Helping Your Adopted Dog Adjust to their New Home
Summer is a wonderful time to welcome a new dog into your home. Many of you choose to adopt a dog from a shelter which is a wonderful thing! When the adoptee is a young puppy, the acclimation to your home may follow a more predictable pattern. The puppy is young and impressionable and you can shape good behaviors fresh from the start.
Adopting an older dog can be a whole other story. Although most dogs in shelters have not been abused, they do come with a set of habits that may not fit your family and your household. Fear not! Some basic skills will allow your new dog to confidently become a member of the family with a minimum of stress for all.
Chewing, barking, hyperactivity and housetraining troubles are all common problems new owners may face when rescuing a dog. Even if your new best friend is several years old, treat her like a puppy in terms of attention and training. This will help you to form a bond and to handle any problems that do arise. A shelter is a very stressful place for a dog. A dog’s behavior there is not a true indicator of their personality. A rambunctious and noisy dog may prove to be a couch potato and quiet as a mouse. On the other hand, a submissive and shy dog may blossom at home and begin to demand everything from the food on your plate to the prime spot on the couch. And she may do that by barking, jumping or growling. It is helpful to start off on the right “paw” with your adopted dog’s training and socialization. Here are some tips:
Supervise your new dog at all times-even when they are inside: Keep her on a leash in the house and introduce one room at a time. The kitchen and laundry rooms are usually a great place for the first couple of days. No carpets to protect from possible accidents. Have a reliable gate system in place to keep her out of other rooms and if you do take her into the rest of the house, have her on leash. She will be bonding with you, and you can closely observe her behavior. Needless to say, when your dog is outside with you she should be in a securely fenced in yard or leashed at all times. Be sure to get an ID tag with your contact information in it within days of bringing your new dog home.
Housetrain immediately: Introduce crate training to help with the process, but always make sure the crate is a positive place not a punishment space. Take her outside to the same spot on a regular schedule and reward her like crazy when she eliminates. Even if the shelter or foster parent has told you that your new dog is fully housetrained, be on the safe side and treat her as if she is not. By being safe rather than sorry, you will be doubly sure that housetraining is an easy and successful process.
Establish a feeding schedule: Make sure that all family members have agreed to who will be feeding your new dog. Stick to the schedule for the sanity of the family and the dog. Dogs love routine! Always make your dog sit and wait for their food to be placed down. Jumping and barking is not ok. Keep your new dog on the same food they were being given at the shelter for the first 2 weeks and then consider upgrading their food. Most shelters feed less than optimal foods because they have so many mouths to feed. As well as giving your new dog a new warm and safe home to be in, you can also help improve their health and keep your vet bills as low as possible by feeding a high quality and natural dog food.
Enroll in a group training class: Even if your dog comes with a ready-made set of skills and tricks, a group training class will give her invaluable socialization and bonding time with her new family. Additionally, if any problems with aggression or other negative behaviors do arise you will have a professional in place to turn to.
By rescuing a dog from a shelter you have given them a second chance for a wonderful life. Have reasonable expectations for their behavior from the start and stay positive. Even if a few bumps on the road happen, chances are you will end up with a beloved family companion for many years.
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Adopting an older dog can be a whole other story. Although most dogs in shelters have not been abused, they do come with a set of habits that may not fit your family and your household. Fear not! Some basic skills will allow your new dog to confidently become a member of the family with a minimum of stress for all.
Chewing, barking, hyperactivity and housetraining troubles are all common problems new owners may face when rescuing a dog. Even if your new best friend is several years old, treat her like a puppy in terms of attention and training. This will help you to form a bond and to handle any problems that do arise. A shelter is a very stressful place for a dog. A dog’s behavior there is not a true indicator of their personality. A rambunctious and noisy dog may prove to be a couch potato and quiet as a mouse. On the other hand, a submissive and shy dog may blossom at home and begin to demand everything from the food on your plate to the prime spot on the couch. And she may do that by barking, jumping or growling. It is helpful to start off on the right “paw” with your adopted dog’s training and socialization. Here are some tips:
Supervise your new dog at all times-even when they are inside: Keep her on a leash in the house and introduce one room at a time. The kitchen and laundry rooms are usually a great place for the first couple of days. No carpets to protect from possible accidents. Have a reliable gate system in place to keep her out of other rooms and if you do take her into the rest of the house, have her on leash. She will be bonding with you, and you can closely observe her behavior. Needless to say, when your dog is outside with you she should be in a securely fenced in yard or leashed at all times. Be sure to get an ID tag with your contact information in it within days of bringing your new dog home.
Housetrain immediately: Introduce crate training to help with the process, but always make sure the crate is a positive place not a punishment space. Take her outside to the same spot on a regular schedule and reward her like crazy when she eliminates. Even if the shelter or foster parent has told you that your new dog is fully housetrained, be on the safe side and treat her as if she is not. By being safe rather than sorry, you will be doubly sure that housetraining is an easy and successful process.
Establish a feeding schedule: Make sure that all family members have agreed to who will be feeding your new dog. Stick to the schedule for the sanity of the family and the dog. Dogs love routine! Always make your dog sit and wait for their food to be placed down. Jumping and barking is not ok. Keep your new dog on the same food they were being given at the shelter for the first 2 weeks and then consider upgrading their food. Most shelters feed less than optimal foods because they have so many mouths to feed. As well as giving your new dog a new warm and safe home to be in, you can also help improve their health and keep your vet bills as low as possible by feeding a high quality and natural dog food.
Enroll in a group training class: Even if your dog comes with a ready-made set of skills and tricks, a group training class will give her invaluable socialization and bonding time with her new family. Additionally, if any problems with aggression or other negative behaviors do arise you will have a professional in place to turn to.
By rescuing a dog from a shelter you have given them a second chance for a wonderful life. Have reasonable expectations for their behavior from the start and stay positive. Even if a few bumps on the road happen, chances are you will end up with a beloved family companion for many years.
< Back to Pets with Patti Articles
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