A few months back I was invited by a local dog-related publication to write an article for their magazine. The editor suggested that I write something to help new dog guardians when bringing their new dog home, which I thought it was a great idea. After submitting the article and being told by the editor that she liked it and would use it in the next issue, I got an email from the editor just before publication saying the following: The editorial review committee have decided they don't want to use your article as it stands because they felt it tried to cover too much ground and didn't give enough basic "how to:" information for new pet owners… If you chose to write about the Kong feeding, we would want an acknowledgment that this is controversial and have you give the pros and cons of using this method.
Needless to say, I was surprised to receive her communication and decided not to write another article for the publication. I never found out who the “editorial review committee” is or more importantly what their knowledge of dog behavior and counseling about this topic to new pup “parents” might be. The fact that the committee finds feeding dogs via Kongs™ (or other food-dispensing toys) “controversial” really blows my mind away (and it also tells me something about how little they know about dog behavior, evolution and how to help folks with their new dog at home.)
In any event, as I told the editor, I stand by my advice to new pet guardians as spelled out in my article. Regardless, of if their new dog comes from a shelter or a breeder and if the dog is a puppy or an adult dog. Below you will find the article as I submitted to the publication. I hope you enjoy it!
What does chewing everything in sight, eliminating on carpet and hard wood flooring, digging up the flowerbed, barking when the doorbell rings all have in common? All these behaviors are normal dog behaviors. However, they may be annoying to most people since it is human nature to want our dogs to eliminate outside, bark only when truly necessary, and for our furnishings to remain intact.
The good news is that with a little knowledge, planning, and dedication it is possible for us to co- exist with this different species. The reality is that most dogs are relinquished to shelters because of problems that are not at all complicated to fix. Whether you are adopting a shelter dog or getting your puppy from a breeder, the potential problems at home remain the same.
Here are some tips that if followed closely will help you get through the first few weeks at home with your new pup, and in fairness to your dog, also take into consideration his natural tendencies.
After you have made sure that you have selected the right dog for your lifestyle and you bring him home, take into account that even though you know the rules of your household, your new pal does not.
The first day at home should really be stress free. Ideally, you should bring your dog home when you can spend a few days with him - say just before a weekend. Change is difficult for our animals too, so keep things low key initially - it will go a long way.
Preventing Problems at Home:
You want to make sure you have prepared an area that is safe for your dog to remain in when you cannot attend to him or are out of the home. By "safe" I mean that there are no power cords or plants to chew on, furniture or wooden doors that can be damaged. The ideal place could be a spacious bathroom, or a laundry room or kitchen, as long as the floor can be wiped clean. Now, it is crucial that your dog has something interesting to do while in his safe area. Teach your dog from the get-go to eat out of Kongs™ which are hollow rubber toys created for entertaining your dog, plus providing him with a legal outlet to his canine habits of chewing. In my professional opinion of all the dog toys out there Kongs are by far really designed with dogs in mind. There are other varieties of food dispensing toys which are worth trying out, so present your dog with an assortment. It is okay to mix and match. Initially you need to teach your dog how to extract food out of the toys so make sure you spend some time on this task.
Whichever toys you decide to provide it is crucial that your dog is interested in them and that he can readily extract the kibble out of them. If not, most dogs will get frustrated and forgo the toy for barking or destructive chewing. The idea here is to feed your dog all of his meals out of these toys. Eventually you can moisten the kibble so it expands which becomes harder for the dog to get out, or you can use a sticky matrix such as peanut butter, baby food, etc. to make it more of a challenge. Having to work for his food instead of eating out of a bowl, which will only take your dog just a couple of minutes, stimulates your dog mentally and addresses his natural tendencies of having to search and work for his food.
In addition to teaching your dog to eat out of food dispensing toys, I strongly recommend crate training your dog. Crate training means getting your dog comfortable in a crate of your liking. Crate training is not about forcing the dog into a crate, but slowly introducing the crate to your dog. Once your dog is really enjoying hanging out in his crate, you can use the crate as a management tool when you need it. In cases such as when you are traveling and need to leave your dog in your hotel room while you go out to dinner, or when you take a trip with your dog in the car. It's by far the safest way to take him places.
Crate training your dog will make the tedious job of housetraining a cinch. To help with the crate training process, you will set up the crate with a comfy bed, towel, etc. in his safe area. On the opposite side of the crate - and this is important - place a pad where your dog can eliminate when you cannot take the dog to eliminate outside. Please keep in mind that this set-up is just providing a safe and comfortable place for your dog to be when you cannot spend time with him. But you still must make sure your dog gets daily physical and mental stimulation. Most dogs, unfortunately, are under-stimulated and as a result dogs are bored, stressed out, and can be destructive - not a fun scenario for
either party!
Exercise and Mental Stimulation:
Every dog has different needs when it comes to exercise and mental stimulation. However, dogs are crepuscular creatures which means that they tend to be more active in the early morning and at night, while sleeping long hours throughout the day. Thus, before going to work, make it a habit of taking your dog for a walk. I am not talking about a 10 minute walk around the block! But a true opportunity to sniff and see different sites and people - this will also help with on-going socialization. Alternatively, play with him until you are sure your dog is tired enough to be left behind for a few
hours. Better yet, bite the bullet and have someone come check on your dog mid-day. Dogs are social animals, so spending too many hours alone is really hard on their well being, especially so when your dog is new to your home and routine.
Besides keeping your pup content at home and your home intact, seriously consider taking a reward-based basic obedience class or puppy class so that your new pal learns basic manners and impulse control. Polite manners and acquired confidence will make your pup a pleasure to be around for years to come, and that is not a small bone to chew on.
Needless to say, I was surprised to receive her communication and decided not to write another article for the publication. I never found out who the “editorial review committee” is or more importantly what their knowledge of dog behavior and counseling about this topic to new pup “parents” might be. The fact that the committee finds feeding dogs via Kongs™ (or other food-dispensing toys) “controversial” really blows my mind away (and it also tells me something about how little they know about dog behavior, evolution and how to help folks with their new dog at home.)
In any event, as I told the editor, I stand by my advice to new pet guardians as spelled out in my article. Regardless, of if their new dog comes from a shelter or a breeder and if the dog is a puppy or an adult dog. Below you will find the article as I submitted to the publication. I hope you enjoy it!
What does chewing everything in sight, eliminating on carpet and hard wood flooring, digging up the flowerbed, barking when the doorbell rings all have in common? All these behaviors are normal dog behaviors. However, they may be annoying to most people since it is human nature to want our dogs to eliminate outside, bark only when truly necessary, and for our furnishings to remain intact.
The good news is that with a little knowledge, planning, and dedication it is possible for us to co- exist with this different species. The reality is that most dogs are relinquished to shelters because of problems that are not at all complicated to fix. Whether you are adopting a shelter dog or getting your puppy from a breeder, the potential problems at home remain the same.
Here are some tips that if followed closely will help you get through the first few weeks at home with your new pup, and in fairness to your dog, also take into consideration his natural tendencies.
After you have made sure that you have selected the right dog for your lifestyle and you bring him home, take into account that even though you know the rules of your household, your new pal does not.
The first day at home should really be stress free. Ideally, you should bring your dog home when you can spend a few days with him - say just before a weekend. Change is difficult for our animals too, so keep things low key initially - it will go a long way.
Preventing Problems at Home:
You want to make sure you have prepared an area that is safe for your dog to remain in when you cannot attend to him or are out of the home. By "safe" I mean that there are no power cords or plants to chew on, furniture or wooden doors that can be damaged. The ideal place could be a spacious bathroom, or a laundry room or kitchen, as long as the floor can be wiped clean. Now, it is crucial that your dog has something interesting to do while in his safe area. Teach your dog from the get-go to eat out of Kongs™ which are hollow rubber toys created for entertaining your dog, plus providing him with a legal outlet to his canine habits of chewing. In my professional opinion of all the dog toys out there Kongs are by far really designed with dogs in mind. There are other varieties of food dispensing toys which are worth trying out, so present your dog with an assortment. It is okay to mix and match. Initially you need to teach your dog how to extract food out of the toys so make sure you spend some time on this task.
Whichever toys you decide to provide it is crucial that your dog is interested in them and that he can readily extract the kibble out of them. If not, most dogs will get frustrated and forgo the toy for barking or destructive chewing. The idea here is to feed your dog all of his meals out of these toys. Eventually you can moisten the kibble so it expands which becomes harder for the dog to get out, or you can use a sticky matrix such as peanut butter, baby food, etc. to make it more of a challenge. Having to work for his food instead of eating out of a bowl, which will only take your dog just a couple of minutes, stimulates your dog mentally and addresses his natural tendencies of having to search and work for his food.
In addition to teaching your dog to eat out of food dispensing toys, I strongly recommend crate training your dog. Crate training means getting your dog comfortable in a crate of your liking. Crate training is not about forcing the dog into a crate, but slowly introducing the crate to your dog. Once your dog is really enjoying hanging out in his crate, you can use the crate as a management tool when you need it. In cases such as when you are traveling and need to leave your dog in your hotel room while you go out to dinner, or when you take a trip with your dog in the car. It's by far the safest way to take him places.
Crate training your dog will make the tedious job of housetraining a cinch. To help with the crate training process, you will set up the crate with a comfy bed, towel, etc. in his safe area. On the opposite side of the crate - and this is important - place a pad where your dog can eliminate when you cannot take the dog to eliminate outside. Please keep in mind that this set-up is just providing a safe and comfortable place for your dog to be when you cannot spend time with him. But you still must make sure your dog gets daily physical and mental stimulation. Most dogs, unfortunately, are under-stimulated and as a result dogs are bored, stressed out, and can be destructive - not a fun scenario for
either party!
Exercise and Mental Stimulation:
Every dog has different needs when it comes to exercise and mental stimulation. However, dogs are crepuscular creatures which means that they tend to be more active in the early morning and at night, while sleeping long hours throughout the day. Thus, before going to work, make it a habit of taking your dog for a walk. I am not talking about a 10 minute walk around the block! But a true opportunity to sniff and see different sites and people - this will also help with on-going socialization. Alternatively, play with him until you are sure your dog is tired enough to be left behind for a few
hours. Better yet, bite the bullet and have someone come check on your dog mid-day. Dogs are social animals, so spending too many hours alone is really hard on their well being, especially so when your dog is new to your home and routine.
Besides keeping your pup content at home and your home intact, seriously consider taking a reward-based basic obedience class or puppy class so that your new pal learns basic manners and impulse control. Polite manners and acquired confidence will make your pup a pleasure to be around for years to come, and that is not a small bone to chew on.
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