Thank you to everyone who has welcomed a new furry member into your family!
…Whether by foster or adoption—old or young—from the streets or a not-quite-right home.
Lisa Rockland has been supporting dogs and animal shelters for forty years, including Buddy Dog, Forever Home Rescue, Lucky Lab Rescue, Last Hope K9, and Shultz’s Guest House. Buddy Dog recommends Lisa and AAMD as its exclusive trainer. (See our video: Lisa Rockland at Buddy Dog.) Jordan, her daughter and a trainer at AAMD, rescued and rehabilitated dogs during her college years in Alabama. She is a forever mom to Titan and Leroy, two rescued pit bulls. Trainer Jamie Whitbeck’s forever babies, Charlie, Eddie and Desmond, are rescues as well. At All About My Dog we’re all about adoption and fostering.
Here are five tips to help transition your adoptee/foster baby into a loving family member.
Time to Decompress
- Give your dog 24 – 48 hours to adjust. Some dogs need a week.
- Promote the bond between you by taking the time to sit quietly with your dog.
A Safe Den
Here’s what you need for a safe den:
- A crate, appropriately sized.
- An exercise pen (an ex-pen) to promote appropriate play and rest time in a safe and enclosed space.
- Cuddle toys.
- A soft bed.
- Bones for gnawing. 100%! An absolute must!!!! (Read our post: Dogs Need To Gnaw!)
- Locate the den in a quiet corner where your dog can see, hear, and smell his new family.
Questions about your safe den? Reach out to Lisa for a virtual home visit. She will ensure that your new family member is primed for success.
Alone Time
- Playtime? Yes, absolutely. But balance an appropriate amount of play time with an environment of calm and quiet. You wouldn’t throw a party for an infant.
- Don’t overstimulate your dog with excessive hugging and playing every time you see them.
- Alone time doesn’t mean ostracizing your dog by putting them in a place where they can’t see, smell or hear you.
Walking and Housebreaking
- Start off small. Take potty breaks at natural intervals; take short walks, maybe to the end of the driveway. Build your dog’s confidence. Leave the den; come back. Leave the den; come back.
- Use a long leash! We recommend a ten foot or fifteen foot biothane leash.
- Don’t use a 4 feet leash; not even a 6 foot. Never a flexi or retractable leash, which maintains constant tension on your dog’s neck. New dogs, puppies especially, get frustrated at being yanked and dragged and pulled and tugged on a short leash. Expect a frustrated dog to yank and drag and pull and tug—back.
Be patient. But seek help when you need it.
- Reach out to vets and trainers who specialize in fostering and adopting dogs.
- During this crisis, All About My Dog offers virtual training sessions geared specifically to foster and adopting parents. Please contact Lisa for more info.
- We stock everything you need to make a safe den and provide your new dog with the essentials. Check out our retail page or contact Jordan for more info.