[SirBarksALot]

I adopted a dog about four weeks ago, and I’m finding it difficult to adapt to our new life together. My new dog is two years old and isn’t very well trained. I suppose I thought dog training would be much simpler than it is. Is adoption regret a thing? Will it get better?

[Danielle DeGroot]

Hi there. Congrats on your new pup. I am sorry to hear the transition is not going as well as desired. Dog adoption regret is real, but it does not mean your journey with your pup is doomed. Dogs, especially those that are adopted when they are not young puppies, can take time to adjust to their new environment. Training your pup takes time, and there will be some ups and downs. If you are having trouble, it may be time to bring in some help. You can try a dog behavior class, a private trainer, or an online trainer. We cover how to find the right trainer in this detailed guide. One online trainer that we really like here at Canine Journal is Doggy Dan, which we cover in detail in this review. While it is an extra expense, professional training is immensely helpful, especially for a dog in a new environment. This can be helpful, especially because you do not know what kind of training your pup had before they came to you.

Training a new dog is no small task, and there is no easy fix. Each dog will learn things at its own pace. Positive reinforcement works wonders and helps your pup build a bond with you. While this can be a challenging time, consistency is key to helping keep things moving forward and help your new pup get settled in. That said, sometimes it will become clear that the match is not the right one, and if that is the case, you can take steps to find a new home for your pup that will suit them better. It is okay if things don’t work out; this happens more often than one would think. One of our team members, Kimberly Alt, shared her experience rehoming a dog that turned out not to be a good fit for her family.

I hope you can give it a little more time and patience with your new fur baby. Hopefully, professional guidance will make the training process easier and more productive. Let me know how it goes!

[Author]

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