We're adopting a dog but in two weeks, we'll be going on a long trip. Do you think that will effect the dog's behavior?

Hi Cindy,

You've helped me before and your advice has been right on, so I'm back for more help :) We are adopting an English Springer Spaniel dog (about a year old) and she is a perfect fit for our family. We are so excited to bring her home. I've studied your site and Ed's article on ground work for adult dogs. I plan to follow that advice carefully. The dog comes from a home where they didn't crate train her, free fed her garbage food, and had a doggie door so she's not house trained. I have a lot of work to do! Thank goodness she already loves the raw food we give her here when she has visited us while we were getting to know her and deciding if she would be a fit for our family.

Here's my question: We have committed to take her but we are leaving for a week long trip in less that two weeks. The previous owners are willing to keep her until we get back. They also are fine if we take her now and bring her back to stay with them while we're gone. I am so anxious to get started on her ground work and to, honestly, just have her home as we really love this dog, that I want to bring her home for the next two weeks and work on groundwork and house and crate training. But then she would have to go back to her previous home for a week and the bad habits until we got back home. Is that just poor training and will confuse her and I should just be patient, or would that immediate exposure with our family and the groundwork training right away be helpful and on the right track? I hope I've explained this clearly. Would you recommend bringing her home for two weeks then to them for a week while we're gone, or just leave her there completely until we get back and can train in earnest?

I appreciate your time. You have been so gracious in the past with quick responses and helpful advice. Thank you so much.

L