Decide furniture/room rules now and stick to them.
• Diet whiplash: Transition slowly; use a single novel topper if needed (vet‑approved).
• Under‑enrichment: Schedule play/training; rotate toys; use puzzles/foraging.
• Skipping the vet: Early baseline catches small issues before they snowball.