As a seasoned canine proprietor, I’ve had the privilege of welcoming two Dachshund puppies into my life – Summit and now, the latest addition, Otter.
The primary week with a brand new furry member of the family may be each exhilarating and difficult, however with the proper method, it can be an extremely rewarding expertise.
I’m sharing my private journey with my most up-to-date pet Otter, the teachings I’ve realized, and the information I’ve gathered in hopes of constructing your individual Dachshund pet’s transition a clean one.
Be aware: This weblog submit was edited from this video transcript, but it surely supplies further info and embellishments.
Navigating the Airport and Flight with a Pet
Bringing Otter house from Kansas Metropolis to our house in Washington state concerned a flight, which gave me a little bit nervousness.
He was sufficiently small to journey in an accepted airline canine provider beneath the seat, however I wasn’t positive how his newly-formed ears would deal with it and if he would bark and howl.
Otter proved to be a real champ all through the journey although.
Regardless of a one-hour flight delay, which posed a possible potty coaching problem, Otter managed to carry his bladder and bowels your complete time, not making a single mess in his crate.
I used to be impressed by his calm demeanor, as he solely fussed a little bit throughout the touchdown, doubtless because of the air strain adjustments.
I’ve flown with two of my different canine earlier than and realized that my fears had been unfounded – they actually impressed me – however, nonetheless, I get a bit nervous each time I fly with a brand new canine.
Using these suggestions for flying with a canine actually helped.
Introducing My Pet to My Pack
One of many greatest worries individuals appear to have is introducing their pet to the established pets in the home.
In my case, since I dogsit and my Dachshunds are used to accepting a rotating forged of characters, I took a extra relaxed method.
If a canine has been an solely canine for years and is used to being the focal point, introductions may be extra delicate.
In each instances, in my expertise, I feel it’s finest to simply convey the pet into the home and not using a large fuss.
The distinction can be how carefully it’s worthwhile to supervise the older canine and the pet, in addition to how lengthy it might take your established pets to simply accept her or him.
As a substitute of the standard impartial territory introduction, I merely introduced Otter into our house and let the canine sniff and get acquainted at their very own tempo.
Brodie, one of many canine sitting shoppers who was with us and was going to be for an additional few weeks, took on the function of Otter’s playful companion.
Brodie’s mild nature and Otter’s eagerness to discover resulted in a budding friendship that warmed my coronary heart.
Nevertheless, not all the pack members had been as welcoming. Gretel, my 14-year-old senior Dachshund, maintained a impartial stance, tolerating Otter’s occasional makes an attempt at cuddling however gently correcting him when he was too pushy.
Summit, my five-year-old, moody Dachshund was a bit more difficult.
There have been a couple of resource-guarding incidents the place she snapped at Otter over meals.
That is an space we’re actively engaged on, as I try to make sure a harmonious and secure setting for all my furry members of the family.
Be aware: Otter has been with us for five months now and all the canine know their place and get alongside nicely.
Potty Coaching and Early Coaching Efforts
Potty coaching is at all times a high precedence for me when welcoming a brand new pet, and Otter has been doing remarkably nicely.
As a work-from-home canine mother, I used to be in a position to take him out ceaselessly, and strictly comply with my confirmed potty coaching protocol.
He shortly realized to go potty exterior.
The one hiccup we encountered was a single incident the place Otter refused to go exterior after which instantly relieved himself indoors.
It simply served as a reminder for me that consistency and persistence are key in relation to potty coaching.
I didn’t get mad at him, simply calmly cleaned up the mess with a paper towel (no cleaner at first), and positioned it exterior so he may scent himself the following time we went out.
5 Ideas for a Easy Pet Transition
Primarily based on my experiences with two puppies – Summit and now Otter – I’ve compiled 5 important suggestions to assist make the primary week with a brand new Dachshund pet successful:
1) Think about Your Pet’s Sleeping Preparations
The choice of whether or not to permit your Dachshund pet to sleep in your mattress from the beginning or to crate prepare them can have a big influence on their attachment and separation nervousness.
Whereas I selected to have each puppies to sleep with me from day one, that will not be one of the best method for everybody.
When you suppose it’s your decision your pet to finally sleep in a crate, it’s essential to begin crate coaching early to keep away from difficulties down the road.
Actually, Otter’s breeder instructed me to have Otter sleep in his crate at evening for the primary 6 months.
I questioned this and she or he mentioned I may do what I needed, however she suggests this so {that a} canine first learns to sleep alone in a crate in case you ever want them to do it once more after permitting them into your mattress.
For sure, I didn’t pay attention. However wanting again, it in all probability was a superb tip.
Summit will go sleep in her crate on her personal generally, and I admit it’s good to have a canine that’s okay sleeping away from me.
I can really feel extra comfy if she must be in a crate if she suffers a again damage and has to undergo a crate relaxation interval.
2) Begin Educating Your Pet to Be Alone Proper Away
Puppies are tremendous cute. They’re infants that rely upon us and may be very unsettled as a result of they’ve simply left their mother and the one phrase that they knew.
Nevertheless, there’s a steadiness between offering consolation and stability and coddling to the purpose your pet develops hyper-attachment.
I instantly began instructing Otter that he wouldn’t die if I wasn’t proper there.
I primarily did this by placing him in his pen/crate with a pure chew, lick mat, or meals shelling out toy to maintain him busy whereas I took a bathe or washed some dishes.
I attempted to return again earlier than he was completed and began to fuss.
In the course of the first week, that didn’t give me a lot time away, however I plan to increase that period of time as he feels safer.
3) Don’t Attempt for Perfection
Elevating a pet is a studying expertise, and it’s essential to be variety to your self. Resist the urge to try to do every part completely from the beginning.
In the course of the first week (and even the primary 3 months), I made a decision to deal with the necessities like instructing Otter his title, potty coaching, socialization and confidence constructing, and bonding with him.
A canine can be taught obedience and methods at any age, however if you happen to miss the vital socialization and bonding window, you’ll have to work a minimum of twice as exhausting to attain it later…. And it’s possible you’ll by no means get to the place you might have been if you happen to had began from day 1.
When it’s time to begin engaged on obedience, the primary issues I’ll train him are sit, in your mat (place), depart it, and are available to me after I name.
4) Set up a Routine
You’re in all probability heard this recommendation time and again for a Dachshund pet – it’s essential to set up a routine instantly as a result of canine like predictability.
Whereas I’ve usually agreed with this perception, one thing about it didn’t sit fairly proper with me. Particularly as a result of our life is something however routine, but my canine had been thriving.
Actually, I feel my Dachshunds are calmer and deal with change higher exactly as a result of I don’t comply with a routine.
However then it hit me – I feel it’s attainable to have routine even in a life that’s chaotic and at all times altering.
To me, I like to think about routine as a unfastened schedule. Some stage of predictability is important. And boy, there are particular issues my Dachshunds positive received’t let me neglect!
Two issues that I contemplate a predictable routine are:
- The weenies eat twice a day, usually round 7:30 am and 4:30 pm.
- The canine at all times sleep with me (or an individual), it doesn’t matter what time that’s or the place we occur to be.
I additionally contemplate “routine” to be a trigger and impact habits… after I do A, I would like my canine to do B.
I make money working from home, so an instance of this could be that after I sit at my desk, it doesn’t matter what time of day that it’s, I would like the canine to settle and maybe fall asleep.
To me, establishing a routine is extra about setting expectations and attempting to remain as in line with these as attainable, somewhat than having a structured time schedule for every part (though if that’s your jam, that’s okay too).
5) Train Your Pet to Settle
As soon as, after I was lamenting that I couldn’t get any work executed with my pet Summit in the home, a canine coach in my mastermind group provided this recommendation:
“Probably the most essential jobs as a pet proprietor is to show your canine the routine of the home. Most significantly, it’s worthwhile to train them when it’s time to play and be lively, and when it’s time to settle or entertain themselves (with one thing secure).”
A lightbulb went off in my head. What?? I really do this? This idea was an absolute game-changer for me.
Educating my puppies to settle has allowed me to keep up my very own productiveness whereas nonetheless offering him with the eye and care he wants.
My older canine already knew this routine, however Otter was having a tough time catching on, even when Summit snarked at him for disrupting her magnificence sleep.
I put Otter’s crate close to my desk and closed him inside with a pure chew after I sat in my chair and he began to catch on fairly shortly.
Remaining Ideas
Welcoming a brand new Dachshund pet into your life is a very particular expertise, but it surely’s additionally a big enterprise.
By studying from my very own journey and implementing the following tips, I’m assured which you could navigate the primary week together with your new furry buddy with larger ease and confidence.
Keep in mind, each pet is exclusive, and the hot button is to be adaptable, affected person, and keen to be taught alongside your new companion.
Get pleasure from this particular time, and take a look at different articles on my weblog for extra suggestions.
