Dogs, cats, birds and a host of other animals of all kinds land in shelters for a myriad of reasons. The most common are abandonment, getting lost, owners move (out of State and cannot take dog with them), abuse and animal cruelty cases. There are many more reasons, most of them not as good as people would like to make them appear.
Though most sheltered dogs and cats get there without fault of their own, we must face the fact that there are also dogs and cats with a flawed character and/or wicked personality.
If you read my previous articles about how to select a good shelter dog and followed my advice, you should not have one of them. If not, read the articles before you pick a dog or a cat. If you already pulled the wrong dog, there is even more reason for you to avoid the next most important mistake adoptive dog parents can make.
They rescued a dog from being mistreated, abused, tortured cruelly. They saved his life. Now they want nothing more than to give her the best life possible with endless unconditional love.
What's wrong with that?
Doesn't love transcend cruelty and transform suffering?
Well, not quite with a dog. Dogs are pack animals. The pack gives them strength, protection, a home and order within a strict pack hierarchy. Everyone knows his or her place and abides by it. There is no love in our human sense in a pack – just order. A strong sense of belonging and security derives from this orderly structure.
Dogs live in the moment within their pack. What was yesterday does not count; it is today that matters.
Humans hold grudges and suffer from the pains of the past. But dogs are not little humans in furry suits. They are dogs. They behave like dogs. And they have the instincts of pack animals.
What is your biggest mistake on this first all important day? And on following days?
You picked the dog because of her cute face, his sad eyes and his injuries. You just want to love him, love her, love her to death to make up for all the pain she suffered.
Wrong.
When you bring a new dog into your pack (family or even your own single household), your new friend needs guidance. He has to learn what his proper place is in the pack order.
If you just shower him with treats, affection and pets as soon as he passes the threshold of your house and then, oh horror, even let him have free run of the house, you just made him pack leader. Now you adopted a problem! And time will not heal. It will only get worse.
Here is the correct way of bringing your new family member to the house. Here is how you introduce him to the other pack members.
Before taking her home, go for a long controlled walk. Don't let the dog run ahead of you wherever she wants to go. Don't let him pull you through the neighborhood.
Walk him under your control for at least 30 minutes or more. He should be pleasantly tired before you bring her into her new house. The dog needs this because she has been cooped up in a small kennel run for a long time without a chance of working off excess energy. Let him do that outside before you go home.
Once you get to your house do not bring him inside and let him off the leash. He will have to stay on the leash at all times for several weeks until he has learned where to stay, where not to go and when to do it.
This also makes it easier to prevent accidents. Kennel dogs may have forgotten what it means to be house broken!
On the leash you can show him the house. Lead him to his sleeping place and bed.
Do this all in a calm and self-confident manner. No excitement. No raised high pitched baby voices. The last thing you want is an excited dog with no manners.
And, please, please, do not give him treats just for being in your house. Treats must be earned – always. No exceptions. Just being there is not 'earning' something. Positive action, response to commands, calm demeanor are.
Do not let your new friend jump on furniture without being invited. Never ever and especially not when she just came into the house. Pack leaders sit on furniture – not screeching little cute dogs.
Apropos noise. Do not allow the newcomer to be a noise machine.
A knock on the door is not a good reason for a fit of hysterical barking and uncontrollable excitement.
You must, repeat must, exercise your dominant position at all times by strictly controlling your dogs environment and his behavior. Yes, it is a chore and tiring. But without it, your dog will sense your weakness and appoint himself pack leader. Then your problems really start!
If this all sounds too involved and too demanding for you, if you do not believe in strict control over your animal but would rather kiss his cute face all day long, if you feel sorry for her past sufferings and have the ardent desire to shower your dog with unconditional affection, if you believe that treats will make up for past injustice, then maybe you should consider not having a dog.
Because otherwise you will get what you asked for: A problem dog or, at best, a nuisance dog. And fewer friends.
Let's recall the first important steps in bringing a new dog to your home:
Take him for a long walk before you bring him to the house. Don't let him take you for a walk.
Keep her on a leash while introducing her to the new environment and other family members.
Keep her on a leash inside at all times for at least the first four weeks. Even longer depending on behavior.
Strictly control his life and environment from bedding over food to when and how to interact with other family members. You tell him when, where, how and what to do at all times. He follows your lead.
Make her always work first for treats and affection. They are a reward for good behavior that must be earned. No free rides. Ever.
Demonstrate and exercise your control and dominance at all times in a calm and controlled manner. Do your best not to get frustrated and angry. It will defeat your purpose.
Always go first through doors or other narrow passages. Keep your dog on your side, not on a flex leash running ahead of you and getting into everyone's way.
Most importantly, always remember the three most important actions in controlling a dog and making him a good canine citizen. In the (almost immortal) words of the Dog Whisperer:
Exercise
Discipline
Affection.
In that order, none other. It works.
I discovered it myself while rehabilitating old, aggressive longterm occupants of a rescue kennel without even knowing of the Dog Whisperer.
They represent true and proven principles.
They will also work for you.
PJJ
More to follow.
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