Pet adoption rates across Australia have been steadily increasing over recent years thanks to increased promotion and community awareness. There are many benefits to adopting a more mature dog. Not starting from scratch helps avoid much of the craziness and mess associated with puppies. And what you see is what you get: the dog’s personality and size should be apparent, so there are no surprises. Just because a dog is available for adoption doesn’t mean they automatically have problems. Many rescue dogs are well trained and well behaved. However, some may exhibit unruly behaviour simply due to a lack of training, but these problems can generally be resolved with good management and consistent training.
Set your rescue dog up for success
Be prepared for it to take several weeks before your new companion feels at home. If possible take a few days off work when the dog first arrives, so they have company and can be supervised and managed in the early stages. Following are some simple tips to help rescue dogs settle in to their new environment.
Routine: Dogs like routine; it helps them feel secure. If they’re not allowed on the furniture, then keep them off the furniture right from the start. You must be consistent. When you leave the house, always offer your dog something to keep them occupied while you are gone — this helps them to be comfortable spending time on their own. A KONG Classic stuffed with food like treats and kibble is a great place to start. If your dog is speedy at getting the food out, you can stuff it with wet food and freeze it overnight.
To be continued …
Keep your eyes out for PETS 54 where Dr Katrina shares more of her fabulous re-homing tips.
For more information, visit kongcompany.com.
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