ADOPTING AN ADULT DOG

GIVE THEM MINIMUM 30 DAYS TO BOND COMPLETELY 

(3)  One thing I have heard in my life repeated by up to 75% of people that adopt an older dog (even some puppies) from SPCA's or Animal Shelters is that the dog "WAS ABUSED".  Because it is so Submissive, acts so Afraid, or maybe even shows aggression.  And the (majority) of the time, people say it had to be a "MAN" because the dog is more afraid of men.  Men walk, talk, look, move more dominantly then children or women.  They tread heavier on their feet, their voice is gruffer, they are usually larger, every movement is more masculine.  Men with beards, even moustaches or bushy hair are even more frightening because to the dog, that man has his "Hackles" raised and wants to fight. All reasons men are conceived to be more dangerous to a dog.

    NOTE: Dogs that are afraid of children are frightened by the children's quicker, less controlled movements and higher pitched voices (including squeals and laughter).  Dogs will bite children out of fear (classed as Fear Biting whether children or adults).  Not because they are aggressive or hate children but because they are afraid of them.  NOTE: But in some cases, a running small child may excite the dog to chase and bite the child as for a split second the child may be perceived as a "Prey Animal" in flight. Also researched when children move quickly or wave their hands/arms quickly like a startled prey animal.  These cases are different than Fear Biting but not a true act of Aggression that cannot be solved.  I am talking about one quick bite not a dog savagely mauling a child with intent to kill or cripple. 

    Okay here goes:  Less than .01% of dogs have ever been Abused!!!  "Neglected" often yes, but not Abused.  That is .01%, not even a full 1%.

    An adult dog going to a new home and even some pups are filled with FEAR because they miss their "Old Home Territory" and their "Last People".  Dogs miss their territory possibly worse than even their humans.  All animals are territorial and lost and confused in a new territory until given time to FULLY adjust to it.  Dogs miss their last people (it has been researched even if mistreated by the past owners).  They need to adjust, lots of time in some cases.  Two days or a week or even two weeks just does not cut it.  Give them time.  Dogs have memories too and you cannot expect a dog to forget it's past over night or to conform to "New House Rules" over night either.

  NOTE:  True aggression is determined by the dogs dominant/rigid body stance, body position in relation to intended target, the tightening of the muscles in preparation of coming attack, the way the tail is held, the way the dog holds its head (higher or sometimes slightly lowered to protect their own throat as if the intended victim were another canine who will retaliate), not just growling or barking but actually snarling (difference in tightness of lips pulled back to expose teeth), (barking has become deeper and more eveningly spaced at intended target) moving with aggressive/measured placement of feet, (as if intended victim was another canine that could knock it off its feet during the attack), hackles may be raised, etc.
 

(5)  It is preferable to keep the name the dog came with.  A dog knows its name.  Suddenly it is in a new home with new people and they are trying to get it to behave or teach it and don't even call it by name.  It is so much harder on the dog to have to realize that when they say that NEW WORD, these strangers mean him/her???  If you simply must change it's name, do so gradually by saying both the old and the new name together, finally dropping the old name after a couple of weeks.

(6)  Immediately get an I.D. tag for the dog with its name and your phone number on it.  That way if it gets lost, it can be returned to you.  Always take pictures of the dog both when freshly groomed and also when in need of being groomed.  That way you can put both pictures on "Posters" to help find your dog if it goes missing.  A picture of a dog freshly groomed does not help someone recognize the dog two months later when it is in full coat.  Or Vice Versa!!!

(7)  A dog going to a new home even though well house trained may have a few accidents "sometime" in those first crucial 30 days.  This is to be expected until it learns the new homes routines, etc.  Also the dog may chew or bark, be more submissive, more aggressive, etc. etc. from the "Mental Stress" it is under until it adjusts. 

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