TIPS TO HELP YOU AND YOUR DOG THROUGH THE FIRST FEW WEEKS

There are a few things you can predict when you open your home and heart to a new dog:  a little less freedom and flexibility in your schedule,  finding “droppings” or wee spots around the house in the first few days, sacrificing some personal item or belonging of value to nibbling canine teeth.  You can also expect to be entertained by, in awe of, and in love with your new dog.

Most of the behaviour problems and questions that come up in the first few weeks are easily addressed and solved.  Call me right away for advice.

Leaving your dog alone :

Teaching your dog that you are not going to abandon him when you leave him alone is not always an easy task.  Dogs who have come from shelters or from the streets are very ready to bond to you, and they usually bond rapidly, closely and deeply.  The same often holds true for the human.  People who choose to save a life by adopting a dog from a shelter usually form just as intense a bond with the dog.  So both parties can feel devastated when the time comes to leave the dog alone.  Here are some things you can do to make it easier :

a.       Be very casual about departures and arrivals.

b.       As soon as you bring your dog home, depart frequently, just step outside the house and close the door for a few seconds to teach him that you leave and return frequently.

c.       Ignore your dog completely for 20 minutes before leaving.  Just up and go.

d.       Keep the radio / TV on.

e.       Feel OK about leaving - and your dog will too.

What you need to know

The more structure and guidance you give your new dog in the first few weeks, the better he’ll adjust.  Just when you feel sorry for him and feel like over-pampering him – the kindest thing to do is to set firm, clear limits.  Lay down some rules, give him a schedule, don’t let him dictate all the interactions, let him know immediately what pleases you and what displeases you.  Teach him to ‘sit’ and ask him to sit throughout the day.  It’s a great way to speak the same language.  Your new dog will appreciate being told what to do.  He’ll feel calmer with your confidence.

Housebreaking :

You’re likely to have a few accidents the first few days, even from a housebroken dog.  Don’t let this worry you.  When your dog first arrives home, he’ll want to sniff and explore the house, and this very act of sniffing can cause your dog to have an accident. 

Clean up any messes with an enzymatic odour neutraliser.  Don’t get angry with the dog, don’t punish him.  Dogs learn very quickly where you’d prefer them to eliminate, by repetition and success.  Be patient, and be there when he goes – and REWARD him.

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS.

Positive, loving relationships with pets help children become responsible, respectful, humane and caring adults.  Children who are bitten by dogs are scarred not just physically, but emotionally as well – very often for life. 

All children, even very well behaved and well supervised children, will eventually do something to the dog relentlessly, invasively, beyond the point of what is fair and tolerable.  We want to make sure your child does not get bitten and we want your dog to be as happy with your family as your family is with your dog.

We do have an evaluation process at our shelter, but remember that we are trying to evaluate how the dog may behave in a home WHILE HE LIVES IN A KENNEL.  It is not a foolproof system.  Please take the following suggestions seriously.  They will help to keep your child safe.

1.                    Never leave a child alone with the new dog, not even for a second to turn your head and answer the phone.

2.                   No one in the family should encourage rough play or wrestling.  No one should let the dog play with his mouth on human body parts or clothes.  If an adult plays with the dog in this manner, the dog may be stimulated to play as roughly with a child, putting the child at risk of injury.

3.                   Feed the dog in an area completely protected and away from children, as much to give the dog a bit of peace and privacy, as to prevent guarding behaviours.  The dog should also be fed portions that are quickly finished so there is nothing left in the bowl for the dog to linger over and guard.  Empty bowls should be put away so that the dog can’t guard the feeding area.

4.                   Most children are not bitten by their own dog, but by a friend or neighbour’s dog.  This means two things :

a.       Watch your own dog closely when your child has company.  Many dogs will tolerate a lot from their own family’s child but not from a visiting child.  Visiting children often do not behave as well as, or behave differently from, your child and could bother or provoke your dog.

b.       If your child’s friends have dogs, you need to meet the friend’s dog before you allow your child to visit their house.  Check to see if the owner of this dog allows unsupervised interaction between children and the dog.  Unless you are sure that their dog has no possessiveness problems, insist that an adult supervise at all times when children are with the dog.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

1.                    Watch out if the dog uses his mouth in play or to move or control the child.  Any dog over five months of age should not use his mouth to play, and is probably not playing.  He may be trying to control humans with his teeth, no matter how gentle he appears to be.

2.                   Watch out if the dog cuts in between you and your child during hugging or other affectionate interactions.  This can indicate jealousy, rank aggression or guarding of you, the owner.

3.                   ‘Let sleeping dog lie’ is a saying created by someone who really knew dogs!  Teach this to your child and keep an eye on visiting children.  Never allow them to startle, wake or hug a sleeping dog.  Also, dogs by nature are grouchier and testier in the evenings and at night.  If your dog drops off into a heavy sleep in the evenings, put him in a private room so that you can prevent the possibility of the child startling or waking him.

4.                   Watch out for growling.  Dogs growl to warn us of biting.  Owners may believe that growling means the dog won’t bite.  Growling is never a vocalisation a dog makes just to ‘talk’.  Dogs don’t ‘talk’ by growling – they growl to let us know that they need help, they are warning us they are preparing to bite.  Determine carefully if the growling is only during play.  Make sure it’s mild, and make sure the games between the child and dog seem to be co-operative rather than competitive and serious.

5.                   Watch out for combinations of events like these.  Your dog may be fine if approached by your child while he is chewing on a rawhide, and, separately, your dog may be fine when approached and hugged while resting on the couch, but your dog may growl or even bite when approached by your child AND hugged while he lies on the couch chewing a bone.  Your dog may be fine being hugged by your child in general, and your dog may be fine when held by the collar and restrained from chasing the cat or bolting out the front door, but your dog may growl, snap or bite when hugged while restrained or keyed up or frustrated.

Wishing you, your family and your dog/s a long, happy and healthy relationship.

The Stellenbosch Animal Welfare
(Reg Mo. 003-316 n.p.o)

Tel :  021 886-4901 (office)