[nagdu] Coming home

[Buddy Brannan]

Hi Eve,

I think this is really, really important, and it's a good question. 

I'm sure some will disagree and correct me on the finer points, but here goes, just my thoughts and experiences, your mileage may vary, batteries not included.

First, when you go home with your dog, remember this. Everything is new to your dog. The only constant in your dog's life, the minute you leave school, is you. This is why they tell you at school to ease your dog into your life as gently as possible or practical, and try not to throw too much at him at once. 

As for keeping your dog on leash when you get home, with all of my dogs, I have kept them on leash, full time, and if not on leash, in a crate or tie down, exclusively, for at least a couple weeks. Yes, I know, it's inconvenient, it's a pain in the ass, it gets in your way, it cramps your style, whatever. Deal. This isn't for you, it's for your dog. Because you're the constant in your dog's life right now, you have to establish all the rules and boundaries, and your dog will ask, in lots of different ways, whether the rules still apply. It's up to you to assure him that they do. The easiest way to do this is to have your dog near to hand, so that when he gets into mischief, you can stop it quickly and decisively. It's lots easier to set boundaries in the beginning than it is to go back and undo the damage later. 

Of course, that's just part of it. Another part is to reinforce the partnership. If your dog is used to being near you in the beginning, when everything's new and you are the constant in his world, he'll stay near you on his own. Being near you means that he's not somewhere else chewing the legs off of your antique wood chair. 

Having your dog near you also means you get to reinforce all your house rules. One of our house rules is that dogs shall not be in the kitchen, unless accompanied directly by one of us, or on their way to going outside to park. Also, dogs do not go down the basement steps. Easy to teach the first few weeks home when the dog's on leash at all times. Once they learn the boundaries, they respect the boundaries. Give 'em an inch though, and they'll take a mile. 

Mind you, I said I have kept my dogs on leash full time for at least two weeks. You may lengthen that if you need. You may shorten it if you really think it's a good idea, but give it some serious thought first. And in any case, freedo never comes all at once. After that first two weeks, I would increase the amount of off-leash time and space gradually, until such time as I feel I can trust the dog completely off leash. This has worked great for all three of my dogs. They all respect boundaries and house rules. 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Dec 27, 2012, at 4:55 PM, Eve Sanchez <celticyaya at gmail.com> wrote:

> Okay, so this is the post I was planning. It may show relation to other
> thread, but I am hoping to get a little deeper here. I know that the
> different schools have different policies on coming home and how to work
> with the dog in the first months, but still, putting that aside, people do
> not always go by what is recommended and instead do their own things.
> Mostly I am wondering from the experienced people. Do you keep your dogs on
> leash for a certain amount of time at home? If so how long? And how does
> this work out with the other animals? I know dogs and cats always want to
> get a little friendlier than they should, they do even at school, so how is
> this handled? Do you all go by recommendations or what?How does it work for
> you and not only in regards to the other animals in the house. Blessed Be.
> Eve
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