17/04/2025
Oh look, a black rescue dog. My favourite!
When I went to assess this little fella last night, I was happy to see his temporary carer had clipped a house leash onto his collar. This is a smart move for any dog new to your home. A leash enables you to guide the dog without having to get up close and personal. Especially helpful with skittish dogs, but I'd use it for any new dog who wasn't trained.
The majority of recently adopted dogs I'm called to help with are pushing boundaries; nipping, growling at their new owners, getting a bit too serious about food, counter surfing, guarding furniture.
This often stems from what I think of as 'too much, too soon.' With every good intention, the new owners have given their previously deprived new bestie the moon on a stick 🌛
That's lovely, but it's also overwhelming. Use management strategies to help your new pal to avoid mistakes. Use a baby gate to keep them out of the kitchen. Crate or tether them at meals times. Maybe wait until next week to take them to the dog beach 🏖️
No power on earth would compel me to repeat what I did with my first dog. She slept in our bed from day 1. She's still there, and that's fine, but it was a huge risk that I wasn't even aware of at the time.
Lastly, and this is a big one. Your new pal has just been through a cataclysmic life overhaul. You have the rest of their life to step into the role of best friend/ mentor. Don't follow them around, get in their personal space, expect them to feel the warm fuzzies you feel for them straight away. You've been planning this. They just met you. Don't be a creep.
Know what you can implement immediately?
Training 😎
