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Preparing For Your New Dog By Judit Arroyo
Welcoming a new dog into the family is always exciting but it can be stressful
and overwhelming as well. Whether you’re expecting
a new puppy or rescuing
an older dog it pays to prepare for your new family member. I have recently
come to the conclusion that I am ready for my second dog now that, Puffy, my Australian
Shepherd mix, is 8 years old. In the following article, I share with you how I’m
planning for my new puppy. Remember – a little planning now will be a huge
benefit in the long run!
Dog Crates & Pet Gates Are Structures For Success
There are a few “must have” items every dog and dog owner needs. Whether
or not you’ll be getting a pet dog (like must of us) or you plan to compete
with your dog in sports like agility or obedience, you won’t want to be
without a dog
crate and a dog
gate. Crates and gates are indispensable management tools I use to prevent
and minimize problems. I often find my training clients are hesitant to change
things in their homes, but having a dog is a big commitment and some things that
work in your current lifestyle, may not be suitable for life with your new dog.
By utilizing management tools like dog crates and pet gates, we are able to give
our new pets 100% of our attention and nothing less.
Because dogs and puppies don’t come to us programmed with the necessary
information on how to live in human homes I always structure my household for
success! Crates and gates help you keep your dog out of harm’s way, and
crate
training a dog is not as hard as you would expect. When bringing any new dog
into a household, adequate supervision is crucial. I don't want my dog rehearsing
bad habits like peeing on the carpet when I’m not looking or chewing my
new shoes. So, when I can’t keep my eye on Fido, I use my crate or gate
to make sure he’s safe. A crate is also the best way to house train puppies
and even adult dogs who’ve never learned. I want my dog to develop good
habits and management tools help me to teach my dog how to succeed in her new
home.
Dog
Tags Are Absolutely Essential
In addition to crates and gates, all dogs need appropriate dog
collars with dog
ID tags and at least one dog
leash. I prefer having two leashes for my dog. The first leash is for walks.
The second is a long
line training leash that I use to train essential behaviors like “Come”
and “Leave It”. Long lines can be worn indoors and outdoors. When
your dog is wearing a long line, you can easily encourage her to come to you by
calling her name, gently reeling in the leash and then offering a tasty reward.
Similarly, teaching the “Leave It” cue is made much simpler by using
a long line because you are able to stop your dog by standing on the leash and
then trading the object that your dog has gotten a hold of (shoes, socks, TV dinners!)
for something more appropriate like his favorite treat.
Dog Treats & Dog Toys - Hooray!
Which brings me to my third category of essential items – dog treats and
dog toys. Depending on your dog’s “personality” you can use
dog treats
and/or dog
toys to train basic and advanced behaviors. Most puppies and adult dogs are
easily motivated by food, but for some, a tennis ball or squeaky toy will work
better. You’ll know within the first few days whether or not your dog has
a strong food drive or a strong toy drive (or both!) When you determine what motivates
your dog be sure to stock up. I like small, easy-to-chew dog
training treats treats for training purposes (like Charlee
Bears). I look for treats that are healthy and relatively low in calories
because it’s important to spend at least 15 minutes training your dog each
and every day.
I also try to incorporate dog toys into my training routine, and I prefer soft,
squeaky plush
dog toys like Berber Babies. Toys are a great training tool. They can be used
to teach things like bite inhibition, “Drop It”, and “Fetch”.
For example, we all know puppies
love to chew on anything and everything. I prefer to have my puppy chew on
a toy rather than on my hand or my new shoes. You may be surprised to learn that
you can also teach
your dog to fetch. While some dogs are born with the drive to retrieve even
lap dogs can become excellent fetchers with training games.
By stocking up on essential items and being prepared you can make the experience
of bringing home a new dog a positive and productive one. Furthermore, with the
right tools you can turn anytime into training time and the best part is your
dog will think of it as PLAY TIME! Not only will you be giving your puppy (or
adult dog) a head start but you’ll enhance your relationship by creating
a bond and facilitating your dog’s need for stimulation and interaction.
Ms. Arroyo is a professional dog trainer in Chicago, Illinois. She recently
earned her BA from DePaul University and is active in community outreach programs
including Chicago Canine Rescue (CCR), New Leash on Life (NLOL) and has led fundraising
efforts for Cook County Animal Care & Control. Judit serves as a Program Leader
for Sit Stay Read! and is currently developing their dog training program.
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