Congratulations on giving a dog a much needed home. The world needs more people like you!
You are no doubt keen to get started building a relationship with your new dog, including him wherever possible in family life, walks, outings, games and cuddles. However, there are some very important first steps to take to ensure that he settles in and develops confidence and trust in you:
Don’t be fooled by first impressions
When a dog is new to your home he may be very quiet to begin with while he is observing the order of things in this new environment. Many new owners are lulled into a false sense of security by a dog who is initially shy and reserved and are then genuinely surprised when other sides of his personality start to show themselves, especially if there are some confronting behaviours involved.
On the flip side, some dogs start out unable to contain themselves in a new environment, which can be a shock to new owners if the dog was calm in the shelter or foster home where they were first introduced.
Either way, following these guidelines can help.
Give him time
Don’t overdo it by constantly trying to engage him, play with him, soothe him, baby him, or give him lots of unnecessary treats or cuddles.
Put yourself in his shoes. If someone you don’t know very well tries too hard to make you feel welcome or loved, it can actually make you feel very uncomfortable and indeed, insecure. Why would someone you don’t even know keep trying to hug or touch you? Or keep offering you food, gifts and other stuff? Or keep telling you everything is ok when it really doesn’t feel that way?
There will be plenty of time to engage and play with him when he is ready.
Create a comfortable den
Provide him with a smaller contained place that is all his own, somewhere that he can retreat to and know he will be left alone.
If your new dog is crate trained you can have that available in a quiet area, or you could consider getting a dog pen or making the laundry or another small room into a comfy hideaway. Place his bed in there with fresh water, a toy and something safe to chew that encourages him to settle down in that space for a while and get accustomed to it. Always leave him be when he is there so that he knows that is his safe and quiet place.
Importantly, don’t confuse calmness with sadness. Just because he is lying quietly in his bed doesn’t mean he is sad, lonely or depressed. Avoid the temptation to get him up and excited. It is important for him to learn to self soothe, to be calm and to be alone sometimes (just like people). If he is resting quietly, be absolutely thrilled that he feels safe enough to do so.
Keep him safe
Whether you are bringing home a puppy or an adult dog you need to be aware of safety issues around the home and garden.
Block access to power cords, combustion heaters, and other potential hazards and keep cleaning chemicals out of the way. Children’s toys, pens, rubbers, and anything lying around are a potential choking hazard for dogs.
Rubbish bins contain all sorts of dangers for dogs, from foods that are toxic for animals, to choking hazards and waste that can cause intestinal blockages if swallowed. (Don’t underestimate a dog’s determination to get into something nice and smelly).
Many human prescription and over the counter medications are toxic to animals. Make sure they are kept in sealed containers out of reach.
Always provide adequate shelter and fresh water for your dog when outside. Secure pools, pool filters, fences, drains, and sheds. Put away fertiliser products, rodent poisons, insecticides, slug and snail bait, which are all dangerous and can cause anything from mild to moderate gastrointestinal irritation, to organ damage and death.
Make sure he knows where to go to the toilet
He's never been to your house before so he won’t know if you don’t show him.
When you think he is due to go to the toilet, when he is showing signs that he might need to go, when he first wakes up, and just before you put him to bed, put his lead on and take him out to the spot where you want him to go (and much more frequently for puppies). Keep the lead loose and wait for him to go. You can add a word (“toilet”, “wees”, whatever you like). When he has finished, praise him (you can also give him a small food treat if you like) and remove the lead, or take him back inside if that’s where you want him to be.
Over time, he will start going straight to that spot. Be patient, it may take some time: days, weeks, or months. It doesn’t matter how long it takes. When you think he’s got it, allow him some freedom to make the right choice. You can always go back to using the lead if you need to.
Be clear and consistent about the rules right from the start
Dogs need structure and purpose. It helps them to feel certain and secure about their place in your family/social pack, whatever that may look like (whether it’s made up of just you and your dog, three people and a dog, or six people, three dogs, two cats and a bird).
The biggest mistake people make when adopting a rescue is to try to make up for a dog’s unhappy past. They shower them with love and give them free rein, but the dogs never really settle down to become part of the family in the way they had hoped and often still have many of the behavioural issues they came with.
Humans are heavily programmed to nurture, but what your dog really needs is to know what the rules are, what is expected of him, what is acceptable and what is unacceptable.
Ever been to a foreign country, and felt uncertain about what the social norms, customs or legal requirements are? It can make you feel insecure and maybe even unsafe. Knowing in advance makes it easier to fit in and enjoy your visit. It’s the same for your dog and it’s your job to clearly articulate the rules and enforce them without anger or frustration.
Don’t have any rules? Sit down with the family and create some. Think about how you would like your dog to behave and structure the rules around attaining those behaviours. Write them down and stay consistent. Ensure everyone in the house is on board.
Dogs don’t know or understand why we want them to behave in certain ways, especially if it goes against what is natural for them to do (and that's pretty much everything humans do). A dog with no boundaries will generally make poor choices (just like people). It’s up to us to help them make the right ones.
Insist on basic manners
Avoid barking, whining or scratching to come in (or out) by waiting for him to settle, or asking for a sit, before opening the door. Ask him to sit before you place his food bowl down at meal times. Simple things like these that we expect from humans can also apply to our dogs
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Provide enrichment
Challenging toys and puzzles, a snuffle mat, things to chew (make sure they are safe), will all help to provide mental stimulation for your dog, especially when he is home alone.
Swap the food bowl for a food hunt by scattering his dinner on the back lawn or tip it into your treat pouch and use it for training some basic commands.
Don’t rush to take him out into the world
He doesn’t know you yet or his new surroundings. He doesn’t know what your role is in this new social group or if he can trust you. In fact, he doesn’t know what his own role is yet or whether this new environment is just an outing or a permanent thing. You know that you have adopted him forever, but he doesn’t.
Get him settled in. Give him a few days, a week, a couple of weeks (be guided by your dog). Then start with some short walks in quiet places with limited distractions. Build up to longer walks and busier places with higher levels of distraction as his trust in you increases.
His new life starts today. Make it one full of certainty, security and trust.
Important Note: This information is general in nature and may not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs and if necessary seek professional advice from a trainer.
Jacqui Triggs, Trainer
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