The Coach's Corner. Simple Tips and Training Guides for Clients & Fans of the K9
Coach
Bringing Home a New Rescue Dog
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
As a new
rescue adopter, you have heard how what a rewarding experience it can be! It’s
important to keep some basic training thoughts in mind when you bring him
home. These dogs are not perfect – no dog
is. Some dogs will be effortless to fit
in your family, while others may be more of a challenge.
A good foster
program not only provides love, shelter and medical care for a rescued dog,
the foster will have provided some basic training, a healthy home environment,
and some fundamental training & boundaries.
The foster parent will do a thorough transition discussion with you
regarding the dog. The application
process should help in making a good match between you & the dog.
It’s your
job now to become the leader. You will need to continue training, boundaries and discipline for the life of this
dog. If you have adopted from a shelter, your dog may have had no training at all.
The things you do beginning Day 1,
will create the foundation for success. You have to create the bond of trust, respect and leadership (this is not about dominance).
If new issues begin to arise, the sooner you address them the
better. If you are uncertain about a
behavior – please get help.
We all want
to love these rescues and give them a better life. But that does not mean spoiling them rotten
or letting them get away with everything because they have never been
loved. You will show your love for them
more if you create boundaries and discipline along with lots of TLC. As a new adopter, there are some things you
can do to influence success.
Be patient
and realize training and evaluations take time & effort. Puppies can more
quickly overcome poor manners, but an adult dog might actually take many months
of training, reconditioning & positive reinforcement to master these
skills, and much of the success will depend on you as the handler and the
environment you create. Every positive experience
you create for them today, and every negative one you prevent helps set them up
for success.
Now, get out
the treats and start rewarding all the positive things you want to reinforce
and keep him doing.
Some *Suggestions*
from The K9 Coach Include:
1.
Introduce
them to your pack slowly one at a time and on neutral turf such as the front
yard with everyone on leash. Don't just open the front door or the fence gate
and let the go. This may take you a few days to manage introductions & have
safe boundaries for everyone to sniff and smell before they greet directly.
2.
Take
time each day to do some basic training. 10 - 15 minutes three times a day goes
a long way. Work with a leash and lots
of treats on Sit, Come, Heel and Wait (for doors, food etc). Down is much
harder and often stressful for the dog, so get the others mastered first even
if it takes you several weeks to master them one at a time. A dog with trust
issues or fear may be much harder to teach -- so go slower with these dogs.
3.
Watch
for and learn the signals the dog is giving you -- and he will in most cases
give you an indication of his stress, fear, or attitude. Knowing those signals
can help you solve many problems before they escalate. And remember, not all
indicators are bad. In fact, it's better to be warned, than not be warned at
all and a fight or bite occurs.
4.
Consider
some quite time each day in their crate/x-pen, with time to come out and
play/train with you. Play can be training too. Have time that your own dogs are
out with you alone without the new foster/adoptee. Just take it slow and give
everyone some time and attention to acclimate.
5.
Always
be careful reaching for their collar as a correction, or to move them from the
couch (which he shouldn't be on yet anyway). Consider a leash vs direct hand to
collar corrections until you are confident in his behavior. Remember – when he gives you the behavior you
do want – give a small treat and lots praise.
6.
It
is as important to train children (and some adults) about respecting the dog,
his personal space, his resources (toys & food), his size, etc as it is for
you to train the dog about respecting the kids. Visitors may not be as savvy as your own
family, so never leave them unsupervised.
If necessary, put the Dane in his crate during play-dates.
7.
Don't
let them on the furniture right away. They may begin to guard it and you. Give
them a nice cozy, safe place of their own.
If they are guarding you or the kids, from others – a sharp correction,
and temporary removal from the presence of the person or thing he’s guarding is
a good start.
8.
Begin
early teaching that food from the table or during meal preparation is not going
to happen. It just reinforces counter surfing and begging. Send them to their
"place" or crate during meal times. Once they are more trustworthy,
begin setting boundaries to keep them out of the kitchen or dining room during
meal time. This may also mean the kids can't eat on the coffee table, unless
he's very well trained to stay in place while they eat.
9.
Avoid
resource guarding -- teach them to wait for their food, and do some
hand-feeding. If you feel comfortable, see if you can remove the bowl and give
them something of greater value while you do so. He's not going to understand
if you just take his bowl mid-meal.
10.
Work
on the "leave it" command, by asking them to give up some toy or bone
by giving them a much greater value treat or toy, then giving the object back.
They need to learn that it's ok to give up something they like when you ask. It
just might be your shoe or your kids favorite toy.
11.
Don't
entertain guests or take them on outings for the first 2-3 weeks. We know you
want to show them off, but you need to bond, and gain some experience with the
new pack member. When you do take them out or have people over -- do not leave
them unsupervised. Manage their environment, the energy present, and the
greetings by others (human and dogs, and especially kids). If any indications
of fear are present, give him some space & distance from the greeter. Teach your guests and your family to respect
boundaries with the new dog.
12.
When
you finally do have guest over – ask them to give your dog a treat or two. Even if it’s to gently toss the treat in his
direction. Do this every time they come
over (for a few months) – it teaches them visitors mean I get some yummy
treats! You may need to have him crated
for the first few visits, sit quietly by the door, on a “place” in the living
room away from the door, before they enter, etc. The foster can tell you what has worked for
them in their home.
Dana Brigman
The K9 Coach
Dog Training - Matthews, NC
980-339-8064
www.thek9-coach.com
info@thek9-coach.com
Follow us On
The K9 Coach is a Professional Certified Dog Trainer Serving Charlotte, NC, Matthews, NC and surrounding areas.
My mission is a better life for dogs as members of a forever family.
My goal is create training solutions for the home owner, to rehabilitate dogs from shelters and rescues, and to prevent dogs from dying alone as strays or owner surrenders in shelters due to unnecessary aggression or behavioral issues.
Begin training with a consult with a professional trainer to be sure you're solving the right problem. Misdiagnosis can make the matters worse. Be sure that there are no medical issues at play and that your dog is not in pain, as pain can be a contributor to a new display of aggression. If you have any fear or uncertainty -- do not attempt the techniques without professional supervision.
**************************************************************************
