Common Rehoming Issues

HONEYMOON PERIOD

• This is the first 10-14 days that a dog is in its new home. This is the adjustment period. A dog may act calm, and get more and more energetic as it gets comfortable. A dog may act very high strung and nervous and get more and more relaxed as it gets more comfortable. The dog may have housebreaking accidents due to getting used to a new environment or routine.

• The following things are important to keep in mind during this period of time:

Consistency! New owners should act as though the dog has always been there and stick to their regular routines. If owners "dote" on the dog or rearrange their lives too much at first, the dog will go through another stress period when things change and go back to normal. Also, the ground rules should be laid now as to what the dog is and is not allowed to do.
Keep the dog indoors. Even in the new owner's plans are to have the dog outside during the day when they are at work, it is important in the first 2 weeks to keep the dog indoors. This is the time that it takes for the dog to get settled and learn that this is his new den and pack. It is very common for newly adopted dogs to escape yards during this time to find their previous owners.

Housebreaking

• Puppies, of course, will not be housebroken. Even if we believe that an adult dog is housebroken, new owners should expect mistakes until the dog knows where it is supposed to go, how to signal the owner, and what the new schedule is like. Adult dogs should be treated like puppies the first few days to two weeks, being taken out frequently and consistently on a leash. Remember a puppy or dog has to relieve itself shortly after waking up, after eating and after playtimes. When the puppy or dog goes in the appropriate place, a lot of praise and reinforcement should be given (at least 20 seconds). Dogs or puppies should not be given run of the house until they are housebroken.
•  Remember ... unless you catch your dog in the act of having "an accident," it does NO good to scold, yell and /or rub his/her nose in it.
• On average, premium brand foods will make housebreaking easier simply because the dog needs to eat less and "Less in means less out". These foods may cost more up front, but the dog will eat less in the long run and everything should balance out.
• Crate training is recommended for dogs getting acclimated to their new homes (if you do not know what crate training is please ask for more information).

Chewing

• Puppies will continue to chew until 10-14 months of age because, even though their teeth are in, they are still developing their jaw strength and have the need to chew.
• Chewing can be cut down on with regular exercise, mental stimulation and appropriate chew toys.
• Here is some information on common toys:

Kongs: Hard, hollow rubber. Are great filled with treats, peanut butter, cheese, etc. Are easily cleaned in the dishwasher. The black rubber is the most durable.

Natural Sterilzed Bones: Hard and hollow. Are great filled with treats, peanut butter, cheese, etc. Are easily cleaned in the dishwasher. Should be used under supervision with hard chewers or with dogs with delicate teeth. These can chip teeth if the dog is a heavy chewer.

Goodie Ships/planets: Hard rubber toys in which you can stick treats for the dog to work getting out. The black rubber is the most durable.

Rope Toys: Great chew and tug toys. Also good when soaked in water and put in the freezer. This helps teething puppies.

Buster Cubes or Roll-a-Treat Balls: Not chewable but can help prevent boredom by having the dog have to work to get the food out.

Nylabones: Good and safe for chewers but relatively boring for the dog. They can be made more interesting by soaking them in chicken broth.

Rawhides: Should be used under supervision. Large bones are recommended for the dog to gnaw on. Chipped rawhide and small pieces and sticks can get "gummed up" and dangerous if swallowed in large chunks.

Chew Hooves: Good when used under supervision. Dogs can break off large pieces that occasionally have sharp tips. These should be discarded when they become small.

Pig Ears: No real nutritional value. Quickly consumed and don't curb the need to chew. Very fattening to the dog.

Any toy that is consumable (hooves, rawhides, etc)

should only be given under supervision.