Let’s talk about the beginning of your life with your dog. You’ve brought your dog home, they are now a family member and then…cue screeching brakes sound. What happened to that adorable bundle of fur you brought home just months ago? It seems as though your little heap of heaven has disappeared, vanished. What now have living in your home is a complete stranger or maybe even a monster.
Everything you’ve done, all the hard work, out the window. So where did that heavenly piece of squishy cuteness go? Or maybe it’s your rescue (second hand dog) that has disappeared; the one that fit in immediately and made it all seem so simple. Out of one life and into another without a hiccup.
So what what the heck is going on? You were sure that once the puppy regret stage was over and your k9 guardianship kicked in and felt good; that everything was just going to be uphill from that point. Well, not so much. There are many, many different stages in a dog’s life. Some great, some trying and some really hard to understand.
As puppies get older they often get bolder, more confident, have more energy and seem to forget everything that you’ve ever taught them. Additionally, there are fear periods scattered throughout the first year of their life; some small but some really substantial. This can mean that things your puppy was cool with one day; may not be cool the very next day.
The rescue that you thought was amazing and fit right in; the one that hadn’t barked since you brought them home is now barking at everything, tearing things up and spooking at the smallest things. When you bring home a rescue or second hand dog; you don’t typically get to see what you have for sometime. At first they are sort of shutdown; they have no idea who you are, where they are or what the heck is going on. Everything is new and if they’ve been to a couple of foster homes before your home; then they really don’t think that they’ll be staying.
With a second hand dog; seeing the k9 that you brought home can take time. As time passes they will start to feel more comfortable and confident. More time passes and they think that maybe they are staying in this new place. All of a sudden their true self starts to emerge; which is where a lot of people see a dog that they’ve never seen before.
The adolescent stage for puppies or relaxing stage or a rescue is the part of the canine/human connection when you really start to bond with your dog. For the young puppies, keep training. Be consistent and it will come back quickly. You can do it! Yes you can, I know you can.
With the rescue dogs who now seem like a stranger in your home, get to know them. They’ve had a rough start in life; they’ve been through so much change that they are now finally letting their guard down and relaxing.
You may have a lot of work to do with either but it is a work of love.