When we first adopted Donna, I wasn’t very big on taking photos. And now it’s too late to regret that we are missing photos that would have served as reminders for all the nitty-gritty details that made up that first day.
But if you’re currently considering adoption or waiting for a new puppy from a responsible breeder then you are not too late!
Here are ten ideas of what photos I wouldn’t miss taking if I could do it all over again. ;)
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1. Picking up dog
I wouldn’t have thought of it, but it seemed part of Gentle Paws‘ standard operating procedure to take a family photo of the dog and his/her new adopted family…
…. with heads, of course. It’s just that the humans of this blog are shy. :P
This is the only photo we have of us with Donna that day in front of the shelter where we picked her up. She was overweight then so she would perhaps seem a bit stouter than she is now.
This is more of a milestone photo. So instead of a posed picture, you can also get a friend to take a photo of the scene where the dog is being handed over to you or as you and your dog are leaving his/her previous home.
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2. Exploring the new home
A new homecoming wouldn’t be complete without a photo of the pet checking out his new home.
Since coming into a new home can be a stressful experience for the new pet, most advice regarding this transition is to let the pet explore the home at his own pace. This doesn’t mean you should let a new puppy or kitten be un-supervised, but it does mean giving him or her space to venture out a bit and explore, even if it is just one room of the house.
Hanging back gives you the leisure to take candid shots of the pet sniffing about the new home, without getting into his or her face. Taking wider shots will help show the pet’s size relatively to the furniture in the room.
This is a photo of a new kitten in the flat I lived in in my teens. I have since moved twice, so it is an interesting reminder of an old home for me as well.
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3. Profiling shots
As a new dog owner, days or months after the first day I found myself wondering at times – was this bump there when we first brought her home? Did that chip on her tooth happen before or after she came to the flat? Or how much slimmer does she look now compared to previously?
Profiling shots – front view, side view, close up on face, paws, etc – will give you the details for that first day so you’ll always have a comparison later on.
The before and after pictures shows the physical improvements Mango has undergone from his first day of adoption to close a year later.
Top: when I first came to mama. Bottom: after a year! So when I was first adopted, my prev owners got my shaved down so I looked like the above. After some major nutritional changes and regular grooming, I look like the bottom picture now! Although I think my fur got even longer already. And I gained some weight :( and my tail is touching the floor! Which sometimes get stepped on accidentally. :/ – @mangothesheltie
Of course, if your new adopted dog is nervous or worried, getting too close for a close up on his face can be an unpleasant experience for the dog. So plan your shots but plan to also react appropriately to the circumstances. If the dog is unwilling, don’t force it and make his/her first day with you a bad experience. :)
Now, even though we adopted an adult dog and were not privy to her growing up years, Gentle Paws did have a few photos that documented Donna as a 2 month old at the shelter, and at 6 months, a nervous, lanky puppy in her previous adopted home.
Donna at 2 months, Donna at 6 months and Donna as an adult look so different from one another!
Puppies grow up so quickly so be sure to take some shots of your new puppy on that first day and also at various growth stages before they outgrow puppyhood. ;)
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4. First bath
If you’re finicky about household cleanliness, or if you adopt a badly-cared for dog from a less than responsible family that no longer wanted him, chances are you’ll want to give him a bath and have him all nice and clean before the day is over.
Be sure to take a shot of your handiwork when the dog comes out all clean and shiny from his first bath!
Here’s stray puppy Sheldon adopted at estimated two months, still small enough to fit in the sink at the time. :P Afraid he’s too big for that now!
I didn’t realize that I have such an innocent face back then – @situkangnyampah
Some nice bath pictures, though not first day home :P – Tugger and Toby
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5. Meeting the human family
Some dogs are nervous and easily worried. Like Donna, her first reaction was to evade and slink away when our other family members tried to meet her for the first time. So let the dog take her time to approach new family members at her own pace.
Depending on the nature of the meeting, it could result in a photo of a dog tentatively meeting a new human or a cosy photo like this of Cotton the Maltese safe in the human’s mother’s arms. Regardless, it’s a photo that documents not just the beginnings of a new relationship, but also a moment in a loved one’s life, so capture it!
Cotton the maltese who has a seizure risk and cannot be left alone for more than 4 hours at a time on her first day home.
This photo was taken an hour after the volunteers left our house during Cotton’s first day into her home stay period… Even with us being almost complete strangers, cotton laid in my mum’s arms, perhaps knowing that she’s in her forever home and safe now. – @cottonthemaltese
Other first day home family photos: Lycan with his dad
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6. Meeting the other pet siblings
Integrating a new pet into a household with other pets make for an interesting or, in Mango’s case, a rather scary experience.
When I first met The Boss of the house. I’m sorry to report that right after this picture, I peed, frozen in place. Now he doesn’t scare me anymore (he doesn’t mind me), unlike the other fat one. – @mangothesheltie
I’m sorry for Mango, but I also have to say candid shots like this one that captured his expressiveness are memorable. :P I’m glad he has since gotten on well enough with the feline boss of the flat.
When taking photos of new pets meeting their other furry siblings, be sure to have other humans be on hand to manage the pets so they don’t hurt each other, just in case they couldn’t get along at first sight!
Other first day home sibling photos: Witty and Abbey
Only dog in the family? How about a photo with dog’s first toy? :) Before it gets shredded :P
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7. What the dog did on his first day home
Capture the most memorable thing your dog will do on his first day home. Could be wriggling around on the floor, chewing forbidden furniture, etc.
Cookie’s first day at home! It’s been eight months! Right after he came in, he was busy running around the house and jumping around due to his high energy, and lack of exposure to outside (other than his old home) Resting after feeling tired from the ‘exercise’ – @somewhitecookie
And of course, the human had to take a candid shot of the aftermath of Cookie’s zoomies. 
K, I’m dog tired now.
Donna also had the zoomies on her first day home, but with regular exercise, zoomies in the house are a thing of the past. Unfortunately, I was too busy freaking out at the time as a dog idiot so I don’t have a photo of that scene!! :P
So yes, take snaps of whatever interesting thing the dog is doing, because you never know if you’ll miss that picture later on.
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8. Feeling more comfortable at home
One of the best kind of picture to take, is this – the new dog feeling comfortable at home. ;) ‘Nough said.
Felt at home instantly – @donutthewestie
9. The dog’s expressions
You may be bringing home an innocent happy puppy, or you may be bringing home a rescue who will look sort of worried.
That is natural, so don’t sweat it.
When dog has become more comfortable with the presence of the camera, capture his/her expressions to remember what the dog felt that day. It’s a good way to remember but be sure to embrace a future where the dog will look more happy and confident with you.
Left: Witty | Right: Mango
10. First night at home
It is likely that the new dog will spend much of her time sleeping. It’s a coping mechanism with the stress of being in a new place.
Take photos of what the dog is doing on her first night home. And if she just happens to be sleeping, these photos can turn out to be super cute!
Top: Toby | Bottom: Abbey
This is me sleeping the very first night my parents brought me home, they were so anxious that I could not sleep so mummy gave me a star star to accompany me. To their surprise I slept soooo soundly thru the night! – @tobymycorgi
I’m not sure if most people, like us, didn’t really plan to take photos of dog’s first day home. So whatever photos we have are not of great quality. But I’m sure with a little planning, you can take good memorable photos of the new puppy or dog that you plan to bring home.
So have fun with your dog’s first day home. Take pictures but be mindful of the dog’s level of comfort with the camera. Some dogs hate the camera.
The main thing is have a great time with your new dog and make him feel at home. ;)
Do you have other great photo ideas that you wouldn’t miss taking on dog’s first day home? Share with me in the comments! Thanks!
Singapore Dogs on Instagram – Show us your dog’s first day home was like! Details here.
*All photos reproduced with the kind permission of the original authors of the photos.
