If you have adopted an untrained and unsocialized dog, let me just say you’re entitled to be tired and drained and maybe emotional. I am an experienced dog trainer and at week five I am tired, drained, and emotional. It is easier for me since I know how to deal with all the issues that can come up with an adopted dog so my hats off to all of you that take this on and have learn all this stuff along the way.
What helps me is to set dates on calendar to check in and see how things are going with our new dog Charlie. It took him a year to become the dog I adopted so we are going to redo the first year of his life from this point forward and it will probably take at least twice that time. Yes, we have missed that oh so important socialization stage of his development when he was a young puppy but we will do our best to have a do over. We will have to take it very slow since the world is very overwhelming for Charlie right now. My alarm clock even concerns him. I try to jot down a few words each day to record how it is going.
If you have adopted a dog or puppy be sure to mark your successes down on the calendar or keep a journal to see how far you have come. Sometimes we forget how things were on day one. We have achieved many things in five weeks but it could be easy to lose track of the successes with so many things still to achieve.
Some of our successes at five weeks are: being able to walk nicely and quietly by a horse, coming in the yard off lead when called, many weeks without any pee or poo in house, laying quietly in house and yard most of the time without barking at outside activities, not being afraid of stairs, the coffee grinder, the fire truck without siren, distant gunshots, trucks outside when riding in car. He is gradually getting better about being brushed. Learning some training basics at home and on walk like keeping leash loose, eye contact, sit and wait at door, retrieve, target hand and lid and Steve, come, and follow and lots more.
I have come to conclusion that it will be a long time until Charlie is able to go to big hectic dog events with me as I planned but that is okay. That is real life you have to adjust your expectations when the real nature of your dog is revealed, which took a few weeks for Charlie. Your new dog will change you and change your family just as any new member would and usually in the end it is for the better. Whether you end up being a more patient and sensitive person or even a more social person as you find yourself meeting people as you find avenues for your dog’s energy and intelligence.
Tags: adopted dog, canine behavior, dog training, new dog, positive dog training
