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 fitting 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 discovered, and the information I’ve gathered in hopes of creating your individual Dachshund pet’s transition a clean one.
Be aware: This weblog submit was edited from this video transcript, however it supplies extra info and gildings.
Navigating the Airport and Flight with a Pet
Bringing Otter residence from Kansas Metropolis to our residence in Washington state concerned a flight, which gave me a little bit anxiousness.
He was sufficiently small to experience in an accepted airline canine provider below the seat, however I wasn’t certain 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 a little bit in the course of the touchdown, seemingly as a result of air strain adjustments.
I’ve flown with two of my different canines earlier than and discovered 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 suggestions for flying with a canine actually helped.
Introducing My Pet to My Pack
One of many largest worries folks 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 method.
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 believe it’s greatest to simply carry the pet into the home and not using a large fuss.
The distinction shall be how carefully you might want to supervise the older canine and the pet, in addition to how lengthy it could take your established pets to just accept her or him.
As an alternative of the standard impartial territory introduction, I merely introduced Otter into our residence and let the canines 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 try to make sure a harmonious and secure atmosphere for all my furry relations.
Be aware: Otter has been with us for five months now and the entire canines know their place and get alongside nicely.
Potty Coaching and Early Coaching Efforts
Potty coaching is all the time a prime 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 continuously, and strictly observe my confirmed potty coaching protocol.
He shortly discovered 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 on the subject of 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
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) Take into account 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 anxiousness.
Whereas I selected to have each puppies to sleep with me from day one, that is probably not the very best method for everybody.
In case you suppose it’s your decision your pet to finally sleep in a crate, it’s necessary to start out crate coaching early to keep away from difficulties down the road.
In actual fact, Otter’s breeder instructed me to have Otter sleep in his crate at night time for the primary 6 months.
I questioned this and he or she 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 pay attention. However wanting again, it most likely was tip.
Summit will go sleep in her crate on her personal typically, 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 relaxation interval.
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 steadiness 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 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.
Throughout 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 Try for Perfection
Elevating a pet is a studying expertise, and it’s necessary to be sort to your self. Resist the urge to try to do the whole lot completely from the beginning.
Throughout the first week (and even the primary 3 months), I made a decision to concentrate on the necessities like educating Otter his title, potty coaching, socialization and confidence constructing, and bonding with him.
A canine can be taught obedience and tips at any age, however for those who miss the crucial socialization and bonding window, you’ll have to work at the least twice as onerous to realize it later…. And you could by no means get to the place you would have been for those who 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 most likely heard this recommendation again and again for a Dachshund pet – you should set up a routine instantly as a result of canines 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 canines have been thriving.
In actual fact, I believe my Dachshunds are calmer and deal with change higher exactly as a result of I don’t observe a routine.
However then it hit me – I believe it’s attainable to have routine even in a life that’s chaotic and all the time altering.
To me, I like to consider routine as a unfastened schedule. Some degree of predictability is critical. And boy, there are particular issues my Dachshunds certain received’t let me overlook!
Two issues that I take into account a predictable routine are:
- The weenies eat twice a day, usually round 7:30 am and 4:30 pm.
- The canines all the time sleep with me (or an individual), it doesn’t matter what time that’s or the place we occur to be.
I additionally take into account “routine” to be a trigger and impact habits… after I do A, I would like my canines to do B.
I earn a living from home, so an instance of this might be that after I sit at my desk, it doesn’t matter what time of day that it’s, I would like the canines to settle and maybe fall asleep.
To me, establishing a routine is extra about setting expectations and making an attempt to remain as in keeping with these as attainable, quite than having a structured time schedule for the whole lot (though if that’s your jam, that’s okay too).
5) Educate Your Pet to Settle
As soon as, after I was lamenting that I couldn’t get any work carried out with my pet Summit in the home, a canine coach in my mastermind group supplied this recommendation:
“One of the vital necessary jobs as a pet proprietor is to show your canine the routine of the home. Most significantly, you might want 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 truly do this? This idea was an absolute game-changer for me.
Instructing 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 canines 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 really particular expertise, however it’s additionally a big endeavor.
By studying from my very own journey and implementing the following pointers, I’m assured that you may navigate the primary week along with your new furry good friend with higher ease and confidence.
Keep in mind, each pet is exclusive, and the secret’s to be adaptable, affected person, and keen to be taught alongside your new companion.
Take pleasure in this particular time, and take a look at different articles on my weblog for extra suggestions.
