First steps
When you first bring home your new puppy/dog, they will be unsure about what is happening in their world.
For a puppy, that safe haven with mum and littermates has now gone. Everything will be totally different.
But….hopefully you will have spent time with the puppy before bringing him/her home, so they’ve had time to get to know you.
If you’ve taken on a rescue/rehome dog then again, the world they knew (kennels, another home here in UK or from another country), has all changed. Again, hopefully you will have spent time with your adopted dog, before bringing them home.
You are now their guardian, their friend. You give them access to all the things they need:
- Food and water to survive and grow.
- Stimulation, exercise and positive experiences to allow them to develop.
- Positive training to guide them.
All these are reasons why building a positive bond with them is important!
Building a bond
Building the bond takes time and patience. Help them to make the best choices so that you both enjoy your time together.
It’s so important that you provide a safe space for your dog/puppy in your home. They need a space where they can relax and sleep. A space where no-one hassles them. This is very important in busy households and where there are toddlers and children.
Everyone wants to meet and greet and play with your new addition, but give the dog/puppy time to check out their new home first. Let them explore at their own pace, indoors and outdoors. This gentle approach will help build their confidence. -Don’t rush or push them into doing everything YOU want them to do.
If your new dog/puppy has an accident in the home, don’t get mad at them. They are learning where they can and can’t toilet. It is your job to keep an eye on them and guide them to their toilet area on a regular basis.
Remember, the set up at their last home is very different your home. They need to learn all about this new place.
Spending quiet time with your new dog/puppy is important. Relax and enjoy doing nothing together.
When you do start to go on walks, try to go at their pace. If they stop to look and listen, let them do this.
There is a great chapter in the book by Steve Mann –
Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy, about The Rucksack Walk. It’s worth getting Steve’s book to help you. He has also written a book for owners of adult dogs – Easy Peasy Doggie Squeezy. These books are about positive, reward-based training and building positive bonds with your dog. The books are light-hearted, realistic and fun to read too.
Staying positive
If you are getting frustrated with your dog/puppy and struggling to communicate and train them, do your research to find a positive trainer in your area (or on line if necessary). These trainers should be able to help you build the bond and prevent you from damaging the relationship between you and your dog/puppy.
Staying positive isn’t always easy, so when it all gets too much put your dog/puppy in the safe space you have created for them, while you have time to relax and gather your thoughts before spending time with them again.
Don’t get angry with them – they don’t deliberately do the ‘wrong’ things – they just need more guidance from you to make the right choices.
If they chew your shoes, whose fault is that? YOURS! – because they had access to your shoes. They don’t know the difference between a dog toy and a pair of shoes.
Planning and prep is key to helping things go smoothly.
Set your home up to make sure they can’t get into areas where you don’t want them to go. Baby gates are ideal for this.
Remember dogs/puppies might chew cables, cushions, furniture, etc. if they are stressed or are left alone for too long. Plan things to occupy them. Build up to leaving them alone for longer periods of time.
With time, patience and positive training methods, you can build a lovely bond which means your dog/puppy will want to spend time with you and will listen and respond well to your cues.
Put the positive training into practice early on and you will build the bond and the trust between you. Enjoy!
