I have adopted four small adult dogs in the past 5 years, ranging in age from 2 to 14 years.
The first few nights the dog is in the house, I put it in bed with me and cuddle the dog to my chest and tummy. After a few days of this, they were put in the dog bed. For the most anxious dog, I made her a bed beside my bed for a few more days before transitioning to the dog bed.
This seems to make the dog less anxious in those first few days and help it to realize you are their protector. One of my rescue dogs has since gone on to Doggie Heaven, but the other 3 still consider time in Mama's bed to be the most desirable activity in the world! |