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Who said "You cannot teach an old dog new tricks"?
dug123
Posts: 297 Forumite
We have a 16 year old terrier called Pudsey. He was a rescue dog when we got him (over 10 years ago) and very unruly. He hates other dogs and cannot be let off his lead as he growls and tries to attack any other dog or cat he sees. He will not go for a walk if it is cold or raining and he is really difficult to walk, you can never let your guard down. The vet has taken quite a few of his teeth out over the last few years due to decay and he is half blind and tends to rest all day and clings to the wife (he is 100% her dog!). He will not play with the kids and he tends to ignore everyone except my wife.
3 weeks ago we were asked if we would look after another dog which was in the dog pound, there was nowhere for it go so it was going to be put to sleep. We were asked to foster it until a new home could be found for it. We knew nothing about the dog but agreed providing it could get on with Pudsey!
We collected the dog which was a female we named Amber. She is a collie/staffie cross and obviously massive compared to Pudsey, she is a sweet tempered lovely dog.
In the first 24 hours we had a couple of growling and barking falling outs between the dogs but since then no problem, they are not best friends but they do sleep together and get along as well as we could hope for.
The amazing thing is the change in Pudsey over the last few weeks, he is half blind and his eyes were glazed over but now they are bright and clear, he is suddenly such a happy and loving dog, he now sits and plays with everyone, not just the wife and he is now wanting to go for walks all day every day, he walks for miles with Amber and is always first out of the door at Walkie times, wagging his tail and jumping about. When he is out walking he now walks perfectly at our side, he never pulls and if we meet other dogs or cats he completely ignores them, no barking or growling, he is a pleasure to take for a walk!
So over the past 3 weeks 16 year old Pudsey has changed from being a bad tempered, aggressive, lazy, selfish old man into a happy, loving, energetic, tail wagging puppy!
It looks like Amber is here to stay.
Who said "You cannot teach an old dog new tricks"? They were wrong.
3 weeks ago we were asked if we would look after another dog which was in the dog pound, there was nowhere for it go so it was going to be put to sleep. We were asked to foster it until a new home could be found for it. We knew nothing about the dog but agreed providing it could get on with Pudsey!
We collected the dog which was a female we named Amber. She is a collie/staffie cross and obviously massive compared to Pudsey, she is a sweet tempered lovely dog.
In the first 24 hours we had a couple of growling and barking falling outs between the dogs but since then no problem, they are not best friends but they do sleep together and get along as well as we could hope for.
The amazing thing is the change in Pudsey over the last few weeks, he is half blind and his eyes were glazed over but now they are bright and clear, he is suddenly such a happy and loving dog, he now sits and plays with everyone, not just the wife and he is now wanting to go for walks all day every day, he walks for miles with Amber and is always first out of the door at Walkie times, wagging his tail and jumping about. When he is out walking he now walks perfectly at our side, he never pulls and if we meet other dogs or cats he completely ignores them, no barking or growling, he is a pleasure to take for a walk!
So over the past 3 weeks 16 year old Pudsey has changed from being a bad tempered, aggressive, lazy, selfish old man into a happy, loving, energetic, tail wagging puppy!
It looks like Amber is here to stay.
Who said "You cannot teach an old dog new tricks"? They were wrong.
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Comments
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What a lovely story.
I think it's appropriate to say "There's life in the old dog yet".
Really glad to hear that Amber has found herself a new home too.0 -
What a lovely story.
I think it's appropriate to say "There's life in the old dog yet".
Really glad to hear that Amber has found herself a new home too.
Yes, I wanted to post this here just in case there are any others in a similar situation who can take on a rescue dog but worry about already having a dog and wondering how they will get on.
The change in Pudsey is truly amazing.0 -
Aww fab story!
Do we get to see a photo of the happy couple please?
"Things can only get better.................c/o D:Ream #The 90's"0 -
Lovely dogs 0
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Fab story, thank you for sharing it really made me smile
Love the pics Pudsey is adorable and Amber is such a beauty 0 -
Great photos - thanks for posting! :T"Things can only get better.................c/o D:Ream #The 90's"0
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Thank you for posting your story.
I have to say its's bought a tear to my eye!
My lovely boy is 16 now (he's a staffie) and although he's not suffering at the moment, he has a tumour so I know that I'll soon be without him. He's the same with other dogs and getting a bit fed up I think, so your story has made me think that maybe I need to find him a friend.0 -
How lovely! You would never think that another dog would be the perfect tonic, I wonder if it is a pheromones or body language thing? Maybe Pudsey feels more secure as part of a dog pack not just a human pack? Declutterbug-in-progress.⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️0
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How lovely! You would never think that another dog would be the perfect tonic, I wonder if it is a pheromones or body language thing? Maybe Pudsey feels more secure as part of a dog pack not just a human pack?
Yes, we also wondered if maybe it was competition because Amber obviously got a lot of attention from everybody as the new dog (although we always try to be fair with them) and maybe Pudsey has thought he has to compete for attention?
Anyway, whatever the reason they are getting along famously and Pudsey is positively a happier dog.
Also out of interest we have last night contacted west yorkshire dog rescue (the charity who we are fostering Amber for) and asked them if we can adopt her and give her a forever home, they have agreed and we sort out the paperwork etc next Thursday and then she will officially be one of the family. :T0
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