HELP! The Honeymoon is Over with My New Dog!

Someone once said, “All good things must come to an end.”
But before you give up on your new K9 family member,
there IS help for Creating Your Forever Dog!

It’s really not unusual for canine personalities and temperaments to slowly change and emerge as your new furry friend becomes comfortable in their new home (usually around weeks 3-6). Even humans tend to “push the envelope” once we feel safe and at ease in a new situation.

Adult Dogs & Issues

If you adopted an older dog from a shelter or rescue, you may actually begin to see the problems or issues that actually landed them into the shelter. Always inquire about a rescue dog’s history to understand the challenges you may be taking on when you take Fido home.

In addition, if there was past trauma or negative events in the dog’s past, this may compound and exacerbate new negative behaviors or habits. While behavioral issues can be challenging, most dogs can be rehabilitated with proper and consistent training.

Puppies and Younger Dogs & Issues

When adopting a puppy or younger dog, it’s much easier to head off negative issues by training them early on to be confident, well-socialized and comfortable in all types of situations with all types (and sizes) of pets and people.
Group classes and one-on-one training with a professional dog trainer early on will help build a strong bond with your puppy, reinforce good behaviors and head off potential issues. (Check our training services here.)

What’s Your K9 Issue?

While there’s not a definitive list of negative behaviors, there are some common ones that may manifest once a new dog feels comfortable in his new surroundings. These issues typically include:

• Leash pulling
• Counter surfing
• Jumping fences
• Food aggression
• Separation anxiety
• Destructive chewing
• Accidents in the house
• Phobias and/or anxieties
• Aggression towards other pets
• Negatively reactive to people – or pets – whether on-leash or off-leash

Again, these issues are unwanted and annoying, but they are not a reason to give up on a dog before bringing in some professional training help. Adopting a dog is a lifetime commitment and they deserve some help to adjust into your home and life. The sooner these issues are addressed and replaced with wanted behaviors, the sooner peace and harmony can be restored to your home and life. Professional training will also provide a form of effective communication between you and your new dog and offers your furry friend a real chance to do what you want him to do.

4 Steps When the Honeymoon is Over

1. Remain calm and bring in professional help to properly address any issues! (We can help; click here!)
2. Make sure your dog is getting plenty of daily exercises, both physical and mental.  We recommend activity toys such as the Premier Busy Buddy Twist ‘N Treat, or Interactive Dog Puzzle Toys.
3. Rule out any physical issues with your veterinarian.
4. Establish consistent rules and routines and ensure all family members enforce them.

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Have You Brought a New Dog Into Your Home?

It’s never too early to begin training your new dog or puppy!

Creating Forever Dogs is ready to help you with our professional training services from all thing’s puppy, to seniors by providing one-on-one in-your-home training.
Just call us today at (303) 904-0484 to get started!
And remember, we also offer mid-dog walking, pet sitting and dog grooming!

Schedule Dog Walking or Pet Sitting Sitting Services with Distinctive Pet Care:
(303) 904-0484 or info@DistinctivePetCare.com.

And always keep your dog groomed with The Ken Caryl Pet Spa:
(720) 981-7387 or info@KenCarylPetSpa.com.

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Additional Reading:

1. What to Expect in the First Month with Your Newly Adopted Dog
getyourpet.com/what-to-expect-in-the-first-month-with-your-newly-adopted-dog/

2. How to Help Your Newly Adopted Rescue Dog Settle In
iheartdogs.com/how-to-help-your-newly-adopted-rescue-dog-settle-in/

3. Tips for the First 30 Days of Dog Adoption
www.petfinder.com/dogs/bringing-a-dog-home/tips-for-first-30-days-dog/

4. Puppy Care 101: What to do When You Regret Bringing Home Your New Furry Friend
www.littlethings.com/puppy-blues

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