It is one of the most exciting times in a pet owner's life, the time when they bring a new dog into their home. As exciting and happy of a time as this can be it can also bring some stressful situations both for you and for the new dog. There are several things that could cause problems right from the start when you bring a new dog into your home. The stress of bringing a puppy out of its environment and placing it into someplace new can be quite large. That is why you must treat this situation very carefully so that you and your new dog can get your relationship off to a good start. What are some of the things that you should keep in mind when bringing a new dog into the house?
The first thing that you should consider is the kind of environment that you are introducing to the new dog. For example, if you have another dog that has been at your house for quite some time, then you need to consider the possibility that your old dog may have a problem adjusting to the presence of the new dog. If it becomes difficult to have the new dog around your old dog then you might need to take the time to socialize them slowly. Forcing a new dog on an old dog that is used to being the only one in the house can cause problems that will last the entire time that they live together. That is why it is so important to treat the situation properly from the start.
Some of the main problems will occur if you are bringing a new male dog in with an existing male dog. The same will be true, and it might even be worse, if you are bringing a female in with a female. Spaying or neutering your dog or dogs will help curb some of this aggressive behavior. The problem is generally not as pronounced if you have both a male and a female dog but obviously that could cause some problems of its own. Make sure that you don't end up with an unwanted litter of pups by having one or both of the dogs fixed.
Generally speaking a new, younger dog will recognize the authority of the existing dog. There are times, however, that this may not be the case. For example, if you bring an aggressive breed dog into a house with a dog that is very submissive the new dog may try to establish his superiority immediately. Just use common sense and try to choose wisely so that these problems don't occur.
Bringing a new dog into the house can be a joyous event. Unfortunately, for the dog it is often a stressful time as they learn to live in their new environment and establish themselves in the pack. Make sure that you do everything possible to make it as comfortable for your new pet as you can. By doing this both you and your new dog will adjust happily to your new relationship.
"Ok, here is my story. I found my dog off the Internet. A website called "HeartBandits" for American Eskimos, which by the way is where I purchased your book. [To read about the book she's talking about, go to: http://www.dogproblems.com/secretsbook.htm]
Anyway, the lady that rescued her said that she might have been abused and that she was shy of men but loved women and children. When I get her home, I find out she loves my husband, adores my daughter, but will have nothing to do with me! At first she growled, but I stood up to her and she stopped, but she runs off to my husband or daughter whenever I come around. When I have her on a leash, it is a whole different story.
She will do whatever I tell her to do, but she acts like she is still afraid of me. Is there some advice you can give me on how to bond? I have tried the things that you have suggested in the book. I have held my posture correctly and have used high pitch tones when calling her to me, but she will not come. Not even for a treat. When I pet her and rub on her she just sits there with her ears down like she hates being touched (by me). Please help!
Deborah
Dear Deborah,
Thanks for the question.
There is a simple answer to your question: Time and training.
The more time you spend with your dog, the more she will bond with you. And the more time you spend TRAINING obedience exercises with your dog, the more you will develop a proper relationship with your new pet. This will also work to speed the bonding process.
When I owned South Bay K-9 Academy for six years, it was very common to work with a dog for a few minutes and then have it respond as if the dog HAD BEEN MINE for years, when in fact the owners had been with the dog for several months.
It's been my experience that most new dogs will take roughly 3 weeks to bond with a new owner. Be patient.
The more time and training you invest in your dog, the more your dog will bond to you and love you.
Both Andrew Kasch & Adam Katz are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.