Helping a rescue dog settle

Own_My_Own

We have had our rescue dog since the end of October and she is now fully settled.
She was also very anxious when we got her. I just made a bit of a fuss of her when I re-entered the room.
I couldn't tell you when she settled properly and she still lays outside the downstairs bathroom even though I am only in there minutes.

Over time I expect she just realised we were always going to come back and she was safe.

meritaten

that's interesting - crossing a Dalmation with a Staffordshire Bull Terrier! now I really want a pic!
I knew a Dalmation and he was a lovely dog. known many Staffies and they are lovely dogs. with luck you will get the 'best' of both breeds.

Francesanne

pink_princess wrote: »

Not yet meritaten, she is too timid right now, my family would love to see a pic as well but she is not ready to have one taken:(

Once I am sure she is ready I will take a pic and post it, she is a beautiful dalmatian, staffie cross

She is so well trained, sits, gives paw, waits to be told to eat. She has clearly been one very loved pooch :A

Just her life has been turned upside down through no fault of her or her owners own

She must be feeling totally bereft at losing her lovely owner and her home. Thank goodness she's found herself a super new home and someone who cares so much for her happiness & well being. I'm sure by this time next week she'll be well settled and much less anxious. Can't wait to see some pics once she's on the up.

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi, well done for taking her on, so nice to hear of a dog getting a lovely new home in these circumstances.

Dont underestimate how long it can take for a rescue dog to settle in. Our rescue dogs situation was a bit different, he had been badly treated and lived as a stray for a few weeks so had had a really rough time of it - but we saw massive changes in him between 6 months and a year with us. He just became so much more confident and relaxed.

Blue Cross advised us not to leave our dog alone at all for 2 weeks. If she does follow you everywhere let her, but try to ignore her. Then we worked on leaving him alone in one room behind a dog gate for a few minutes with a kong, then we slowly built that up to half an hour on his own in one room.

Then I started leaving him in the house while I went and hung the washing out. Or I got my coat and bag and went and stood outside for a few minutes and came back in. I did this a lot until he wasnt bothered.

Then we left him for an hour a few times and he was fine. Now 18 months on we can leave him for 3 or 4 hours and he doesnt bat an eyelid.

You do need to work on it. I know a couple who never leave their rescue dog alone - which means that both of them cant go to the supermarket. Or they cant go anywhere without the dog unless they get a dogsitter. Our dog isnt left alone a lot, but we can leave him if we need to.

nonnatus

My Rescue boy was 3 when I took him on and he'd had a rough time in his first 3 years.


He was so very bright though. I KNOW he knew I'd rescued him and he spent the rest of his (not long enough) life being terribly grateful, adoring and loving. I was his everything and he was only ever totally relaxed when we were together. That caused problems because he was very jealous of the other dogs in the gang, but we muddled by!


OP, your rescue will be confused and grieving her old life but will be very aware that you're helping. She is "addicted" to your comfort and with patience it will subside. You sound lovely, and you sound like you know what you're doing!


Lots of luck to you both x

pink_princess

She had a great night last night, the odd whimper cry but no sign that she had been in fear, and no little no2 nuggets as she does when she is very scared :j
She doesn't shake when we go upstairs now either, she just lies down at the top of the stairs. She doesn't like it and might never but she isn't shaking scared now.
All in all though she is making great progress, eating well and enjoying running for miles

We have booked her in for her second booster to be done in two weeks time so just hoping she keeps gaining in confidence until then so it won't be so traumatic. Getting her there isn't a problem as she loves the car.

Thanks for all the advice, YORKSHIRELASS it's lovely to hear that your rescue is doing well now :A

meritaten

She sounds lovely, and so do YOU pink princess! I am eagerly waiting for a pic when she is ready! I cant imagine what a Dalmation/Staffie cross would look like?

my friends Dalmation was a super dog. very intelligent, but went his own way, lol. he was also a gentle dog and brilliant with children. Playful and tolerant of cats too. He was called Lucky, because when he was a tiny pup, a pitchfork fell tines first on to his head, left a scar the size of a ten pence!

pink_princess

meritaten wrote: »

She sounds lovely, and so do YOU pink princess! I am eagerly waiting for a pic when she is ready! I cant imagine what a Dalmation/Staffie cross would look like?

my friends Dalmation was a super dog. very intelligent, but went his own way, lol. he was also a gentle dog and brilliant with children. Playful and tolerant of cats too. He was called Lucky, because when he was a tiny pup, a pitchfork fell tines first on to his head, left a scar the size of a ten pence!

:eek::eek: No wonder they called him lucky, I'd have him pick lotto numbers:rotfl:

Thanks meritaten , my DD1 thinks there is a bit of jack russell as well. It would be good to get other peoples opinions once I can post a few pics.

meames_2

we need a pic!

meritaten

pink_princess wrote: »

:eek::eek: No wonder they called him lucky, I'd have him pick lotto numbers:rotfl:

Thanks meritaten , my DD1 thinks there is a bit of jack russell as well. It would be good to get other peoples opinions once I can post a few pics.

Lucky came from the same farm my border collie came from - and when he had his 'accident' the vet thought there would be brain damage. but, he was definitely ok. in fact, he was definitely 'brighter' than my dog! I think I had the dimmest collie in the whole of Wales.