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Rhode Island Monthly /  September 2009 /  Animal House /  Homeward Bound

Homeward Bound

Heidi Palmer McNeil, a certified dog trainer and owner of Pooch Pawsitive Dog Training, offers her advice on ten things you should know before you roll out the doggie welcome mat.




1. The first day
You should plan to be around a lot during the first few days to get walks, feeding and potty breaks on a schedule. This is especially true for puppies.
Supervise your dog (keep him on a leash) and let him sniff around the house but don’t let him have free run just yet. Make sure that your dog gets some quiet time. It can be exhausting to go to a new home, meet new people, eat new food and smell new smells.
 

2. Making him feel welcome
The first few days can be stressful for a new dog. Have a blanket, a stuffed Kong to chew on and a safe place for him to go (like a crate) if he’s feeling stressed. Soft classical music has also been known to have a soothing effect.
If you have a new puppy, a hot water bottle can mimic the warmth of his littermates.


3. Introductions: Your kids
Keep the introductions low key and calm. Ask the kids to sit quietly on the floor, let the dog come over at his own pace and have the kids give the dog a treat so that he associates good things with meeting children. Repeat this several times.
All children should be taught how to gently pet the dog, hug him gently, hold him quietly and support his body, and not pull on the tail, hit the dog’s head or pull on the ears.


4. Introductions: Your other dog
Before you add a second dog to your household, make sure your current dog has been well socialized and actually likes other dogs.
Once you’ve made a decision to get another dog, arrange to meet the new dog at a neutral location. Start them on leash and walk them towards one other. When you get close enough (and the dogs are calm) let them sniff each other for a second and continue walking by. Repeat this a few times. Once you are seeing friendly dog body language you can drop the leash and let them sniff each other and play. At this point you can usually walk them both home and into the house.


5. Introductions: Your cat
Keep the dog and cat separate for several days and let them get used to each other’s presence and smell in the house.
When you are ready to introduce them, make sure that the dog is a bit tired so he doesn’t have as much energy to chase. Have one person pick up the cat, and another person pick up the dog and hold them close to each other so that they can sniff. Do this briefly and then separate them. Repeat this a few times.
Teach your dog cues such as “leave it” and “come” so that you can control your dog’s interactions around the cat.

6. Training Techniques
The most current, science-based methods use positive reinforcement and reward-based training, like clicker training. Positive reinforcement training methods are recommended by veterinarians, the Humane Society, the SPCA and the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior.

Coercive or dominance based training methods that use prong collars, choke chains and electric collars are simply not a necessary part of training.
It is important to make sure that the trainer you are working with is educated through a dog training school and nationally certified. Interview the trainer about his or her credentials and observe a class.


7. Sleeping Arrangements
Once the dog is fully housetrained, you can make a decision as to where your dog should sleep. There’s no science that says one way is better. It depends on the dog and the owner. If the owner wants to let their dog sleep with them, I say fine. 


8. Crating
In the wild, dogs live in dens. They eat and sleep there. They always want to leave the den to go to the bathroom, which is why using crates for housetraining is so effective. Dogs learn to ‘hold it’ while they are in their crate and not go to the bathroom where they sleep.
A crate can be a safe place for dogs to hang out. If you have a busy household, it gives your dog a safe place to escape to. It’s also a good idea to get your dog used to a crate because he will most likely be in one if he stays overnight at the vet or visits a groomer.   

 
9. Exercise
It’s certainly more convenient when you have a fenced yard to just ‘let the dog out.’ However, dogs that have a yard often just wander around and investigate, but don’t get enough vigorous aerobic exercise. Adolescent dogs, in particular, need lots of exercise so that they get tired (and not into trouble). You should walk your dog for at least thirty minutes a day.


10. Feeding
Get your dog on a schedule. When puppies are little, they should be fed three times a day. When they start not eating the middle meal, eliminate it.  
With housetraining, you want to know when your dog ate so that you can better predict when he has ‘to go.’ Give your dog about twenty minutes to eat his meal, then take it away. Dogs learn pretty quickly that they should eat when food is available.

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