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3 Week Decompression Birdie and Daisy
Meet Birdie and Daisy
Some of you may be wondering about the two adorable puppies that we have recently taken in. They are headed to a wonderful home but are staying with us for a bit longer, so we can help prepare them with some important life skills.
So much has changed in the week or so since we brought them home. Some of that is due to the fact that they are puppies and puppies are constantly experimenting with new behaviors and seeing which works for them and which doesn’t. The other part of it is that these little ones are puppy mill dogs and whether due to genetics or circumstance, they tend to be somewhat fearful and tentative about the world around them and about new things.
This week, both girls have shown great curiosity about us and have started to feel more comfortable emotionally. They are much more playful, and they’ve proven that they are really into getting food for things. They haven’t totally worked out all the things they can get food for, but they are enjoying getting rewards throughout the day. They even enjoy their multiple naps during the day (yay puppies!). Little Birdie, the black and tan puppy, has discovered that she has a voice, and she’s now considering her career options as an opera singer.
There are a lot we humans can do to influence the behavior of dogs, and we plan to use some of her food rewards to sway her in a quieter direction.
We expect more experimentation from Birdie and her sister in the next few weeks when they are with us. And we also expect some experimentation when they transition into their forever home. Partly because puppies are professionals at that and partly because they don’t know if all the same things that apply in one environment apply in another.
All of this got us thinking about that very popular idea that dogs need 3 weeks to decompress in new environments. It’s an idea shared by rescuers, shelters, trainers, and owners far and wide. It’s an idea that one shouldn’t do anything with a new dog for at least 3 weeks to allow it to settle in and get comfortable. Yes, it’s true that dogs will change over time as they transition into a new environment and respond either favorably or unfavorably to things in that environment. Yes, changes can definitely be hard on dogs – new spaces, new places, new routines, and new faces. All of those things can be stressful, fear-inducing, confusing, and uncomfortable.
But there’s something that is left out of this popular idea that we feel is worth talking about. It really comes down to two different forms of training. One form of training focuses on teaching obedience and requiring that dogs respond to a certain set of cues or rules and commands. That perspective presumes that training is all based on asking dogs to do things and having expectations of the dog. If this is one’s perspective, then a decompression period makes total sense and is kindest to the dog.
The other form of training is more about helping the dog feel emotionally well and adjust to new circumstances – basically helping the dog to become an optimist and have the easiest possible time adapting to its new environment. With this perspective, there is no need to delay in offering support from the moment the dog and the new caregiver come together.
Ultimately, as we think about it, the real question and the real difference between these two ways of approaching training is what one wants to get out of training – is the focus of training being able to tell the dog what to do or is it on the emotional growth and comfort within the new home and family? We believe that behavior is the outcome of thoughts and emotions. And we believe that from the first minute we meet a dog, we can help the dog emotionally move in the best direction while teaching behavior that is highly compatible with success in their new home. This work doesn’t involve pressure or hard expectations – it involves help.
Whether the dog you bring home is shy, fearful, overwhelmed, aggressive, hyper, anxious, or anything else on the behavior spectrum, we believe that beginning a relationship of trust and safety that includes rewards, relaxation, a communication system, and predictable responses on the part of the caregiver are the key to helping a dog become emotionally well.
During those first three weeks, you are going to be with the dog, feed them, talk to them, and touch them – that’s just part of living with a dog. It only makes sense to learn to do those things in ways that support the dog emotionally, to help them to be confident, comfortable, and happy in their new home. Once you have a happy, confident, comfortable dog, the opportunities for all kinds of other training are wide open!
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