While we know adopting a dog is thrilling and amazing, it is quite tedious too. Before you finally decide to adopt the dog, you will need dog food, a food bowl, a dog bed, a leash and collar, and maybe some toys. Maybe you’ve already arranged for the first vet appointment, and you’ve established some rules about the dog-like who does the feeding and walking, where the dog is and isn’t allowed, and so on.
To have a disciplined dog, we have to teach her the rules and set boundaries. So you need to establish the ground rules in your dog’s mind the moment she enters your home.
You can’t just let her run in the home, this will send the message “Here! All is yours, and you can do whatever you like and there are no rules, boundaries or limitations.” Next thing you know she’s chewing shoes, climbing on the furniture, jumping on people.
The process of bringing your dog into the home for the first time requires preparation.
Here are some basic steps for new dog parents:
1. Stay calm
When you pick the dog up, you must remain calm. I know you are excited to greet the new family member, but this is not the time to do it.
Accept the dog into your space, and try not to give more attention.
This step is the most crucial so you must remain in effect through the entire process.
2. Go for a walk
After you bring your new dog home, try to keep her on a leash and take a long walk around your neighborhood. This will help drain her excess energy and she will be calm, and it will get her used to the new smells, sights, and sounds.
3. Introduce your home
After the walk, it’s time to properly introduce her to the new house but keep your dog on the leash. The next important step is for you to enter first then invite her in, to establish leadership. If you can, make her sit or lie down as you open the door.
4. Take the tour
When inside, keep your dog on the leash and give her a tour. Do not let her sniff or wander around. Spend a few minutes in each room, and make sure each time you enter first in the next room. Take every door as an opportunity to establish your leadership, you go first, the dog waits for your invitation. Be consistent! If you have a backyard or any outside area, treat it the same way.
5. No communication
You won’t speak during the tour, that also means no eye contact or touching. You will only use body language or simple sounds, or a finger snap, to communicate or correct. As the dog is overwhelmed, so the less stimulation, the better which will help her focus on you.
6. The feeding place
After you’ve completed the tour, bring the dog to the area where the food and water will be provided. Now you can offer a reward with some water and a few bits of food, but not a whole bowl yet.
7. The dog’s area
Now you can take the dog to her special place where she will stay out of the way of household activities. This is where you can finally unleash her. By letting her off the leash, you are telling her, “This is your place.” She may decide to settle down and ignore you for a while. This means that she has found her place, let her rest.
8. Stay calm
Once you’ve completed the above process, establish yourself as the leader you will go through the rest of the day exuding calm energy.
Now you should ignore the dog and only acknowledge her if she joins you, but don’t go overboard with affection yet. She’s still getting used to being in the new house. You’ve established your territory and you make the rules and now, she’s going to observe.
If you’ve gone through these eight steps, you will have claimed your territory, allowed your dog into it, and established who the leader is.
Stay calm and assertive!