“Dogs need structure and leadership,” commented Bruce Edwards, dog behavioral therapist and trainer. “They are pack animals, so you must be the ‘pack leader’ to ensure that your dog knows that you are the boss. Many dog owners may not know the temperament of their shelter dog, but setting house rules will help establish an environment the dog understands as safe and secure.
Edwards suggests following tips to help ensure a smooth transition.
Before You Bring Your New Dog Home
It is important that you have a family meeting to establish rules about interacting with the dog.
- Will he be allowed on the family room sofa, the bed in your son’s room, and have free access to the entire house?
- Where will he sleep and where will you feed him?
- Which family members will be responsible for feeding him ?
- Assign the person or people who will walk him and clean up after him.
As a family, you must all be on the same page with your decisions or you will confuse the dog. When this happens the dog will normally start dog making his own rules and causing unnecessary issues. This will usually end up with your dog showing bad behavior.
Have the necessary items your dog will need from the start:
- ID tags
- Collar
- Six foot leash
- Dog food and water bowls
- A good and healthy dog food. We recommend Life’s Abundance
- Dog toys
- A Crate that is large enough for him to at least walk in, turn around, and lie down. The wire crates are better than the travel crates. Bedding is optionsl.
- Basic grooming tools
Plan to bring your new dog home during the weekend or when you can take a few days off from work. This allows you to start to build your relationship with your dog and create a safe environment for him.
Just before you bring him into your house, take him for a walk to tire him out a little. Walks are not only good exercise, but they are also a time of training and a time where you can create respectful focus and become his leader.
Establish Ground Rules in the First Days
Initially, keep your dog to one room or one specific area of the house. Allow him time to get used to the smells and sounds of his new home. Minimize your time away from home for about a week; your spending time with him will help him to become more comfortable in his new home.
Have a leash on your dog for the first few two or three weeks so you can quickly train him what behaviors are and are not acceptable.
Assume that you are going to have potty accidents. Your dog is in a new place and is establishing a new routine, so potty mistakes probably will happen. Review the potty training information available from the shelter or your veterinarian. You can also contact us for detailed potty training information. The key is to be consistent and maintain a routine.
Dogs instinctively like to nest, and a crate establishes the perfect place for your dog to sleep and get away from house noises and activity. A crate also makes potty training easer, but limit the amount of time the dog is kept in the crate. The crate should be roomy enough to allow your dog to stand up, turn around, and easily lie down. Another option to a crate is to keep him in a dog-proofed part of your home. This could be a laundry room, powder room, or mud room. You can use a baby gate or dog gate to shut off the area from the other parts of the house.
Most shelter dogs have been given basic vaccinations and many have already been spayed/neutered. Take the dog to your veterinarian within the first week of bringing him home for a complete checkup.
Limit any guest visits for the first few days to allow your dog to get comfortable with his new family. When you do have guests, ask their help in training your dog by telling them to may no attention to him until he is still and relaxed. You can put a sign on the front door telling your guests not to interact with your new dog.
A Trained Dog Makes for a Happy Human-Canine Bond
Get guidance for training your dog. A well-trained dog is a happier dog and a joy to have around.
Dogs require a strong leader and care giver. If they don’t believe that a strong leader is present, they will try to be the leader themselves. Although the really don’t want to be the leader, it is in their best interests to do so. This normally leads to bad behavior.
Thus, you—and all your family members—need to step up and be your dog’s leader. Practice obedience training, establish rules and apply them calmly and consistently, and praise your dog when hs obeys and is good. He will see you as his leader and will quickly bond with you.
Dogs quickly learn what is right and wrong. They have a language of their own, and once we figure it out, we more effectively communicate what we expect of them.
A Bright Future
Hats off to you for bringing home a shelter dog! Your patience and training will help to create a bond that will reward you, your dog, and the entire family. With the right balance of discipline, consistency, and affection, your shelter dog will become a loyal and wonderful lifelong companion.
For more information, please contact us at Call Bruce and Robin.
“Dogs need structure and leadership,” commented Bruce Edwards, dog behavioral therapist and trainer. “They are pack animals, so you must be the ‘pack leader’ to ensure that your dog knows that you are the boss. Many dog owners may not know the temperament of their shelter dog, but setting house rules will help establish an environment the dog understands as safe and secure.
Edwards suggests following tips to help ensure a smooth transition.
Before You Bring Your New Dog Home
It is important that you have a family meeting to establish rules about interacting with the dog.
- Will he be allowed on the family room sofa, the bed in your son’s room, and have free access to the entire house?
- Where will he sleep and where will you feed him?
- Which family members will be responsible for feeding him ?
- Assign the person or people who will walk him and clean up after him.
As a family, you must all be on the same page with your decisions or you will confuse the dog. When this happens the dog will normally start dog making his own rules and causing unnecessary issues. This will usually end up with your dog showing bad behavior.
Have the necessary items your dog will need from the start:
- ID tags
- Collar
- Six foot leash
- Dog food and water bowls
- A good and healthy dog food. We recommend Life’s Abundance
- Dog toys
- A Crate that is large enough for him to at least walk in, turn around, and lie down. The wire crates are better than the travel crates. Bedding is optionsl.
- Basic grooming tools
Plan to bring your new dog home during the weekend or when you can take a few days off from work. This allows you to start to build your relationship with your dog and create a safe environment for him.
Just before you bring him into your house, take him for a walk to tire him out a little. Walks are not only good exercise, but they are also a time of training and a time where you can create respectful focus and become his leader.
Establish Ground Rules in the First Days
Initially, keep your dog to one room or one specific area of the house. Allow him time to get used to the smells and sounds of his new home. Minimize your time away from home for about a week; your spending time with him will help him to become more comfortable in his new home.
Have a leash on your dog for the first few two or three weeks so you can quickly train him what behaviors are and are not acceptable.
Assume that you are going to have potty accidents. Your dog is in a new place and is establishing a new routine, so potty mistakes probably will happen. Review the potty training information available from the shelter or your veterinarian. You can also contact us for detailed potty training information. The key is to be consistent and maintain a routine.
Dogs instinctively like to nest, and a crate establishes the perfect place for your dog to sleep and get away from house noises and activity. A crate also makes potty training easer, but limit the amount of time the dog is kept in the crate. The crate should be roomy enough to allow your dog to stand up, turn around, and easily lie down. Another option to a crate is to keep him in a dog-proofed part of your home. This could be a laundry room, powder room, or mud room. You can use a baby gate or dog gate to shut off the area from the other parts of the house.
Most shelter dogs have been given basic vaccinations and many have already been spayed/neutered. Take the dog to your veterinarian within the first week of bringing him home for a complete checkup.
Limit any guest visits for the first few days to allow your dog to get comfortable with his new family. When you do have guests, ask their help in training your dog by telling them to may no attention to him until he is still and relaxed. You can put a sign on the front door telling your guests not to interact with your new dog.
A Trained Dog Makes for a Happy Human-Canine Bond
Get guidance for training your dog. A well-trained dog is a happier dog and a joy to have around.
Dogs require a strong leader and care giver. If they don’t believe that a strong leader is present, they will try to be the leader themselves. Although the really don’t want to be the leader, it is in their best interests to do so. This normally leads to bad behavior.
Thus, you—and all your family members—need to step up and be your dog’s leader. Practice obedience training, establish rules and apply them calmly and consistently, and praise your dog when hs obeys and is good. He will see you as his leader and will quickly bond with you.
Dogs quickly learn what is right and wrong. They have a language of their own, and once we figure it out, we more effectively communicate what we expect of them.
A Bright Future
Hats off to you for bringing home a shelter dog! Your patience and training will help to create a bond that will reward you, your dog, and the entire family. With the right balance of discipline, consistency, and affection, your shelter dog will become a loyal and wonderful lifelong companion.
For more information, please contact us at Call Bruce and Robin.
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