Adopting an older dog - any tips?

churchmouse_3

Has anyone tried Clicker training.....? useful for animals that have an already established behavioral pattern.

mizmir

THE_LONE_RANGER wrote: »

dogs are in rescue centres for a reason , the owner just dumped them or they have issue i used to work with some one who took one from a rspca center described as loving ,fun filled, lovely good with kids .
what he got was a !!!!!! dog that know one else would want im sorry but it should have been put down , its just out of controll they knew that when the gave it to him its a case of owner on the floor dog on chair people must be mad to take such a thing on ..........pup from birth is the only way you can be sure what your getting then if it developes issues its down to you

Sorry OT but had to respond to this. This is nonsense. Am sorry your friend had a bad experience (though with a bit of training a dog can be taught to stay off furniture!) but many rescue dogs do not have "issues" and most that do have them because they have been neglected, illtreated or mishandled by owners who then dump them. A good rescue will match a person to a dog - and there are dogs of all sorts needing new homes. I've had two rescue dogs who were in rescue because their owners either were too ill to care for them or died - they didn't have issues - in fact one came fully trained!

Please do not put people off offering homes to the thousands of needy dogs in rescue. And if you do want to get a baby puppy - there are plenty of them in rescue too!

dora37

We have been to our local RSPCA today and we are being Home Checked for a dog!

She is 8 years old - has the body of a King Charles, but is slightly longer and tubbier, but the head of a terrier (we think).

She is really placid and has big sad eyes. Despite all the barking from the other dogs she didn't bark once - should this ring alarm bells?

OH has questioned whether her being really quiet in kennels could change when we bring her home (ie is she just really sad being there?)

She has been returned twice for being destructive (though she didn't look like butter would melt in her mouth!), but they think that it is because she is being left - that she just loves company.

Any tips for adopting:

1. An older dog
2. A destructive dog

We have had 1 dog before but that was about 6 years ago.

G-G_4

We have two dogs from the RSPCA..

Our first, Max had been returned twice before we got him. He is lovely and we have had him for 6 yrs now. He is a handful though, bit of a jack russell cross, so you can imagine. Although we had some tough times, he is our little man, and has so much character! He does need lots of love, and is very insecure.. but we wouldn't swap him for the world.

Our second, Molly, we got when she was 11. Much quieter, although a bit of a barker.. it's ok though, we manage..

If the dog is destructive then maybe get a cage for him for the first few times you go out, just until you can trust him not to destroy everything.. :rotfl: aparently they don't mind cages too much.. but that would depend on the dog I guess..

Good Luck.. xx

sammy_kaye18

Hi Dora37

We have a rescue dog whos now 6 years old - we got him 2 years ago. He was being dropped off as we were arriving. he is a very destructive dog. He is half jack russell, half staffy but is the build of a staff but looks like a jack russell.

We discovered the best way to keep him happy and occupied he has been given his own room (for us it is our hallway) this room now houses his bed, and bowls, but he is in clear view of the front door so hes kept happy and can see people at the door so it doesnt unnerve him.

Also if you find he is a chewer, then i would recommend you get him a black kong toy - we were told to get Bruno (our dog) a small red kong which is for terriers - which he promptly destroyed in like 5 minutes (so much for being indestructable) so instead i got him a black kong toy suitable for a dalmation which he can just fit in his mouth and is impossible for him to chew becasue it is so tough.

We just fill it with treats when we are about to go out and this keep shim occupied and entertained for a good while - you can also freeze them in the freezer too with things like gravy in them too on a hot day. Most treats fit in them and they only cost about £7/8 but in my mind a bargain at keepign the dog entertained and happy.

There is also a toy called a tuff toy which is really durable with lots of double stitching round the edge if he/she has a tendancy to destroy there toys as well like our dog does. he cant have a normal dog toy as he pulls it apart and could swallow small bits and teddies he jsut shreds liek its his newest mission.

dora37

Thanks for your replies so far.

Obviously until she is at home with us then we don't actually know how she is going to behave - we are hoping the placid dog we have seen at the kennels is going to stay the same!

Regarding the crates - as she is potentially a destructive dog - does anyone know if it is ok for the crate to be closed at night or is that too long a period for a dog to be kept in?

Kimberley

Well done for getting a rescue dog. Leaving a dog crated at night with the door shut is ok. She will be ok. I'd crate her also if you have to leave her to go shopping as well to stop the destruction.

A_new_Start_2

Hi. Firstly well done on adopting an older dog. I wish I could because they all seem to look so sad in kennels, but I already have 2 and thats more than enough!!

I have cages for both my dogs, which I used when I moved house because i didn't want them having any accidents on the carpets (rented house). Most dogs unless absolutely desperate will not use their bed as a toilet, so for house training they are ideal.

To get my dogs used to their cages I put their beds in their and a chew or a biscuit and found that if I just let them come and go as they pleased whenever i was home they liked to go in them anyway, so when I wanted them to go in they were quite happy. If it can be seen by the dog as their place, rather than a place they go when everyone goes out or they've been naughty, they seem to be quite happy.

Good luck anyway, I wouldn't be without my old girls, now aged 10 and 15.

dora37

All advise gratefully received! :beer:

Regarding her not barking at the kennels, when all the others were - do you experienced dog owners think this is unusual?

greyhoundcrazy

dora37 wrote: »

All advise gratefully received! :beer:

Regarding her not barking at the kennels, when all the others were - do you experienced dog owners think this is unusual?

Right now I am so annoyed cos I just spent half an hour typing a massive reply to you and by the time I pressed 'post' it has automatically logged me out. My whole post disappeared - I'm sorry.

The gist of it was that some dogs become withdrawn in kennels. Usually because they like company and don't get enough of it when living in kennels. You mention she was destructive. Was that because left alone? If so, being in kennels probably doesn't suit her and that may explain why she is currently so quiet.

That doesn't mean that she will become a crazy barker when you get home, likewise it isn't likely that she will never ever bark.