We have received a lot of calls lately, much more than normal, asking us for help in "rehoming" dogs. Most of these calls come from customers we've had recently or in the past, so we know the dogs. The caller wants to find their pet a new home for very a predictable reason: the dog has a behavior problem.  Chasing cars, too protective, fearful, aggressive at the fence, or simply " too much to handle". Most of the time these are young animals, 1-4 years old. We have no qualms with finding a pet a new home if it cannot fit into it's owner's lifestyle, and we appreciate people reaching out and weighing their options. But the problem, the heartbreak, lies in WHY the dog is failing to live in the human world. The puppy was never socialized, never taught "no", not molded to differentiate between correct behavior and misbehavior. Taken from the litter too early, too late, rescued without insight. No obedience training, leash training, or house manners. No consideration of the dog's breed or background upon adoption or purchase. Basically, dogs fail at living with us because we as owners fail to teach them the basic rules of living in our human centered world. We also believe that people who make dogs their profession should make a goal of teaching dog owners to be better at teaching their family dog.

We implore you to put real thought into your choice of a dog. Educate yourself on choosing a puppy. Understand the different breeds. Spend the first year of your puppy's life taking them everywhere you go. Let them experience all kinds of environments, people, and animals. Take them to a groomer. Even if you think your dog will never need a groomer, let them experience, more than once, the feel of a strange environment. Leave your puppy with friends and family, and let them experience boarding or doggy daycare. These experiences are especially important between the ages of 5-8 months, as your puppy is just a teenager and ready to explore the world! 

Please invest in puppy classes, obedience classes, or even Rally or Agility. Enforce good manners consistently and kindly. Reward your puppy profusely, and keep corrections to an absolute minimum. Dogs are hard wired to be with people, so allow your puppy to be with you or other people as much as possible. Isolation leads to destructive behavior.

If you adopt a grown dog, be absolutely prepared for anything. Keep in mind the dog may have been relinquished or abandoned for a reason. Destruction of property, escape artist, barking, fear aggression, severe separation anxiety, car chasing, exercise requirements....these are all common reasons pet dogs are relinquished at shelters. Make sure your home environment is set up to handle the size of dog you are getting. Educate yourself on the breed, and communicate thoroughly with the adopting agency. Ask yourself if you realistically have enough time, money, and knowledge to manage any behavior issue you foresee.

Our dogs give us their faithful loyalty, really from the minute they are born. As domesticated animals, they depend on us. And we depend on them. They benefit us with their loyalty and affection, and brighten our lives with their comedy and intelligence. They work for us. It's the least we can do, to educate ourselves and go the extra mile to give them the time and commitment they deserve.

If you are having trouble with your dog, or just want some training tips, call us.