Adopting an older dog - any tips?

greyhoundcrazy

The crates that people have mentioned can be very good. As someone pointed out already, the trick is that the dog must consider the crate as a nice, secure andspecial place to be. If they think the crate is a punishment then they won't go in it.

One of my dogs really loves a crate and barges in it as soon as I put it up. That is because he spent 2 years in kennels and had seperation anxiety. The staff used to let him sit in a crate beside the reception desk so that he wasn't lonely. He was returned to the kennels 3 times. I have no idea why. He is a lovely lad...



Some really lovely dogs can spend a long time in rescue simply because they don't present themselves well when visitors come to look around - this includes shy withdrawn looking dogs. The RSPCA staff should be able to give you lots of advice about dealing with any issues that may arise. Rest assured that they must think you are a good match else they wouldn't consider sending her home with you in the first place

Kimberley

What a handsome boy, i'm hoping that i get to foster one soon

dora37

greyhoundcrazy wrote: »

The gist of it was that some dogs become withdrawn in kennels.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.

The RSPCA think she is destructive as she doesn't like being left alone. If she is withdrawn do you think we have not seen her true personality?

We liked her as she seemed quite placid as our youngest DD is 6 and not used to dogs, however it seems that this could possibly change in a home environment?

greyhoundcrazy

dora37 wrote: »

The RSPCA think she is destructive as she doesn't like being left alone. If she is withdrawn do you think we have not seen her true personality?

We liked her as she seemed quite placid as our youngest DD is 6 and not used to dogs, however it seems that this could possibly change in a home environment?

It is normal for dogs to change a little bit once they settle in and feel secure with you in your home. It usually happens gradually over a period of months and for that reason you don't really notice it. However, in 6 months time when you sit and think back to how your dog was when she first came home, it is then that you can see the difference.

The differences are usually positive not negative.

The dog pictured above used to pee inside and get very upset if left alone. He does neither of those things anymore and that is because he is settled and secure.

When I first took my greyhound girl home (she had been returned to the rescue because her owners had a baby) she was very quiet and spent all of her time in her bed. Gradually she warmed to us and started to show us a more fun side to her personality. She likes to flirt with us and does all sorts of tricks, such as shaking hands (things that we have not taught her). She is less reserved now but she is still a very good girl and the best behaved dog I have ever owned. Incidentally she rarely barks.

I adopted a particularly difficult dog from Spain. She barked all night, peed everywhere and ate my furniture. She even had me cornered against a wall. She doesn't do those things anymore. She is happy just sunbathing on the settee and is now fine when left alone.

None of my dogs have gotten worse. They have all settled in and gradually changed for the better.

Have you asked the staff what they think?

dora37

greyhoundcrazy wrote: »

It is normal for dogs to change a little bit once they settle in and feel secure with you in your home. It usually happens gradually over a period of months and for that reason you don't really notice it. However, in 6 months time when you sit and think back to how your dog was when she first came home, it is then that you can see the difference.

The differences are usually positive not negative.

The dog pictured above used to pee inside and get very upset if left alone. He does neither of those things anymore and that is because he is settled and secure.

When I first took my greyhound girl home (she had been returned to the rescue because her owners had a baby) she was very quiet and spent all of her time in her bed. Gradually she warmed to us and started to show us a more fun side to her personality. She likes to flirt with us and does all sorts of tricks, such as shaking hands (things that we have not taught her). She is less reserved now but she is still a very good girl and the best behaved dog I have ever owned. Incidentally she rarely barks.

I adopted a particularly difficult dog from Spain. She barked all night, peed everywhere and ate my furniture. She even had me cornered against a wall. She doesn't do those things anymore. She is happy just sunbathing on the settee and is now fine when left alone.

None of my dogs have gotten worse. They have all settled in and gradually changed for the better.

Have you asked the staff what they think?

Thanks for your detailed reply - very helpful.

We just want to do the right thing for both the dog and us!

When we spoke to the staff today there didn't seem to have much detail, only to say that she had been returned a couple of days ago as the owner said she was destructive, as had the previous one before! They said she would make an ideal family dog - so we are being guided by them.

DS2 (14) was with us today and he held the lead when we took her for a little walk. Two other dogs came past and were barking at each other, however our little one didn't react at all and just carried on walking - which we were really impressed by. As I start doing a little research I am worried that this calmness is not the true dog - but obviously I don't know that!!

We are taking DD (6) and DS1 (16) to see her tomorrow, so will ask some more questions.....she seems to be a lovely little dog though!

greyhoundcrazy

dora37 wrote: »

As I start doing a little research I am worried that this calmness is not the true dog - but obviously I don't know that!!

All dogs change a bit when they go to a new environment but there seems no obvious reason to expect it to be a change for the worst. I guess the only way to find out for real is give it a try. If you have concerns then tell the rescue staff. They will appreciate that you are taking it very seriously and wanting to make sure you are doing the right thing. They should also be able to advise you how to overcome the destructive behaviour if that proves to be an issue.

We are taking DD (6) and DS1 (16) to see her tomorrow, so will ask some more questions.....she seems to be a lovely little dog though!

Good luck with your visit :j

elsien

My mutt was very quiet when I went to see her in kennels - found out later it was because when I took her for a walk, it was the first time she'd been out of her kennel since getting there.
She started bouncing off the walls of the car on the way home, and nearly bounced out of a window when we got home - it took about a minute for her real character to show through! She was just stressed, and once into a routine calmed down again.
She's never been a barky dog - that didn't change once we got home, so yours might just be a dog who's fine around others.
As far as the destructiveness goes, on top of the other ideas I'd suggest to start with dogproofing the house in the same way as you childproof things, until she settles in. You might find that different people have different ideas of what is destructive behaviour, and it's not as bad as you fear. Mine chews from boredom, and once she'd got a kong and nylabone to get on with, she left the furniture/shoes etc alone.
The kennel staff wouldn't be letting her go to a home with young children if they thought she'd be doing a jekyll and hyde on you. Hope all goes well for you all.

lil_me

Hope the visit goes well, we ended up taking a dog back we had many years ago, she'll be 11 in May and acts like a puppy! Older dogs have a lot to give.

scheming_gypsy

dog not barking.. I got Rio my oldest from Manchester dogs home and he wasn't barking. All the staffy / bull terrior type dogs were in a seperate area in kennels on their own. All the other dogs were going off their heads barking but he stood queitly. That was why i got him, he was so well behaved in there. He's never given me any trouble although i think he may have had the occasional crack before i got him and was too scared to bark. It took him about a year before he barked and when it did it was an unusual sound. After a while he managed to find his voice.

Destructive dogs - quite often seperation anxiety. Wilo my other dog is a Northern Inuit and she's beautiful but can be destructive. Not because she's naughty but because she gets stressed without human companionship.
She's a huge dog but loves a cage and will happily curl up into it on her own accord and will also eat in it. As she was destructive i was out of ideas, everytime i went out i'd come back and found she'd poo'ed everywhere and trashed different things. Cushions everywhere, socks eaten, tea towels shredded the lot.. It got to the stage where i didn't think i could keep her anymore but gave it one last shop and turned the shed into a kennel and dog proofed the garden. Now when i go out they have the garden to play in and i've had no problems since.
What i did find too is that if i take her for a long walk / run before going out she'll be tired and sleep therefore not being as destructive.

the two of them



them playing



yes they are playing.

dora37

We've just been for another visit and she looks sooooo sad!

The staff brought her out on a lead and we walked with her, DD thinks she is cute, DS1 (16) thought she was 'alright' (teenagers!!).

I asked regarding the destructive issues and it seems that she was originally brought in as her owner had died - 2 people have had her since but returned her, the last being an old lady who tried a crate but she chewed her bed as well.

They think it is down to anxiety and she just wants companionship.

The other dogs were barking and bouncing off the walls but she didn't react at all poor thing.

We don't know if the name she has been given is her real name as she doesn't react to it, but then she doesn't react to much!

Bit of a daft question but as she doesn't react to her name do you think we could change it ? On the other hand it may have been her name for the last 8 years but doesn't react due to anxiety ............ I think I think too much!!

Just waiting for the Home Check, shouldn't be a problem, then we can bring her home - she looks like she just wants to curl up on somebodies lap. But on the other hand if she is used to a quiet household she ain't going to get that here.......told you I think too much!