Attention NEW Pet Parents and Fosters
If you have other dogs or children in your home, you should take steps to help your new companion to adjust to his/her surroundings. The dog is going to be scared, nervous and unsure of its new surroundings. Especially if the dog comes from an unstable situation. (For example a shelter, boarding facility or off the streets). A Lot of dogs are unsure of what's going on and it takes them time to learn to adjust and feel safe again. The best way to do this is to introduce your dogs together in the front yard or neutral territory first. NOT inside the home. When you all do go into the home, allow the new dog to enter first before the other dogs. It is best to keep the dogs separated for the time being until the new dog adjusts to its surroundings and begins to feel safe. A dog that has lived off the streets or is starving, will fight for food. If another dog or person comes around, they may bite. This does not make the dog aggressive. This is an unstable dog that is hungry and use to fighting for his food. Give him time, he should adjust within a few months.
So keep the dog separate from other pets and children. Allow play time one-on-one with each pet and/or child separately. Let them get to know one another. Do this with each pet or small child until the dog is very comfortable in its new home. It takes approximately a minimum of 21 days (up to 6 months) for a new pet to adjust. I say it takes a lot longer and it depends on each dog.
So keep the dog separate from other pets and children. Allow play time one-on-one with each pet and/or child separately. Let them get to know one another. Do this with each pet or small child until the dog is very comfortable in its new home. It takes approximately a minimum of 21 days (up to 6 months) for a new pet to adjust. I say it takes a lot longer and it depends on each dog.
If a dog is injured or in pain, or ill; they will bite. It is in their nature to protect themselves from any more pain or being prey to others. So keep other pets and children clear of any ill dogs or a dog thats in pain.
So this is for fosters or new pet parents taking in a new dog and you have other pets in the home. Take these steps to ensure that your new dog adjusts and becomes a happy and relaxed dog. Time and patience is extremely important.
So this is for fosters or new pet parents taking in a new dog and you have other pets in the home. Take these steps to ensure that your new dog adjusts and becomes a happy and relaxed dog. Time and patience is extremely important.
- Give the new dog alot of space
- Keep loud noises to a minimum
- Keep children away from the new dog
- Do not bring in strangers into the home to pet the dog
- Feed the dog in a separate part of the home away from others
- Do not crowd the new dog, let the dog come to you
- Give the dog a space away from or a crate to come and go as he/she pleases for quiet time alone
- Never leave the new dog alone without supervision not even for a moment.
You don't know what sort of trauma a dog may have been through in his/her past life. So give him/her time to adjust and to learn that he/she is safe, loved and being fed without the feeling of having to fight for food. Slowly introduce your new dog into your family. If you follow these few rules, your odds of a disagreement between two dogs greatly reduces.
And just know, that even if you follow all of these steps, you may still have disagreements. Usually they are small ones and no one gets injured. But always keep an eye on any dogs when you have more than one. Disagreements do happen from time to time even with the best behaved dogs. This is why it is always important to get to know your dogs VERY well. Learn their temperament, and know what restrictions you must put upon them when they don't behave properly. You are the one in charge. Don't let them take charge of you. Be firm and assertive in your training. Find a trainer to help you learn how to teach your dog what you want it to do and not do. Dogs are always willing to listen. You just need to know how to talk to them in dog language. Good Luck!
Also note, when you get a new pet, they are getting overloaded with vaccines, surgeries and medications. ALL of these can and have caused aggression and mood swings. It may go on for months. So always be aware of what goes into your pets body; foods included.
© Holistic And Organix Pet Shoppe
And just know, that even if you follow all of these steps, you may still have disagreements. Usually they are small ones and no one gets injured. But always keep an eye on any dogs when you have more than one. Disagreements do happen from time to time even with the best behaved dogs. This is why it is always important to get to know your dogs VERY well. Learn their temperament, and know what restrictions you must put upon them when they don't behave properly. You are the one in charge. Don't let them take charge of you. Be firm and assertive in your training. Find a trainer to help you learn how to teach your dog what you want it to do and not do. Dogs are always willing to listen. You just need to know how to talk to them in dog language. Good Luck!
Also note, when you get a new pet, they are getting overloaded with vaccines, surgeries and medications. ALL of these can and have caused aggression and mood swings. It may go on for months. So always be aware of what goes into your pets body; foods included.
© Holistic And Organix Pet Shoppe
