The Two Week Shutdown.
GIVE THEM A BREAK

The big secret to many adoptive homes’ success with a new dog that came from unknown or even not so good homes is often what we refer to as the “Two-Week Shutdown.” What
does this mean? Essentially, it means giving the new dog time to adjust to you and our
family and the resident animals in the new environment. Essentially, it's a decompression period. 

Why the Two Week Shutdown?
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​The two week shut down is a time familiar to a dog's mind, as it mimics the whelping
box when first born, as the puppy's eyes are not open and it relies totally on the mother'sability to take care of it. By smelling, sensing, listening the puppy starts his journey into the new scary world. New adult dogs come into our home the same way, "a journey into a new and scary world." By giving the dog a "time out" the dog can learn its new world, its new people and begin to relax and blossom under the care of the new care giver.  read more...

Why we all want to run out with our new dog, show everyone our new pet, we forget that even an adult dog is now back to a puppy newborn like mind, all is new, the voices speak a new language, cars might be new, leashes and handling under nice people might be new.

Even petting and acceptance of a pet is stressful on a new dog, "Who are you? Where did we come from? Where are we going? What is expected of me? "- the dog thinks!
 Just like a new born baby we wouldn't rush out and pass the baby from person to person, we set up a stable and save environment, our new dogs are just like that, our newborn baby. We also give the rescue dog a bit of time to heal, mentally and physically.

​Step back for a minute and think how you might feel if you were never going to go back to your home and that you were expected to live with new people who didn't understand your language. What if these new people took you to all sorts of different places expecting you to greet everyone happily and feel comfortable with an overload of attention all at one time? How might you feel after all of that, to have to go to your new "home" and interact with a bunch of strangers? It's very likely that you'd feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and ready to retreat but really have no place to go to. You might begin to act out and yell at people for coddling you and insisting that you do this and do that. Well, many dogs are put in the very same position and the only way they know how to get their point across is to act out or "misbehave." The dog may act out by nipping at children for he didn't understand them and was corrected harshly before knowing how he was to be around them! when being moved off furniture -" he didn't know he couldn't be here. What is expected? Where am I allowed?" Starting fights with the other animals in home -that dog here was giving me the evil eye my new humans are not leaders, I must defend myself!"

How to do a "Shut Down" Period.
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​​For the first two weeks, (sometimes even longer depending on the dog) a dog takes in
the new environment, who is the top persons, dogs, who are these people? By pushing a dog too fast and throwing too much at the dog we look like we are not the leaders and the dog can feel like it needs to defend itself, as the leader is surely no one he has met so far. We coo, coddle, drag the dog to from home to home to person to person, and the dog has no idea who anyone is. Just think of the things you do physically once you get to know a person, you wouldn't run up to a stranger and hug them and squeeze them! Imagine, if on the first date, this new person was all over you touching you and having their FRIENDS hug you and pat you on top of the head, and jostle your shoulders, then he whisked you off to another stranger's home and they did the same thing. Would you think this person normal and safe? Likely not. Would you feel invaded and defensive and begin to get a bit snarky yourself? Probably yes. Wouldn't you think to push these people away for obviously they are out of their mind and they aren't going to save you from these strange people and places. Yet we do this to our dogs, and then get upset or worried that they aren't relaxed and accepting of everything instantly!   read more... 

down the dog, it gives the dog necessary time to see you, meet you, hear and take in the new sounds and smells of your home. Crate the dog in a room by itself if possible. Dogs are sensory animals, they know more than you think without seeing it, it will be okay.

Leash the dog when he’s out of his crate and inside the home. If possible, leash the dog
right to your belt/waist so that they are forced to follow you wherever you may go in the household. This also stops the dog from reacting if you have to get him off of something like the couch, you are not reaching in and grabbing onto him, just tug gently on the leash, say "come on" and there you go. no conflict!

Don’t concern yourself with obedience training during this two week shutdown period.
It’s all just fund and exercise. Maybe throw some toys in for fun.

When outside, always have the dog on a leash. It’s often best to not leave your yard at all during this period. That means no car rides, no other dogs, (unless crated beside them), no pet stores, no walks even, nothing but you, your home and your yard. Unless of course the dog needs to go to the veterinarian or you don’t have a yard and need to go for short walks to allow the dog to relieve themselves.

It will be difficult to control this impulse, but don't go crazy petting and handling the
dog. Our tendency is to immediately shower the dog with love and affection, particularly a shelter dog that was likely facing imminent euthanasia. But try your best to avoid doing this. Even petting and being outside of the home puts pressure on a dog, as everything is so new. Allowing the dog time to absorb and the decision to come to you for petting and affection can do a lot in taking pressure off a new dog.

It’s okay to allow the dog some time to exercise, but do it in your yard or on a lunge line
if no fence. Remember to just have fun, let the dog run and explore.

Again- no walks yet! Walks are stressful for there is so much coming at you. Being a new person to this dog you have no clue how the dog is reacting to the walking environment. The dog may react to something and we start correcting it with the leash and we just installed a very stressful situation to the dog in what should be a fun and happy walk.

Teach your foster dog by doing the shut-down period, that you are the one to look to.
That they can trust in you and look to you as its new leader. Then, on walks you will see
the dog look to you when he sees something like a kid or a dog to see what your
reaction is, lessening his mind about having to defend or control the environment. He has you. The dog now can relax and enjoy the walk more.

In the house, have the dog out only for about 20-40 minutes post exercise/yard times.
And always on a leash. Then put them away. Let the foster dog absorb and think. Even if just for a little bit. If the dog goes to his crate on his own, he is telling you "I need a time out" allow him this time. By having the dog out for long periods of time we are forcing the dog to keep accepting all new things, by putting the dog away we are asking him to accept a few things, then go think and absorb, when we get him out later we introduce a few more things, so the three new things are three new things, not 3 x 3 x 3 - possible overload for the poor pooch.

No new buddies! Do not introduce the dog to other resident or new animals for these
two weeks. They can be side by side in their crates if you cannot totally separate, (not
nose to nose for they can feel defensive). Some dogs will bond instantly with the other
dogs if you don't bond first with the dog, and this can lead to some other issues, as the
dog will look to the other dog(s) for guidance and not you.

​You will see in the way they start to look to you for guidance that you have gained their
trust and showed them, calmly and fairly, what this new world is like, they literally relax
and feel safe. There is no need to force that you are the leader. Slow easy guidance,
patience, showing them what we want them to do in a new home instead of correcting them when they do wrong. We instill that we are worthy to the dog to be its leader.

It Doesn't Happen Overnight. View and Download our helpful "Rule of 3s" Flier.

It Doesn't Happen Overnight.

Every dog is unique and will adjust at their own pace. The process takes time and patience, but it's worth the wait! Give your new dog a chance to become part of the family and finally feel forver home. 

• Ignore Bad Behavior
• Praise Good Behavior

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Ignore crying and/or barking. If you run to the dog each time they bark, whine, or cry, you are teaching the dog that doing those things gets your attention. The dog must learn to be secure when you are not there. Use the leash to correct jumping, exploring counter surfing, garbage diving, etc.

As an example, the dog is sitting nicely next to you, touch or softly pet the dog "good boy/girl" let them know you appreciate good, calm behavior. This makes naughty behavior not so fun if you ignore that but praise the good.

Literally in two weeks you will see a change in the dog and begin to see its honest and true personality. Just like a house guest. They are well behaved and literally shut down themselves these first few weeks, then post this time, they relax and the true personality begins to shine thru!

So, please, if nothing else for your new dog, give it the time to learn about you as you are learning who they are. This method works on shy dogs, confident dogs, abuse cases, chained dogs that come in, rowdy dogs, all temperaments.

​You will see in the way they start to look to you for guidance that you have gained their trust and showed them, calmly and fairly, what this new world is like, they literally relax and feel safe. There is no need to force that you are the leader. Slow easy guidance,
patience, showing them what we want them to do in a new home instead of correcting them when they do wrong. We instill that we are worthy to the dog to be its leader.

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