Preparing For Your Dog
What are good names for dogs?
Dog names are what you really want to choose, and many dogs end up with many names. So for example, if you call a dog Fanny, she becomes Fanny Bananny. However, it is a good idea, if you can, to choose a name that's maybe one or two syllables. So, Fanny, Ava, Ruby, Laudie, Hedda, as these are names that I choose, and I like old fashioned names. I've got a client who has Kookaburra right now, and I said to her when I went to see her, "What's it going to be for short"?, and she said "Oh, Kookaburra". Well, if you want to say Kookaburra, go ahead. The dog will respond, it's not a problem.
What do I have to buy for the dog before I take him home?
My most successful clients see me before they get the dog because we outfit them with everything they need. Whether you get a puppy or a rescue dog, a crate is essential. Proper chew toys are essential, as are leashes, food and water bowls, and appropriate food. There's a myriad of products out there right now that will make your life so much easier with your new dog.
How do I prepare my home for my new dog?
It's really important that you take into consideration of where the dog is going to sleep at night, where it's going to spend it's time, and a potty area is absolutely significant because we teach potty on command. We want them to know where they are supposed to go, the door they are going to go through to get to that potty area. So, it's very important that you take into consideration where the dog is going to spend time in your home.
How do I prepare my family to meet the dog?
It is hard to do, but I think that it's really important that we teach low key arrivals or greetings, meaning that you don't go, “Hello! I'm here! I love you!.” because that excites the dog. It's much better to be calm, be loving and reassuring. Be calm and don't be overbearing and crazy when you first meet the dog, thinking that's going to make the dog feel more welcome. All it does is it serves to excite the dog and make the dog a little more anxious.
How do I introduce the dog to his new home?
The way that I would introduce a new dog to a home is on a leash. First of all, they don't come off a leash. You walk the dog around the house and show them everything, making sure that the first destination spot is your potty area. Once that's been designated, meaning the dog has gone potty in that area, then you're really feeling a lot more free to walk through the house. You might do it with treats. Do some training in each room. Show the dog where its bed is, where its crate is, where its food and water bowl is. Orient them but remember that the dog being on a leash is key.
How do I introduce my new dog to my old dog?
You need to be careful when introducing a new dog to an old dog because an older dog is your resident dog. They are set in their ways. They don't want some young whippersnapper telling them what they think they should do. So, you need to keep the young dog on a leash. Show the older dog that he's still number one; you might feed him first, still give him preferential treatment, and greet him first when you come home. It's fine to have the new dog in the crate and have the old dog loose. You keep as much of the old dog's ways set in stone as possible. You don't rock the boat for the old dog.
How do I introduce the new dog to the cat?
When introducing a dog to a cat, make sure the dog is on a leash so the cat is safe, and you can control the dog if it reacts badly to the cat. Make sure to heed the cat's warnings like hissing or scratching at a dog; dogs can harm or even kill a cat very easily. Try to use the reward system when introducing the dog to the cat.
Should I cuddle the new dog if he cries during the first night?
If, when you get your new dog, it's a real 'puppy' puppy, like a 7- to 8-week-old, I would put that little puppy in my bed for the first night, because that puppy has been torn from its siblings and its mum. If it's an older dog, we need to set boundaries right away and we need to put that dog in the crate; I will be a little bit punitive, I'll say "Quiet" and I might smack the crate: not the dog, but the crate. It's important to set boundaries and rules right away, but with an infant, go with your instincts.
