A Note From Our Adoption Attendant

Bringing home a new dog is wildly exciting for any family. Every dog and experience is different, so it is important to be prepared for any and all situations that could occur. It is most crucial to remember to give your new furry friend space, take every new experience slowly, and give him or her plenty of time to adjust. If you do your research and follow these guidelines carefully, you will surely earn one of the most rewarding experiences anyone can ask for: a loyal and loving companion.

At DAWG, we highly recommend giving your new dog limited reign of your home. This could mean crating your dog for periods of time, confining them to just one area inside of your house, or restricting their access to furniture. This, coupled with plenty of exercise, toys and enrichment, and opportunities to use the facilities outdoors (with rewards when used correctly) will greatly decrease the likelihood of accidents and destructive behavior.

Even though we take every precaution to thoroughly introduce your new DAWG to every member of your family, it is important to take every introduction slowly and proceed with caution. Coming into a new home is overwhelming for every critter, especially one that doesn’t understand your language! Every person that enters your home should be aware to not bombard your DAWG with eye contact and reaching hands. Every new dog needs to be introduced bottom to nose before nose-to-nose and carefully monitored in the first few hours and days. Dogs should be fed separately and should never be faced with the possibility of fighting over resources.

When introducing your DAWG to cats, you should give them both a “safe place” to escape and allow them to sniff each other and be in each other’s presence in a non-threatening way. This could mean crating one of them, confining one to a room and then rotating, or whatever you find most effective. Remember, the experts say the best way to teach your dog not to chase your cat is to teach your cat not to run.

Most importantly, it is crucial to remember that everything takes time. Your newest addition may hesitate to eat or come out of their shell for a few days. They may have accidents, chew up your favorite flip-flops, or show too much interest in your cat. If you give your furry friend the time to adjust and provide the correct reinforcement and training they will learn to respect and love you. It is possible the adjustment may take 30, 60, or even 90 days (or more), but the next rewarding years will far outweigh any obstacles you have in the first few months.

If you have any questions or concerns at all, two hours or two years from the time of adoption, please feel free to contact me via e-mail at adopt@sbdawg.org. I wish you the best of luck and many years of happiness and slobbery kisses!

Emily Grossheider
Adoption Attendant

P.S. Professional training is generally the best option, however there are plenty of online resources that are extremely valuable which explain even the most puzzling dog behaviors.