What Your New Rescue Dog Wants You to Know

Adopting a dog can be one of the most magical and heartwarming experiences. You do something good and help out an animal in need and you have the chance for a friendship like no other. However, this does need to be handled with care. So I have some tips for adopters that can help you get off to the right start.

• Tip 1, Don’t Assume Your Dog Knows Anything

• Training

Don't assume that your dog has any training mastered or basic command knowledge. Even if the dog did learn to "sit" or "stay" in their former life, their previous owner may have used a different cue and signal than you. If you treat your rescue dog like they are a blank canvas you setting both of you up for success and it will take some pressure off of your dog, making it easier for them to settle in and succeed.

• Housebreaking

When you adopt your dog, you may be told that they are housebroken, and they may be, BUT they may not take that skill to their new home. Dogs are poor at generalization, so just because they knew not to potty in the house at their foster home or in the shelter doesn't mean that they know it means your home too. On the flip side, they may not have ever been truly housebroken but didn't want to soil their pen in the shelter or risk upsetting their foster parent. OR, they may be so nervous when you first bring them home that they need a few weeks to settle in and know that their new home is a safe place and they don't have to pee out of fear or submission. Go back to housebreaking basics, use a crate (not a punishment, they can help dogs feel safe), and have your dog wear a leash (this is so that if they start to go somewhere they shouldn't you can gently and easily lead them away and if they start to have an accident in the house you can swiftly take them outside and not waste precious time finding a leash) when they are out and only let them out of the crate AFTER they have had a successful trip to the yard. Remember to keep your cool and never punish your dog for having an accident. If they do have one and you watch them, mark that EXACT moment with a calm but firm "ah-ah, no" and take them out. If you find it later don't bring the dog back, they won't know what they did wrong, dogs live in the moment and you will break trust with your new dog. Trust is the most important part of your relationship.

• Name

For whatever reason, humans think that when we name our dog our dog will just magically know it and respond to it. But that is not the case.

• Rules of the house

Every country, county, city, and home has different rules and cultures. We have different rhythms and preferences. Some pet parents love it when their dog sits with them on the furniture others don't like dogs on the sofa. When our dogs move in they not only have to learn where everything is in the home, but what the culture and rules are for the home. Be patient, your dog wants to learn these things, so give them time if they don't seem to settle in at first.

• Tip 2, Give Your Dog Time

• 3-3-3 Rule - The honeymoon period or fear period

It is said that dogs need three days to decompress, three weeks to learn about you and your home, and three months to feel at home. Your dog may need less time, or your dog may need more time. The point is that it is going to take time. Give them that time, don't pressure them, it will not speed up the process. Your goal needs to be building trust with your dog, getting to know them, and letting them get to know the best version of you.

• Copper's Story

Copper with my mom's dog, Gracie. Both have passed over the Rainbow Bridge.

Copper was my first personal dog, and he was a rescue. He was this cute, quirky, tan and white, Pocket Beagle who was surrendered to a shelter because he would not hunt. My family was shopping at a local strip mall and a rescue had an adoption fair going on outside one of the stores. My dad fell in love with Copper. My parents adopted him the same day to be my dad's dog. My parents love dogs and are good dog owners, but they didn't know to give Copper and our family dog, Texas, a chance to get to know each other and to let Copper decompress. Two days into Copper being at home with us my dad, who is soft-hearted, 6' 3" tall, with a loud voice, scolded Texas for curling her lip at Copper for being too close to her. That moment broke Copper's trust in my dad. My dad was trying to help Copper find his place in our home, but the way he did it scared Copper so much that it altered their relationship forever. Copper gravitated toward me over the years and he became my dog. I had represented safety for him and I was able to get him to be less afraid of my dad, other men, and thunderstorms. I look back and can see the many accidental mistakes that my family made in how we brought Copper home, and if we had known better, he probably would have truly been my dad's dog instead of becoming my dog. One of the biggest is not knowing how to let him settle in and doing things to build trust.

• Use Resources

There are many more in-depth blogs, books, and YouTube videos. Some of my favorites are: McCann Dogs, Lucky Dog Lessons by Brandon McMillan, Doggie Language by Lili Chin, Rescue Dogs 101, and then I have a training journal that is designed for Service Dog training but the truth is that anyone can use it. My journal has a checklist of what every dog should learn and has a glossary with dog training terms. It also has weekly goals and reflection pages, as well as a custom command key. Learn more here.

• Tip 3, Learn All You Can About Your Dog

• Their History

Rescuing a dog, you may never know their whole story, but every detail you can pick up will give you a clue into what your dog's previous life may have been like. Your dog may not have been abused, but if they lived on the streets for a period of time they may have developed a few fears that helped them to survive. If they were surrendered knowing why can help you with what to expect of your dog. Phrases like "untrainable", "stubborn, or "owner couldn't handle" could mean that the previous owners didn't learn what motivates the dog to learn and that set them up for failure. If the dog is under 2 years of age, there is a good chance that the dog was just going through adolescence, and needed patience, time, and help from a trainer.

• Their Breeding

Every breed of dog is bred with a purpose, and some breeds, like Golden Retrievers, have different breeding lines bred for different purposes. Knowing what tendencies, traits, and what makes your dog tick can help you to meet their needs, build a better bond, and help you know how to train them. Husky, no shocker that they won't want to come inside when it snows or pulls on the leash! Your Corgi nipping your heels and herding your children? No shock, those behaviors are 100% to be expected. Why? Their breeding! Corgis are a heeling herding breed, so they will "heel" (nip the heel) and herd. Siberian Huskies are sled dogs, they are built for the cold and love to pull those sleds. If your dog is a mutt, don't despair, there are DNA kits that can help you learn their breeding. Many DNA kits can also reveal potential health markers that your dog has, this information is priceless because you and your vet can do preventative care and extend the comfort and life of your dog.

*Note, your dog's breeding is not an excuse for you to let your dog have bad behaviors, you still have a responsibility to train your dog, and all dogs can be trained, you just need to cater the training to your dog.*

• Their preferences

Take time and pay attention to your dog's preferences, temperature, food, rewards, toys, how they show affection, how they receive affection, etc. Your dog's personality, breeding, life experiences, energy level, and tastes are going to be what make your dog unique and special and determine what your dog's preferences are going to be. Understanding your dog and what they like and don't like is going to earn you big points in their eyes and will help you earn not only their affection but their trust. Trust is the greatest thing that dogs can give us, and when you rescue a dog and you earn their trust you haven't just rescued their body but you have rescued their soul.

• Tip 4, Train your dog

• Train them to their name

If you could teach your dog to look at you every time you say their name, would you do it? I learned the power of teaching my dogs their name before we got our dog, Joy, and it has been the greatest gift. I did not know to do this with Hannah, one of our other dogs who I got 6 months before Joy, and of my three current dogs, she has the lowest response to name. But, I still did take time to go back and teach her name. How? I said, "Hannah" with her looking at me and I gave her a treat. Then I repeated it. Then I would randomly call out when she wasn't looking at me and when she turned and looked I would give her a treat. Now all of my dogs will come running from across the house if they hear me say their name. I also try to never say their name in anger or frustration. Their names only mean "good things happen". You can watch this video here for more on that.

• To the rules of the house

Do you want your dog to be allowed on furniture? Is there an off-limits room? Housebreaking? No begging? Your dog should be taught the rules of your house in a fair, plain (for dogs), and compassionate way. Dogs are brilliant animals, and they are studying you and their new environment, and the truth is, THEY LOVE RULES. They want to know what they are. But be warned, if you fail to have clear-cut rules, are inconsistent with enforcing them or how you enforce them, or if you have unfair expectations for rules that your dog cannot follow they will decide to create their own rules and will try to have you follow them. While this is sometimes cute, like a dog wanting their family to go to bed at a certain time every night, for some dogs this can escalate into unwanted behaviors like nipping and herding children to go to bed because the dog "says" it's bedtimes. Dogs want to know that they can trust you to take care of them and the house, and if you have clear-cut rules for them to follow, this makes them feel safe. Be a good leader for your dog, they want that from you. And it doesn't have to be confrontational and ugly, in fact, it should not be. McCann Dogs has this great video here where you can learn more about how to be a good leader for your dog.

• How to be handled safely for vet care and grooming

Dogs often don't like to be brushed, have their ears touched, their nails clipped, their teeth checked, and more. We have to teach them that it is okay, for some dogs this can be taught in a few weeks with positive association training. However, some dogs will take years to truly get comfortable with it, others may never. However, taking the time to train your dog will help them be less stressed with vet care and grooming.

• General Manners

We want our dogs to be happy and polite, which means not greeting a visitor at the door by jumping on them. Or, not dragging us down the street when we take them for walks. (I understand that there is some debate on what good leash walking skills are, but the goal should be to keep your dog, you, and anyone around you safe as you walk.) Other good manners would be your dog not taking food from your child's hands. The point of training good manners is not to strip your dog of their personality and joy, but to make sure that they are safe and safe to be around. And a polite dog is usually a safer dog.

I hope that this helps you and your new dog to have a bright and beautiful together.

Thanks for sticking with me; we got this.

~Jena

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