Got our little rescue Doggie........all advice welcomed!! **Updated with pictures**

LoopyLinz

Thank you all for your great advice. I will definately try to get some pictures uploaded.................just as soon as I work out how! Lol!

Molly41

Hi,
I agree with all that has been said re toilet training. I have two terriers and one still does do a pee at night very occasionally. She had a bit of traumatic start, although we had her since a pup. She was the runt of her litter and didn't get fed properly and was kind of neglected. Anyway I had her and she thrived but I still occasionally get a pee. She always does it in the same place. Make sure you clear it up very well with bio washing powder or cat smell remover. She will think thats her spot!! Also she does it when there been a stressful time at home - it always coincides. So a relaxed atmosphere!

I also agree with the comment that terriers are difficult to get to recall. Its part of their wonderful personality kinda stubborn and independent. Poppy responds to food but not if on the trail of a rabbit!! Worth remembering as I cant actually let my dogs off the lead cos that would it. Its their breeding - designed to catch rats etc.
Id love to see a picture too.
Plopsky

LoopyLinz

Ok folks hopefully this should work and you will now be able to see a few pictures of my beautiful Muttley!







Linz xox

Molly41

Ohhhh he is brilliant. What a georgeous doggy.

Blackpool_Saver

Just adorable and well done to you getting a rescue dog

foreign_correspondent

what a face - he is a smasher!! Re: the weeing indoors - is he castrated?

LoopyLinz

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

what a face - he is a smasher!! Re: the weeing indoors - is he castrated?

Hi FC

Thank you for your lovely compliment about Muttley. He really is my little darling. Yes he has been castrated, so far as it has only happened twice I am giving him the benefit of the doubt that he is still settling in with us. Have started to take him out every hour to toilet so hopefully he will soon realise that going in the house is a no no!!

Linz xox

foreign_correspondent

It's not unusual for dogs to be a little confused in new situations - when you take him out and he pees try to praise him, or even gove him a little treat, so that he learns that your garden/out on a walk are good places to pee!!

What is his background, do you know, was he a stray or handed in by his owners? Sometimes dogs who have been left home alone for far too long by previous owners have had to pee indoors from necessity and can get into bad habits, understandably - so do reinforce in his mind that peeing outdoors = 'good boy!'

LoopyLinz

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

It's not unusual for dogs to be a little confused in new situations - when you take him out and he pees try to praise him, or even gove him a little treat, so that he learns that your garden/out on a walk are good places to pee!!

What is his background, do you know, was he a stray or handed in by his owners? Sometimes dogs who have been left home alone for far too long by previous owners have had to pee indoors from necessity and can get into bad habits, understandably - so do reinforce in his mind that peeing outdoors = 'good boy!'

That sounds like fantastic advice, thank you. As we have never owned a dog before I am constantly worrying that we are not doing things right.

All we really know about him is that his owners handed him in. They said they didnt have time for him and that he didnt get walked, he was let out in the streets and the dog warden was constantly 'catching' him. He doesnt seem to have had much interaction, he doesnt really do the whole playing with his toys thing although he is getting better. Previously he used to look at us like we werent wise, last night however he joined in! Lol! He is however very affectionate.

He has been to the vets and been given a clean bill of health which is great, he loves being out on the lead and adores the beach!

One question I do have though that you might be able to help with, what should he be getting fed on? I know that sounds silly but the previously he was getting a mixture of wet and dry, the vet has advised that if possible we should try to reduce his wet food and just feed him dry stuff. Wouldnt this be a bit 'boring' for him?

foreign_correspondent

Previously he used to look at us like we werent wise

lol - my old terrier used to do that look so well - when she used to stay at my dads he used to swear he could tell she was thinking 'you silly old b*gger' on a frequent basis!

He sounds brill - in general, a good rule of thumb is reward good behavour, and work on the Nothing in Life is Free Principle (NILIF) - so work on teaching hom to do something to get something - eg. 'sit' for a treat at first, then get him to sit before you put his lead on, or sit before you ghead out for a walk, or go to his bed whilst you put his dinner down, and wait... it takes time, but it is a good way to work with dogs in general.

As for food - dry food is complete and is fine, you can add to it if you like, but dogs dont get bored in the same way as we do!

As for choosing a dry food - I feed Wagg which is cheap as cheap, but no colours etc and suits my dog well (and my last little terrier lived to about 15-16 on it, so it seemed to suit her well!) and add in table scraps sometimes (no onions, grapes, raisins etc as they are toxic to dogs, but most veggies, spuds, rice, eggs, meat and fish scraps are fine) and I add a sardine for healthy fur, skin and joints occasionally!

You can pay anything from a tenner for a 15kg bag of wagg, right up to £50 ish plus for some dry foods...orijen is supposed to be good, as it is almost all meat, but. like all foods I am sure it will suit some dogs better than others. I am sure most foods will do the job fine for most dogs, but I would advise against Bakers as it has artificial colours, and I dont feel Iams or Eukanuba because of their alleged involvement with cruel animal testing.

Go with whatever suits your dog and your pocket - so long as your dog is healthy on it, has decent poos, and plenty of energy I think the food is fine for them! My gran had a Jack Russell who lived to 18 on a diet of almost exclusively leftovers, sandwiches, digestive biscuits and cooked liver - I would not advise it, but I think it indicates that we can worry too much about getting the 'best' food for our dogs! :-)

I choose to feed an economical food supplemented with leftovers and oily fish, as it suits my dog and my budget, and leaves me with cash for insurance etc.. please do consider what you can afford longterm and look at getting insurance if it would be a problem if your dog accrued a sudden high vet bill!