Adopting an older dog - any tips?

scheming_gypsy

my 2 have a handful of names each that they respond to. After a while they get used to hearing it and knowing its aimed at them.

Wilo knows she's Big Fat Head and Rio knows he's Little Fat Head amongst the many other names they have.

dora37

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

my 2 have a handful of names each that they respond to. After a while they get used to hearing it and knowing its aimed at them.

Wilo knows she's Big Fat Head and Rio knows he's Little Fat Head amongst the many other names they have.

Love Big Fat Head and Little Fat Head.....though if I called them out loud, OH would think I was shouting him :rotfl:

V_Chic_Chick

We got a ~7 year old pomeranian a few years back (she died, aged 15 last July) from the breed rescue.

Not a lot was known about her previous home, except that when the owners had dropped her off, they gave some crappy excuse, but their little girl piped up that they were going on holiday the next day :mad:

When we first got her home, she was a very quiet, timid dog which flinched at the sight of a casually rolled-up newspaper. She hated being picked up (until she had a stroke / got too old to go up the stairs easily :rolleyes: ) and was a greedy sod. Those were all things that we just had to respect about her as a family.

Once she settled in, her coat grew back (it was so thin people thought she might be a chihuahua cross, but we think it was due to stress), she started barking at things, not shaking etc. She was also very clever, and her greed meant that she realised (from watching our other dog) that sitting down on command would earn food - she had come with little to no training, only "come" (which she obeyed when she felt like it) and "go and lie down in your bed".

The only negative change that we saw in her post-rescue was that she barked more, but on the other hand, it alerted my very deaf grandparents to the door / phone / dog walking past outside and it also meant that she had settled in. When she died I actually missed her barking

Good luck with adopting her, older dogs really do have a lot to bring, with some of the hassle of puppies (like potty training and hyperactivity) left out

greyhoundcrazy

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

my 2 have a handful of names each that they respond to. After a while they get used to hearing it and knowing its aimed at them.

Wilo knows she's Big Fat Head and Rio knows he's Little Fat Head amongst the many other names they have.

:rotfl: Yeah ours have loads of names too. One of them answers to 'Egg Sandwich' and 'Mrs Hamsters Cage'. (she is a bit whiffy)

sarah*a

We got our beautiful pup (first pic) a year ago today from Birmingham Dog's Home. We noticed her because she was the only one not barking and causing a commotion. She also had kennel cough - poor baby.

A year on and she's happy as we could hope for, barks occasionally - but mainly in the garden to communicate with all the neighbour's dogs. (When we let her out in the garden the first thing she does is run to the bottom and give a quick bark as if to say 'anyone out? i'm here' :rolleyes: )

For the first month or so she was fairly distructive when we went out but once she got used to us and realised that we were going to come home - and usually with some sort of toy/treat - she settled and now just sleeps/plays when we are out.

We have since taken on a wee terrier (second pic) as a long-term foster (getting longer every month :rotfl: ) and they keep each other company and have a great time. But he too was fairly destructive for the first week or so until he settled.

As for the name thing - our girl had 'no name' as she was found as a stray and has had no problem adapting to her name (annie - short for anniversary as we got her as a first anniversary present) but she answers to anything and everything - I call her pookie, poobum, poohead, anniemannie, bubafish - the list is endless - but as long as it's said in the right tone she knows I'm talking to her. Our foster pup also has a nickname (tixylix) but we do try to call him by his 'real' name for when (if?) his owners want him back - although if we end up keeping him we will change it





good luck with your new addition :A

dora37

Thanks for all your advice and pictures of your lovely dogs :j. You have all been a great help.

I'll update you when we know further and let you have a photo if she comes to us.

dora37

Home Check was no problem......picking her up Wednesday (RSPCA closed tomorrow) :T

Apparently she was called Diane (!), then the last owner who only had her for a few weeks called her Penny and we have decided to call her Ruby.

We picked this name as both me and DH are 40 this year and DS2 looked up the dogs age in a book and apparently in human years she is about 48 - so is in her 40's too!!

greyhoundcrazy

:j excellent.

Now are you sure you wouldn't like to call her Diane?:rotfl: No wonder she ate her bed (in protest).

dora37

greyhoundcrazy wrote: »

:j excellent.

Now are you sure you wouldn't like to call her Diane?:rotfl: No wonder she ate her bed (in protest).

It's not really a dog name is it!?

dora37

Well we've had Ruby since Wednesday lunchtime.......for most of the day Ruby is quite happy lying on the kitchen floor or on the rug in the hallway.

I think she is slowly getting used to us. She doesn't like her crate and needs a little bribing to go in there - she is quite happy napping on the floor during the day and doesn't use the crate as a bed.

When she is put in the bed at night she does cry, scratch and chew, which is not nice to listen to, though last night was only for a short time and this morning when we got up she was happily lying in it.

When she goes out in the garden she doesn't really explore - just does her business and then wants to come back in!

Ruby has been having 3 walks a day, so her little legs are getting plenty of use. She loves going out and doesn't pull and is ok if other dogs approach her.

We bought a bag of James Wellbeloved, however she wouldn't eat at first, which we put down to being out of sorts, however when we gave her a piece of roast chicken she loved it, so we put it down to her being fussy!! We now put a little gravy on the dry food and she is fine with that. For a treat yesterday we gave her sardines in oil - she wolfed it down and licked the bowl twice!!

She hasn't attempted to go upstairs yet, or jumped on the furniture, or 'eliminated' in the house.:T

Ruby seems to be happy as long as somebody is there, but think there could be issues if left, so I have researched some tips for 'separation anxiety' and we have been putting the following into practise:

1. Going into another room, closing the door, staying there for a few minutes and then come out again without acknowledging Ruby so therefore desensitising her.
2. Not fussing her all the time - conscientiously ignoring her sometimes so she doesn't expect constant attention
3. When somebody comes in from shops,school etc to come in and get sorted out (take shoes and coat off etc) before saying hello to her - so therefore not making a big deal about us being out.

We have heard her bark just once when the door bell rang!

So all in all a good experience so far, though I don't think we have seen all of Ruby's personality and think that she could sometimes be a little stubborn lady!!