SECTION
1
What
is a Jindo
SECTION
2
Do
I really want a Jindo?
SECTION
3
Other
Things to Consider
When
Getting a Dog
SECTION
4
Resources
SECTION
5
Good
and bad
characteristics
of a Jindo
SECTION
6
Adjustment
Period
SECTION
7
Health
Problems
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SECTION
6
Adjustment
Period
IMAGINE ~ You're a rescue dog, in
a car, with complete strangers, unsure of your destination, and only understand
a few commands given you. When the car stops, nothing looks or "smells"
familiar. You don't know where you are, what's going to happen next,
what's expected of you, and you're completely at the mercy of those strangers
because you are restrained, plus the strangers are humans, not members
of your (canine) world. You feel anxious, stressed, overwhelmed with
uncertainties, and you are driven by your instincts to protect yourself
in vulnerable situations.
Every rescue, whether found as a stray,
adopted from a shelter, foster care, or directly from their home needs
time to adjust to their new surroundings and environment. Even though
new owners mean well, and want to share everything with their new companions,
"Everything in Moderation" is key to the rescue's transition from "what
was" to "what is". Overwhelming rescues with "too much, too soon"
sets them up for failure, and can affect their ability to bond with and
trust a new owner. It can cause them to become protective and defensive,
or timid and fearful, triggering behavior that could affect their future.
If an owner is in doubt of what's "too much, too soon", looking at the
situation through the eyes of the rescue will help in deciding what's best
for any situation.
DO...
...give a rescue time and space to deal
with the changes and uncertainties in its life.
...allow the rescue all the time it needs
to scope out its new environment, new pack, and investigate on its own.
...plan down time, allowing the rescue
to feel good about relaxing, regrouping and its needs being respected.
...remain a strong, but fair, leader, enforcing
rules, establishing pack order, while helping the rescue feel safe and
secure.
...start building a bond of trust and respect
through leadership and understanding
...remain consistent with rules, but always
with patience and fairness.
DO ask for help with "any and all"
concerns. "Ask questions"! A life depends on an informed
owner.
DON'T...
...overlook stress and fear a life change
can trigger in any rescue. They've been failed before, so why should
they trust anyone?
...overwhelm the rescue with "too much,
too soon", as in petting and touching, too many activities, too much socialization,
and too many expectations.
...force a rescue into a situation it can't
handle, which could permanently damage trust of that situation, and trigger
fears and/or unacceptable behavior.
... ignore unacceptable behavior by not
addressing it immediately, but be fair in your response, taking everything
into consideration, including the situation.
... send mixed signals by allowing rules
to be broken in some situations but not in others.
...try to be a buddy when the rescue needs
a leader to feel protected, safe, and secure (the buddy relationship will
come later after you've bonded and earned their trust and respect).
DON'T feel any uncertainty is too
dumb or too stupid. "Seek answers"! Become an informed owner.
What's most important to remember is although
a lifetime commitment is made, and the rescue will be considered a family
(pack) member, live in society and share experiences with its pack, it's
still a canine driven by instincts, and a member of the canine world.
It should "never" be forced into any situation in the human world that
it hasn't been prepared to handle. When a new situation presents
itself, an owner "must" be prepared to step in and take over as leader
or the bond of trust and respect can be weakened, and in some cases, broken.
A strong leader sees possibilities, and is always prepared to control a
situation whether it's protecting a companion from danger, or encouraging
a companion to accomplish a goal. A strong leader, while building
a bond, learns to read their companion, and is able to walk the fine line
between protecting and encouraging. It doesn't happen overnight,
in a week, or even a month, but with patience, consistency, and determination,
it will happen. Building a loving relationship with a companion might be
called "a work in progress" because there will always be new situations,
and new adventures to share as the years go by. The stronger the
bond-of-trust and respect owner/companion share, the easier it is to face
all situations together. By allowing a new pack member all the time
it needs to adjust, the transition from "what was" to "what is" becomes
less stressful for everyone, especially the rescue. An owner holds
the key to the rescue's future, and whether it succeeds, or is failed again.
© 2003 Laura Paquette
of NESRA. Posted with permission.
"RESCUING"
A DOG IS NOT EASY. HERE ARE SOME THINGS TO EXPECT:
Behavior
Keep your
dog on a leash inside the house for the first three days. Should the dog
do something that you don't like, you can reel the dog back instead of
trying to grab the dog at the collar which may result in the dog reacting
instinctively and possibly snapping.
Don't
expect that the dog or cat in your current living situation is going to
be best buddies with your new dog instantly. They may have a few scuffles,
but as long as their is no blood shed, let them work it out between them.
They are trying to determine who will be in charge. This may be hard
for you to watch, but this is natural for them to do so allow it to work
itself out.
Adding
a Jindo to a household with a cat can be difficult and downright dangerous
for the cat, but it is not impossible. If you have cats, teach the
dog not to chase the cats and let the cat(s) and the dog proceed at their
own pace. It could take several weeks for the cat(s) to accept this
new member of the household.
Don't
expect that things will fall into place within the first few hours that
you bring a dog home, especially if you have one dog already. The
dog in your home may like having dogs over to play, but will know that
this one is supposed to stay. She may not like that. Be patient!
Don't let her get away with anything that she normally would not be allowed
to do. If things get really heated, separate the dogs with something
like a baby gate. Allow them to see each other and smell each
other without having them be on top of each other. What we see generally
happen is that the rescue dog is behaving and that the dog already in the
home is having something of a temper tantrum, you know --- "That's my mommy
and daddy and you can't have them!" We ask that you give it time,
at least 3 days before making any long term decisions.
Don't
expect your dog to know how to behave in your home automatically.
When you leave, crate your dog if they are used to being crated.
Make your comings and goings non eventful so they don't get wound up and
they won't view your leaving as a tragedy.
Plan on
training your new dog in an obedience class within a week or so of getting
him/her. Talk to obedience instructors, ask your rescue contact for
a referral and then trust your gut feeling. If it doesn't feel right,
it probably isn't. You will need to find a trainer that you feel
comfortable working with on a weekly basis. If you don't, it will
be a waste of money. If you do, your dog will respect you and you
will be on your way to a loving and respectful relationship.
If your
new rescue dog behaves in a manner that is inappropriate or that you would
not allow your current dog to do, let them know in a loving manner that
this is unacceptable behavior. Don't let these things slide or it
will be harder to correct the longer it goes uncorrected.
Don't
play tug of war games with your dog. The second you let go, he or
she has "won" and this may signal the beginning of some dominance problems
in your household, especially with those dogs with dominant personalities.
Realize
that it may take a good month before having your new dog in your home feels
comfortable and several months before it feels normal. Give it time
and don't demand too much of your dog too soon. Time and patience
will result in a good dog.
Medical
Blood
in stool -- if there is a little bit of blood in their stool, don't panic.
Sometimes a change in diet or stress can cause this to happen. If
there is a lot of blood, call or go to your vet immediately.
If your
dog has diarrhea in the beginning, don't panic! This is a normal
reaction to change in their environment and should go away after a few
days. Be sure to provide your dog with water and if it continues
you will want to visit your vet.
Limit
their water during the first week to also reduce accidents. Provide water
during morning and evening meals, but don't let water down all day.
HERE
ARE JUST A FEW ITEMS TO HAVE ON HAND FOR YOUR NEW ARRIVAL:
Buckle
collar for wearing all the time
No-slip
collar for leashed walks (greyhound collar, choke collar, alaskan collar,
etc.) - Jindos are reknown for slipping out of their regular collars and
escaping during walks.
Leash
ID tag
A crate
-- Either a metal frame crate or a plastic Varikennel
A dog
mat or pillow for inside their crate.
A comfortable
dog bed for your dog to rest on when tired.
Food and
water dishes
Dog food
- We recommend foods without corn as the main ingredient.
Dog food
containers -- Helps keep food fresh and airtight.
Dog treats
Dog toys
- The squeakier, the better! Fleecy toys are also a big hit! Also
have a Kong and a Jolly Ball on hand. The Salvation Army and Goodwill
are great places to stock up on stuffed animals. Throw them in the
wash and then give them to your babies to play with and have fun.
Chewies
and bones - Dogs naturally have an urge to chew.
Nail clippers
or a dremel tool - If you can hear your dog's nails on the floor when they
are walking, they need to be trimmed.
Dog shampoo
Names
and telephone numbers of obedience trainers in your area.
Appointment
with a veternarian for vaccinations, de-wormings, spay/neuter, and flea
control if needed.
TRAINING
INFORMATION:
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HOW TO CHOOSE A DOG TRAINER by Robin
Kovary:
With so many people involved in the field
of professional dog training today, trying to determine who's truly qualified
can be a difficult task. For those trying to decide on a professional dog
trainer, the American Dog Trainers Network offers the following criteria
concerning what to look for:
An excellent reputation. Shop around
and get recommendations from your vet, the ASPCA, the city's other humane
societies, other reputable trainers, or your breeder/breed club.
Widespread experience. Inquire about
his or her training background, years of experience, and areas of expertise.
You deserve to have your questions answered, so don't be timid about asking
them. (Also, see consumer warning at the bottom of this article.)
Humane training methodology and gentle,
effective handling skills. Reputable trainers are concerned about their
dogs' welfare. They also know that harsh or abusive handling methods are
not only unnecessary, but are often counter-productive as well.
A genuine love of and devotion to dogs.
When you find a trainer with this important quality you'll know it. The
joy of living and working with dogs makes this person shine.
Extensive behavioral knowledge.
Dedicated trainers keep themselves up-to-date by attending dog training
and animal behavior courses, conferences, seminars and workshops whenever
possible.
Good teaching and communication skills.
Trainers who have this gift make the learning process quicker, easier and
more enjoyable for their students.
A sense of humor. Training can and
should be fun for both dogs and owners. A positive attitude and a little
laughter goes a long way.
Affiliations with reputable associations,
organizations and training clubs. While this is not mandatory, it's
certainly a plus.
Ethics before profit. Is monetary
profit his or her primary motive for training dogs? Is everything this
trainer does geared towards making money? While financial success is great,
ethics must come first.
A NOTE OF WARNING: Unless a dog trainer
comes highly recommended to you by *at least* one reputable source, the
bottom line for the consumer is BUYER BEWARE!
Remember, absolutely anyone can call himself
a dog trainer or behaviorist. Slick ads with inflated claims, grandiose
self-descriptions, and impressive sounding titles can be very deceptive.
Investigate any stated affiliations a trainer lists on his or her brochure,
Yellow Pages ad or web site. If a trainer claims to be affiliated with
an organization (past or present) or claims to have "studied" with well-known
dog trainers or behaviorists, ask for their telephone numbers and contact
them to be sure. NOTE: A common ploy for some trainers, is to attend a
couple one-or two-day seminars or workshops with a well-known dog expert
(or University), then claim to have studied with that person (or at that
institution).
Also, verify how many years the trainer
you are considering has been training dogs professionally. While years
alone are not enough to determine a trainer's experience level in and of
itself, it's certainly says a lot.
A FINAL NOTE: Beware of dog trainers
who care more about publicity, public relations, and celebrities, than
they care about your dog and the quality of training they provide. Many
professional dog trainers have worked with celebrities and high-profile
people. But take note if the trainer seems totally pre-occupied with dropping
names, and bills himself as the "Trainer To The Stars", something that
says little or nothing about his ability as a dog trainer.
Copyright © 1998, Robin Kovary
Printed with permission from The
American Dog Trainers Network
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