I’m a professional dog trainer – the type of pooch that I would never hug or try to snuggle with
A DOG trainer has warned pet owners what to avoid doing with a new rescue or foster pup.
In a TikTok video, the canine specialist shared five things people should avoid doing when first taking home their pooch.
Natalie Dobkins (@teamk9training) is the owner and head trainer of Team K9 Training in Raleigh, North Carolina, which she established two years ago.
Dobkins’ advice is just for the first few days or weeks a rescue or foster dog is brought home and not for forever.
She said: “All of these things are surrounding safety and all of them based off of horror stories I see in news articles of foster dogs or rescue dogs.”
Dobkins’ first point is that a dog should never be allowed to have free access of the home unsupervised.
She added: “never get too familiar with the dog too fast too soon.”
This included trying to give them hugs, face kisses, or snuggling, Dobkins says.
Next up – never give the dog high value items immediately.
Dobkins added: “I would never leave the dog out of the crate at night.”
Her final point was made very passionately.
She said: “Never ever ever leave the dog unsupervised around children or other dogs alone.”
Dobkins added: “Placing human emotional whims above safety is how very very very bad things happen.
“Make sure you follow safety practices when fostering or rescuing dogs.”
Fans loved her advice, with the video gaining more than 25,000 views and over 1,000 likes.
People took to the comments to share their own experiences and thoughts on Dobkins’ advice and rescue dogs.
One fan said: “Yes to everything.”
Another TikToker said: “Of course it’s common sense and I hope people know this.”
Dobkins replied to the comment with: “They don’t. Shared a story on my IG this morning with link to article about this.”
Another fan said: “I did all these things and my dog is a spoiled s**t head so I believe U”