After the Adoption:

What to Expect When Your New Friend Comes Home

part 2 of 3

Your Dog's First Weeks to Early Months

Patience, Patience and . . . Patience
Your new dog's first weeks to early months are the settling in period. Your new dog will look to you, as leader of its new pack, for structure and ground rules. No matter what the dog's background or personality, it must know (it needs to know) what is appropriate or inappropriate behavior.

The best correction of all is simply a firm "No" issued at the time of its bad behavior -- whether chewing, marking, stealing that steak off the kitchen counter. Correcting your dog after the fact (more than a few moments) will confuse it, as it will not remember its offense, as a human being would. Dogs live for NOW.

A dog that's been abused or neglected will be low on self-confidence and self-esteem. However, the abused or neglected dog, like any other, still will yearn for structure and ground rules in its new home. Appropriate correction for these dogs still come in the form of a firm "No", but a softened firm "No", less stern, more loving. After weeks and months of TLC, training and consistent reinforced structure, the chances are good that you will wind up with a new best friend that worships the ground that you walk on.

Socialization
A shelter dog, especially one that's been in kennels for long, may need some additional settling in through in-home socialization. These dogs can be gems and can thrive in your family with a little patience, love and training.

A Big (Challenging) New World
For a dog that's grown up in the kennels, stairs from one floor to another, trees whisping in the wind, ocean foam and the taste of salt water may all be new experiences. Watch your new dog sniff, cock its head with curiosity while figuring it all out. Patient encouragement and some coaxing from you is okay. Watching your dog familiarize, conquer and grow comfortable with its new environments can be immensely rewarding.

House Rules / Importance of Structure
Set the ground rules and provide clear structure for your new dog as to what's right, what's wrong: what are the boundaries of good doggy citzenship within the household. No climbing on the couch? No begging at the dinner table? No chasing the cat? etc. It is important that your new dog understand the rules, as set by you. Enforcement of house rules is critical to a positive outcome. A dog that knows the rules is much happier than one that lives in fear of reprimand.

Basic Training
After a couple of weeks settling in, start your dog on the basics: sit, lay, heel, come. The payoffs of fifteen to twenty minute training sessions 4-5 times/week with your new dog, are many:
1st, you'll get a well-behaved, well-mannered dog.
2nd is the bonding and trust-building which takes place when working one on one with your new dog.
3rd, training sessions will reinforce your 'top dog', leadership role that your new dog needs to know during these early weeks of ambiguity.
4th, your new dog's gradual successes during these sessions will be a tremendous confidence builder, especially for a dog that's been neglected or abused.
5th, training sessions actively engage and stimulate your dog's mind -- making them less anxious or neurotic during the rest of the day.
Too many great reasons not to put it off!

Play and Exercise
Play stimulates bonding, stimulates intellect and reduces anxiety. At first, your new dog may or may not be good at play. But play is a cornerstone of canine interactions with other 'pack' members. For the dog home alone many hours during the day, play and exercise are important. It stimulates your dog's mind and, also, physically tires your dog. Results: less boredom, less anxiety while you're away, ergo less chewing, less digging, etc.
One of the BEST Cocker Spaniel games is "fetch the tennis ball". Checkmate could play it for hours! Buddy likes to actually CATCH the ball, not just retrieve it. Either way, it's great exercise for pet and human alike.

Chewing
Sometimes, a new (adult) dog will chew out of frustration, anxiety or nervousness. Settling in, basic training and plenty of exercise and play will greatly reduce this desire. Provide an assortment of chewable toys (nylabones, Kong's, etc.) and encourage your new dog to chew them -- not the furniture. Use common sense about dog-proofing your house: keep shoes, purses, boots, toys, clothing out of your new dog's reach. An Apple-Bitter-type spray product (from your pet store) is natural, inexpensive and will usually deter your dog from chewing on where it is applied.

Re-Housebreaking (if necessary)
Most dogs, even housebroken ones, make a mistake or two in a new home. If so, be sure to neutralize the odor with plain white vinegar or a product from your pet store to prevent re-attraction to the same spot. Keep a close eye on him/her, and bring the dog outside frequently. If you catch your new dog "in the act", correct him/her with a firm "No", and immediately take the dog outside, where it is appropriate to relieve itself. Eventually, your new dog will learn to expect the opportunity to go outside, and wait for it. Pay attention to HOW (s)he askes to be let out. You need to learn the dog's body language, just like they need to learn your rules.

Sometimes excessive "mistakes" can indicate a problem. When Checkmate moved in, that's how he let me know that he had a bladder infection. Sometimes a vet needs to be consulted because the problem is more than obstinance.

Wait! There's more!

jump to other "what to expect" links:

First Things First | What to Expect | Patience Yields Rewards | Grooming Your Cocker

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