Doggone Etiquette —

The Newcomer

By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:                           

Are you really a good little puppy? Or are you just trying to be the good little puppy your nice people would like you to be? That’s good enough for starters. When you are a puppy, or perhaps an older but new dog in the house, it can be very hard to know what you have to do (or not do) in order to please everyone. Of course, sometimes (let’s hope not too often) you do whatever you like to please yourself – and then wait and see if the people like it, too. Do that too often and you’ll find out in a hurry all about punishments.

A Word to the Dog’s Owner:            

Bringing a new puppy into your life entails a lot more than simply having fun with a young dog. When you acquire that pup, you have also taken on a long-term commitment and a big responsibility, no matter how small the pup may be. There’s also all the dedicated work involved including such things as training, feeding, exercising, grooming and of course health care. But both you and the dog have one common goal and that is the companionship you will share. You and your new puppy will be friends for life and that outweighs any of the “puppy problems” you may run into.

Speaking of problems, there is at least one we can try to help with. The major problem with a new puppy is housebreaking. And it is very important to note that this also applies to a dog of any age that’s new to your household. Weather plays a major role in when most puppies go into new homes, with spring, summer, and fall always preferable. It’s not so strange when you think about it. It’s a lot easier to tackle housebreaking when you can pop outside at regular intervals and not encounter snow-banks.

Two good basic starts to housetraining either a puppy or a new older dog are the use of a crate for safe sleeping, and regular trips outdoors to a specific area for elimination. Dogs thrive on routine, so set up a schedule and stick to it. Last thing before bedtime Rufus has to be taken outside to the spot you have selected for him to use. Lots of praise AS he performs – not one second afterward! Then he goes into his crate with a “good-dog, good-night” biscuit.

First thing in the morning, open the crate, snap on his leash and take him out to his area immediately. This is the dog’s first essential trip of the day. Left to wander about the house even for a few minutes will result in an accident. It is every bit as important to do this with the older new dog. It’s one more thing he has to learn about the new routine in his new home, as opposed to the one wherever he lived before.

A big mistake is to let a new dog of any age sleep on your bed or anywhere in the house of his choosing. The crate is the dog’s private den, all his own, and a place where he will feel safe and secure anytime you need him to be confined. For now, you are his master, his boss. A new dog that sleeps on your bed has too quickly elevated himself to be your equal. If sharing your bed with Rufus is your preference, save it for late. Don’t do this right away.

Maybe you are still thinking about getting a young puppy and starting a lifetime friendship from scratch, or perhaps you are still trying to find the breed that’s right for you. Lots of dog shows are coming up in our area, so you can easily meet and greet different breeds, talk to the breeders about temperament, grooming, exercising needs, and ask any questions you may have. All of which will help lead you to the dog that will be your friend-for-life.

Until next time – BE GOOD!

- Bardi

Bardi McLennan bred, trained and showed Welsh Terriers for 30 years, during which time she wrote a monthly column on canine behavior in Dog Fancy Magazine. In addition to contributing to numerous dog publications, she has written 15 books on dogs, the latest being Rescue Me!, which received the ASPCA Humane Issues Award in 2008.