your new rescue pet
Congratulations! You are the proud parent of dog
who has been searching for your love and affection and has now found a
loving home to call his own. Here are a few tips to help you make a
comfortable transition into his new environment.
supplies you'll need to make doggie at home
The basic supplies your dog will need are a water
bowl, food bowl, bed, toys, crate, collar and leash and identification.
Much Love will send you home with a leash and non-escapable collar with
our ID information on the tag. We strongly recommend keeping the ID tag
on the collar as well as placing a new tag of your own. This helps
ensure that if the dog is lost, there are multiple sources for a the
person who finds your dog to contact.
your dog's food
Much Love feeds our animals a variety of dog foods
which have been donated by Petco, Natural Balance and Precise. Because
we do not have a permanent facility, and animals are kept at different
shelters or foster homes, they can be eating several different brands
of dog foods depending on where they are being boarded. Generally we
recommend purchasing dog food from your veterinarian or a reputable pet
store, like Petco, which is high in nutrients and fits your dogs
activity level.
your dog's needs
The most important things you will need at home
are lots of love and patience. The first few days after your new dog
comes into your life are important because he begins to learn how to
act in his new home and what the rules are and how far he can bend
those rules. Help him learn what you want him to do by giving him
positive reinforcment with treats and praise when he does what you ask.
your car ride home
On the way home in the car, be prepared that he
may get carsick and cover your car seats with a blanket and have paper
towels ready to clean up. During his first car ride, teach him to ride
in the back seat. It is dangerous for dogs to ride in the front seat
because they can be injured or killed by air bags or by distracting the
driver and causing an accident. The safest way to transport your dog is
in a carrier or crate, or by harnessing him with a seatbelt. If he is
afraid of being in the car or of the ride itself, try not to say
"everything is okay" because although you think you are
soothing or reassuring him, he thinks you are telling him fear is okay.
Instead, act upbeat and happy and tell him in a sing song voice what a
silly dog he is. Try to get him out of his fearful mood.
when you get home
Take him to his toilet area first. If you have had
a prior dog who has had accidents in the house, your new dog does
notknow that his toilet area is not inside the house. Stay with him in
his toilet area until he goes and praise him with words and treats when
he goes there.
If you have other dogs, let them meet on neutrat
territory rather than bringing your new dog into your resident dog's
house. Then walk both dogs into ryour house together with their leashes
on and monitor their interactions. Let your new dog explore the house
at his own pace, but let him have access to just one room at a time.
Keep an eye on him so he doesn't get into any trouble.
Your friends and neighbors will want to come over
to see your new addition, but ask them to wait a few days to let your
dog get used to his new home. If they want to pet him, ask them to move
their hand slowly and scratch under his chin. If they try to pet him on
the top of his head, your dog may mistake their gesture and think they
are going to hit him, and he may either run away in fear or try to
bite. Take control of the situation so that this does not happen.
your dog's first few days at home
When he comes into your home, he probably will be
overwhelmed, so don't put a lot of pressure on him and force him to
love you immediately because that may confuse or firghten him. Rather
than constantly paying attention to him and trying to show him how
terrific you are, let him come to you and then reassure him that he's
welcome and let him get used to you at his own pace.
The best place for your dog to sleep is in his own
bed, preferably in a crate with a blanket or dog bed inside, next to
your bed. The crate will be his sanctuary and should never be used as
punishment to isolate the dog.
while you're at work
To get you dog used to being alone, start leaving
him alone for a few minutes in his crate. Leave him a Kong stuffed with
yummy treats to keep his mind off your leaving. Make your departures
uneventful and try to ignore him for a few miuntes before you leave
rather than fussing over him. Leave the radio on to a classical music
station. Then return, also being uneventful. Repeat this several times
during the day and lengthen the time you are gone.
It's important not to come back if he begins to
bark. If you return when he's barking, he'll quickly figure out that
his barking is making you return, and he may bark incessantly and you
will probably get complaints from your neighbors.
training your dog
When you bring your new dog home, all you want to
do is smother him with love and give him a good home for the rest of
his life. Whether he was a stray or whether his former owners took him
to the shelter before Much Love rescued him, he could have some behvior
prblme that his prior owners did not know how to address. You have the
cnace to make him a better dog. Don't be afraid to set limits, but show
your dog what you want him to do in a way that he understands. Don't
expect that he intuitively knows not to get on the furniture or dig in
the back yard. In his former home, that may have been okay. Show him
what you want and praise him when he follows your direction.
Obedience training is very important at this
point, and begin as soon as you can. Look for a trainer who has had
some experience with rescue dogs and all the various "issues"
rescues can have and one who uses positive training methods based on
rewards rather than punishment. Find out what thier background is, ask
for recommendations, and see if you can observe a training class. Take
a look at our recommendation list for trainers we have associations
with.
Remember that changing habits doesn't take place
overnight. Give yourself and your dog a chance for a happy life
together.
