17 Tips for Your new dog to succeed
First impressions matter. Whether you adopted a dog or bought a dog from a breeder, the first 72 hours with your new dog is the most important time to introduce the dog to your home and establish desired behaviors. We provide a trial period to ensure the dog is a good match for your family. Bringing a new dog into your house is a lot like having a houseguest. You want them to feel welcome, but not to take advantage or pee on your sofa. Dogs need to earn their privileges and earn their place in a pack. To offer your new dog the best of everything and full access to your house unsupervised immediately is setting him up to fail. It takes at least two weeks for a new dog to get comfortable and go from houseguest to live-in roommate. I have brought about 200 dogs into my home following similar guidelines set forth below. All the dogs trusted, respected, and loved me and caused very few problems. Setting boundaries will smooth transitions and make your dog feel more secure and safe. To set your new dog up for success in your house we recommend the following practices:
1. Take your new dog for a short walk with your family, including any other dogs before entering your home for the first time. A walk is the best way to create trust and a new pack for your dog. Don’t worry about perfect leash manners, but don’t allow the new dog to be in charge either. Enter your house with the new dog going in last in a calm state of mind.
2. Keep a leash on your new dog and guide him around the living area of the house. This will prevent the dog from running off, going to the bathroom in your house (see below), or performing unwanted behavior.
3. Keep a leash on your new dog while taking him for a walk around your yard. If he seems to be polite and getting along well, he may drag the leash around the yard. The leash will allow you to get your new dog easily since he may not know his name or what “come” means.
4. Do not leave the new dog unsupervised in the yard for at least a few days. A dog is most likely to escape during the first week in a new home. If the new dog is likely to jump your fence or wall, leave a leash on him so you may stop him from doing so. You cannot stop a dog from escaping the yard when you are inside the house. If your dog is thinking about escaping the yard by jumping the wall or fence, then teach him that is not allowed. Use your leash and when the dog looks to escape, say “no” and guide the dog away from the fence or wall. This is a safety issue and needs to be fixed.
5. Set boundaries. It is easier to teach the dog the desired behaviors right away than have to change established habits. If your dog isn’t allowed on the furniture, then don’t allow it from the start. Just because the dog is new (and adopted) doesn’t mean he doesn’t need boundaries. 90% of training is making the right thing easy for the dog to do, and the wrong thing hard for the dog to do. And that is
6. Supervise your new dog with all your other animals. It takes at least two weeks for a dog to get comfortable enough to make himself “at home.” Until this period is over and all animals are getting along well, do not leave them unattended together. Separate them by crating, utilizing gates, or use different rooms for each animal.
7. Do not leave your new dog alone with your children. While we have done our best to match your new dog with your family, there are no guarantees. Do not risk leaving your new dog (or any dog for that matter) alone with a baby or toddler, even for a few minutes. Even older children need supervision around dogs, especially new dogs. Do not allow your children to pester, sit on, jump on, pull tails or ears, or tease the dog over food or toys regardless how tolerant the dog is. It is up to the parent to teach the child respect for living creatures.
8. Your new dog may need house training guidance. While your dog may be house trained in general, she may need guidance of where to use the bathroom and ample opportunity to do so. It is recommended you go outside with your new dog to ensure the dog has gone potty outside. Restricting the dog’s access to the room you are in and frequent outside visits assists with house training. Do not expect your dog to give you an obvious signal he needs to go out. Some dogs will quietly wander off and potty in an out of the way room instead of alerting you. It is your responsibility to watch your dog and be attentive. DO NOT scold the dog if you find an accident after the fact.
9. Daily walks will help your dog acclimate to his new neighborhood and build a bond with his new family. Walks should be controlled by the humans and excitement kept within reason. A walk should be calm exploration. Stay away from very stressful or crowded areas until you know your dog can handle it.
10. Dog parks are not recommended for any dog, but especially not for a dog new to you. You must acquire a good “come” command (recall) and get to know your dog before ever taking it to a dog park. Dog parks do not help socialize dogs. In fact, fights at dog parks are common and your dog may become involved in bullying, being bullied, or worse. Have some nice dogs from the neighborhood over to play or take a walk with some friends’ dogs instead. Dog parks also do not build a relationship between you and your dog.
11. Keep things quiet in the dog’s new home for a while. Limit guests to those that are quiet and calm. New guests should act nonchalant about the new dog. Overly excited or intrusive guests may scare or excite the dog too much. If you notice your dog getting uncomfortable, give him some time out in a crate or other area.
12. Utilize a crate or other safe area for the dog to stay when alone in the house. Also use this space for the dog to take a time out where he won’t be bothered. Being in a new home is stressful and often dogs like a quiet place to rest. When the dog is in his safe space, no one is to bother the dog.
13. Feeding time is to be supervised especially if other dogs are being fed in the same area. Dogs need to be taught to stay at their own food bowl and not take other food from other dog’s bowls. Pick up the food bowls when the dogs are done eating. Do not stick your hand in your dog’s food bowl. Do not make it routine to bother your dog while eating or chewing a bone. You may create a problem that didn’t exist before by doing this. Set down the bowl and walk away. Do not hover over your dog while eating, but watch from afar. Dogs that have access to food all day may have house training issues due to lack of structured eating times. Free feeding also prevents being able to know how much food your dog is eating.
14. The most important skill a dog can have is to come when called. Work on this skill with treats and praise when the dog comes. Hire a trainer if needed
15. Puppies! Lack of exposure to the world (socialization) is the largest threat to your puppy. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior states “During this time (before 12 weeks of age) puppies should be exposed to as many new people, animals, stimuli and environments as can be achieved safely without causing over- stimulation manifested as excessive fear, withdrawal or avoidance behavior. Incomplete or improper socialization during this important time can increase the risk of behavioral problems later in life including fear, avoidance, and/or aggression. For this reason, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior believes that it should be the standard of care for puppies to receive such socialization before they are fully vaccinated.” Socialization is encouraging dogs and puppies to explore and process the world AT THEIR PACE. Fearful dogs may have to be encouraged and given more time to adjust. Excited dogs may have to be calmed down and learn self-control. To wait until a puppy has all its vaccines at 4-6 months of age is too late for the easiest socialization.
16. Fearful dogs are slower to progress in most of these steps above. Fearful dogs do not need sympathy. They need a confident calm leader to guide and encourage them to make progress. Picking up and fearful dog or coddling it will not help the dog make progress. The dog must face their fears incrementally to assure success. Please visit the YouTube channel Rescue Dogs Responsibly for more info on fearful dogs.
17. We encourage fair and humane training. We support the use of all tools and training methods that help the individual dog. This includes harnesses, slip leads, and prong collars. Using a collar on a dog is not abusive if that collar is used properly. However, no equipment is magic and all tools require training for that tool to work effectively. Bold, brazen dogs need different training than fearful or submissive dogs. We do not support unfair or harsh training methods that give corrections (collar) before the dog understands the commands given. Setting boundaries and telling a dog “No” fairly with a collar or voice is fine. Throwing a dog into a down, harsh punishment, or verbal abuse is not ok. Whatever trainer you use, please google their name and business name and read reviews or get references. If you need training help, please contact us and we can recommend a trainer that will suit your dog.
Please visit the YouTube channel “What Dogs Have Taught Me” or hart2heartcanine.com for more info on adopting dogs, dog training, and dog behavior.