As a seasoned canine proprietor, I’ve had the privilege of welcoming two Dachshund puppies into my life – Summit and now, the most recent addition, Otter.
The primary week with a brand new furry member of the family might be each exhilarating and difficult, however with the suitable strategy, it may also 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.
Notice: This weblog put up was edited from this video transcript, nevertheless it offers further data and gildings.
Navigating the Airport and Flight with a Pet
Bringing Otter dwelling from Kansas Metropolis to our dwelling in Washington state concerned a flight, which gave me a bit of nervousness.
He was sufficiently small to experience in an authorised airline canine service beneath 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 complete time, not making a single mess in his crate.
I used to be impressed by his calm demeanor, as he solely fussed a bit of through the touchdown, possible because of the air stress modifications.
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 ideas for flying with a canine actually helped.
Introducing My Pet to My Pack
One of many largest 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 strategy.
If a canine has been an solely canine for years and is used to being the focal point, introductions might be extra delicate.
In each circumstances, in my expertise, I feel it’s finest to simply carry the pet into the home and not using a massive fuss.
The distinction can be how intently it is advisable 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 normal impartial territory introduction, I merely introduced Otter into our dwelling 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 one more 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 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 tougher.
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 atmosphere for all my furry relations.
Notice: Otter has been with us for five months now and the entire 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 steadily, and strictly observe 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 endurance are key in the case 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 exterior so he may odor 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 ideas 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 practice them can have a major affect on their attachment and separation nervousness.
Whereas I selected to have each puppies to sleep with me from day one, that might not be the most effective strategy for everybody.
If you happen to suppose it’s your decision your pet to ultimately sleep in a crate, it’s vital to begin crate coaching 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 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.
Evidently, 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 harm 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 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 pure chew, lick mat, or meals allotting 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.
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 vital to be form to your self. Resist the urge to try to do all the things completely from the beginning.
Throughout the first week (and even the primary 3 months), I made a decision to deal with 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 vital socialization and bonding window, you’ll have to work a minimum of twice as arduous to attain it later…. And chances are you’ll by no means get to the place you possibly can have been for those who had began from day 1.
When it’s time to begin engaged on obedience, the primary issues I’ll educate 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 – you could 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 had been thriving.
In truth, I feel 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 feel it’s doable 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 degree of predictability is important. And boy, there are specific issues my Dachshunds certain gained’t let me overlook!
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 need my canine to do B.
I make money working 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 need the canine to settle and maybe fall asleep.
To me, establishing a routine is extra about setting expectations and making an attempt to remain as per these as doable, quite than having a structured time schedule for all the things (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 finished with my pet Summit in the home, a canine coach in my mastermind group provided this recommendation:
“Some of the vital jobs as a pet proprietor is to show your canine the routine of the home. Most significantly, it is advisable to educate 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 try this? This idea was an absolute game-changer for me.
Educating 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 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, nevertheless it’s additionally a major enterprise.
By studying from my very own journey and implementing the following tips, I’m assured that you could navigate the primary week along with your new furry good friend with larger ease and confidence.
Keep in mind, each pet is exclusive, and the secret is 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 ideas.
