Just out of curiosity, having read a few sad stories where dogs haven't lasted more than 48hrs in their new home, can you tell us how long it took for your rescue dog to settle in their new home?

I foster dogs occasionally.

Holly the Beagle (originally Dolly) came to us with a fantastic attitude problem. She was used to barking... and barking... and barking. It would seem that she was used to this activity resulting in her being fed! (and her health-damaging weight was further evidence of this). She was very much used to being in charge!

One thing we're good at here is ignoring barking She was quickly taught how to sit and wait patiently for her 2 meals a day, and a couple of biscuits for bedtime, and that dogs just don't get people food

She spent the first week with the usual beagle determination that she'd get her own way, and although she was driving us nuts, we're experienced beagle owners and stuck it out - with the help of a crate and a blanket . By week two she was begining to realise this wasn't working. After about 10 days she tried sulking instead - and being a beagle that lasted for two or three days. She woke up the following day a different dog!!!!

She suddenly started looking to us for guidance on what we'd like her to do, didn't try to bully our own dog so much, and became a sweet natured little hound She spent a further two weeks with us before Lesley at Beagle Welfare was able to put us in touch with a nice couple who had been on their waiting list. They brought their own dog to meet her and they hit it off instantly (something she doesn't often do with other dogs), and went home with them the same afternoon

Jaq at RainRescue tells me that when the new owners sent her an update a few weeks later they commented upon how well behaved she is!


So how long did your dog take to settle in, and what were the main problems you had to tackle?

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I think it all depends on the temprament and attitude of the new family.

Each dog is different, and each has some baggage, but basically I believe dogs live in the moment - in the here and now.
They don't fall asleep thinking, fancy - this time last week, i was starving and not knowing.............. it just doesn't happen

however, i was talking to a family who had just taken in one of our dogs the other day and I said

"Imagine i have sent you to live with my sister in Zimbabwa.
You don't speak the language, or understand the culture
You haven't a clue what religion they are or how they treat their children or their elderly parents
I have told you that you must be curtious at all times, and do exactly as they want - BUT
they wont always tell you what they really want
AND
they often change their mind - QUITE A LOT
BUT

dont upset them, as you will insult them and they will send you away

now -
how do you think that new dog feels?

maybe if we put ourselves in their shoes - without 'humanizing ' them, we may be a little more understanding.

if only.....

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I think you've hit the nail on the head Jaq

all too often we hear of people doing things that 'try to make up for' whatever has gone before, so suddenly a dog who's used to barely being fed and watered is allowed to sit on furniture, make demands of people about food and playtime, etc etc, and quickly comes to believe he's got his own little palace with servants in it! Then the 'fun' starts

When Hunny the ridgeback cross was with us, she'd become overwhelmed by all the things that were new to her, and have to go and lie in the garden for a bit to calm her own nerves - even if it was raining If we needed confimation that she'd been a yard dog before, this was it!

She is a typical pack climber, so although we were treating her more kindly than she'd been used to, and walked her several times a day as part of her lead training and socialisation excercises, she quickly had to learn that trying it on only resulted in a time out. Even now, months later, when she comes to stay and gets too excitable with a noise outside she can still be sent to 'bed' where she feels safe and calmer, as this is something her new owner has found useful and has kept up

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It took me 6 weeks to settle Durham in, he had really bad seperation anxiety, he is still clingy but he is happy now to be left for a few hours in the day, though he really stresses and poo's if I leave him downstairs at night, thankfully this is something I never normally have to do... he is such a good dog these days

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With a rescue dog, you automatically want to shower them with love and provide reassurance. There's nothing bad with this, but it can encourage separation anxiety and mis-placed behaviour in attempt to please you. I'm speaking from experience here and have found that it's best to include them gradually. Your dog may have 'closed up' or 'shut off' whilst being in kennels and it may have even traumatised them as they probably can't understand why they've been ejected from their original pack in the first place.

It took me 3 weeks to get my rescued GSD interested in toys. He was a cruelty case and had gone back into his shell in a big way, so we had to do a little each day. Firstly, using reward based training, I taught him heelwork in the house, then in the garden, then on the pavement outside the house, before we went on proper walks. This way he built up confidence in himself and me and most importantly, trust. You can also teach sit, down, stay, stand etc like this. That way you're not expecting too much and setting the dog up to fail.

I use a method by Jan Fennell, 'The Dog Listener' which advocates learning the dogs language and taking it step by step at the dogs pace without putting pressure on them. It's worked for me, and I'm happy to say the scared, timid, wary dog we picked up has turned out to be a cracker. The basic principle of this approach is to teach the dog in a kind, non-physical way that you are the leader and his protector, not the other way round. My dog's now won two obedience competitions, which is a real up-yours to the people who were cruel to him in the first place. As you can probably tell, I'm very proud of him indeed.

Good luck !

DW I think you are right about not giving a new dog to much attention, in a new situation it can be just to much and even stressful for it and can as you say cause seperation anxiety for sure.
Every dog is different though, my last rescue dog Lucy was 11 when I adopted her and I expected she would find things hard to adjust to, she made herself at home right away she is such a confident little dog its as if she was here all of her life, I think it just depends on the individual dog and what has happened to it before it came to you.

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The only issue we had with Eddy was for the first couple of days he wouldn't come in the lounge! He would stay in the kitchen even if we were all in the lounge.

I think this helped Takara to accept him anyway, but they worked each other out very quickly and we were lucky that Eddy settled in very quickly indeed. Takara took to him being in charge with no fuss at all and he is a very generous and lenient alpha, allowing her to get away with most things until it's too much and then a quick lip curl tells Takara to 'bog off'

He was 11 1/2 when we got him though, and for all that time he'd stacked up a fantastic reinforcement history for begging for dinner so that's something he's unlikely to get out of - if you're eating, Eddy's there!

The most surprising thing, I have to say is that for the year and a half we've kept them both together, they've never ONCE had a scrap. Not once.

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When we first took Jenny home she took about 70 seconds to make herself completely at home. She was, curious, polite, smiley, toilet trained, everything you could want!

As if it was going to last! After the 2 week grace period she changed completely. We love her to bits but boy can she bark. She doesn't do it to get anything in particular for the most. She just likes the way she sounds. She also goes crazy if you stand on anything (even your shoes) and poos upstairs where she isn't allowed.

In conclusion, I'm sure she was on her best behaviour just so we didn't turf her out in that first week (we're her 4th home in under 2 years)

Gotta love samoyeds!

that isn't an unusual time span for dogs to suddenly get all untrained and unmanagable from what I can gather Helly

that's the point at which people first consider giving up, and blame the dog as they know it's already been turfed out of one home

It's so rewarding if you stick it out though, isn't it?

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Our last dog was a GSD 3 years old and a cruelty case she'd been beaten, never socialized and didn't know what a lead was.
It didn't happen overnight and the early days were not always easy but giving her back was not an option we chose her she didn't choose us.
It took months to gain her full trust we didn't force ourselves on her, I tried it the first day we had her and realized immediately it was the wrong thing to do.
In time she became a loving, loyal socialable animal who learnt to trust again. Sadly she recently passed away but she was worth the extra effort she gave us great joy.
We are looking to rehome again but I don't expect miracles overnight, time, love and patience will get you there and its so rewarding.

Well done Xeon - any animal thats gone through trauma can take time to trust again - they are no different to us,
but then i am often amazed at the dogs we see come in here - who have been beaten and starved and no sooner are they here - smell comfort and safety all around them, and most of them settle within days.

I have got a saluki/retriever type cross in at the moment. His skin is in such a state its unbelievable. The neglect this poor youngster has gone through must be immense. The first night i got him in it was so cold i tried to put a coat on him, and he snapped at me because i was messing with him and he didn't want messing with. However, now 3 days later - he will let me gently take them on and off. Poor guy - i hope he comes round.

I am getting an 8 yr old gsd male in later this week i think if you are interested. He has been living with an old guy who has gone into hospital and can no longer care for him. The dog hasn't been neglected as such, just been left to fend for himself. He is slightly large but extremely friendly and happy. At the moment he is still in the pound until i can find space for him. Let me know if you are interested in adopting another one and I will look out for you if he isn't right for you.
Where abouts are you?

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Although technically he isnt my dog my foster dog George is a star.

He came into our house and it only took an hour for him to be running around with our lot like he had never been anywhere else. This does not find a big deal but i have a lady of the house who does not like minion dogs that come into her home and usually sits looking down on them. She was not a problem instantly and my biggest surprise is my Jack Jack although he usually does come round eventally (many telling off's later) after the initial snarl he has been fine.

This goes to show me how much of a star Georgie Porgie is and how wrong it is that such a beautiful well behaved boy could have been put down through no fault of his own.

He asks for nothing really apart from food and love and in return he gives you lots of affection and just a perfectly well behavied little boy.

Anyway enough gushing just had to tell you what a star he was

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