Adopting A Shelter Dog(2) – The biggest mistakes people make.
By PJJ
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 drive 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 his proper place in the pack and its pecking order.
If you just shower him with treats, affection and endless pets and favors 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 not a dog! And time will not heal. It will only get worse.
Here is the correct way of bringing your new family member to the house and 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.
Take charge! How?
Ever watched a dog show on television? Did you notice that all dog handlers have a fine leash with a loop at the end. The loop is always right behind the ears and the jawline of the dog, The handler holds it straight upwards and under slight tension so that it cannot slip down the neckline of the animal. This thin, flexible leash is not just for decoration or to improve a dog's posture. The fine leash and its position on the neck of the dog gives a handler the best control over his dog.
When you have the leash properly positioned, proceed to the next step: Make the dog sit.
This can be a little tricky if the dog does not know what you want from her because he was never conditioned to sit on command.
Pull the leash gently upwards, step closer towards the dog, holding a treat above his head, out of his reach. He will naturally look upwards at the treat and follow it as you move closer in. This makes him sit naturally – at least some of the time. If he does not get it, you can help a little by gently pushing his hindquarters down.
The first time it might not be easy. In fact, it can be time consuming. Your patience and persistence will most likely be put to a test. But eventually you will succeed.
Then praise the dog, give him the treat and repeat the procedure.
You can also take a shortcut to power walking – but only for the first time.
Position the leash as indicated above. Try to make the dog stand on your side. It does really not matter which side. Only dogmatic dog trainers, especially those training for Schutzhund, make a big issue out of having the dog walk on your left. He does not have to stand in a perfect 'heel' position.
Remember, it is your first attempt at walking your dog – and not your dog walking you! We are not at a dog obedience class right now.
Once she somehow stands next to you without attempting to propel you to somewhere, you can walk him under your control for at least 30 minutes or more. Do not allow the dog to pull ahead of you. Use the well positioned leash for correction. In addition, stop walking as soon as the dog pulls you forward. Do not budge. Wait until the dog stops pulling on the leash, then walk again. Stop as soon as he resumes pulling. He will eventually get it: Pulling means that he goes nowhere!
Your budding friend 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.
When 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. It is easier to catch a dog when he wears a leash, especially a small dog. They are fast and notoriously hard to catch.
The leash 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 in your house 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. Not is the cat on the hot tin roof!
You must, repeat must, exercise your dominant position at all times by strictly controlling your dog's 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 reconsider having a dog.
No, let me be direct: Then you should not have 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, quality time with you and affection. They are a rewards 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 them myself while rehabilitating old, aggressive longterm occupants of a rescue kennel without knowing that a Dog Whisperer even existed.
They represent true and proven principles.
They will also work for you.
The biggest challenge to overcome are not issues your new companion may have, but to resist your urge to feel sorry for him and your desire to make up for his past sufferings with leniency, love, affection and lots of favors and treats.
There is a time to sow and a time to reap .
As you now sow physical exercise and mental discipline into the fertile mind of your new charge, so you will reap thousandfold her loyalty, her desire to please you at all times. She will repay you for your own discipline with her dedication to you and affection for you. For as long as she shares your life.