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 might be each exhilarating and difficult, however with the proper strategy, 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 ideas I’ve gathered in hopes of creating your personal Dachshund pet’s transition a easy one.
Word: This weblog publish was edited from this video transcript, but it surely supplies extra data 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 slightly anxiousness.
He was sufficiently small to journey in an authorised airline canine service below 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 entire time, not making a single mess in his crate.
I used to be impressed by his calm demeanor, as he solely fussed slightly through the touchdown, possible because of the air strain modifications.
I’ve flown with two of my different canine earlier than and realized that my fears have been unfounded – they actually impressed me – however, nonetheless, I get a bit nervous each time I fly with a brand new canine.
Using these tips for flying with a dog 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 solid of characters, I took a extra relaxed strategy.
If a canine has been an solely canine for years and is used to being the focus, introductions might be extra delicate.
In each circumstances, in my expertise, I feel it’s greatest to simply convey the pet into the home with out a large fuss.
The distinction will likely be how carefully it’s good to supervise the older canine and the pet, in addition to how lengthy it might take your established pets to just 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 purchasers 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.
Nonetheless, not the entire pack members have 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 attempt to make sure a harmonious and secure setting for all my furry members of the family.
Word: Otter has been with us for five months now and the entire canine know their place and get alongside effectively.
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 effectively.
As a work-from-home canine mother, I used to be capable of take him out steadily, and strictly comply with my proven potty training protocol.
He shortly realized to go potty outdoors.
The one hiccup we encountered was a single incident the place Otter refused to go outdoors after which instantly relieved himself indoors.
It simply served as a reminder for me that consistency and endurance are key with regards 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 outdoors so he might scent himself the following time we went out.
5 Suggestions for a Easy Pet Transition
Based mostly on my experiences with two puppies – Summit and now Otter – I’ve compiled 5 important ideas to assist make the primary week with a brand new Dachshund pet successful:
1) Contemplate 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 affect on their attachment and separation anxiousness.
Whereas I selected to have each puppies to sleep with me from day one, that will not be one of the best strategy for everybody.
Should you assume it’s your decision your pet to ultimately sleep in a crate, it’s vital to begin crate training early to keep away from difficulties down the road.
In truth, 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 stated I might 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.
Evidently, I didn’t hear. However trying again, it in all probability was a great 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 snug if she must be in a crate if she suffers a again damage and has to undergo a crate rest period.
2) Begin Instructing Your Pet to Be Alone Proper Away
Puppies are tremendous cute. They’re infants that rely on us and might be very unsettled as a result of they’ve simply left their mother and the one phrase that they knew.
Nonetheless, there’s a stability between offering consolation and stability and coddling to the purpose your pet develops hyper-attachment.
I instantly began educating 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 natural chew, lick mat, or meals shelling out toy to maintain him busy whereas I took a bathe or washed some dishes.
I attempted to come back again earlier than he was completed and began to fuss.
Through 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 vital to be variety to your self. Resist the urge to try to do every thing completely from the beginning.
Through the first week (and even the primary 3 months), I made a decision to give attention to the necessities like educating Otter his title, potty coaching, socialization and confidence building, and bonding with him.
A canine can study obedience and methods at any age, however in the event you miss the vital socialization and bonding window, you’ll have to work at the least twice as arduous to attain it later…. And you could by no means get to the place you would have been in the event you 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 once I name.
4) Set up a Routine
You’re in all probability heard this recommendation again and again for a Dachshund pet – you have to set up a routine immediately 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 have been thriving.
In truth, 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 potential 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 free schedule. Some degree of predictability is critical. And boy, there are particular issues my Dachshunds positive gained’t let me overlook!
Two issues that I think about 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 think about “routine” to be a trigger and impact habits… once I do A, I would like my canine to do B.
I do business from home, so an instance of this may be that once 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 keeping with these as potential, slightly than having a structured time schedule for every thing (though if that’s your jam, that’s okay too).
5) Train Your Pet to Settle
As soon as, once I was lamenting that I couldn’t get any work completed with my pet Summit in the home, a canine coach in my mastermind group provided this recommendation:
“Probably the most vital jobs as a pet proprietor is to show your canine the routine of the home. Most significantly, it’s good to train them when it’s time to play and be energetic, 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.
Instructing my puppies to settle has allowed me to take care of 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 once I sat in my chair and he began to catch on fairly shortly.
Last Ideas
Welcoming a brand new Dachshund pet into your life is a really 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 along with your new furry good friend with better ease and confidence.
Keep in mind, each pet is exclusive, and the secret is to be adaptable, affected person, and keen to study alongside your new companion.
Take pleasure in this particular time, and take a look at different articles on my weblog for extra ideas.
