Chapter 6 - First Night

You and your new dog have survived your first day together, and it’s now time for you both to go to bed. You can expect your dog to be a little unsettled during his first night in his new home.

Where should your dog sleep? It’s a good idea to allow him to  sleep in your bedroom, so you are close to him should he need you during the night. You can either make him a comfortable bed in his crate, or tether him to the one spot in your room. That way he’s not allowed to wander the house at night, which can lead to toileting accidents or destruction of shoes and other belongings.

Don’t allow him to sleep in your bed in these early days, until he is well aware of his position in the household pack. As an alternative, you may wish to put his crate in another part of the house, or confine him to a separate room such as the laundry.

Whatever you do, don’t leave him to his own devices in your

home.

Feed your dog a few hours before it’s time to go to sleep, so he doesn’t have an uncomfortably full stomach. Just before bedtime, take him for a walk, or play ball with him so he is quite tired. That way he’s more likely to sleep well, and will be less concerned about being in a strange place. Make sure he has been to the toilet so he’s comfortable at bed time.

Night Time Whimpers

It’s not uncommon for dogs to cry at night if they’re a bit afraid or uncertain. This will stop as he becomes more comfortable in his new environment. Also, if your dog is young, he may not have a very big bladder, and he may need to go outside for the toilet.

If your dog is crying for attention, you can reach over and calm him briefly with a quick pat. However, don’t overdo it, or he will keep on whimpering. If the noise continues, you can tell him to “Be quiet” in a firm but gentle tone. You may have to ignore any further crying, so he learns that whimpering doesn’t get him the attention he wants. Make sure you are consistent with your reaction to his whimpering. There’s no point in patting him when he cries one night, then ignoring him the next. That will only confuse him, and he’ll take longer to learn what you expect from him at night time.

The Next Morning

When you wake in the morning, take your dog straight outside to his toilet area, and praise him when he goes to the toilet. This will help him learn where his toilet area is, and quickly teach him not to go inside the home.

Having a new dog in your home isn’t a lot different than having a new baby. They both can be noisy at night, and they both need patience and understanding. It won’t take long before your dog is settled and you can again enjoy an unbroken night’s sleep.

Be honest with yourself. Adopting any animal is a commitment; you will have a living organism depending on you to survive. Beyond the staples of food, water and shelter your pet needs love, attention and exercise. If you have commitments or health issues that limit your ability to provide any of the above, do you and your potential pooch a favor, buy a fish instead.

Do some research. Different breeds have different temperaments and tendencies. Figure out what breeds match what you’re able to offer and start narrowing down which kind of dog makes sense for you.

Some breeds are high maintenance and need tons of exercise.  Others are fiercely independent.

Bigger breeds can clear off your table with a couple wags of the tail and knock over small children if excited.

Many shelter dogs may be mixed breeds, but research can at least give you an idea of what to expect.

Mentally prepare yourself for the shelter experience. Shelters provide a great community service for displaced animals, but aren’t four star accommodations. While it depends on the shelter, most will have a couple dogs per cage and a number of cages in a concrete-walled room. This means it will be loud.

While the staff and volunteers clean cages at regular intervals, there can be poop or pee in the cages. Keep in mind most dogs there have been abandoned or lost so they are all a little confused and scared by the environment and their recent experience. They may be entirely different outside of the cage.

Spending time alone with them may mean a world of difference.