WHERE AM I?…………………AND WHO ARE THESE
PEOPLE?
Imagine being air-dropped, alone, into a
strange country where nothing is familiar; you do not know anyone, the rules of
acceptable behavior have changed and you cannot speak the language. It would be confusing, if not downright
scary and you would be bound to upset a few people before you got the hang of
things. This is probably how your
new rescue Lab is going to feel, although he may not show his/her
confusion. As far as he/she knows,
you are just another part of the parade of people who have passed through
his/her life lately, and your home is just another stopover…
The Lab you are adopting has been
through a difficult journey that started when his/her family gave him up or he
became lost. He may have been
under stress or neglected in his past life or frightened by being
homeless. His first stop was at a
shelter, town pound, or concerned stranger’s home…..then, we were contacted and
saw him. Next, he was temperament
tested, medically updated and neutered/spayed. Sometimes these dogs are brought
by their owner directly to us, and then the people simply drive away. From here,
they enter into our foster program, either in a home foster or a kennel. Although, it is designed to be a low
stress stay, it is still a confusing situation for most dogs and produces some
anxiety.
In the process of transforming your
dog’s confusion into security, it is important to look at things from his perspective. Labs are eager to please their owners
once they understand the rules. It
is your job to communicate clear rules in a way your dog can understand. Be sensitive to the fact that in your
dog’s previous home he may have been encouraged to sit on the sofa, beg for
food, jump up for attention or play roughly. If it is not permissible, teach him, do not blame him. Be kind and patient. Dogs need
repetition and consistency and to learn.
Instruct him using positive
reinforcement so that he does not feel defensive or confused. Reward him for good behavior with
treats, hugs and a happy voice.
Corrections for inappropriate behavior should be used sparingly. Labs can be sensitive, and often a calm but firm verbal
reprimand is enough.
We strongly suggest taking an obedience
class, even if your new Lab is well trained. You will find it a fun and rewarding way to bond with your
new family member and no dog or owner is ever too old to learn. A new owner will learn updated teaching
techniques based on positive reinforcement. Obedience classes are also a great environment for
dogs that need to improve social skills with people and dogs. Classes also
provide a resource of information and support for you and your dog during this
adjustment phase.
As your Lab settles and starts to learn the rules in his new
home, he will get more comfortable.
The transition time for each dog is different, taking from a few weeks
to a few months for him to completely settle in and adjust to his new
life. Like people, dogs deal with
change and stress in many different ways.
Some dogs will be overly active (pacing, panting, drooling), other dogs
will be a bit depressed (lethargic, won’t eat) by the loss of family and
surroundings, some are needy and clingy, still others might be a bit defensive
and worried and then there are those dogs that take it in their stride. No matter what your dog’s reaction,
remember to go slowly, start teaching the new rules from day one and be
respectful of the difficulty of being airdropped into a different world.
It will take time for your new companion
Lab to bond with you. Offer
love and guidance but never force yourself on your new dog. Children
must be closely supervised when with your new dog and excessive contact should
be limited during this time.
Keeping the environment quiet for the first few days will be
important. Allow your dog to get
comfortable with your home and new rules before he meets your friends, family
and the neighborhood. Your rescue
Lab may drink excessive amounts of water his first week; this is due to
stress. He may make a mistake, so
therefore try to be aware of water intake and take him out more often. Be consistent on what door he goes out
in order to relieve himself so he can begin to let you know when he needs to go
out.
Be realistic about your expectations
during the transition period.
Never assume that your dog can cope with all the new situations in his
life without a problem or two. Set
up precautionary measures when he is alone in the house, when he first meets
new children, when around unfamiliar dogs and get him outside more often to
help him to adjust to a new toileting schedule.
Be extremely careful when taking your
dog “out and about” for the first few months. Do not assume that he will come to you when called or he
will automatically stay with you on a walk. Use a Martingale type of collar or well-fitted collar when
out walking so he can’t slip or back out of his collar if panicked. Well-fitted
harnesses also work well. Regular nylon
collars should always have i.d. tags affixed. Keep this on all the time, even
if you’re using a choke collar for leash walks. Most importantly, do not allow him off leash in an
unfenced area until you are sure he
will come when called, even when distracted; NEVER allow your dog
off-lead near any road with passing cars or train tracks. Getting your new dog to come when
called takes practice and must always be a positive experience. Food rewards combined with
praise work well. Letting
your dog off lead before he is ready could teach him bad habits or worse case
cause a horrible tragedy.
Now that you had had the opportunity to
consider this new relationship from the rescue Lab’s perspective, we know you will
do your best to make this strange new land into a safe and happy home. Be positive, be consistent, work out a
daily routine and use lots of praise and positive reinforcement. Your
time will be well rewarded with a devoted lifelong companion.