Your recently adopted rescue dog has been through many
confusing changes in his life lately. He will need time
to settle in and adjust to his new home. Chances are you
will not see your dog's true personality for a least a week
or two as he begins to incorporate himself into your "pack"
and daily routine. Make sure he gets lots of attention from
you, but also give him time by himself.
A crate is a wonderful tool for you and your rescue dog.
It provides a safe haven for the dog when he wants to "get
away from it all," and it is a safe place for you to
put him when you're too busy to supervise. Some animals
are used to sleeping or napping in their crates, and a crate
is also the best way to house train.
Dogs feel comfortable with a schedule, so try to reduce
your new dog's stress by starting a routine. Feeding times,
play times, potty time, crate time should all happen in
an order he can anticipate. Do not allow children to overwhelm
your dog with attention. Teaching children to respect the
dog's space and privacy now will head off possibly tragic
results later. Give your pet time to adjust to his new home
before inviting lots of company in to meet him. Inform your
guests that dogs greet by sniffing – they are not being
rude; this is how they get to know you.
Dogs that are very timid or not well socialized may need
to be "ignored". You may have to restrain your
inclination to reach out and hug him. Instead, put him where
you want him and just let him alone for awhile. Wait for
him to come to you instead of going after him.
Introduction to other pets can be tricky. If possible, it
is a good idea for the new dog and any resident dogs to
meet for the first time on "neutral ground". A
friend's yard is always a good place because you know if
it is fully fenced and also what other dogs have been there
(for disease prevention). Back home, keep the dogs separated
as much as possible the first day or two. Give them time
together under your supervision, possibly with one or both
dogs on leashes. Don't play favorites with either dog.
Dogs are pack animals and they need to know who is "top
dog". That should, without a doubt, be you in your
role as pack leader. But the dogs also need to know where
they rank in relation to each other. There is likely to
be some posturing and possibly even a confrontation between
them in the first few days or weeks, but that is normal.
Typically, a confrontation or scuffle between two dogs sounds
much worse than it is. The best bet is to supervise closely
and try to diffuse a situation before it escalates into
a fight. Break eye contact with the two dogs. Distract them
with training exercises. But on some level, they will need
to "sort it out" because the pack order must be
clear before they can relax. Don't confuse the two dogs
by trying to "help" the lower ranked dog out.
That can just cause the dog to feel in a position to challenge
the other dog for dominance.
Cats in the home should also be introduced slowly. Make
sure that if you use clumping cat litter you change to regular
for the first few weeks. This will help prevent a vet visit
should your dog decide to "snack."
A tired dog is a well-behaved dog! If a dog begins to chew
up the house, dig in the yard, or bark, chances are he is
bored or under-stimulated. Dogs need varying amounts of
exercise, but odds are that a stroll through the neighborhood
isn't enough for a young, healthy dog. Most dogs need periods
of vigorous play each day. This might include a game of
fetch or other running games. Just being out in the yard
is not exercise. So get out there and play with him!
Interaction between you and your dog is critical. An obedience
class is strongly encouraged. It will teach you to communicate
better, how to make your expectations clear, how to correct
appropriately, and reinforce your pack leadership…
plus it is a lot of fun!
Indoors, toys are important! Dogs need to chew and they
need some activity to keep them occupied while you are away.
Kong toys with a treat inside, appropriately sized raw beef
shanks with marrow inside, or Nylabones can provide a dog
with a "project" for the day. Rawhides and squeaky
toys present a choking hazard and should only be used under
supervision.
Dogs and children can have a wonderful relationship. However,
to prevent incidents which might cause injury to either
the dog or child, it is important to never leave any dog
alone with a preschool child! Dogs rarely accept a child
under 12 or 13 as an authority figure, and a child trying
to discipline a dog as he has seen you do can result in
tragedy. A dog's only real defense is to bite, and if he
feels he has no choice, that is what he will do. It won't
be the dog's fault, but he will be the one who must pay
the price. There is no such thing as a dog that will not
bite. If you believe there is, then you are putting the
child and dog at risk.
