After Adoption comes House-Training

Various studies have shown most dogs operate at the level of a two year old. They can follow a point with a head nod, but not two points, though a three year old child can do this. Click HERE for a very interesting post by Patricia McConnell. I also suggest you check out her previous post HERE. Dogs need to be house-trained. It takes time, it takes commitment and it takes a sense of humor, just as you would use with a two year old child. What it does not include is rubbing noses in excrement, beating with a newspaper or worse (unless you would do the same with a child and if so, you should be reported to the police) or yelling, as if this young dog understands English or your language of preference!

A dog needs to learn the rules and you can't teach them well when you don't have a line connected to them and can give a tug and or make them sit to obey the commander.

Yes, I know, you can tell people and they don't listen. Most do however.

Also, some dogs need to be busy. This dog was likely not getting enough exercise since he was chewing OR was stressed if he was not a chewer before. Toys that appeal to chewers are in order for his next owner. Nyla Bones work well here.

Thank you for sharing your expertise, Marilyn. In my last post, I asked my readers and your friends to always first consider adopting a new animal into family. This information will hopefully help you make some decisions about how committed you can be to a new animal. Similar to a child, animals need gentle, consistent, positive direction to learn the rules of their new home and surroundings. Many older dogs already come house-trained. I currently have a partially blind senior Beagle, Cyrano, who is adamant about being able to get outside through the dog door to do his business. He has never had an accident in a new home with a lot of new scents.