Welcoming a rescue
Discussion
I didn't want to post to early as didn't think we would actually be lucky enough to jump through all the hoops. But we got te ok this week from the fosterer and home checker and finally the owner of the foundation to adopt a dog. Her name is Lexy and she is a 2 and a half year Rottie. We have read up a lot on training and the breed and met quite a few, some were up or adoption but just not right for us. By not right for us I mean needed to much training or needed more experienced owners.
We are very excited but wondering from the PH massive, how is best to help we settle? We want her to feel welcome and confident in her new home as quickly as possible. We have bought a bed for her and some toys, matched the food she had before to make the transition a bit easier.
Never done this before so any help would be great.
We are very excited but wondering from the PH massive, how is best to help we settle? We want her to feel welcome and confident in her new home as quickly as possible. We have bought a bed for her and some toys, matched the food she had before to make the transition a bit easier.
Never done this before so any help would be great.
Shinobi said:
We don't, this will be our first. We have both grown up with them and are surrounded in the family by them but she is the first to live with us.
Well, when she arrives, take her around the house to show her the rooms, then take her out for a nice long walk. When she gets back she will crash out.....Jasandjules said:
Shinobi said:
We don't, this will be our first. We have both grown up with them and are surrounded in the family by them but she is the first to live with us.
Well, when she arrives, take her around the house to show her the rooms, then take her out for a nice long walk. When she gets back she will crash out.....
First thing any strange dog I've taken home (no tittering at the back...) has done is want to pee, so show them round, show them the garden & take them for a walk.
Jasandjules said:
Well, when she arrives, take her around the house to show her the rooms, then take her out for a nice long walk. When she gets back she will crash out.....
If there are rooms/ areas you want to remain 'out of bounds' best not show her those or it may cause confusion.Have a water bowl in the place where it is going to stay - dogs always feel happier when they know how/where they can get a drink - and try to have a bed of some sort read too, so they know where they can retire to should they so choose.
A sniff around the garden so they can have a pee/poo if need be and food. Dogs love food - if they know you;re going to feed them, they'll be happy and easier to recal when you then take them out on their first walk, which is when they really get to know where they're staying.
Good luck, be patient, enjoy.
Digga said:
f there are rooms/ areas you want to remain 'out of bounds' best not show her those or it may cause confusion.
Have a water bowl in the place where it is going to stay - dogs always feel happier when they know how/where they can get a drink - and try to have a bed of some sort read too, so they know where they can retire to should they so choose.
A sniff around the garden so they can have a pee/poo if need be and food. Dogs love food - if they know you;re going to feed them, they'll be happy and easier to recal when you then take them out on their first walk, which is when they really get to know where they're staying.
Good luck, be patient, enjoy.
Thank you for that, I actually hadn't thought about those things. We will make sure we put food and water out before we go pick her up. Very excited now!Have a water bowl in the place where it is going to stay - dogs always feel happier when they know how/where they can get a drink - and try to have a bed of some sort read too, so they know where they can retire to should they so choose.
A sniff around the garden so they can have a pee/poo if need be and food. Dogs love food - if they know you;re going to feed them, they'll be happy and easier to recal when you then take them out on their first walk, which is when they really get to know where they're staying.
Good luck, be patient, enjoy.
I would say last night was a success, we did as above and showed Lexy her new home. She prefers the sofas to her bed but that's fine with us. No accidents last night and only whimpered once or twice, I think she got more sleep then me as I was up listening for most the night!
She seems very relaxed and happy here, introduced to the dog walkers and all is well fingers crossed.
She seems very relaxed and happy here, introduced to the dog walkers and all is well fingers crossed.
Shinobi said:
I would say last night was a success, we did as above and showed Lexy her new home. She prefers the sofas to her bed but that's fine with us. No accidents last night and only whimpered once or twice, I think she got more sleep then me as I was up listening for most the night!
She seems very relaxed and happy here, introduced to the dog walkers and all is well fingers crossed.
Great stuff.She seems very relaxed and happy here, introduced to the dog walkers and all is well fingers crossed.
Glad someone else has given a rescue home to a rottie, I got our rott about a year and a half ago, and it took a good six months for him to really settle in and relax even though he decided he was family from almost the first day and wanted to stay. He used to crap in any room within 5mins if he couldn't see someone but would last all day in the car if he had to as that was his happiest place, still is, as he goes everywhere with me. They will all be different, but I would say try ensure the home or family factor is consistently emphasized, while letting them know that they are not in charge of you, bit vague maybe but hope you see what I mean. Generally I have found most rescue dogs bond really strongly with a good new home as they probably want to stay in their new pack more than we know. Good luck, although it sounds as though it won't be needed.
Thevet said:
Glad someone else has given a rescue home to a rottie
+1 Kudos.They suffer from some unbeleivably negative press. I've seen people cringe in terror from ours, yet pay no mind to the (bigger and madder) labrador they're walking with.
The rescue homes, especailly in urban areas, are overflowing with Staffy and black & tan cross breeds and people ignorantly shun them because they are portrayed as being 'bad' dogs.
Frankly, when there are so many nice dogs awaiting proper homes, I cannot bring myself to buy pedigree.
We took in a rescue dog two weeks ago. She is a Border Collie and the first week was traumatic to say the least. She was a nervous wreck and every household sound spooked her. After a bit more digging we found out that she had actually lived a life outdoors on a small holding with an old lady and it was unlikely she had ever been walked or played with. She had also been rehomed previously and brought back because of her behaviour.
She was so sad and just sat by the back door (when she wasn't running around in circles spooked) shivering. The rescus centre told us she was fed on dried food and to keep the same brand as continuity. They did also say she was a 'grazer' and rarely wolfed her food down. Well, within a day she stopped eating all together. She had no interest in any of the multitude of treats we bought. She wouldn't make eye contact or play in any way. We really were at the point of thinking she needed to be kept outside on a farm or something.
However, we spoke to a dog behaviourist (very sceptical at first), who gave us a lot of advice on what the dog was thinking and it all seemed to make sense. Then just before we were going to take her back, we took her to the in laws to meet their dog. In the kitchen was a bowl of tinned food. She lapped it up. Turns out she hates dried food. Bought some tinned stuff and she gradually transformed. She now wants to play all the time, likes treats and is slowly getting used to household noises. Still a way to go, but with patience and some training, she should be a great family pet. She is just the gentlest thing going.
The only down side is that she has given up her place by the back door and has realised the sofa is much, much more comfortable. (I'm glad we didn't buy the new one last month)
She was so sad and just sat by the back door (when she wasn't running around in circles spooked) shivering. The rescus centre told us she was fed on dried food and to keep the same brand as continuity. They did also say she was a 'grazer' and rarely wolfed her food down. Well, within a day she stopped eating all together. She had no interest in any of the multitude of treats we bought. She wouldn't make eye contact or play in any way. We really were at the point of thinking she needed to be kept outside on a farm or something.
However, we spoke to a dog behaviourist (very sceptical at first), who gave us a lot of advice on what the dog was thinking and it all seemed to make sense. Then just before we were going to take her back, we took her to the in laws to meet their dog. In the kitchen was a bowl of tinned food. She lapped it up. Turns out she hates dried food. Bought some tinned stuff and she gradually transformed. She now wants to play all the time, likes treats and is slowly getting used to household noises. Still a way to go, but with patience and some training, she should be a great family pet. She is just the gentlest thing going.
The only down side is that she has given up her place by the back door and has realised the sofa is much, much more comfortable. (I'm glad we didn't buy the new one last month)
Elroy Blue said:
However, we spoke to a dog behaviourist (very sceptical at first), who gave us a lot of advice on what the dog was thinking and it all seemed to make sense. Then just before we were going to take her back, we took her to the in laws to meet their dog. In the kitchen was a bowl of tinned food. She lapped it up. Turns out she hates dried food. Bought some tinned stuff and she gradually transformed. She now wants to play all the time, likes treats and is slowly getting used to household noises. Still a way to go, but with patience and some training, she should be a great family pet. She is just the gentlest thing going.
Great story. As you say, dogs do have a psyche and can be traumatised - it's sometimes hard for us to understand them and for them to understand and get accustomed to us.Our first dog was pretty easy. All we nkow of him is he was found, stray, unchipped somewhere in Wolverhampton, but in good shape.
The second dog (via Mrs Grumpy on here who was fostering him) was a little bit more of a challenge, only because although young (8 months) he had clearly suffered some abuse. He and two other dogs had been removed from a pub in Bridgend where the (f
king bd retard owners who I will hopefully never meet) were keeping the three of them in a cellar. For about 6 months, he was very wary of strangers and often exhibited fear aggression, especially one he was tired/dozing in the evening - we got the idea someone used to get boozed-up and lay into the dogs at night - at which times he was even frightened of our nephew, let alone adults.He's now a very well-behaved, sociable and happy dog.
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