Training and Behavior
When you rescue an animal from the shelter, they come with past experiences, is coming out of the stressful shelter environment, and may not feel confident in it's new home. It is essential to be patient and take the time needed to train your new pet so they can be a successful member of your family.
Let's back up a bit. One of the most important parts of training is making sure you have chosen an animal that fits your home, family, and lifestyle. There are several things to consider:
- Be honest about your lifestyle. If you are a runner and want a pup to join you, a bulldog may not be the best option. If you work 10-14 hours a day and don't have a ton of time, a working dog would get bored and could become destructive.
- Are you financially prepared? Food, supplements, and routine vaccinations are just the basic needs of the animal. You will also need to be prepared for unexpected accidents, possible boarding costs when you go on vacation, and training expenses.
- Remember that dog's personalities vary from dog to dog not breed to breed. Not all border collies have the herding instinct and can be great family dogs. While others are working dogs and do not do well in a home. In fact, animals from the same litter can vary drastically. Make sure to work with your adoption counselor who know the animals well and can help find one with a personality that will fit your needs.
- If considering a puppy or kitten, make sure to take in the whole picture. They are cute and irresistible but they require a lot of work. You can watch them grow, learn, and become the best pets but you will be the one that needs to teach them how to be the best pet. If they don't get the appropriate training from the time they are little, they can become unruly, unmanageable, and potentially unwanted.
- They need time to adjust! Regardless of age, breed, or size you will need to give them some time, space, and empathy. Some animals may take days, weeks, or even months to feel fully comfortable, so don't force them into a situation they are not ready for (including cuddling and human attention).
1. Be Calm! Being too excited when they first come home may be overwhelming for them even though they may look excited. Additionally, if you are excited around your new friend all of the time, that is how they will see you and they won't be able to calm down around you later.
2. Take them on a tour. With the leash on, take them on a tour of the house. Let them see and smell their new environment.
3. Set clear boundaries from day one. Rules at the beginning means more freedom later. Remember, rules can always be relaxed once your new friend knows what is expected of them. Be clear and consistent with the rules to start with this will help prevent problems later.
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