it mean? You're probably thinking, Can’t I just love my dog? Yes, loving your dog is important, but the bond you form with your dog is what helps to cement the foundation of the human–canine relationship. Consider this: you might love your distant cousin, but you are bonded with your sibling or best friend or spouse.
Think about the family members or friends with whom you enjoy spending time. They’re positive and fun, right? You share secrets and life experiences, which forms and strengthens the bond. Now think about those people you like to avoid. Maybe they’re cranky or domineering. Maybe they nag or criticize every little thing you do. Either way, they probably aren’t much fun to be around. Developing a strong bond with them is difficult, if not impossible.
All sorts of controversy surround the topic of bonding. Some experts dismiss the idea of making yourself the center of your puppy’s world—and vice versa. But if you have ever been touched deeply by a dog—or any animal—you know that bonding is the real deal. The depth of emotion that owners have for their dogs is oftentimes inexplicable. Countless stories exist of people who are willing to risk their own lives to save their dogs. In the midst of multiple severe storms—Hurricanes Katrina and Irene and Superstorm Sandy, for example—were owners who were willing to risk life and limb to save their dogs, with many refusing to evacuate without their pets.
Many owners are so bonded with their dogs that they choose to stay home with them rather than go out for dinner or shopping or a movie. Many owners choose no vacation if it means leaving their dogs behind. Those with little or no disposable income spend their last dollars on dog food and toys. Labeling these owners as crazy, foolish, or senseless is easy, but the depth of love and devotion that people feel for their dogs is complex and not easily explained by simple reasons.
Consider this, too: oxytocin (the “feel-good” hormone) is associated with social bonding. A small research project indicated that people whose dogs gazed at them had “significantly higher levels of oxytocin after the experiment” than those owners whose dogs looked at them for shorter periods. Of course, myriad hypotheses exist, and individuals vary in how much of the hormone they produce and utilize effectively. Without scientific data, it stands to reason that people who are strongly bonded with their dogs may have higher levels of oxytocin. Maybe it has nothing to do with science and everything to do with a dog’s ability to bring out the best in us.
Why is this important? In addition to the reciprocating human–canine friendship and all of the positives that come from such a relationship, research indicates that people who have an emotional attachment to or relationship with their dogs are less likely to surrender those dogs to a humane society or rescue organization.
Bonding games, which this book provides examples, will help fortify the relationship you have with your dog. Simple everyday tasks and positive interactions with your dog—feeding, walking, bathing, brushing, playing, exercising, and just hanging out—are great ways to facilitate and strengthen the bonding process, too.
Supervise any interactions between the new puppy and the family cat. Puppies learn quickly that cats have claws that are as quick as they are sharp.
Household Rules
Someone once said, “Unless you and your puppy live in a cave, he will need some manners”—or something along those lines. The point is, unless you want your puppy to grow into a hooligan—the type of dog your friends and family secretly detest—you will need to have household rules in place before he comes home. Equally important, everyone must agree on the rules. It does no good to establish puppy rules unless everyone in the family is following the same rules.
Household rules help to teach your puppy that he cannot be cheeky, pushy, bossy or obnoxious. He must learn to play nicely, act like a mannerly citizen, and not run wild. Well-behaved canine citizens cannot chase the livestock, eat the chickens, bark incessantly, swipe food off the counter, or cause chaos through the neighborhood.
The rules you establish and the behaviors you choose to accept are up to you. You should never feel guilty for allowing your puppy to jump up on you or sleep on the bed with you or beg for food at the dinner table—if those are behaviors you can happily live with for the next twelve to fifteen years.
On the other hand, if you decide to designate your bed and furniture as dog-free zones, then you must set a clear pattern of behavior by not allowing him on the furniture from day one. Avoid confusing your puppy by allowing him on the bed today but not tomorrow because you just changed the sheets. It is equally unfair to allow your adorable puppy on the couch today but scold him six months down the road because he weighs 80 pounds and has four dirty paws.
If you do not want a particular behavior, you should discourage the behavior when your puppy is young and impressionable. You must manage his environment so he learns early on which behaviors are acceptable and which might preclude a long and mutually respectful human–canine relationship.
Of course, you will need to teach your puppy the household rules without stifling his zany personality. After all, he should be respectful but not fearful. He should be confident, fun and lively, not dull or robotic.
Your puppy is not the only one who needs training. Young children are easily excitable in the presence of animals—especially cute puppies. They, too, must learn to follow basic rules, including:
•Let sleeping dogs lie. Leave the puppy alone when he is sleeping. Puppies need plenty of downtime. Startling him when he is snoozing may inadvertently cause him to bite.
•Pick up the puppy only when supervised. Picking him up incorrectly, or, worse, dropping him, could cause serious injury.
•Play fun age-appropriate games. No roughhousing or wrestling with the puppy because these games can encourage him to use his teeth. No one wants a trip to the ER for a child or a one-way trip to the humane society for the puppy.
•No yelling, screaming, hitting, kicking, or biting the puppy. This could cause your puppy to become fearful, and he may react by biting.
Teaching children to follow simple rules will keep both your children and puppy safe and happy, and everyone wants that.
White furniture is every puppy’s favorite cozy retreat. Don’t allow your puppy on the sofa if you’re not going to permit him on the sofa when he’s an adult.
Chapter 3: Daily Routine
Your puppy may take a few days to a few weeks to settle in—depending on his age, temperament, and from where and whom you acquired him. No set time schedule exists for introducing him to his new home and environment. You will need to work with your puppy according to his individual temperament and personality—always progressing at a speed that is within his comfort zone. He may have quirks and idiosyncrasies that you will need to recognize and manage; in many instances, these ingrained behaviors are managed rather than cured.
Ideally, you will want to start right away establishing a daily schedule and routine. Dogs are creatures of habit and thrive on guidance, boundaries, and a regular routine. Granted, some puppies are more challenging than others, and his first weeks home may not be the “honeymoon period” you had envisioned. However, no matter how pitiful his eyes—you must establish and stick to a daily routine. Your puppy will adjust to his new life in your home much more quickly and easily if you provide some order to his life.
Puppies are like sponges—absorbing all sorts of information at this young age. By setting a routine and sticking
