Five tips for when you've brought a dog from abroad

The transition of the old situation to a new place can be very big. Think about what it would mean for yourself, suddenly having to get used to a whole new situation with other rules. This also applies to an animal. Your new housemate will really have to get used to his new situation. Initially, expect not too much of the dog, but give it time, rest and create a safe environment. A dog will first need to feel safe in your house. Therefore, for at least the first two weeks, do not receive any visitors. If there are children present, make clear arrangements as to when they are and when they are not allowed to be with the dog. Once you notice that the animal feels at ease, you can slowly start to enlarge his world. This also takes time, so do not rush off on an hours-long walk far from home, but take your dog for a walk around your house. In addition, this way you will also get to know your dog better. The better you know your dog, the better you can judge in advance whether it will run away or start to act aggressively.

Although your dog needs time to settle down and feel safe, there is one thing you must do immediately: establish clear rules for dealing with the dog and stick to them. Rules give the dog clarity and make his world predictable. Think of things such as where the dog may or may not go and whether it may or may not be at the table when you eat. Once you have established the rules, make it as easy as possible for the dog to abide. For example: if you decide that the dog isn’t welcome at the table during dinner, then establish a dedicated area of the living room where the dog has to be during dinner.

A dedicated area can also serve very nicely as a safe resting place for the dog. Once established, an extra rule can be added: if the dog is in its safe spot is, it is not to be disturbed. That is to say, do not approach, do not call, do not look at. This way, the dog can really feel safe there and settle down. The best place is one where there are as few stimuli as possible, such as noises, passers-by who can be seen through a window, etc.

Bear in mind that your life (at home) is completely new for your dog. Not only do you have to get to know your dog, it also has to get to know you. What events take place and what feelings do they evoke in him (agitation, fear, excitement, pleasure, comfort, satiation, etc.). It must also learn that certain behaviour has consequences, and what you ask of him when you give him a command that you expect to be followed.

If you want your dog to learn quickly, you must do this in very small steps so that it can better understand what you want to see. For example, do you want to teach your dog to lie on a mat? Reward him first if it puts one paw on the mat, then two paws, then all the way to the mat. The next small step can be either a bit longer on the mat or sitting on the mat - if the dog can be provoked to do so. Is the dog having difficulties while learning? Then there is a good chance that a step was too big and it does not understand what you are asking (although there may be other reasons). Practice for short moments and not too often, three times a day for a minute can be a lot. It is very important that you make sure your dog can be successful. This means that the dog is able show the desired behaviour. For example, do you want to teach him to come directly to you after you signal him to do so? Practice this first in a place without distractions, close to the dog. Reward your pet if it comes directly to you on the signal and then increase the distance to the dog in small steps when you give the signal. If it does well in that place without distractions, find a place with small distractions. For example, a grassy field near your house where there are no other dogs. So don't suddenly turn to a field full of dogs or a busy street, because that will be too distracting. It is when you learn in small steps that you will see big leaps forward in your dog.

Look for a vet immediately and schedule a first visit as soon as possible (once the dog has calmed down and feels safe). You may ask: without the need for treatment? Absolutely do it! This way you can make sure you find a veterinary clinic that has room for new clients. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of pets in the Netherlands has increased dramatically. This means that many animal clinics can no longer accept new clients. Finding a veterinarian in time means that you will not be in extra need in case of an emergency. However, there is another advantage. Few animals are used to the vet in a positive sense. While more and more vets do offer the opportunity to have positive experiences. For example, you can walk by with your dog and get a nice dog treat at the counter. In this way, your dog learns that going to the vet and stepping inside is safe and even fun. In addition, timely check-ups are good for recognising and treating health problems in good time. During such a check-up, there is another practice moment where your dog can be rewarded for calm behaviour.

Repetitive behaviour quickly becomes habitual. Even small 'idiosyncrasies' in an animal can become ingrained and even worsen. A dog that only growls at visitors at first can learn to bark at them and then become unstoppable. The sooner you can prevent unwanted behaviour, redirect it and replace it with desired behaviour, the greater the chance that it can still change. This is extremely important because changing behaviour is difficult and changing habits is even more difficult. Therefore, if you have dogs with undesirable behaviour, call in help as soon as possible. If you have questions about your dog's behaviour or if you see (the beginning of) undesirable behaviour, contact a qualified dog behaviourist in good time.

Also be extra alert for fear in your dog. People often seek help for dogs that show aggressive behaviour, but not for dogs that are fearful. However, anxious behaviour can lead to welfare problems. If you see your dog wagging his tail or ears, lowering his body, crawling away, shying away or even fleeing, it may be experiencing fear. If this happens regularly, it needs your help! Again, call in a qualified behaviourist to find out where the fear comes from, what causes it and what can be done about it.

Incidentally, it is not surprising if unwanted behaviour appears later in your dog's life. Most dogs need at least two weeks to get used to their new situation and then they can show a different behaviour that you had not seen before. For example, a seemingly quiet dog may suddenly start biting when it becomes more comfortable (or starts seeing a place as his territory). Conversely, a dog that initially bites may become less fearful over time and therefore stop its defensive aggression.