Any tips about to say yes to...
Discussion
We expect pics 
Firstly, congratulations on the new addition! He looks a real sweetie! Your life is about to change dramatically, but for the better!
I'm currently an owner of 2 fantastic Dogs Trust rescue dogs (we had a third but had to return her as she was a bit too much for the other 2, to the point where one nipped a chunk from her ear). As someone else said - rescue dogs can be an unknown quantity, so you will need to be patient - there may be underlying issues that DT are not aware of, but that will surface in a home environment (such as chewing, seperation anxiety, food or toy dominance, toileting in the house etc). As stressful as some of these things are (my hound had seperation anxiety for the first 2 weeks we had him), remember that the dog is not doing anything deliberately or out of malice, so try to stay calm with him (even at 3am when you've had to get up for the 4th time to let it out / at 3am when it is still howling!). Patience and persistence will pay off in the end!
I would suggest trying to take some time off work for the day you bring it home - I took a week off when both our dogs came home to us - it enables you you help it settle in quite quickly and to keep an eye on it, but also allows you to start getting it used to being alone as well - start off by leaving it in the room you want to use as the 'doggy room' (maybe in a crate to aid toilet training) for a few minutes, then return to it. Gradually extend the time you're leaving the dog - if he howls DO NOT go to him until he stops, regardless of how pitiful / heart rendering the howl is (returning to the dog while he is howling reinforces that the howling gets attention, so he will do it more).
Buy lots of toys to keep his attention and also to use as a reward - Kongs are great - stuff them with treats and it keeps dogs amused for ages!
Be aware that DT are (unfortunately) known for over-guessing the ages of their dogs - our hound came to us advertised as a 3 year old - he was actually closer to 18 months. If your new dog is around that age, be prepared to lose stuff to it being chewed - in the early days I lost my warrant card, a mobile phone, several CD's, books and OS maps to the chewing (not to mention bits of furniture). At 18 months old a dog is still a pup so will still be 'teething' to an extent. You can buy some anti-chew stuff called bitter apple which seemed to work.
Treat the dog as a dog. Give it boundaries and keep to those boundaries. Later you can choose to relax them if you so wish. If you let the dog get away with lots of stuff in the early days you will be setting a precedent that will be hard to back down from.
I never used to be a dog person, but rescuing one really opened my eyes to the joy that they can bring, expecially ones that have been given a second chance. Like I say, it will change your life, but I found it changed 100% for the better. Get used to finding bits of dog treat and un-used poo bags in virtually every pocket!
Good luck with him!
I'm currently an owner of 2 fantastic Dogs Trust rescue dogs (we had a third but had to return her as she was a bit too much for the other 2, to the point where one nipped a chunk from her ear). As someone else said - rescue dogs can be an unknown quantity, so you will need to be patient - there may be underlying issues that DT are not aware of, but that will surface in a home environment (such as chewing, seperation anxiety, food or toy dominance, toileting in the house etc). As stressful as some of these things are (my hound had seperation anxiety for the first 2 weeks we had him), remember that the dog is not doing anything deliberately or out of malice, so try to stay calm with him (even at 3am when you've had to get up for the 4th time to let it out / at 3am when it is still howling!). Patience and persistence will pay off in the end!
I would suggest trying to take some time off work for the day you bring it home - I took a week off when both our dogs came home to us - it enables you you help it settle in quite quickly and to keep an eye on it, but also allows you to start getting it used to being alone as well - start off by leaving it in the room you want to use as the 'doggy room' (maybe in a crate to aid toilet training) for a few minutes, then return to it. Gradually extend the time you're leaving the dog - if he howls DO NOT go to him until he stops, regardless of how pitiful / heart rendering the howl is (returning to the dog while he is howling reinforces that the howling gets attention, so he will do it more).
Buy lots of toys to keep his attention and also to use as a reward - Kongs are great - stuff them with treats and it keeps dogs amused for ages!
Be aware that DT are (unfortunately) known for over-guessing the ages of their dogs - our hound came to us advertised as a 3 year old - he was actually closer to 18 months. If your new dog is around that age, be prepared to lose stuff to it being chewed - in the early days I lost my warrant card, a mobile phone, several CD's, books and OS maps to the chewing (not to mention bits of furniture). At 18 months old a dog is still a pup so will still be 'teething' to an extent. You can buy some anti-chew stuff called bitter apple which seemed to work.
Treat the dog as a dog. Give it boundaries and keep to those boundaries. Later you can choose to relax them if you so wish. If you let the dog get away with lots of stuff in the early days you will be setting a precedent that will be hard to back down from.
I never used to be a dog person, but rescuing one really opened my eyes to the joy that they can bring, expecially ones that have been given a second chance. Like I say, it will change your life, but I found it changed 100% for the better. Get used to finding bits of dog treat and un-used poo bags in virtually every pocket!
Good luck with him!
mustdash said:
Be aware that DT are (unfortunately) known for over-guessing the ages of their dogs - our hound came to us advertised as a 3 year old - he was actually closer to 18 months.
I'm surprised to hear that... From my experience we normally hear about ages being under quoted on... People notes ting old dogs. (Part time volunteer in a dog home we don't do it I must stress!)Op, good luck with him - I took a rescue dog myself recently and he's been a handful but already showing progress. He no longer s
ts in his water bowl, and anything he's eaten has been worthless since he done my iPad and nexus. Couple of paper bags that must have blown into the garden, and a plastic charity bag that was pushed through my gate unrequested. Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff