Got your First dog? How to create a positive and lasting impact with your new dog.
Getting a new dog, wether it be a puppy or a more mature dog, is exciting. You imagine all the things your are going to do with your new dog, but for most folks things don’t turn out the way the had hoped. Getting a new dog is tricky, and just because it is “your” dog now doesn’t mean they love you or even at the least know you. This is where most people go wrong, there is no relationship but yet it is expected to be there from the get go.
Take the slow road
If you jump into all the you envisioned you and your new dog doing to quickly you”ll most likely experience problems. You will miss key moments of showing your dog who you really are, how living with you will be, and ultimately set your new dog up for success at life with you with the least amount of friction as possible. Your dog needs time to adjust and too learn the ropes but if you don’t teach that then anything and everything is on the table. Good or bad.
Be the parent
Your dog needs your guidance. Failure to provide guidance can and generally results in unwanted behaviors that makes life difficult. If you say yes to everything there won’t be any rules or boundaries which leaves the door open for anything and everything. As the parent you can be the fun person, the educator and also the one who enforces rules and boundaries. Providing this type of information and guidance to your dog will give them clarity and help create stability in your home.
How to find your balance
keep a leash on - your dog is new to you and probably doesn’t know anything. Having a leash on them will allow you to direct them.
Engage with them - don’t just try to cuddle and pet the dog. Engage with them in an interactive way through play or food game.
Skip the walk - instead of going for a walk do your games outside or just hang outside. Let the dog take in the sights and smells without constantly moving forward to new sights and smells.
Don’t rush into formal training - if you want to include teaching behaviors with food lures that’s fine but keep your expectations low. Your dog is new and things should be relaxed and fun as your dog is getting to know you.
Build good habits - do your potties on leash so you can build good potty habits. Use a crate or pen (at night and times during the day) to prevent unwanted behaviors when you are not able to supervise and to show that at times you are not around but everything is ok.
Common mistakes
Walks - Too often folks immediately head out on walks. Their dog is over stimulated, unsure of the people, and the environment and this leads to unsavory behaviors on the leash that get repeated multiple times a day.
Off leash potties - Most folks that have a back yard just send the dog out, which if your dog has good potty habits then this isn’t bad thing. However, if your dog doesn’t have those skills then they will just figure something out which can look like marking, not fully relieving themselves, distracted by constant sniffing, digging, or even escaping.
Sleeping in the bed - Having your new dog sleep in the bed right off the bad is a quick way to develop separation anxiety. Too often people do this and then can’t get the dog out of their bed. Build your relationship up first. Establish rules and boundaries. This will make having your dog sleep in bed not be their only option as you can also have them sleep in their crate.
Real benefits to the slow road
Going slow with your new dog will allow you to develop a healthy relationship with big picture (long term) success.
You’ll make outings much more fun by taking your time which will lead you to wanting to include your dog more.
Not rushing on all the things you envision and engaging with them through place will allow you to create a strong bond with your dog where they truly want to be around you.
All things considered
Going all in can make short term ideas feel well but can have detrimental affects in the long run. Love your new dog but get to know them first. Do things with them. Show them who you are and let the trust build. This will get them to want to be with you instead of you forcing yourself on the dog. Show them that there are rules so they learn to coexist with you and skip the headache of avoidable problem behaviors. Be the parent who is awesome but also believable