Rescue Dog Dilemma
Discussion
It’s massively early days
Remember, he doesn’t know who you are or where he is or what’s going on. He’s been rehomed and that’s deeply unsettling for a dog.
We rescued in November and our boy is nuts sometimes.
The behaviour you’re seeing is trainable but give him time.
We were told that it’s at least a year, maybe 18 months before your rescue dog truly settles in with you.
Remember, he doesn’t know who you are or where he is or what’s going on. He’s been rehomed and that’s deeply unsettling for a dog.
We rescued in November and our boy is nuts sometimes.
The behaviour you’re seeing is trainable but give him time.
We were told that it’s at least a year, maybe 18 months before your rescue dog truly settles in with you.
pidsy said:
It’s obviously behavioural- if dogs trust don’t send you theirs, there are plenty of very good behaviourists out there.
Perseverance will be key but it should be something you can train out of him.
It happens a lot. This was Lou after being left alone with a new bed for half an hour:
This photo made me burst out laughing. You can see her we face "oops... honest..Wasnt me...." Perseverance will be key but it should be something you can train out of him.
It happens a lot. This was Lou after being left alone with a new bed for half an hour:
hotchy said:
pidsy said:
This photo made me burst out laughing. You can see her we face "oops... honest..Wasnt me...." If you look closely at the pic - the Lino in the kitchen had already been replaced once. That was replaced (again) with stone flooring shortly after. The bed was brand new and she killed a poor defenceless kitchen roll too for no apparent reason - I’m still not sure how she got hold of it.
She’s fine now. Even trainers are safe. She does collect socks though - she stores them in her bed.
We had a similar problem with a rescue dog. She's a lurcher, and we rehomed her at what the home reckoned was about 20 weeks. (The vet thought she might be a couple of months older.) The first day, I sat with her in the dining room as she ran round and round, and I was completely shellshocked. I've never seen a dog with so much energy. She couldn't be left alone for a moment for fear of her trashing something or hurting herself.
As time went by and we started training and socialising her, she got a reputation in our puppy training class for being "the nutter". If anyone was going to go nose-down in the bowls of treats they were meant to walk past, it was Poppy. She loves everyone and everything, but she had no idea initially how to interact with other dogs and this all came out as overwhelming excitement. In all honesty, I was horrified. But we decided we'd taken her on, so she was our problem. The home said they'd have her back if it didn't work out, but that was never an option as far as we were concerned.
It took time, but she's brilliant now. (Okay, she's about 8 now, but all the same.
) She still does the lurcher thing of clearing off for a good run if you give her half a chance, but she behaves with other dogs these days (she still asks to play, but nicely instead of trying to bowl the other dog over), she no longer runs round the house like her tail is on fire and she's a fantastic part of the family. We wouldn't be without her.
As a benchmark, I took our next pup to the same class about 18 months later, and Poppy came along to watch. The trainers were amazed it was the same dog. They were even holding her up as an example of how even a nightmare pup can turn into a well-mannered dog with a bit of time and patience.
What I'm trying to say is - please give the little lad a chance. It's all new to him, he's not had any walkies and he's got loads of pent-up energy. He's just been let out of doggy prison. Sending him back is only going to unsettle him.
Here's our rescue, trying hard to persuade me she was only cuddling the rug in my office and not really settling down for a nice shredding session.
As time went by and we started training and socialising her, she got a reputation in our puppy training class for being "the nutter". If anyone was going to go nose-down in the bowls of treats they were meant to walk past, it was Poppy. She loves everyone and everything, but she had no idea initially how to interact with other dogs and this all came out as overwhelming excitement. In all honesty, I was horrified. But we decided we'd taken her on, so she was our problem. The home said they'd have her back if it didn't work out, but that was never an option as far as we were concerned.
It took time, but she's brilliant now. (Okay, she's about 8 now, but all the same.
) She still does the lurcher thing of clearing off for a good run if you give her half a chance, but she behaves with other dogs these days (she still asks to play, but nicely instead of trying to bowl the other dog over), she no longer runs round the house like her tail is on fire and she's a fantastic part of the family. We wouldn't be without her.As a benchmark, I took our next pup to the same class about 18 months later, and Poppy came along to watch. The trainers were amazed it was the same dog. They were even holding her up as an example of how even a nightmare pup can turn into a well-mannered dog with a bit of time and patience.
What I'm trying to say is - please give the little lad a chance. It's all new to him, he's not had any walkies and he's got loads of pent-up energy. He's just been let out of doggy prison. Sending him back is only going to unsettle him.
Here's our rescue, trying hard to persuade me she was only cuddling the rug in my office and not really settling down for a nice shredding session.
Edited by SGirl on Saturday 17th August 13:05
Doofus said:
Just doing what we were told.
Don't really have much advice to add regarding training but do agree with what HTP says about going for a walk, its been nearly a week since you got him so I don't see how it could do any harm..Lovely looking dog, hope it works out for you all, good luck!
pidsy said:
hotchy said:
pidsy said:
This photo made me burst out laughing. You can see her we face "oops... honest..Wasnt me...." If you look closely at the pic - the Lino in the kitchen had already been replaced once. That was replaced (again) with stone flooring shortly after. The bed was brand new and she killed a poor defenceless kitchen roll too for no apparent reason - I’m still not sure how she got hold of it.
She’s fine now. Even trainers are safe. She does collect socks though - she stores them in her bed.
k have you been and this is all your fault’. I can’t understand the DTs instruction of not walki g him out for a week!! Off lead maybe, but not a general supervised walk. This instruction/guideline usually applies to cats, never heard it with rescue dogs. And I’ve had many. A quick call to them would clarify it, in fact i’d have ignored it by now and taken him out! Unless he’s a puppy and just had vaccinations and they were basing on that? Even so, supervised quiet walk will do him, and you, the world of good. Before any really bad habits set in.
Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff