Generally speaking, when you rescue or adopt a dog, he is on good behavior for the first few days because he is becoming acclimated to the habits and rhythms of your life and his new surroundings. It's a learning situation for both of you. The fact that you're reading this tells me that you're really concerned about giving him the best life he can ever have. Please read Your New Rescue Dog for more information.

All of my dogs have been rescues, and I have personally experienced transitions with each of them many times. So I have a pretty good idea of how you are feeling and how your dog is feeling. Sometimes what you intend and how your dog interprets what you do are two different things. You can only come from your frame of reference, and he can only use his.

There is generally a "honeymoon" period which lasts for about three months. During this time, your new dog is testing you and his new life to see how he fits in and, sometimes, how he can make things better for himself. What you do during this period has an impact on the outcome on your ultimate relationship.

Sometimes when you rescue or adopt a dog, they come with "issues" -- potty training, separation anxiety, fears, aggression, unruliness, and/or destruction. Each dog is different, and so is each new owner/guardian, so you are starting on a clean slate with each other. BUT we need to take into account everything both of you has learned in the past and restructure it so you will both enjoy a behaviorally healthy relationship. Sometimes this takes a short time and sometimes not.

There are several contributing factors: the age of the dog, how long he has had the problem, how much you work with the program, his new environment, his new family, as well as other factors.

Sometimes people call me a day or two after they adopt a dog because they want to do the right thing and begin training right away. I like these people! You can choose private lessons, group classes, or a combination of both. Before we meet, you fill out a questionnaire so I can learn a bit more about you and your dog.

Private sessions are the best because we can help your dog's behavior evolve the way you want and I can personalize a training program specifically for you and your dog. You will also learn to read your dog's behavior. You will learn what behaviors to look for that may signal future problems. We will work on obedience and manners exercises in the familiar surroundings of your home so I can tailor a program specifically to you and your new dog. After we finish the private sessions, most dogs may take unlimited group obedience/manners classes at no charge. This gives you the best of both worlds -- learning in a familiar setting and then transferring it to a more distracting environment.

You also may enroll in a combination of one private 90-minute session and five group obedience/manners classes. In the private session, we usually work on whatever simple behavior issues your dog has or deal with simple nuisance behaviors. We may address more complex behavior issues, but please understand that many times, these issues take more than one session to resolve. Sometimes simply by management, the issue disappears. We discuss how to do this, but I may let you know that we cannot "solve" the problem with one session. But we can get started.

The group classes are obedience and manners classes. You and your dog learn a method of communication so you both can understand each other, and you learn how to give your dog some structure in his life.

Please call me at 1-877-7-DOGGIE so we can discuss what is best for you and your new dog. I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

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