Thinking of bringing home a new dog? How should you prepare yourself? Whether you bring home a pup, an adolescent or an adult, dogs do not come already knowing how to behave appropriately around humans. It is up to the new owner to educate themselves on common behaviours, canine learning and communication as well as how dogs are emotionally wired.
Prepare for the worst and HOPE for the best…this is the best advice I can give you. Expect that your new dog is not house-trained, will jump, playfully nip, and pull on his leash. These behaviours are all part of your pup’s normal healthy learning pattern. Between pups, jumping and mouthing is generally always acceptable to some degree as part of normal dog-dog communication. It is up to us to teach them how to safely play and communicate with humans.
What training methods will set a healthy relationship between you and your dog? Our canine companions are best at learning what actions will result in positive events such as food rewards, verbal praise or physical touch attention. They are also great at making associations between occurrences that happen simultaneously. This means that however we chose to react to a given situation, positive or negative, it is the action that our dog will learn to associate with whatever it is we are reacting to. For example, with a dog who barks at other dogs on a walk, we can chose to teach him that other dogs = pain or we can chose to teach him that other dogs = fun & food! Needless to say, the latter example sounds much nicer and more positive. Now with a common ‘puppy behaviour’ such as jumping up on people, the idea we would like to instill in our dog’s mind is jumping = losing owner’s attention BUT sitting for attention = fun & food! With these associations, the dog is surely going to focus his energy where fun & food is the end result. It seems logical…does it not?
The motto here is: Keep things positive for both you and your dog and you will succeed!
One more piece to the puzzle: How is he emotionally wired and how are his emotions connected to you? Our dogs can almost always sense our emotional instabilities — our ups and our downs. Often the unwanted behaviours they develop are a direct reflection of this. Our dogs rely upon us for stability and routine to maintain balance in their lives. If we are off balance, so too are they. Once routine and stability as they have known is altered, the dog is likely to develop new behaviours in order to compensate for the life changes.
Now, knowing what you do, enjoy your new pet and continue to grow and learn with him. Remember, the routine and stability you can offer your new dog will go a long way. Knowing and understanding is half the battle!
Genevieve Reisinger
Shelter Pet Training Expert
Animal Behaviour Coordinator, Oakville & District Humane Society
BSc., Obedience & Behaviour Certified
APDT professional member
905-845-1551 X 30
It has been 8 years since we last brought a new pet into our family. This past week we adopted a 10 week old shih-tzu puppy. His name is Gus. Three weeks ago our dog Willy had a stroke. Gus was to be Willy’s replacement. Bringing Gus into our family gave Willy a new purpose of training him and teaching him our routine. Instead of Willy passing over, Gus brought him back to life! Thanks to Genevieve’s advice, all of our dogs have adjusted and are beginning to bond.
On October 18th Genevieve will be sharing more about pet training at the Oakville & District Humane Society “Critters Gone Country Fair and Walk-a-Thon”. I will also be there giving Reiki to animals and helping owners understand their pets better. To learn more about this fun filled event please visit www.oakvillehumane.ca
Starting this week, I will be presenting monthly teleseminars to help you understand your pets better. Be sure and visit www.asksuelondon.com for those dates and time.
Featured Contributor
Sue London
As a Reiki Master, People & Pet Therapist, Spiritual Life Coach, Radio Host, Motivational Speaker and Author, I am here to help you if you are looking for positive change in your life and in your pet’s life.
Because I have endured serious illness, abuse, divorce and near death, I made a decision to soar above it all and have embraced the passion of helping others BE INSPIRED.
Using Reiki, I communicate with you through hands-on healing and distant healing techniques. Coaching sessions are scheduled over the phone to talk through the healing issues. I also use these hands-on techniques for your pets and transmit messages from your pet back to you through animal communication. Lost a pet or loved one? I can channel healing messages to you from them. And I teach you how you can do it too!
Call me at 888-812-1181 to learn how to start leading the life you love. Contact me by e-mail at sue@asksuelondon.com to register for a workshop, or book healing sessions. And, please check out my web site www.asksuelondon.com to learn more about how I can help you and to purchase my books “Soar Above It All” – Overcoming Adversities in Life and the ”Rocky” series of children’s books.
Start creating the life you desire today – GET INSPIRED! Ask Sue London how!
