HOW AND WHEN TO TAKE PUPPY FOR THEIR FIRST WALK

Jun 6, 2021

    Your Rescue, Your new Best Friend

    Bringing a rescue dog into your life is an incredible journey. You step in with the best intentions and a heart full of love, eager to give your new companion the life they truly deserve. However, many owners quickly realise they may have bitten off more than they can chew.

    When a rescue dog arrives, they often chew everything in sight, go to the toilet wherever they please, and struggle to understand human cues or how to navigate a household. Setting yourself and your new companion up for success begins long before they walk through your front door.

    To truly follow through on your intention to rescue, ask yourself these essential questions before bringing them home:

    • Environment & Safety: Are you bringing them into a safe, secure, forever home designed to keep everyone – human and canine – completely safe?
    • Financial Readiness: Are you prepared for ongoing veterinary health needs, including examinations, vaccinations, desexing, and unexpected medical care?
    • Grooming Commitments: Many owners don’t realise coated breeds require professional grooming every 6 to 8 weeks. Hair matts from the root outward, which can pull on skin, cause severe discomfort, and even spark behavioural issues due to hidden pain.
    • Time & Environment: Dogs learn every waking moment. If your dog barks at a bird on the fence and the bird flies away, their brain marks that as a victory (“My bark made the bird leave!”). Left unsupervised during long workdays, unwanted behaviours quickly become ingrained habits.

     

    Speaking Dog: Why Scientific Behavioural Training Matters

    Behaviour change requires time, guidance, boundaries, education, and above all learning how to communicate.

    With so much conflicting, so-called “facts” and advice floating around the internet, trying to figure out the right approach on your own can quickly become overwhelming and counterproductive. That is why engaging with a certified, qualified behavioural dog trainer with proven outcomes is essential.

    Behaviour is a science. Becoming a certified and qualified Behavioural Trainer requires formal qualifications, practical skills, and continuous professional development. Finding the right support isn’t about searching for the lowest price; it’s about partnering with a professional who uses up-to-date, evidence-based methods to help both ends of the leash succeed.

    At Best Friend Dog Care, certified and qualified Behavioural Trainer Tamara has been coaching humans to speak dog since 2017.

    Our Core Services Across South Australia:

    • In-Home Behavioural Training: We bring expert, personalised coaching directly to your home in Adelaide and surrounding regions to address real-world household dynamics.
    • Puppy Preschool in Marden: Build a strong, positive foundation early with structured puppy socialisation and essential life skills in a safe environment.

    Understanding the 3-3-3 Rule

    As shown in our rescue guide poster above, adjusting to a new home takes structured time:

     

    • First 3 Days (Decompress & Settle): Keep things calm, quiet, and predictable. Focus on safe spaces, basic exploration, and allowing them to decompress.
    • After 3 Weeks (Routine & Boundaries): Start building routine and basic cues. Focus predominantly on praise and compliments for behaviours you’d like repeated, alongside calm feedback for unwanted choices.
    • After 3 Months (Trust & Connection): Your dog feels at home. Continue building calm connection, clear communication, and reinforcing positive training.

    Behaviour change requires patience and practice. Be kind to yourself as you adjust your own habits to respond to your Best Friend in a way they genuinely understand.

     

    Are you ready to give your rescue dog the clear, calm guidance they need? Contact Best Friend Dog Care today to book your in-home consultation in South Australia or secure a spot in our Marden Puppy Preschool!