18/06/2019
HOW TO :
- HELP A RESCUE DOG GET USED TO HIS NEW HOME
- INTRODUCE HIM TO HIS NEW LIFE
- MAKE HIM FEEL AT EASE
- OFFER HIM ALL THE THINGS HE’S BEEN DEPRIVED OF IN THE PAST
Picture this - you are you. You have lived all your life in London, Paris, Egypt wherever, the where doesn't matter. You have a home, friends, and all the things you love to do, an everyday life. You speak your language, English, French, Egyptian whatever. You eat the food you love and you sleep in the same bed every night.
One day you don't wake up in your bed, but in China! Surrounded by Chinese people you have never met before. Every signpost around you is in Chinese, everyone around you is speaking Chinese. Nothing makes sense. You are unable to communicate, you have no idea how to find a hotel to spend the night, a restaurant to find food as you have no money. You don't recognize anyone, the City is loud, busy and weird and very scary.
At the same time, there is this Chinese person that you have never met before, following you everywhere and speaking to you in Chinese. He doesn't just speak to you though, he addresses you personally as if he knows you. And although you know he is trying to tell you something specific, nothing that comes out of his mouth makes any sense. You try to understand his body language but no gesture seems familiar to you and he just keeps talking and talking.
On top of that, he keeps squeezing you, touching you, and invading your private space to the point where you just want to scream. He lays his hands on every inch of your tired, exhausted body and the more anxious you get about what he's actually trying to do, the more you want to punch him in the face.
So, you might believe that a rescue dog will immediately comprehend from day one, the meaning of life in a home, and that he will appreciate the cozy couch and the love and attention showered on him. That he will be grateful for the new life you are willing to offer him since the moment you drove him home- THIS IS NOT THE CASE!
A dog is not a person, he is an animal. And as much as we have managed to humanize them over the years, they will always be animals. Which means they don't see things the way we do, and they definitely do not speak the human language, the same as you don't speak Chinese.
So for a dog who has spent time in a shelter or a pound, the first days at a home mean only one thing -ANXIETY. Remember how you felt to wake up in China? They have no idea what's in store for them, they only see the things they don't recognize, people they never met before, and a big open space that is the living room.
They are trying to figure out where they are supposed to sleep, eat, p*e and drink. On top of all that they have you talking to them 24/7 about all sorts of things that make no sense, and forcing them to love you. Their first experiences are going to be traumatic and we don't want that do we?
When bringing a new dog home, you want to be that one and only person in China who speaks the right language, and is willing to offer the newcomer the help he actually needs, not the help you think he needs.
A new dog needs someone to teach him and show him. I must repeat that- SHOW HIM everything in his new environment from scratch. I'm sure you would not learn all you need to know about China on your first day, even if you had the best guide in the world, so understand that a dog cannot learn what to do and how to behave properly from day one either.
Patience and speaking their language is the key. The same as you don't speak Chinese no dog speaks English, French or any other language, and it's highly unlikely a dog will ever learn a human language. It's up to you, as the highly evolved species, to learn theirs.
Constantly looking at the dog and talking to him does not help, it fills him with anxiety and confuses him even more.
Expecting him to behave from day one is silly. Imagine if you are expected to know your way around a City you have never been to before.
Constantly petting and smothering the dog with forced love, treats, toys, chew bones and visits from friends and family, all eager to meet the new member of the family, will result in the dog becoming confused and overwhelmed.
An overwhelmed dog can develop all sorts of unwanted behavior, damaging stuff, p*eing everywhere, hiding themselves away, and even growling at everyone.
If your newly adopted dog shows any of the above behaviors it might seem to you he's ungrateful, damaged or weird, however, he is just saying one thing
I AM CONFUSED.
So give the new dog some space and let him rest. Show him where he is supposed to sleep and let him understand the dog bed in the corner is where he will be safe and not bothered, his own quiet space.
Don't bother him while he is resting, don't force him to eat, play or be cute for the family and don't talk to him. He's trying so hard to figure out his way around the new home that talking is one more incomprehensible thing that will confuse him even more.
Satisfy his basic needs, forced petting is not one of them nor are welcome parties and constant attention. Pick a schedule that fits in with your routine for your dog, and stick to it. Feeding, walking, play, help him to know what to expect from you every moment of the day.
Ignore him, dogs feel comfortable being ignored, especially by people they don't know or trust yet. Guide him discreetly during these first days, be there but be silent, consistent and patient.
There are positive re-enforcement trainers who can guide you through all of these things should you feel you need some support or advice.
The unconditional love, the communication and companionship will be there eventually. You have all the time ahead to share moments together so be patient, those days will come, and if you have guided him through the early days as stated above, those days will come easier and faster- then you will have all the fun and happiness you both deserve.
