Hi Julie:

 

I was so happy to find your site and quickly joined.

 

 Saturday we adopted a rescue dog.. A beautiful 2 year old Shepard-Lab mix..  (Shana) is doing great so far adjusting to our large family… She is sweet and is letting our other dogs know (in a gentle little snarl) don’t mess with me yetand only if they get to close to Her Spot…

 

Shana has found herself a corner in our family room, and is slowly venturing off around the house..

 

I read several articles about what to expect when you bring your rescue dog home, and we are following the advice.. of leaving her alone, and letting her settle in.. I will be the dogs primary caretaker and so far we are having a nice gentle relationship… She finally piddled outside after drinking water for 2 days and not going ( I’m not sure which one of us was more relieved)

 

My question is.. Am I going about this the correct way, and should I begin her training.. leash walking etc.  This is our first Rescue Dog, and I want to make sure that she can start to feel safe and secure…

 

Thanks, So Happy to have Found YOU

Garen

Hello Garen!

 

Welcome to webDogTrainer!  I am so happy to see you!  Congratulations on adopting a rescue dog! 

  

“Am I going about this the correct way, and should I begin her training.. leash walking etc.  This is our first Rescue Dog, and I want to make sure that she can start to feel safe and secure..”

It would be very important for you to begin your training program with your dog instantly.  What that will do is establish yourself as leader and your new dog will actually feel more secure and confident about its role in life-if you tell them what to do and how to behave (through training).  Dogs instantly look to who is leading them and if they don’t see a clear leader they may become confused, agitated, scared, etc. leading to behavioral problems.  Being leader means having very clear rules as to what your expectations are of your dog and being very consistent with those rules.  Read my entire step one and you’ll get a really good idea on how to do that.  If your dog doesn’t see a leader she may think she has to be the leader and that is very stressful for dogs.  So, I highly recommend you begin your training right now.  Follow my step one and create your goals, learn how to be consistent and what you need to do to be pack leader.  Make sure she is getting a lot of exercise too, that is extremely important, as you’ll see in my “exercise your dog” article. 

 

Also, make sure that you do not feel sorry for your dog no matter what background they may be coming from being a rescue dog.  If your dog senses you are sad, depressed, feeling sorry for them or angry then they see you as a weak leader and will not trust you.  You need to be calm and confident and very sure about what you expect from your dog.   Your dog will love you more then and be happier.  

 

I look forward to having you read all of step one because I think you will be really helped by the information in it. (Click on step one at the top left of the page to read all the articles within it)  Why don’t you email me again after you’ve had a chance to read step one and let me know where you are in the process, what you’ve learned and if you have any questions.  Then, when you are ready you can move onto step two.  All the best-
Julie
Dog Trainer/Owner of webDogTrainer”

 

 

Hi Julie,

Thanks so much for your quick response.. I forgot to ask you one more question… At this time, can my husband and I share in the training or does all of the dog walking have to be done by just one person? I just returned home after reading section one with our new Gentle Leader…

Thanks,

Garen

 

Hello Garen,

It is a important for both of you to do the training.  All humans living with the dog should be the leaders and share consistent techniques together. 

 

If you haven’t used a Gentle Leader before don’t be discouraged if they try to remove it at first…you’ll just want to keep moving and not allow them to take it off.  They’ll get the hang of it after one or two times and you’ll be surprised how much easier it will be to walk them.

 

Good luck with it! Keep in touch!

  

Until next time…

Julie

 

Hello Garen

 

Good to hear from you.  I’m glad you are finding the site valuable in teaching your dog!  Has she really not eaten for 2 weeks?  If not, you should be taking her to the Vet to make sure she checks out OK physically.   I might need a little more information to understand what you mean by “shy”…

1. Is she shy with people and dogs?, new people?, all people?

2. Does she walk confidently outside, tail up, head up on your walks, or is she reactive to noise, and other things on the walk?

3. What is her body language when you think she is being shy?  Ears back?  Tail between her legs? 

4. Does she relax and have fun with you when the other dogs are NOT around or has she not been playful yet?

5. Do you feed her by herself in a room without the other dogs nearby?

 

Sometimes using very high valued treats and practicing some obedience training can be good with dogs.  Get some cooked chicken breast, or some deli meat and cut into tiny pieces to reward for doing something well.  Find a food she goes crazy for and use that.  When she sits for example, praise her by offering a treat and be enthusiastic.  Does she have a favorite toy or like to play fetch? 

 

Make sure you are not encouraging the shy behavior by offering praise and affection in those moments where she is being shy.  Although that works for “humans” it doesn’t for dogs.  If she is exhibiting shyness and we are petting her during that, she then gets “rewarded” for being shy and we can actually encourage more shyness.  What you’ll want to do is find ways to treat her with high valued food treats, or a toy she loves when she does something well or comes out of her “corner” etc.  So we praise her for confidence.  Find what she values and give that to her in those confident moments. 

 

I also strongly suggest that you attach her leash to you while in the house for the next week or two and have her “follow” next to you going where you go, doing what you do.  So if you go to the kitchen to cook, she comes with you and does a down next to you.  If you go to the bathroom, she comes with you and lays down or sits waiting next to you…when you go to the computer she comes with you and lays next to you.  Have the treats with you and give them to her when she lays next to you or sits next to you or comes with you.  What this is going to do is establish your leadership so she can rely on you and begin to trust you and have several moments of feeling confident doing “tasks” for you.  Say “let’s go”!-Enthusiastically while you are getting up and asking her to join you in another room.  She will not be allowed to “hide” in her corner then and over time she will start to feel like this is her “job” and will be getting rewarded and feeling good about herself.  It may be a little inconvenient for you but I highly suggest this and I really think it will improve things a lot!

 

I really hope you’ll try it and I can’t wait to hear about how it goes!  Keep me updated and keep up the good work!

 

Julie

 

Keep up the good work in training her!  She is lucky to find someone dedicated to her!

 

Take care,

Julie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello Julie:

Thanks for checking up on us, you must have known I was thinking about you.

The training is going well, using all your techniques.. Shana seems to be a smart girl, who learns quickly. The leash walking is great.. She is sitting when we get to the end our street, before crossing.   But, she is still so shy.  Very very  slowly she is exploring our home and the other dogs.( Always with one eye on her Corner)

I have changed her dog food, to soft which she ate, after not eating for almost 2 weeks.

I can only imagine what she must be thinking?

 

Be Well,

Garen

 

 

 

Hi Julie..

 

Thanks for all your help.. I have answered your questions about Shana..

She is eating food now 2x a day…

 

Thanks,

Garen

 

 

Hi Garen,

 

Keep up the good work, I am proud of you for your dedication!  Try out my suggestions from the earlier email about using food rewards and having her on-leash with you for awhile and I look forward to hearing how it all goes!