Pet Partnership Coaching
The Challenge
Shortening the time it takes for dogs (and their owners) to adjust to their new living situation.
The Outcome
A larger, happier, wiser, and more stable multi-species family.
Jessie and her family came to pH-auna for help with dog adoption. They felt they were ready to add to their family but had no idea how to go about it; all they knew was that they wanted their puppy to be medium-sized, shaggy, and adorable. We worked with them to uncover new criteria that were essential to them to discover in terms of their dog's personality, as well as their availability within their present family routines to spend time with and exercise the dog.
We began the search with a more comprehensive set of criteria. This allowed us to have more informed conversations with the shelter's employees about their available dogs. After a few weeks, we discovered Quincy, a 6-month-old, large Shephard mix who had been in the shelter for a few weeks after being surrendered by a couple who had relocated and couldn't take him with them. At the shelter we guided Jessie and Quincy through some introduction activities to ensure a suitable fit. Despite their eagerness to being Quincy home that day, we urged them to wait until the following day so that we could build them an individualized welcome home kit.
The kit included the items needed to welcome a dog home (e.g., feeding bowls, blanket, bed, chew toy), printed do's and don'ts for the family to ensure Quincy's first few weeks were filled with positive experiences (e.g., setting a routine, waiting to go to the vet, transitioning his food), and a few basic commands to jumpstart the human-animal bonding process (e.g., sit, high-five, give).
We were available to answer any questions that arose and visited the family on a weekly basis during the first couple of months, assisting them in resolving a few behavioral issues Quincy was exhibiting, guiding them through positive reinforcement training methods, assisting them in finding a routine that worked for everyone, and working through a few more advanced commands such as recall. During these visits, we were also able to conduct a series of observational and behavioral tests to assess Quincy's temperament and ensure he was settling into his place within the family.
We then booked visits every two weeks, during which time we organized a variety of engaging activities for the family to do with Quincy. Some activities were designed to assist the family comprehend what Quincy's body language was attempting to say, while others provided tools to help them learn what games or toys Quincy preferred and how these activities might be readily integrated into their schedule.
After 6 months, everyone had settled in wonderfully and were cohabiting in peace and harmony. We ceased making monthly visits but stayed on call for another 6 months in case any new queries or difficulties arose. These were primarily related to educating Jessie and her family in fundamental canine wellness practices, as well as a few socializing challenges Quincy faced at the dog park. We keep in touch with Jessie and conduct check-ins every six months to assess how their relationship is progressing, to share new and relevant activities for Quincy based on his changing needs, and to provide the family with an overview of what they should look out for or expect in terms of Quincy's health and behavior.
"My friends definitely thought I was going a bit far paying a coach to assist me acquire a dog but after encountering quite a few troubles with their dogs that we never experienced with Quincy they wished they had done the same. Working with pH-auna was fantastic; they helped us understand who Quincy was and how we could provide him with the finest, most careful, and informed care possible. I can say with certainty that Quincy is a very happy dog!" Jessie
