Decompression
One thing I have learned in my counseling training is meet them where they are at. I use this with people and animals. Does this mean meet them at their home? No. It means meet them where they are at in life, education, knowledge, experiences. Never assume you know their experiences; take the time to learn and understand their experiences…good and bad.
Yes, it is a dog… yes, it is even a Golden Retriever… might even look like the companion you just had to say good-bye to… HOWEVER it is NOT the same dog. This dog has lived an entirely different life, maybe better, worse, the same or horrible. TAKE THE TIME to meet them where they are at.
Give them the basics. Food, water, structure, somewhere to sleep without disturbance, toys. Keep in mind some dogs may have never had toys… or maybe they struggled to find food and water… maybe they never were able to rest peacefully due to being a stray, neglected or abused.
Allow them time to adjust, not just things they may not have experienced before, but to the changes of being rescued, fostered, and adopted. Imagine being dropped in a foreign country with strangers, everything is new and does not make sense. No one wants to hurt you; however, you cannot understand them or the environment.
Observe…Observe…Observe!
Have they never been inside a house? Perhaps they avoid carpet, tile, wood floors.
Are they unsure about the food or water bowl? Maybe they only ate food off the ground and drank water out of puddles.
Some dogs have only lived outside, so inside a house is major OVERLOAD to their senses. Think of all the sights, sounds, smells, textures, and even tastes there are… the furnace kicking on can throw a dog into a panic. All these new things all at once can make a dog desire the outside rather than inside a house. They may try to get back outside – to the environment they know best – which can mean door dashing or trying to escape (door dashing will be addressed in another article).
Crating. This can be good for some and horrible for others. Some dogs may find it comforting to be in a “cave” while others will have anxiety to be in an enclosed space. For dogs that may never have been crated, it may require an extra-large crate due to the lack of confinement experience. If a dog has been confined a lot up to this point, they may find it comforting (remember, it is all they know) … so getting them out of the crate may be a challenge.
Build TRUST!
Rarely will a dog come into rescue well-adjusted and trusting humans. Many are coming in from neglect, abuse, no structure… however, ALL of them are coming in after going through a huge transition. Perhaps it went: Home – Stray Life – Pound / Shelter – Transport – Vet – Transport – Your Home. That is a lot to experience without understanding any of it. The Vet means well, the rescue means well, and you mean well… but the dog does not know that.
Giving a dog time to adjust will allow them to learn what is happening; think of it as a reset button and a period that you can get to know who they are and what they have experienced. THEN you can begin to create a life that is beneficial to them… this is VERY important. You may have in your mind all the wonderful things you want to do with your dog… however, are they things that the dog will enjoy too?!
Create three lists:
- Things you have learned through observations – what the dog is telling you about themselves.
- Goals / Desires you have for the dog – these are YOUR expectations.
- Reality / How to achieve the Goals / Desires – this is the gap between where the dog is at in life and your expectations for the dog. How you shorten the gap will vary, with the possibility of you never reaching your expectations.
| Observations | Goals / Desires | Reality / How to |
| Runs away if not on leash; afraid of the leash – might not have ever been on a leash
Afraid of other dogs Gets overwhelmed by crowds, loud noises Inappropriately chews things when not supervised Chases the neighborhood stray cat |
Hiking
Play date, Doggie Daycare GRIN Events Leave loose when not home Get a cat / another dog |
Introduce a leash and work on leash manners gradually and positively
Slowly expose to other dogs without overwhelming; may not be a candidate for a dog park or doggie daycare Gradually expose to crowds and new places with lots of praise and rewards Are they chewing out of boredom, extra energy, nervousness, scent seeking? Determine reason for behavior before trying to leave alone. Is it an “animal” thing or personality thing? |
Allowing a Decompression period is something every foster home and adopter needs to do when welcoming a new canine guest. Meet them where they are at. Learn who they are and what their reality is. Help them explore the world in a non-threatening way (again, it is what is viewed as threatening to THEM). Accept what they can and cannot achieve.
Some goals are more for the human than the dog… just like humans, some of us do not like going to events, crowded play areas, being alone or exploring the great outdoors. I encourage you to ask yourself what goals are necessary and what goals are luxuries.