Advice for First time dog owner
Discussion
Hi guys,
I mentioned in the dog picture thread that I was after some advise as we're taking our first rescue dog home this coming Saturday.
For those who haven't seen him, this is Joey, our new 6 year old Collie Cross!
There was some fantastic advise already imparted. but I don't want to derail a thread so I thought I'd make a new one.
The only really specific question i have is regarding bedding when he moves in with us. Some place just recommend a normal dog basket / bed, but some other websites suggested a cage so he has a safe place to go to while he settles in and then to eventually move on to a basket. What do you guys think, and whats worked for you?
Cheers!
Steve
I mentioned in the dog picture thread that I was after some advise as we're taking our first rescue dog home this coming Saturday.
For those who haven't seen him, this is Joey, our new 6 year old Collie Cross!
There was some fantastic advise already imparted. but I don't want to derail a thread so I thought I'd make a new one.
The only really specific question i have is regarding bedding when he moves in with us. Some place just recommend a normal dog basket / bed, but some other websites suggested a cage so he has a safe place to go to while he settles in and then to eventually move on to a basket. What do you guys think, and whats worked for you?
Cheers!
Steve
Have you been told that he's destructive?
Has he been crate trained?
Crates have their place. We used one for Sam and Jet for a couple of years but only because they had been crate trained and liked sleeping in one. And they were youngsters who liked chewing things like electrical cables! I have never used one for any of my other 10 dogs and we don't use one now for Sam and Jet.
Some dogs love them, but the other dogs I had at the same time as Sam and Jet didn't show any interest in their crate at all. They preferred the furniture!
Good luck with him, he reminds me of a couple of my parents' dogs who have been smashers. I'm sure you'll be fine.
Has he been crate trained?
Crates have their place. We used one for Sam and Jet for a couple of years but only because they had been crate trained and liked sleeping in one. And they were youngsters who liked chewing things like electrical cables! I have never used one for any of my other 10 dogs and we don't use one now for Sam and Jet.
Some dogs love them, but the other dogs I had at the same time as Sam and Jet didn't show any interest in their crate at all. They preferred the furniture!
Good luck with him, he reminds me of a couple of my parents' dogs who have been smashers. I'm sure you'll be fine.
Edited by moorx on Monday 15th May 22:25
We tried to crate train our pup, he used to batter the thing across the room until the the door opened. Then tried restricting him to the dining room and kitchen whilst we were out, battered the dining room doors.
Just give him the run of the house now and he's fine.
He has 2 beds, one in our bedroom and one in the living room. In the winter he curls up in the bedroom, rest of the year downstairs generally on a settee.
Just give him the run of the house now and he's fine.
He has 2 beds, one in our bedroom and one in the living room. In the winter he curls up in the bedroom, rest of the year downstairs generally on a settee.
With that face he'll be on you bed in two weeks minimum 
We crate ours when out but they were trained for it from pups. Doors are left permanently open when we are in and they go in of their own accord to sleep.
My worry with a new dog like you have is potentially chewing hurting themselves when you are out. You just don't know how they will be.
I would suggest a crate that is covered but use treats and take time to get him comfortable with it. Never use it as a punishment.
We crate ours when out but they were trained for it from pups. Doors are left permanently open when we are in and they go in of their own accord to sleep.
My worry with a new dog like you have is potentially chewing hurting themselves when you are out. You just don't know how they will be.
I would suggest a crate that is covered but use treats and take time to get him comfortable with it. Never use it as a punishment.
As others have said, depends on the dog.
My 4 year old rescue Cassie spent 7 months in kennels and had no history.
In the first couple of weeks, she struggled with house training and also was slightly destructive if left alone.
The kennels suggested I try a crate and have it in the main living area.
I got one that gave her room to easily lie flat and also sit up straight, put her normal bedding inside and she used it straight away.
She is fine when shut in overnight and if left alone - 5 hours max during the day.
She goes in on request and always gets a small treat as I shut the door.
I have a camera / baby monitor trained on the crate so I am alerted if she has any problems due to a somewhat variable digestion - this has saved an extra bedding wash a couple of times!
The crate is also her go to place if stressed or just needing to chill out.
She also does not travel well, so I have a similar crate for the car which seems to help.
If she didn't like the crate, I would have tried something else. As she does like it and I have a good space for it, it will remain.
If you think your pup might benefit from a crate, get or borrow one to try. Good luck!
My 4 year old rescue Cassie spent 7 months in kennels and had no history.
In the first couple of weeks, she struggled with house training and also was slightly destructive if left alone.
The kennels suggested I try a crate and have it in the main living area.
I got one that gave her room to easily lie flat and also sit up straight, put her normal bedding inside and she used it straight away.
She is fine when shut in overnight and if left alone - 5 hours max during the day.
She goes in on request and always gets a small treat as I shut the door.
I have a camera / baby monitor trained on the crate so I am alerted if she has any problems due to a somewhat variable digestion - this has saved an extra bedding wash a couple of times!
The crate is also her go to place if stressed or just needing to chill out.
She also does not travel well, so I have a similar crate for the car which seems to help.
If she didn't like the crate, I would have tried something else. As she does like it and I have a good space for it, it will remain.
If you think your pup might benefit from a crate, get or borrow one to try. Good luck!
Lovely, and lively, looking dog,
It would be good if you could find a local trainer, ideally one who is recommended. If younare getting him from a rescue centre maybe they know one.
My cocker was crate trained as a puppy. He would happily fall asleep in it. Even had a crate in the back of the van
My collie hated it and would have hurt herself in an attempt to escape. She was a rescue and had nor been collie trained as a pup
Good luck
It would be good if you could find a local trainer, ideally one who is recommended. If younare getting him from a rescue centre maybe they know one.
My cocker was crate trained as a puppy. He would happily fall asleep in it. Even had a crate in the back of the van
My collie hated it and would have hurt herself in an attempt to escape. She was a rescue and had nor been collie trained as a pup
Good luck
All of my dogs have been crate trained although as adults they do not use them. Definitely recommend. I fed them in the crate so they associated it with reward. As they got older I left the door open and inevitably they used it as a sleeping place.
A Great Dane cage is quite large 😊
A Great Dane cage is quite large 😊
Righto,
He's finally home! he's settled in really quickly, and really is a bundle of energy! We bought a cage, and he seems to like it in there, but we'll see how he sleeps tonight. He responds well to simple commands too, which is making things a lot easier.
He was awful on the drive home though. Not sure what it is, but as soon as I started the engine, he immediately started barking and trying to get out. The back of the fabia is a right state now, covered in hair and slobber as he jumped about. He ended up travelling home in his cage but he really wasn't happy.
Other than that, it's going as smoothly as we could have hoped. I'm just not looking forward to tackling the interior of the car tomorrow!
He's finally home! he's settled in really quickly, and really is a bundle of energy! We bought a cage, and he seems to like it in there, but we'll see how he sleeps tonight. He responds well to simple commands too, which is making things a lot easier.
He was awful on the drive home though. Not sure what it is, but as soon as I started the engine, he immediately started barking and trying to get out. The back of the fabia is a right state now, covered in hair and slobber as he jumped about. He ended up travelling home in his cage but he really wasn't happy.
Other than that, it's going as smoothly as we could have hoped. I'm just not looking forward to tackling the interior of the car tomorrow!
Steve91 said:
He was awful on the drive home though. Not sure what it is, but as soon as I started the engine, he immediately started barking and trying to get out. The back of the fabia is a right state now, covered in hair and slobber as he jumped about. He ended up travelling home in his cage but he really wasn't happy.
Some dogs are OK with travel after a few trips, some never settle.Mine hated the back seat when held by a harness so has a crate in the back.
Without any pills, she is stressed and throws up after about 5 miles.
With either Johnson's Travel-Eze or Adaptil pills, she seems less stressed and can last 20 miles before heaving.
Once she has thrown up, she is good for the rest of the journey apart from a bit of dribble.
Occasional journeys further away get a very small meal a few hours before travel and a couple of planned stops for clean up and a walk!
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