Dr Katrina Warren
advises on helping your
rescue dog settle into
his new home.68 http://www.petsmagazine.com.au
PETS | KONG Promotional Feature
trained. Take them outside regularly for toilet
breaks and reward them with treats and praise
when they go in the desired area. Be conscious
not to reward any behaviour that is attention-
seeking, like jumping up and mouthing. Focus
on rewarding any behaviours that you want
from your dog. For example, ask them to sit and
give them a treat when they do so.TEACH THEM TO ENJOY HANDLING,
PATS AND GROOMING
Your new companion may not be comfortable
being handled. They may even be fearful of
your hands touching or petting them. Teach
your dog that pats and being touched result
in something enjoyable happening, like being
given a treat. Start very slowly — for example,
touch their feet for a couple of seconds and
immediately follow this with a treat.GIVE THEM LOTS OF SAFE THINGS TO DO
The act of chewing can help with separation
anxiety and reduce stress in some dogs. Set up
good chew habits from the start by off ering
safe chew toys such as the KONG
Classic (for adult dogs) stuff ed with
food. The KONG comes in many
sizes and strengths and caters for
diff erent chewing styles, from
puppies and regular chewers up
to the KONG Extreme for dogs
with powerful jaws.Adopting a dog is one of the most rewarding
things you can do. Not only are you helping a
dog in need, you are potentially saving a life.
Adopted dogs often need a little patience as
they transition from life in a shelter to living
in a home environment. I have a few tips
to help them settle into their new home as
quickly as possible.HELP THEM FEEL SAFE
It might take a while for your new dog to
settle and get to know you. It’s important to
give them space and time while they explore
their new home. Don’t fl ood them with
stimulation like lots of visitors or heading to
off -leash dog parks, as they need to build
up their confi dence slowly. Teach children
to let their new friend spend some time on
their own, especially when they are sleeping,
eating or lying on their bed. Hand-feeding
them some kibble or treats may help them feel
comfortable around you.USE REWARDBASED TRAINING
Your new dog cannot be expected to know
your house rules, and the quickest way to
teach them is using rewards for appropriate
behaviour. A reward is something that
really motivates your dog — this is usually a
yummy treat, although some dogs are highly
motivated by toys. Use lots of treats to reward
all desired behaviours such as sitting, lying on
the bed or behaving calmly. Just fi ve minutes
of training three times a day can make a huge
diff erence to your dog’s behaviour very quickly.PREVENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR
UNWANTED BEHAVIOUR
It is important to set up your dog for success.
Don’t leave them unsupervised inside the house
until you are confi dent they are properly toiletFor more information, visit
kongcompany.comWITH DR KATRINA WARREN
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