New to Dogs: First Time Dog Owners

I’m working with a few dog converts right now. One person was actually a cat lady prior to getting her dog, and the other was a dog indifferent person, or someone who essentially ignored dogs for most of her life.  First-time dog ownership has been a whirlwind for both of my clients, complete with a mix of doubt and joy. My role in the conversion has been trainer combined with therapist and cheerleader.

Ralphie, pictured above, was adopted by my cat-loving client. She has four cats in addition to him, and she started off life with her new best friend as a very worried dog Mom.Even though he was tested as being good with cats, Ralphie's initial meet-ups with the feline family were fraught on both sides.

We did some basic counter-conditioning at our first session together (cat in the room = treats for Ralphie), and over the next few weeks the natural order of the feline world took over. The cats seemed to grow tired of being sequestered in bedrooms, so they took turns coming into the family room and showing him just who ruled the roost. A few hissy faces, arched backs and puffy tails later, Ralphie lost his desire to chase his siblings. Thankfully, no one had to resort to using claws or teeth! Relations are progressing nicely now, and we foresee actual cat-dog friendship in the future, not just tolerance.

My dog-indifferent client is having a rougher go of new dog ownership. She jumped into the decision to adopt with two feet but without much forethought or research, and now she's coming to terms with the fact that she basically has a fourth child in the house. She knows very little about living with a dog, so my phone is ringing off the hook with questions like, "When do I put him the crate again?" She's put off by the fact that her new dog wants to be around her all the time, a key dog trait that most people find charming. She's also worried that her son's allergies - which she knew about pre-dog - are acting up. I'll admit that her lack of planning has me pretty concerned. I know her family loves the dog, but the sad fact is that sometimes love isn't enough if the timing and circumstances aren't right.

For some, getting a dog for the first time can feel like coming home, while for others it feels like putting on a too-small shoe. Opening your home to a dog for the first time is a life-changing experience, as my clients know all too well.