No, I don't mean a wardrobe full of clothes. I mean dogs who have lived elsewhere before coming into your life. They usually arrive with baggage. Sometimes new owners create that "baggage" all by themselves. That shouldn't mean giving up on the dog. On the contrary, it should mean giving him every opportunity to learn how to live compatibly in your household and have a new leash on life.
Recently, respected dog trainer and Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (IAABC), Pat Miller's newest book, Do Over Dogs was released by Dogwise. It's nearly 200 pages chock full of good advice for dog owners and potential owners.
This book should be read by everyone who plans to adopt a shelter dog and by every shelter volunteer. Shelters are scary places for dogs. They've been abandoned by their family and placed in a noisy, cold environment with precious little comfort. They don't know why they lost their home. The simple explanation is that their owners didn't properly prepare themselves to own a dog and the cute little puppy was never trained, thereby turning into a dog who overwhelmed them. In fact, this book would be a good addition to any dog owner's library.
So often people turn to friends or neighbors for advice when they really need to turn to someone who knows what they're doing and is using scientific methods to resolve problems. They may well need the in person assistance of a veterinary behaviorist, or another qualified professional such a a certified behavior consultant. Having a copy of this book handy is a good start and may help you before you have to "call in the troops," depending up the issue(s) and how deeply ingrained the problem has become.
Adopting a new family member is always an adventure and a wonderful undertaking. With help for any problems and the right (positive) training methods, the story of your newcomer will end in Happily Ever After....
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