Doggone Etiquette —

The New Dog

By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:                           

No matter what your age, or your breed (or mix of breeds), or where you came from, you are now in your very own new home. And – wow – do you have a lot to learn! For starters you’d better find out right away if you have several VIPeople, or just one VIPerson, to tell you what the rules are. Are there other dogs, or maybe cats, in this home? How about kids? If there are children, you’ll need to learn exactly how to treat them so that they will also learn exactly how to treat you. This new life is all pretty confusing, but not to worry – we’ll help to smooth it over so you’ll be a happy dog and won’t be “new” for long.

A Word to the Dog’s Owner:                            

This is the time of year when many “new” dogs go into their also “new” homes so their “new” owners will have the entire summer of vacation-time for fun and good weather for outdoor housetraining. Even if the new dog is exactly the same breed as your previous dog, this one has arrived on your doorstep with its own individual personality and characteristics. May all your comparisons be favorable to the newbie!          

This new dog may not be a young puppy, so whether it is two, four, or six years of age, you need to keep in mind (24/7) that whatever its age, the dog is new to you, to your family, to your home, to your lifestyle, and your daily routine. Almost all the normal smells, sights, and sounds will be foreign to the dog and will take time for him to figure out and accept as normal. This entire scenario applies equally to the older, previously owned, adopted dog as it does to the young puppy coming into its very first home.

In fact, the older dog will have a lot of habits to unlearn as well as things to re-learn. Some things that the dog was previously taught, and previously learned, will be a super bonus, but only if they just happen to suit your way of thinking. The obstinate hang-ups or specific behaviors you don’t go along with will require patient teaching on your part to change or eliminate.           

A puppy whose first home is yours, brings with it the need for complete basic training. Housebreaking is a major hurdle and is best overcome by sticking to a strict time schedule for trips to the potty area. Fortunately, almost every young pup is adorable, cute, and appealing, thus we tend to be forgiving when they don’t catch onto our rules overnight. Both pups and new older dogs are more easily taught by the affirmative “do-it-this-way” method rather than constant negative corrections. That old adage, ‘the power of positive thinking’ works wonders with dogs.              

The adopted oldies will benefit enormously from obedience classes, and you may learn a lot from their reaction to other dogs and people who are strangers. The new young pup will have to wait until it meets certain immunization requirements before it can enter puppy kindergarten, but look into these classes as soon as you get the puppy. Both groups are as important for socializing the dogs as they are for the actual teaching and learning of basic obedience. Both also give the new owner an opportunity to get helpful advice on the spot.

Until next time—BE GOOD!

- Bardi

Bardi McLennan bred, trained and showed Welsh Terriers for 30 years, during which time she wrote a monthly column on canine behavior in Dog Fancy Magazine. In addition to contributing to numerous dog publications, she has written 15 books on dogs, the latest being Rescue Me!, which received the ASPCA Humane Issues Award in 2008.