You’re probably filled with anticipation just thinking about bringing your new Pointer home. However, keep in mind that the way you acclimate your new dog to your home, family members and other pets is much more important than you might think. Much of your dog’s personality and future behavior can be influenced by events during the first few days, so go slowly with your Pointer training. Take the following steps to introduce your new Pointer into your home properly, because laying a good foundation will help to ensure an enjoyable, lifelong relationship and might head off some potential Pointer behavior problems in the future. There’ll be plenty of time for Pointer dog training once your dog is acclimated.
1. First, Get Everything Ready
Get the Supplies You’ll Need. Begin by making sure you have the proper supplies. You’ll need food and water bowls, a collar and leash, nutritious dog food and treats, suitable toys, a bed and crate, and dog shampoo and a brush. You might want to also have a pet-specific stain and odor remover on hand to deal with “accidents.”
Make Your Home Comfortable but Safe. You’ll want your new Pointer to be comfy and cozy, so place his bed and crate in a quiet room so he has a place to nap in or escape to if he feels the need. The toys you give him should be appropriate for his age and size. They’ll give him an acceptable outlet for his desire to chew, making it less likely he’ll gnaw on your furniture. You’ll also want to dog-proof your home by removing or making certain items inaccessible. Electrical cords, antifreeze, paint thinner, chocolate (which is toxic to dogs) and many household plants (also toxic) fall into this category.
Set the Ground Rules. You can make your Pointer’s arrival and transition smoother by establishing and enforcing some ground rules for your family to follow. These ground rules will keep your dog safe but also help establish his future behavior patterns:
a. Never leave human food where your dog can reach it;
b. Keep all windows and doors closed to prevent him from getting out and wandering off;
c. Prevent him from drinking out of the toilet by keeping all toilet lids down; and
d. Keep the floors clear of all small objects like rubber bands or paper clips, which can seriously injure him if swallowed.
Make Sure Your Children Know How to Handle a Dog Safely. Make sure smaller children realize your new Pointer is a living being that has feelings, not a stuffed animal or other toy. Teach your children to always treat your dog kindly and with respect. Make sure they understand that pulling on his tail or ears is wrong.
2. The Acclimating Process
Once you bring him home, your goal is to make your new Pointer’s transition into your family as calm and stress-free as possible.
Introduce Your New Pointer to Your Home and Family Gradually. At first, everything will be strange to your new Pointer, so go slowly and calmly. Put him on a leash and walk him slowly through the rooms of your house. Let him explore if he wants to, but don’t force him to go into any area he seems fearful of. Next, take your dog outside, show him where he should eliminate, and praise him effusively if he does.
He’s now ready to meet your family. Make sure you introduce him to each person one at a time, because meeting everyone at once can be overwhelming and stressful. Small children might not know how to interact with a dog, so make sure you watch them carefully. One at a time, have your family stroke your new Pointer gently under the chin – patting him on top of the head is more threatening, until he gets used to it. If your dog’s eyes widen or if he puts his tail between his legs, bares his teeth or lays his ears back, he’s stressed. Remove him immediately and put him in his crate to calm down.
Use the same calm, gradual approach if you have other pets. In other words, introduce them one at a time. They’ll probably sniff and circle around each other at the beginning. Don’t interfere unless you detect hostility. Whether they start playing or decide to ignore each other, never force the situation; instead, let them get to know each other at their own pace. By taking things slowly, you can help prevent both fear and potential aggression. Keep the animals separated when you’re not available to supervise, be patient, and they’ll soon become friends.
3. Establish a Daily Routine, Including Walks and Pointer Training
After a couple of weeks your Pointer should be comfortably established in your home. Now is the time to establish a daily routine. It should include long daily walks as well as daily English Pointer training sessions. You should also start exposing him to new people and situations, but do it gradually to avoid overwhelming him. Get him used to being handled, teach him his name by repeating it frequently, and make any corrections gently. Keep your eye on him constantly. This will not only let you discourage unwanted behavior, but prevent him from developing bad habits that can be difficult to break in the future.
Always treat your dog kindly, with affection and respect. Never lose your temper, even if it sometimes seems like training Pointers can be difficult. It’s not, as long as you’re patient, kind and diligent.
Remember, when you’re bringing your new Pointer home, take things slow and gradually. You’ll have a devoted companion for life.