5 Training Staples for when You Bring Your Rescue Dog Home | Episode 12

Let’s talk integration! By definition the word means to unify with something or incorporate into a larger unit. When discussing rescue dogs, integrating means incorporating your rescue dog into your home, your family, your lifestyle. It’s the introduction, exposure and socialization to those aspects of your life.

I absolutely love helping dog adopters with this part of the adoption process because I know how overwhelming it can be and how much time you can spend searching for approaches or methods to use for varying behaviours. I also know how difficult it can be to ask the rescue or shelter for help during this time out of fear that they’re judging you, or they’ll think that you aren’t compatible. The adoption process is so grueling nowadays - it’s fair to feel this way! However, if you don’t get help with minor problems they often turn into big problems.

It’s only natural that your rescue dog will have to decompress and adjust to a new environment. Even more so, if your dog came from a shelter/kennel.

Take a moment with me to get in your dog’s head:

You, a stranger, pick them up and take them into a new car to a new environment. Then comes more new people, new sights, new scents, new sounds and often new rules. So many new things can be overwhelming for any dog. However, there are some integration staples you can employ to make your rescue dog feel comfortable and encourage a smooth transition.

ROUTINE - A great way to reduce stress for your dog during this time is to give your dog the gift of predictability. This means having a schedule that they can rely on which includes their bathroom breaks, meals, playtime, walks and down time. A good routine gives your dog a sense of security which also encourages trust with their new family.

LEADERSHIP - It is tempting to cuddle your new dog to no end. In your mind you’ve brought them out of a dark existence into a world of joy and leisure and all you want to do is spoil them. However, dog’s crave leadership intrinsically. If you don’t provide direction or structure, dogs quickly seek to fill that role which often manifests itself in nuisance behaviours like barking, pulling on leash, guarding and destructive chewing. You can demonstrate leadership by doing some basic obedience training; sit, stay, down, by setting boundaries like where your dog can follow you and where they should be during your mealtimes. Even deciding when you are going to offer snuggles or pets is a way to demonstrate that you’re in charge.

CONSISTENCY - Follow through is just as important as proving yourself as a leader. Don’t risk confusing your new dog by enforcing rules here or there, you either do or don’t require certain behaviour and it’s best to get anyone else in the household on board as well. Everyone should be clear on what the rules and expectations are for your new family member so that your dog is getting a fair chance at learning them.

SAFE SPACE - Immediately make a safe place for your new dog to go. Either a bed, a crate or a small room are best. Ensure this safe space has a nice bed and is in a quieter spot. Start training them to go to their safe space with a place command.  First lure them with a treat to the spot and reward once they’re on it, eventually save the reward for when they’re laying down at their place. Then, encourage them not only to go to their place but to also stay starting with short periods and working your way up to longer durations. The only way they can feel this space is truly safe is if no one bothers them while they’re there (people, kids or pets). Another way to offer security when you first bring your rescue dog home is to leave a leash trailing on them when you are at home. This will ensure that you can intervene safely and guide them to where you want to go while establishing communication with them.

REDUCE TRIGGERS - It’s not uncommon for new dog owners to want to flaunt their new dog. Sometimes this means an onslaught of visitors or trips to lots of different locations. It’s great that you’re excited but it is important to take your dog’s mental state into account. You don’t want to overwhelm them with too many new experiences or people. Try to take it slow and let their response dictate the pace. You will be learning what upsets your dog, what stresses them, what excites them and that could be a few things or it could be a lot of things. Try to make it a rule in the first few weeks that you only expose them to one new person, place or thing at a time. This will allow you to best support your dog as they experience things with you for the first time and avoid trigger stacking which is basically having to experience multiple triggers at once or in progression which can be overwhelming for your dog. Trigger stacking is a quick way to see your dog’s worst behaviour. Avoid dealing with too much at once until you have a better bond with your dog and have better prepared your dog for these challenges.

For more integration guidance with your rescue dog check out my free dog walking mini course or join my membership waitlist to get the most up to date information on when the Pawdoption Guide Membership Experience is set to launch - which is very soon! The Membership offers regular Q&A calls with myself, a private community, as well as training resources to get you off on the right foot!