greenvet-hanoi
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ADJUSTMENT PROCESS FOR NEW DOG:
A dog moved into a new foster home or an adoptive home is definitely under great stress which may or may not be quite obvious.
The best way to reduce stress for the dog and make life easier for everyone is to keep stress to a minimum as much as possible. Ideally, the best way to handle the situation is to keep things at a low pace the ten days or more: – no new people introductions, no trips in the car, no travels off of your property, keep toy activity to a minimum, reduce verbal or physical corrections for infractions. Low demands on you, low demands on the dog. Quiet and peaceful few days as each of you learn how to get along privately.
Is your new dog panting a lot? Pacing around? Seems to be a little agitated and jumpy? Overly alert or overly submissive? Don't you become overly concerned as these are all natural stress reducers the dog uses. (Check out a thin book by Turid Ruugas about Dog Stress... "Calming Signals")
POTTY ACCIDENTS:
Potty accidents inside of the dogs new home are not uncommon when dogs are moved from one living situation to another -- to new people and new surroundings. We just expect it to occur if the dog is given any chance at all. Most likely the reason for housebreaking setbacks is that the humans are not picking up on the signals the dog is giving – as they may be quiet soft signs rather than doggy doorbell ringing or obvious aggitation. The dog may give signals like nudging you, play bowing, come up to you and then leaving the room/area, or simply staring at you. These are signals easy to overlook, even though the dog assumes he is being very obvious and you choose to ignore him.
To reduce the likelihood of potty accidents in the house:
First you MUST clean up any potty spots on the floor using a liquid like Natures Miracle (available at any petstore) to remove all traces of odor - reducing continued peeing on the same spot.
The two new GSD imported in Vietnam from Germany.
You need to go outside WITH THE DOG (on leash) every trip outdoors, taking the dog to any specific are you wish her to use every day, waiting until she starts to go and begin praising.
Try to "prevent" the potty accidents from happening rather than punish afterwards. Although it makes sense that punishment for peeing inside the house would reduce the likelihood of reoccurrence, it just doesn't seem to work like it should.
Prevention is the key here. You need to limit the amount of freedom that your new dog has inside your home... to virtually NONE ZERO. Limit her from being out of your view by attaching a leash to her inside the house and keeping her with you at all times, maybe even tying her to your belt. No sneaking off to a back room to pee somewhere when you aren't looking. If you see her start to indicate that she may pee, tell her "time to go outside... and go potty", and Then take her out.
At night you can either crate her or tie her to your bed or wrist very short. You may want to close bedroom doors at night too.
Indoor accidents will subside once your dog feels more safe and secure inside your home. I don't think she is marking your house "this is my place", but rather is nervous and reacting by having to pee more often.
I would give her zero freedom inside the house. Always supervised. Always leashed. In your control. Give it about 10 days of this and you will probably have no more potty accidents.
Your dog needs to learn your routine. The time you go to bed and the time you get up. Her hours will adjust to fit yours eventually, and it can take up to a couple weeks to see the more permanent acceptance of the new hours. At first it surely is confusing and stressful to her, but she will be fine before long. We have learned that the confusion is an acceptable part of our dog rescue work. So we know that she will settle in before too long, appear less worried and stressful, become truly happy and secure, and make you one delightful companion buddy. So if you see lots of panting lately, just assume that is part of the stress.
So in the meantime, give her no opportunity to select your living room as a toilet, either in the day hours or at night.
OFF LEASH:
Right now I would not allow your new dog any time off leash, at least for a few days. She needs to know that she has no choice but to return to you when called, that there is no alternative. That coming to you is the best thing that can happen to her. Every time she comes up within reach/touch, you reward her with a quick pet/toy tug/treat or something... and then release her again quickly with your word of choice (I use "okay"... or "let's go"). But best if the dog is kept on leash for the first few days. You can "long line" her by attaching a long leash (25 to 50 feet long) or by using the flexi-lead. Those long lines are a life-saver and definitely teach the dog that it can have some freedom, but MUST RETURN when called.
I always suggest to new adopters that the dog not be given time off leash at all for at least a week or two. And then earn freedoms off leash as the dog has "earned" my trust to obey the "HERE" command. Keep in mind that the dog will respond more reliably to a "here" command when there are little or no distractions around. But see another dog at play, and you will have a dog that will REFUSE to come back. And you definitely want to TEACH your dog that the command “HERE” does have to be obeyed. Be sure you can trust her before you give her too much freedom.
Keeping her on leash will be okay for awhile and not hurt her at all. It will help her bond to you, to learn to depend on you. Until bonded, no dog will pay much attention to people. Bonding is a continual process that takes time, but improvements are definitely noticed at around 10 days to 2 weeks.