Investing in Your New Adoption

By Doug and Elizabeth Simpson
Owners of Tenderfoot Training

Adopting a dog is a much bigger event than most people consider it to be - it is an investment of your time, energy, money, and emotions. This reality is often ignored when a person stares into the big eyes of a new puppy or dog in need. All you can imagine are scenes of cuddling up to a warm fuzzy body and of a smiling face greeting you at the end of a long day. These images may feel good, but what about the reality of getting up at 2 A.M. because your dog is sick? What about the time you call your dog to come, and he runs off in the other direction, and you have to search the neighborhood for hours? How are you going to feel when you come home to a chewed-up pillow or, worse yet, a shredded iPod? Oh, and don't forget the stains on the carpet that never quite come out. This is the real world of having a dog in your life. Are you prepared?

You would never adopt a child and simply leave her in the house to fend for herself while you carried on with your previous schedules and duties. The responsibility of another life that depends solely on you should not be taken lightly. The same rules apply with a new dog, and there are changes and bumps along the way that you will need to smooth out to make life with your new dog harmonious.

Before anyone impulsively adopts a dog, they should think of all the responsibilities that accompany having a dog. Before you adopt, you can prepare yourself by imagining your life with a dog. Mentally go through all of your doggie routines and responsibilities ahead of time.

"¢ Potty breaks: Set a timer for every 30 minutes to let the new dog out until house-training issues are worked out.

"¢ Feeding schedule: Feed a puppy 3 times a day and an adult 2 times a day.

"¢ Training sessions: This should be an ongoing activity for the life of the dog.

"¢ Exercise and play times: Ask yourself how often you can set aside for one-on-one time with your dog. How long can you commit to that schedule? Dogs live to be 10"“15 years old, and your life is going to change along the way.

"¢ Containment: Where will your dog be when you aren't with him? A crate? The yard? Loose in the house?

"¢ Financial requirements: Plan on food, medications, vet visits, grooming, toys, crates, and boarding/housesitter fees to all add up very quickly.

"¢ Mental stimulation: How will you engage your dog's mind? With agility, obedience, and/or tricks?

"¢ Sleeping arrangements: Determine how this will affect your household structure.

"¢ Socialization: Dogs are highly social and need the opportunity to meet all kinds of dogs, animals, and people. How will you be able to incorporate this into your life?

It may seem silly to point these things out to you, especially since you are savvy enough to be reading this magazine. If you are a person who has never given up on an animal, we applaud you. But, unfortunately, there are far too many people who bring dogs into their homes and are simply not prepared. Dogs are surrendered to shelters every day due to people's lack of knowledge, experience, understanding, patience, or commitment.

People have different levels of skills and/or knowledge and should take the time to review the issues raised above. Knowledge is power. Finding a support group consisting of quality canine professionals, organizations, and facilities such as a veterinarian, trainer, groomer, dog day care, boarding facility, local dog groups, and safe dog parks will equip you to make the most of your new relationship. It will also help ensure that you are never faced with the thought of giving up on that little fur ball with the big brown eyes.

It's rather like finding a partner in life. You have certain requirements - e.g., tall, dark, and handsome"¦but does he cook? Is he outdoorsy? With a dog, you shouldn't just look at breed characteristics, but also at the individual's dogonality. Find the right match for you, your lifestyle, your family, and even your current pack.

Set your new relationship up for success by teaching good manners and committing to a training program. Don't just bring the new dog home and hope for the best, because you will likely be setting the dog up for failure. Remember that when a dog does something you don't like you cannot blame the dog. You need to ask yourself what YOU could have done differently to prevent the incident. How could you have been more proactive in teaching?

All dogs are sponges for learning and actually crave the stimulation. Finding a great trainer gives you a resource to go to when your dog's behavior is heading down the wrong path. When you have an established relationship with a trainer, often just a quick phone call or a quick session is all it takes to help things smooth out. Too often, people wait until the dog's behavior is so out of control that they feel powerless to make a change, and they give up.

The rules of the house and a healthy structure are often established in the first 2 weeks of bringing a dog home. This means the person is setting up a healthy routine for themselves and their dog. It is important to let the dog settle into his new home with harmony and calm behaviors. If you greet your dog with high energy every time you walk through the door, then don't blame the dog when he jumps on your motherin- law and knocks her down.

Dogs do what works, and when it works they do it more. If pulling you on a tight leash from point A to point B gets a dog where he wants to go, then that's what he will do. Every step a dog takes on a tight leash is a reward for pulling. The dog thinks he has to pull his person everywhere he goes because the person taught the dog that pulling works. If every dog were taught to give in to the pressure of the leash, there would never be any pulling. These are things you will learn from a good trainer; they will show you how to create a loose leash and walk in peace.

The more knowledge you have the better you will do. For humans, this means a good education, and for dogs this means a large working vocabulary. If you only had a five-word vocabulary you wouldn't get far in this world or in your relationships. You would have limited understanding, and it is the same for your dog. Dogs are capable of so much more than people give them credit for. Maximize your dog's learning potential, and you will maximize the experience of having a dog in your life. Don't give up on your dog; you can teach him just what he needs to know. And he has great things to teach you too, like love, patience, forgiveness, and commitment.

For more information or to contact: Doug and Elizabeth Simpson www.tenderfoottraining.com (303) 444-7780