Welcoming a new protection dog to your home

Welcoming a new protection dog into your home is an exciting prospect, but needs proper consideration and planning to be successful for all parties concerned. The first step should be physically preparing the home with everything you and your new dog may need, as well as ensuring that it is a safe environment they cannot escape from or accidentally harm themselves in. Wires, small objects that could be swallowed, as well as potentially dangerous plants and household chemicals should all be moved if accessible, and strategically placed baby gates to control access are useful. It is also worth inspecting any fencing you may already have and repairing any damage a dog could escape from.

Owners must understand that dogs can take time to adapt to new environments before feeling fully comfortable, and allowing their character and personality to show. This process can never be rushed, and it is an owner’s responsibility to make it as easy and pleasant as possible for their dog. In our experience, establishing a predictable routine, slowly increasing the areas of the household a dog has access to, and lots of positive reinforcement work best here. Boundaries should be established early, and regular training to teach a dog what is expected of it is a must from day one. Family members, regular house visitors, and pets are also best introduced individually and on “neutral” territory. Long daily walks are particularly important as they allow a dog to decompress, relax, and express natural behaviours.

Every dog should also be allocated a safe, comfortable area it can rest and relax in, as well as retreat to if becoming overwhelmed. We recommend owners use a crate for this, which helps fulfil most dogs’ natural denning instincts. Crate training your dog can offer significant benefits when joining a new home, not least because of the psychological safety it guarantees. It can also be very useful for housetraining as dogs seldom defecate where they sleep.

It is also important that protection dogs are given realistic and dedicated training tailored to their new home. Area familiarisation with an emphasis on which areas need protecting, bitework refreshers, and a variety of scenarios are all critical, and when delivered correctly leave little to chance if a protection dog’s skillset is ever required. For further advice on navigating a new protection dog joining your home, please email us on info@protectiondogsworldwide.com.