Adopting an older dog - any tips?

Becles

Make sure you really get to know the dog.

My Uncle took on a German Shepherd dog. We later found out the Police had kicked it out of dog school as they couldn't handle him. :eek:

Anyway, it was the most nasty dog I've ever known. I was sitting on the floor playing a board game with my cousins, and for no reason the dog came into the room and went for me. He was literally millimetres from taking the side of my face. On the same visit, my Aunt went to the toilet and he didn't like her leaving the room, so he sunk his teeth into her buttocks, and managed to break the skin through her skirt and underclothes. He later badly attacked strangers, then turned on my Uncle when he put his dinner dish down, so he had to be destroyed.

However, my brother took on a black lab about 3-4 years old, who was found wandering the streets of York. They have no idea of his history, although he obviously had an owner at some point as he already knew commands like "sit" etc.

He was a bit funny at first. He wasn't sure of my children at first, and tended to nip them - not a bite, just a warning mouth to say keep out of my way! He wanted to wander off on walks and seemed to want to do his own thing rather than be a family pet dog.

In time they've given him loads of love and affection and he's fine now. He's a normal lovable family pet, and he enjoys playing with my children (we now assume he came from a childless home and didn't know what children were!).

The only "bad" thing he still does is that he can't get out of the habit for scavenging for food. Although he's fed daily now, he still picks up dropped food on walks, or goes and sits on his hind legs and begs if he sees anyone eating, which embarrasses my brother!

Two rescue dogs, two totally different natures, just to give you an idea of the extremes you could encounter!

northern_star

OP sounds like they're doing the research rather than making a rash, emotional decision (which sadly is the way many people go about pet ownership).

We currently have 2 rescued dogs who have been with us for ; 8 years (she was 3 when she came to us) and 4 years (he was approx 6 when he came to us). So now they're both mature dogs but amazing creatures that we love to bits.

The rescue was very good at giving us as much history as possible with each dog but details can often be scetchy - say if the dog was a stray; or a pack of lies - if the last owner is trying to justify passing the dog on. One of the difficulties rescues have on this point is that they want to re-home animals asap to lessen the stress and upset but this doesn't always give them time to observe the animals behaviour/traits/etc.

As an earlier poster mentioned, most rescues will offer you post adoption support and, if the match doesn't work, agree to take the animal back (only to be considered as a last resort, I think).

Yes, there can be problems in adopting an older dog but puppies are hard work too. It's a personal choice.

Hard work aside, dogs are loyal, loving companions and I personally find they enhance our family.

Best wishes with whatever you decide. Pls keep us posted.

ftbworried

:T :T

Thanks for all the great advice guys. I'm kind of shell shocked at the moment- I have so much to think about sorting IF we do get this dog. Like I said it was something we hadn't dreamed we'd be able to do yet. We've always wanted a terrier (either a welsh, fox or lakeland terrier) but they very rarely come up as rescue dogs and therefore we thought we'd have to buy a pup (which are about £750!), so it was something we couldn't really afford to buy at the moment as we've got a new boiler in our new house to pay for! I'd much prefer to rescue one anyway. I can't wait for tomorrow- I'll let you all know how I get on. I might even post a pic.

becles wrote:

The only "bad" thing he still does is that he can't get out of the habit for scavenging for food. Although he's fed daily now, he still picks up dropped food on walks, or goes and sits on his hind legs and begs if he sees anyone eating, which embarrasses my brother!

Sounds just like a normal labrador to me! My parents have one and she's never been a stray but is food obsessed too!

bulchy

becles, your dog sounds like one of mine, hes a weimaraner, so its probably a gun dog thing, he actually mugs other dog walkers for biccies when we're out on walks, hes so embarrassing. If he sees a gang of kids walking around the streets, he will try to get to them, as he associates them with chips/sweets you name it, he will try to greed it from them, the local kids think hes great, I just find him soooo embarrasing. Hes also been know to end up with the runs (sorry) as he eats anything he finds lying around outside. At one time OH wanted to get him a muzzle, but I refused, as people already think hes gonna be vicious when they first meet him, I think muzzling him will give the wrong impression of him, hes a gentle dog really :rotfl:
Its good to have a dog thats motivated by food though, makes training so much easier
Sue

wendykearney

I am a Dog Trainer and help mainly with problem dogs, the majority of these are Rescue dogs. IMO th emost important thing you can do when you get a dog is join a good local dog club. Your dog has issues that they can help you with and can help you both as inexperierenced owners to start off the relationship correctly. So many people leave it too late to get help. A dog on;y takes less than 2 weeks to suss you out. This is the time you are ususally softer on him to give him time to settle in. Start as you mean to go on. You do not know what th efuture holds so try to get those problems he does have before they cause problems.
For food etc, stay clear of tinned stuff and find a good quality dried food. I feed CSJ's range, cheap but very good quailty. I feed 4 collies on it, one 15kg bag lasts me a month and it costs me £8! Leads etc can be found at poundshops. Insurance, shop around for best deal.

Thriftylady

I rescued a dog about two years ago, she is a small/medium mongrel but definitely there is some terrier in her. Until recently, she has been left alone in the house during the day, and she honestly doesn't seem distressed by it. We knew it wasn't the best scenario, but our view on it was that it was a better life for her than either being put down, or spending months or years in a dog shelter. She has never peed (or worse!) in the house whilst we have been out, and to be honest she is mostly interested in sleeping and eating, with occasional barking when the postman comes. She is excellent with children (I recently caught my friend's son trying to clean his ears with her tail, and she was just looking at him with a slightly scornful expression) although as with all dogs I wouldn't leave her alone with a child. But all in all we've been very lucky, she has no behavioural problems and seems delighted to live with us!

As for practical things, she costs us very little, she has never had to go to the vet except for immunisations. She has never had any sort of reaction if we have tried a different brand of food. But the one thing we did waste money on was toys - she just isn't interested in them. She will not put anything in her mouth except food!

Jazzy_B

We've had 6 dogs, and 5 have been rescue dogs. The first one was manic when we got her, but she settled down within a few weeks. She had a lovely nature and was unbelievably loyal. The second one had been badly treated and was very nervous throughout her life, and when she got scared she would either pee or bite. No 3 dog was a puppy we bought. She was harder to handle than we expected. We'd thought having her as a pup would be much easier, but we were wrong. The last 3 are still with us, and they all have their foibles, but I wouldn't be without any of them. The last two were used to sharing the sofa at their previous homes, but they learned quickly without being smacked.
You can teach old dogs new tricks, and the pebbles in a bottle trick shown on the TV programmes really does work.
As long as you don't mind the mess (lots), and walking in all weathers, and the guilt feelings when you put them in kennels, then go for it.
By the way, we've never had insurance for any of our dogs, and any treatment they've had has always been far, far less than the cost of the premiums.
They eat the cheapest complete food, and chubs, and we don't spend much on them at all.Our dog toys are charity shop soft toys, cheap tennis balls and empty plastic bottles.
Sounds like you've already decided.
Good luck

Thriftylady

Jazzy_B wrote:

You can teach old dogs new tricks, and the pebbles in a bottle trick shown on the TV programmes really does work.

I don't think I've seen this. Could you explain what it is? sounds interesting !

thanks

Debt_Free_Chick

Thriftylady wrote:

I don't think I've seen this. Could you explain what it is? sounds interesting !

thanks

Noise aversion therapy, to be precise

Take a small plastic bottle (or tin, but you need a lid or jam jar, but be careful). Place some pebbles or coins in it - or anything that will make a rattling sound.

When the dog is doing something you don't want him to do, rattle the tin/bottle/jar vigorously to distract him.

Works particularly well with those breeds that have an on/off switch to their hearing, known only to the dog and not the owner e.g. English Springer Spaniel :rotfl:

Peakma

My first thoughts on getting a dog or not are "do you like picking up warm steamy poo's in plastic bags(if you do get a dog please make sure you clean up after it!-sorry one of my pet hates-no pun intended!)"Do you want your house and car to smell of dog?"Will this dog fit into your lifestyle?
Sorry sounds negative.I just dont really get the point of keeping pets#(we have a cat,and I do love him,but I wouldn't want another,some of the things he does.....) just haven't the time or energy to take on a dog.Good luck deciding