When the Honeymoon is over 

Remember that there was a reason why someone got rid of that cute dog or puppy.  The problem is that you probably won’t find out about those reasons until the honeymoon is over.  There is typically a period of about two months lovingly referred to as “the honeymoon period”. Much as we are kinder, gentler and nicer to someone we just met and are potentially dating, so will your dog or puppy tend to be sweeter and more compliant for the first two months after he finds his new home.  Remember that cute, fluffy, and cuddly dog with the big soulful eyes was someone else’s joy for a time. So what went wrong  The problem is that we often do not know the dog’s true history, only that which was written on a cage card or told to someone by the former owner. Remember he does not know who in the world you are and he should be treated calmly, gently and with respect for his personal space. He did not ask to be in the situation he now faces.

Congratulations on your new family member! You’ve made a tough decision with a lot of thought behind it, knowing that you have followed all of the Wyatt’s List recommendations for choosing the best pet for your family and for choosing with your head as well as your heart. Now what? When you put the dog into your car, make sure you have a state-approved restraint such as a harness that is tethered to the seat belt, or a crate or other protective safety restraint; do not be reticent to ask shelter or rescue personnel to assist you in placing the dog into your car. Remember on your drive home that this dog may be susceptible to getting car sick and that you should probably leave your Mario Andretti moves home, and channel your inner grandma. Dogs may get anxious or uncomfortable with sharp turns and quick stops and starts. You are bringing home a new life, not stunt driving.

When you bring your dog out of the car, try to teach him from the beginning not to jump out until he is invited.  Let your dog walk around for a few moments outside the car and perhaps, “shake off”, which shows that he is decompressing. Take the dog for a five to ten minute walk to allow him to relieve himself, and to begin to see you as his guardian and protector. Do not allow the dog to pull in front and be physically ahead of you. You should be walking shoulder to shoulder. Stop several times and allow the dog to relieve itself. Then shorten the leash again and continue on. If you have a yard, fenced or unfenced, walk the dog along its perimeter making sure that you are beside or slightly ahead of the dog. This teaches him that it is your yard and your neighborhood and this will enable you to be seen by the dog as his guardian and protector. Refer to PDF(on proper method of walking your dog)

Once you have walked around the perimeter of the outside of your home and yard, now it is time to enter your domain. Make sure to walk into your home first and allow the dog to follow you inside. Before introducing the dog to the rest of the family, take the dog for a guided tour where you are leading, and he is following, around the perimeter of your rooms and anywhere the dog will be permitted to be. This will ensure that the dog understands that he is coming into your home in comparison to opening your front door and letting the dog run in, and potentially mark every wall and piece of furniture, assuming it is his home and that he is the newest lotto winner. Be clear from the very moment your dog comes in or you will confuse him, potentially leading to significant behavioral issues.

Once the dog has seen your house, take him to the door through which you will typically be letting him out, so that he knows that will be the door through which he will take potty breaks. Simply opening it a few times for him should suffice. Allow the dog to take a drink of water and show the dog where his bed or place will be. It is probably best not to allow the dog onto furniture at least for the first few days or weeks if you are planning to grant him that privilege. The dog should learn that he must ask permission to be on the furniture or any other desire, otherwise he will feel entitled to everything.

If you have young children, please do not allow them to pick up the dog or puppy or be unsupervised. The dog may be sweet and wagging its tail, but remember there was a reason this dog was relinquished by its former owner or unclaimed when “lost”.

Don’t feed your new dog a full meal for his first meal, since he may be anxious and his belly may not be ready for a full serving of food. Again, he may seem calm and happy, but nonetheless, he is still in a new place with unfamiliar people and surroundings. The next morning you may feed him normally as directed. Make sure that you are feeding your dog a top-quality food.  Make sure to ask the rescue or shelter if the dog has had any resource-guarding issues and contact our 855-HI-WYATT hotline prior to bringing your dog home as soon as possible. If your dog does not eat his entire meal at one time and walks away from his bowl, then pick the bowl up. Leaving the bowl down can send messages to your dog that he is allowed to eat whenever he wants, and in nature, this translates to his feeling like he is in charge. Remember, “Things mean Things”.™

Limit activity for the first couple of days so that the dog can have time to bond with your family; you can gain his trust and he can feel safe and secure in his new home. Refrain from dragging your new dog to every sporting event or family get-together until you know how he will react in the new situation. If you believe that your dog may be exhibiting signs of behavioral issues contact 855-HI-WYATT or unitedk9pros.com.

When your dog is purchased from an AKC show breeder, you will typically receive a contract and history of the pup. This is invaluable in transitioning your new baby that you purchased from a show breeder, easily and painlessly to your home from the breeder’s home. Purchasing a puppy from an AKC show breeder is typically a guarantee of quality, commitment and integrity. This is important especially for those who are looking for certain characteristics or traits such as size, temperament, longevity and other concerns. Being registered with one of the major all-breed registries is important, but remember that only AKC show breeders and Breeders of Merit have shown the highest level of integrity. Do not be tricked into believing that a designer dog is a “breed”. We have seen “breeders” of designer breeds telling people that the dog is AKC registered because both of its parents are AKC registered. AKC registered simply means that the parentage of both parents is known and pure, but breeding a purebred of one breed to the purebred of another breed still breeds a mixed-breed.

Any way you slice it, purebred show dogs, as explained in our section on reputable show breeders, are tested for genetic and physical perfection and purity including genetic testing for deformities in joints, eyes, ears, heart and congenital conditions. A breeder breeds to better the breed, not to make money. In fact, most breeders of champion and grand champion show dogs lose money because of the costs of genetic testing and showing their progeny at venues such as Westminster and other prestigious dog shows.