New Year, New Pet

Terie Hansen

At this time of year I receive an influx of calls for dog training as many people have brought a new dog into their home. Some call right away while others wait till they have experienced negative behaviors or issues with their new dog.

This begs the question… When is the best time to reach out to a dog trainer? The answer is simple… before you bring the dog home! In fact before you even choose a dog is best.

A good dog trainer can help you decide which breed or more importantly, what temperament and energy level would best fit you, your family and your lifestyle. A good dog trainer can give you tips to help make the transition of the new arrival go smoothly and help you to establish leadership skills immediately especially if there are already other pets in your home. They can advise you on how to introduce your new dog to the dog(s) you already have. This is vital to minimize possible battles for pack ranking.

A good dog trainer will teach you that introducing your new dog slowly to their surroundings and limiting their access to one or two rooms initially (instead of whoo hoo! Free rein) then gradually expanding the rooms they have access to will help the new arrival feel safe and comforted.

Bringing a new dog home is an exciting time for you and your family, however keeping it calm and low key for the first week or two is advised. Think of how you might feel in a totally new and strange environment… Would you want it to be crazy with new people you didn’t know clamoring around you, touching you and talking to you in a foreign language? Or would you prefer that the transition was calm, quiet and relaxed giving you time to adjust and take it all in? Think about it. What’s the best for your new dog?

Terie Hansen is the Owner of Good Dog! Coaching & Pet Care
For more information visit
www.gooddogcoaching.com