Bringing Home a Pound Hound
Rescuing a Dog - How to Make the Transition From Pound to Home
Sep 8, 2009
The question of choosing an adult dog or a puppy depends on what place the dog will fill in the life of the family. For those with the time, energy and patience to housebreak and train while dealing with chewed up shoes, a puppy is ideal. For those who are looking for a companion who is a little more grown up, however, an adult dog may fill the bill.
With that being said, rescuing an adult dog requires just as much thought and planning as rescuing a puppy. Many rescued dogs will have come from loving homes with owners who, through no fault of their own, have had to put the animal up for adoption. Others will have been abused, abandoned or strays. Unfortunately, new owners will never know what their new companion has been through and they need to be prepared.
Adult dogs can overcome past issues and make loving companions but new owners need to realize they need time to settle in and learn the rules, just like a puppy does. Before bringing any dog home, Cesar Milan of “the Dog Whisperer” suggests the family prepare. Decide in advance who will care for the dog, who is in charge of walking him and what the general rules are before bringing home any animal.
Bringing the New Dog Home
When bringing the new dog home, owners should ensure the transition is as stress-free as possible. Children need to be reminded that the new family member needs to get used to his new home, and the best way they can help is to allow him time before they start to play.
Before bringing him into the house, allow him 10 – 15 minutes to sniff around outside and relieve himself. It is important to keep the new dog on the leash when he enters the home. Leashing will allow him to sniff the surroundings, while allowing the new owner to keep control and correct any behavior that is unwanted. Show him his crate, water bowl and food bowl.
Once he has had ample opportunity to see and smell his new surroundings, slowly and calmly introduce his new family members. It is important that he get a chance to meet each of his new family in a calm manner that allows him to sniff and greet them. Introducing children should be closely supervised, and children reminded to allow the dog to get to know them before trying to interact with him.
Training the New Dog Owner
There may be times when owners are baffled by the behavior of their newly adopted dog because they believed that getting an older dog would negate the training issues of a puppy. This is not true. While some older dogs do know simple commands, it is important that the owners take the time and responsibility to learn how to teach the new dog the do’s and don’ts of the household and what is expected of him.
Teaching the dog to come when called, stay when told and to walk on a leash will make him a better family member as well as a better neighbor. Those who choose an adult dog that is jumbo-sized or from certain breeds need to remember he may make people nervous. Nothing will put the neighbors off more than a large dog that jumps and runs after them.
There are many resources available for training both dog and owner. The Partnership for Animal Welfare has an entire website devoted to the topic of adoptions and suggestions for bringing the new dog home. The local Humane Society can recommend local dog trainers during the adoption process and some pet stores such as PetCo and Pet Smart offer basic and advanced obedience training.
Choosing to rescue an adult dog is an exciting and fulfilling experience. Once the settling in period is over, and the dog has learned his rules in the home, owners may find a relaxed companion who gives just as much love as a puppy – with a fraction of the frustration.
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