How do you spell love…T-I-M-E. Relationships are not built overnight. They take time. So why do we always want to rush the
relationship with a new dog? Yet, it
never ceases to amaze me how many people decide to adopt a dog and within the
first week have to take it out and show it off before the dog even trusts
them! Then when the dog does not react well to an
unfamiliar situation with unfamiliar people, the potential adopters return the
dog rather then regroup and start over.
It takes at least two weeks for a dog to get comfortable in
a new environment and to begin to trust his new human(s). If we take the time to lay the foundation of
the relationship we are rewarded with a lifetime of love, dedication, and
obedience. But just like any other
relationship in our lives we cannot expect that to develop overnight. It takes time, patience, and trust.
So before you decide to adopt a dog think about your
expectations and ask yourself a few questions: Are they realistic? What are your demands and what are my
preferences (i.e. demand – the dog must be housebroken; preference – I would
like my dog to learn to play dead)? Are
you ready to take responsibility for a living creature for 10+ years no matter
what (that means even when things and times get hard)? If not, please spare the dog the disruption. It is
a huge disruption to the dog and their routine for someone to agree to take a
dog on a trial adoption and not even give it the full week. For that reason I ask you to please make sure
you can give it at least a week before making any decisions, and if you cannot
commit to seven days don’t move forward.
Wait until you are ready.
