Bringing a new puppy or adult dog into the home can feel a bit overwhelming, especially if you are a first-time dog owner.
We all start off with great intentions wanting to raise and train a well-mannered dog that will be a welcomed member of the family and community. Yet, regardless of those good intentions, life gets in the way and it can be challenging to keep up with the goals we set for ourselves and our new canine companions. First off, there is lots of time, even if it feels like you are running short of it. There are lots of stress-free things that can easily be done to set your new dog up for success. Remember, one of the reasons we bring a dog into our home is to find quality time to relax and just hang out with a dog. There is no need to stress about missing developmental milestones in your puppy's young life.
Whether you have adopted an adult dog or embarked on the task of raising a puppy, take the first two weeks to bond. We all get excited about the new four-legged critter in our home and feel the need to rush out and show the world, but those first two weeks should be taken slowly. Allow the new dog to adjust to the changes in its life and give it time to get to know you before it gets to know anyone or anything else.
Don't be in a rush to get to the dog park (not a good idea for pups anyway) or the puppy class or obedience class. You are not going to be "too late" if you give your pup or adult dog time to settle into its new digs.
Certainly sign up for and set those training dates into your schedule in the near future, but not within the first two weeks. Those activities are important, but it is more important that you spend quality time bonding with your dog so that you can start the relationship off on a solid foundation of trust.
Your dog has to learn that you are its provider of safety, guidance, boundaries and of course food!
Take those first two weeks to play with your pup, go for leashed walks around the neighbourhood, maybe even go to the local pet store.
Spend time at home observing your dog, hanging out with it, giving it the chance to trust that it can rest its head on your lap and take a nap. The simple act of observing your puppy or adult dog while in your home gives you the chance to learn its quirks, likes and dislikes, and discover its personality. It is a vital part of a strong relationship/partnership with your dog.
If you do venture into a dog-friendly zone, be prepared for advice from well-meaning and sometimes opinionated dog owners. Don't listen to people who tell you to take your dog off leash and let it run free. It is more important to work on the skill of walking politely on leash. This is an underrated and highly overlooked training tool that teaches your dog to not feel threatened and to stay close to you. It is so much easier to teach the right thing first - which is to stay close - than to allow your dog off-leash freedom too soon and constantly be having to chase it down or call it back because you did not build a foundation of staying close.
Your life and your dog's life should work together; one doesn't revolve around the other. If you set the boundaries and rules that work with your schedule, your dog will be happy to live within them. But if you allow your dog to set the limits of behaviour, you will end up resenting a dog that is in control of your life.
In those first two weeks, you make the decision that a long walk first thing in the morning is the best thing for you and your dog, instead of being forced to do it because your dog has become destructive in your absence. Decide that your dog's meal times are at certain times in the day instead of being forced to feed your dog because it is begging or stealing food.
Take the time to set your dog up for success and you will be well on the road to a happy future together.
Joan Klucha has been working with dogs for more than 15 years in obedience, tracking and behavioural rehabilitation. Contact her through her website k9kinship.com.
