|
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE NEW ARRIVAL:
If you're adopting a puppy, know that he may be frightened
when you bring him home. He’s has been taken to a strange
new place. Although everyone will want to meet and play with
the puppy, keep the initial interactions to a minimum.
Expect him to actively explore and
investigate everything. "Puppy-proof" your house (place
shoes in a closed closet, cords out of reach, clothes off
the floor).
Your adopted adult dog may present you with
some challenges. Unlike a puppy, an adult dog already comes
with some habits, good and bad. You can never know
what his life was like before, so take nothing for granted.
ADJUSTING:
The ideal life for a dog is with a family. Dogs are pack
animals who need relationships and rules to survive. Your
family has become this dog's pack, and it is important to
know where he stands. He must listen and respect the word of
everyone, even the children. All family members must know
the rules and commands for the dog and practice them
consistently.
HOUSE
TRAINING:
Patience and praise are key in house training your puppy or
dog. DO NOT hit or scream at your dog. He will learn better
from love than from fear.
Until a new puppy is house trained, confine
him to a small area, like a kitchen. Make this your puppy's
domain until he is reliably house trained.
Even an adult dog that is housetrained can
forget his training after an extended shelter stay. Confine
your new adult dog to a small area just as you would a new
puppy, until he is reliable.
If your puppy or dog sniffs the floor
excessively or circles a certain area, he probably has to go
out! Take him outside immediately.
Lead him to a designated area outside, and do
not, distract him while he sniffs around and eliminates.
Praise him when he does his "duty."
Set up a regular schedule for feeding your
dog so you can determine when he will need to eliminate.
Younger puppies are usually fed three times a day, and older
puppies and adult dogs twice a day.
Establish a routine of going outside: First
thing in the morning, when you get home from work or school,
approximately one hour after he eats, just before bedtime,
and after vigorous play or exercise. Very young puppies may
need to be taken outside as often as every two hours.
If you see your dog in the act of eliminating
in the house, say "NO" and quickly take him outside: DO NOT
RUB HIS NOSE IN HIS MESS! This is degrading and inhumane and
is not effective. Do not reprimand your dog if you did not
catch him in the act. He will only associate the punishment
with you, not with the act.
PAPER TRAINING:
Puppies that must be left alone for extended periods of time
may need to use the paper while you are away.
Keep the puppy in a confined area and place
the newspapers away from his food, water bowls and sleeping
area. (Dogs are naturally clean animals who are averse to
eliminating where they eat and sleep.) Begin with a large
area of newspapers. As your puppy begins to eliminate on the
papers, you can reduce the area.
When you come home, take your puppy outside
immediately! Do not excite your puppy before you get it
outside, or he may not be able to "hold it."
While you are home, take away the newspapers
and take your puppy outside to eliminate.
Eventually your puppy will be able to "hold
It" while you are away, and then eliminate outside when you
come home.
ACCIDENTS:
Even after house training, your dog or puppy may have an
occasional accident in the house. Don't assume you just have
a bad dog.
Ask yourself these questions:
-
Did you keep your pet on a schedule with
feeding and going outside to eliminate?
-
Did you use a pet odor neutralizer on the
spots where accidents occurred in the past, so your pet
won't be tempted to use the area again?
-
Could the accident be caused by a medical
problem? Check with your veterinarian.
OBEDIENCE TRAINING:
You wouldn't bring a new baby home from the hospital and
just "let it loose" in the house without supervision, would
you? Just like a baby, your new puppy or dog will need to
learn good doggy manners. Teach your new puppy or dog what
is acceptable behavior in your house.
Obedience training is a fun way to spend
quality time with your dog. There are many good books and
videos on obedience training, but it is also recommended
that you and your dog attend a class. A couple of good ones
in Tulsa are:
K9 Manners
and More 451.8446, Broken Arrow Pooches 398.6459, 2238
E. 56th Place
BASIC CARE:
Dogs can't be happy and healthy all by themselves -- they
need your help.
-
Help your dog stay in shape with regular
exercise, such as walks and playing fetch.
-
Brush your dog regularly - A daily
brushing will help keep your dog's skin healthy and give
him a more lustrous coat. It loosens dirt and dead hair
and keeps your pet cleaner between baths.
-
Choose an area for your pets "bed" - Use
a crate, or put down a pet bed, a pad, a rug, or
blankets. This will be his own special place.
-
Take your dog to the veterinarian for
regular check-ups and vaccinations.
-
Get an adjustable collar for a puppy.
Check it frequently and adjust it as your puppy grows.
-
Set your adult dog's collar so it is not
too tight (or too loose). You should be able to get 2
fingers between the collar and the dog's neck.
-
Get your dog and identification tag that
has the dog's name and your phone number on it.
-
Register your pet with the city.
PET SAFETY:
Here are some important safety tips to remember to keep your
pet safe:
-
Never leave your pet unattended inside a
car -- ESPECIALLY in hot weather. A car (even with the
windows open), can heat up like an oven in a matter of
minutes. Hundreds of animals die in unattended cars
every year.
-
Some plants are poisonous to your pet.
Identify toxic plants and make them inaccessible to your
pet.
-
Chocolate can be a POISON! Do not feed
your dog any amount of chocolate.
-
Bones can be DANGEROUS to a dog,
especially soft bones that splinter easily. Bones can
lodge in the dog's throat or stomach and cause fatal
punctures. Give your dog rawhide and nylon bones to
chew.
-
Do not transport your dog in the back of
a pickup truck! Hundreds of dogs are killed or injured
each year from falling out of the back of a moving
pickup truck! Even if kept in a carrier, the dog is not
protected from extremes of weather.
-
Keep your pet in a yard with a secure
fence, not by chaining or tying him up. A chain or rope
can injure the dog, and a chained dog cannot protect
itself from other animals that stray into your yard.
Chaining also creates frustration in your dog that can
lead to behavior problems like excessive barking.
-
Provide shelter for your outside dog.
Protect him from extreme weather, such as hot sun, rain,
and cold wind.
-
Make sure your dog has free access to
water...inside the house and out.
-
Walk your dog on a leash. This is for his
own safety and consideration of others.
BAD
HABITS:
Most of what owners define as "bad habits" (chewing, biting,
digging, jumping, and barking) are natural activities for a
dog. The idea is not necessarily to stop the behavior
completely, but to direct the activity to an appropriate
level.
-
Give your dog plenty of stimulation and
interaction to prevent boredom and loneliness. Some dogs
chew, bark, or dig to vent their energy and frustration.
-
Remove forbidden objects and replace with
acceptable toys and treats for your dog to chew.
-
Confine your pet in a safe place, such as
a crate, when you cannot supervise him.
-
Do not overly excite your dog so he won't
jump up, bite, or bark excessively.
-
Divert your dog's attention with another
activity, or have him sit and give you his attention.
If he
continues to have bad habits, it is in practically every
case your own fault. That is good news, because you can
correct your dog's bad behavior by improving your training
methods. But remember...changing dog’s habits is far more
difficult than training him the right way the first time.
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME:
The best place for a dog is in the midst of the family, in
contact with the people he loves and needs. You have made an
unwanted or homeless animal a chosen dog. Give your dog lots
of love and treat him as a member of the family. |
