Third Time’s The Charm
A Guide to Introducing New Things To Your Dog
Introducing new and strange things and concepts to our dogs requires a little bit of patience and repetition. Many well-meaning dog owners give up at the first sign of resistance from their dog, when they should be persevering in their task. Like humans, dogs need time to get used to a new idea, be it a new home, a new country, a new bone, new food, a new crate, and much more. A good benchmark is to build up the new idea to your dog at least three times, which will give you a good gauge of whether your dog is going to like what you have to offer.
Here are three things (see the trend I’m setting?) that you should try with the Third Time Rule:
Introducing your dog to another dog
I like to use this rule when I’m getting overexcited or undersocialized dogs to meet with new dogs. We would go for a few walks before they have even sniffed each other. While their minds are distracted by the walking, they would also catch whiffs of each other’s scent, helping them to familiarize with the scent before they finally meet each other face-to-face. The first walk is always in a single file, so that one dog can sniff the back of the other; the second walk shifts the dog that was behind to the front; the third walk is when they walk closer to each other, almost side by side. Of course if your dog needs more time, then take more walks. However, this rule is good enough for me and it works for most dogs.
Going to a dog park for the first time
Of course, depending on the temperament and personality of your dog, it may take the first introduction for your dog to get used to the idea of a dog run or a dog park, or it may even take you one month, but the key is to be consistent and patient, and not give up at the first sign of resistance. The first time you bring your dog to the dog run, don’t even go in. Simply take a stroll with your dog around the dog run, so that he might be able to see, smell and hear what goes on in the fenced area. Once you’re done, just leave. The second time you bring him to the run, do the same walk but now stop near the entrance for just a bit, so that he may check out the smells bursting from the doorway. The third time, if he’s ready, then you may bring him in. He would have been familiarized with the dog run by now, and remember, always wait until he is calm before you enter.
Putting your dog in dog daycare
Before we board any dogs, we like to have a new dog in our daycare at least three times to get to know the dog before we board them. Likewise, your dog would like to get to know our daycare environment along with all the smells and sounds before he would feel comfortable staying overnight without you. So bring your dog to us for a few daycare sessions before you jet off for that honeymoon!
Give these a try with the Third Time Rule. The key is to build up familiarity with your dog slowly and over time. Every dog is different and unique, and has a pace of learning that only you, as an owner, will know. Create new experiences for your dog, and remember to build them up slowly!
Jun Yeo is the owner of Up For Paws, a dog daycare that believes in positive reinforcement, responsible dog ownership, and a dog-friendly Singapore city for the win! She can be contacted at
woof@upforpaws.com.