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K9-101 CONSULTING

NEW DOG ADOPTIONPRIMER AND REFERENCE

K9-101 Consulting. Tel:805.504.6667 Email:www.K9-101consulting.com

NEW DOG ADOPTIONPRIMER AND HANDBOOK

Table of ContentsYour new dog 1What could go wrong 1Leadership 2The first 48 hours 2Introductions 3Period of adjustment 4Feeding 4Housebreaking 4Exercise 5Conclusion 6Appendix 7

This document is meant as a reference only, please use the information within as such.Please contact a professional if you have any questions. Please never attempt anything in this

handbook if it makes you unconformable.

Peter W. RodriguesPublished by K9-101Consulting in conjunction with the MOCHA Foundation.

Please share this material with anyone who needs it.

Your New Dog! K9-101 Consulting. Tel:805.504.6667 Email:www.K9-101consulting.com

ongratulations on adopting your new dog. Whether its your first dog or the newest member of your existing pack, you have made an great choice in selecting one of the countless rescued shelter animals who desperately need

good loving homes. You have made the first step in the exciting process of creating a PRO dog society.

CRemember, your new dog is new to you and if he/she is a puppy, he/she is still learning her way in a new world. Your puppies mother was probably very attentive and clear with her most precious possession, so we need to transition our puppy appropriately. It is up to you to teach him/her properly from the time you pick him up. If you don’t seek some professional assistance, then it’s important to note that everything the dog learns will come from you or your other dogs. To best train your new companion, you must be consistent, clear and use praise with positive reinforcement.

What could possibly go wrong?

The three main things that can cause problems are improper introduction, lack of leadership and not enough exercise. Below you will find information that will help you understand these principals and avoid potential problems in the future. If you follow these proven principals, you will have a happier and more balanced pet.

LeadershipDogs are pack animals and pack animals NEED a leader. In the event that there is no leader, the dog will take the leadership position. This causes stress in the dog and leads to unacceptable behaviors by human standards. If we don’t lead the dog through the following steps, these behaviors will escalate and can become out of control. As leaders, it is imperative that we send a clear signal to our dogs. Mothers send only two signals to their puppies: what the puppy is doing is okay, or not okay. If the puppy’s action is acceptable, there is no correction, so the puppy understands that this behavior can be repeated. However, if the puppy’s action is unacceptable, his mother swiftly and sharply corrects him. The puppy soon learns that this behavior cannot be repeated. It is crucial that we send the right signal. To correct you pet , you do not need to be harsh, just be assertive enough to get the point across that what your dog is doing is not okay with you. Your dog will thank you for letting him know how to behave. Leadership is involved in each of these next steps.


The First 48 Hours

It is important that after you take your dog from the shelter or pick him or her up from a rescue, that you make the dog wait to enter your car until he or she sits and is calm. Once they do this, you can invite them into the car. When you arrive at home repeat the same behavior in getting out of the car. The dog must be calm, and only exit when you have invited him to follow you. If you have another dog, please see the Introductions section below.

It is recommended that you take your dog for a long walk before you introduce them to your home. This aids in the leader/ follower principle and helps to establish an immediate transition from his previous experience to you as his structured pack leader.

Your dog should first learn to walk by following you. While your dog may want to stop and mark or smell all the new wonderful scents in your neighborhood, it is of paramount importance that he first learn to follow you. If you notice your dog has to relieve himself, find a place nearby, make him sit, and then release him to relieve himself. After the dog has learned to follow you, you may pick spots to let them sniff new scents.The walk is of course a pleasant and informative experience for your dog, but first he must show that he can be trusted to have any freedom.

When you return from the walk, it is important that you make the dog wait at the door until you invite him or her in. You must enter and exit first. Again, remember all dogs are pack animals and need leadership so you can be certain that if you don’t set the rules in the first few days, he will! You must teach him that this is your home, and that he is a member of your pack, not the other way around.

Your dog may be a bit disoriented and timid upon coming home. In some instances they may be sick, or in a weakened state. Keep things as quiet and calm as possible. Remember that the dog has been at the animal shelter recently and these places are usually filled with noise and bursts of excitement. It is important in the bonding process that your dog understand that this transition into a safe environment will be a calm one.

It is important for the dogs security and education that you take the dog to one room or area that he can be confined in. The floor should be clear of all debris at dog level, and only acceptable chew toys should be on the floor. This way, when the dog gets boredhe will only chew on approved objects. Dogs like security, so an open kennel or crate are adequate. Crates play to a dog's natural instincts as a den animal. A wild dog's den is his home a place to sleep, hide from danger, and raise a family. The crate becomes your dog's den, an ideal spot to snooze or take refuge during high activity. If you introduce a dog correctly to the crate in the beginning period of its inception into your home, he or she will see it as a safe space, and a place of comfort when you are gone.


This will help tremendously when you need to leave for short to medium periods of time.

You should keep your new dog on a leash during the first day but you must be with the dog when he is sniffing around and adjusting to his new environment. If the dog does something inappropriate, decide which word you are going to use to stop this behavior. It can be a firm no, a certain sound, or if you keep the dog on the leash, use a combination of the word and a gentle tug. Dogs have an excellent sense of smell and will remember items more through sniffing than by sight. Puppies are like children, absorbing and wanting to touch everything that is new and exciting, so keep anything dangerous or valuable out of reach.

Show him/her where they will sleep and where the water bowl is. You also need to take your new companion outside every few hours to relieve themselves to help avoid accidents.

After a day or so, you can allow him or her into another room. Make sure you follow the rules above: keep him or her on a leash, invite them into the new room so that they are confident in following you into each new environment, and make sure you only have appropriate toys for the dog. Repeat the process every few hours until your dog has been introduced to each room in your house.

One important thing to remember in all the following steps is that you want to keep your new dog within your sight as much as possible in the beginning. This may seem like an inconvenience, but it will save you a lot of time later.

Once your dog has acclimated to your home, you should make sure he has a few very important things. Outfit your new best friend with a collar and ID tag that includes your name, address and telephone number. Your pet should be micro chipped, but tags are a quick and easy way to identify the owner of a lost pet.

You should ALWAYS take your dog to your veterinarian for an exam after you adopt him. If you don’t have a veterinarian, please see our referral section at the end.

Introductions

If you have another dog, introduce them outside the house on neutral territory, where the original dog will not feel territorial. Take them for a long walk with a friend or family member. Make sure that the original dog is walking


slightly ahead of the new dog. Once the dogs have walked for a while, then let the original dog fall back and sniff the new dog’s rear end. After the original dog has sniffed the new dog, you can then get back into the lead position and allow the new dog to sniff. Don’t allow the dogs to meet face to face initially, as this may cause a fight. Let them get to know each other slowly- on a leash and always supervised. It is not uncommon for a new dog to mark his territory.

Remember that introduction requires lots of patience. If you have a cat, allow them free reign to approach the dog. Always have the dog on a leash to have control. The key is to make it a positive experience for both. Your cat may need time to overcome a bad experience. Do not allow the dog to bark or show aggressive behavior. Continuously praise and reward good behavior. For more information, see Introducing your Dog to a Cat.

Give your new dog an outlet for play behavior. If he feels like chasing the cat, or just playing rough, redirect him with a ball or squeaky toy, rather then your cat. Remember that the more frequently you exercise your dog, the more likely it is that he/she will remain calm for the rest of the day.

Period of Adjustment

During the first week expect occasional problems. Your new pet doesn’t know you, doesn’t know why he has come here, or what is expected of him. He needs to be treated with watchful kindness. Anticipate problems before they occur. Don’t leave tempting items such as shoes, clothing, hand bags, or dinner plates within reach of the dog.

If you have children they will usually be excited about a new pet. Don’t allow them to overwhelm him/her with attention and handling. They should be taught to play gently with him/her and not to disturb him when he is eating or sleeping. Parental supervision is important. Remember to be patient and give him time to become acquainted to your family, your home and your routines.

Feeding

Establish a regular schedule for his meals and you will find that he will be relieving himself at more predictable times. Your dog should eat once in the morning (preferably after a walk) and if you decide to feed twice a day, the second feeding should be just after your dinner time.

Give him fresh water and a quality dog food. If you change the type of food he eats do so gradually over about a week to avoid upsetting his system. Check the website for things to avoid as there are many human foods that can be toxic to pets.


Housebreaking

Taking your dog out frequently in the beginning is the best way to avoid accidents. Also, keep a watchful eye on your dog and it will help speed up the housebreaking process because you can catch accidents before they occur. Choose a regular place for his toilet area. Take him to his designated area (preferably after he has walked and eaten). When he relives himself, praise him. When you take him to his spot, praise him immediately. If he does nothing, try again in 10 minutes. When he is indoors, watch for circling, scratching and sniffing. Tell him “no” and quickly take him to his spot.

Never correct a dog by hitting, yelling or rubbing their nose in the mess. If your dog has an accident, more often then not, you are to blame, or you haven’t communicated yet what you want. Try taking the dogs out more frequently and be sure to always praise afterwards.

Exercise

Plan to spend time with your new family member. Dogs appreciate this and usually respond positively. Long walks, periods of play or just being together will make your dog feel happy and secure. It is important to understand that dogs by nature travel in packs. It is natural for a dog to follow its pack leader to find shelter, food and exploration. Therefore, exercise is a vital part of a dog’s existence. Energy that builds up in a dog can be released effectively through exercise. As noted above, lack of exercise can cause this stored up energy to be released in destructive ways or unwanted behavior. Just as when following a leader in the wild, our dogs should follow us on our daily walks. A dog in front of a person is the leader by default. This also can cause tremendous stress for the dog as it feels the need to protect its follower. A dog that follows behind its owner can feel comfortable and confident on walks and explore and learn new things daily.

Walking is the easiest way to establish leadership. There are also classes available for obedience and socialization training. These classes can help you learn how to establish leadership.

Conclusion

You’ve read about some common problems above. Remember, most of these problems can be corrected by following the steps that we have outlined. Always remember to be consistent and clear when giving commands. Be patient and remember that with dogs you only get what you give. Make sure the expectations that you have for your dog are reasonable.

Punishment vs. Correction: Please understand the difference between constructive and educational


correction and abusive heavy handed punishment. While correction in the wild can be harsh, it is used to curb behaviors only. There is no anger or malicious intent on part of the correcting dog. We must never be angry, upset or frustrated when applying correction. NEVER strike a dog as this will cause the dog to be fearful and will only create more problems.

By selecting a pet from the animal shelter, you have chosen to take the first step in the solution to the problem of too many unwanted animals. We believe you have chosen to be a responsible pet owner. We welcome you as a member of the Pro Dog Society. We encourage you to continue to educate yourself on your dog’s behavior and your own abilities as a pack leader.

Thank you for giving your new dog a home.

Got questions? Need advice? Interested in a socialization class?

Call K9-101: Shannon or Pete (805) 504-6667 or email us at [email protected]

or visit K9-101Consulting.com

Socialization class details:You will learn basic leadership principles, including: "the walk", how to master the walk, how to introduce your dog to other dogs, body language, the 10 Insights, how your energy effects your dog, and walking as a pack. This class is for all people who are looking to socialize their dogs. Socialization is a very important part of having your dog be a responsible member of the community. Dogs are not turned away for anti-social behavior. Classes are available weeknights, and weekends.


mailto:[email protected]

We also offer private one on one training sessions that are tailored to your dog’s individual needs.


your new dog - santapaulaarc.org · so we need to transition our puppy appropriately. it is up to...

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