Quintinha Animal Centre

Some Tips for People with Rescue Dogs

by Robbie New

The key words when taking on any rescue dogs are Patience, Consistency, and Calmness.

When you get your rescue dog home it is very tempting to try to be over-cheerful with it, and attempt to jolly it along. This very rarely works, since the dog has no idea that you are (hopefully) the answer to its prayers, and that everything will be ok from now on. It`s important to be very quiet, and low-key, as if nothing very remarkable is taking place. This is especially true for the traumatized dogs, and those who have suffered abuse and cruelty - sadly, both common factors. Obviously, this doesn`t mean that you shouldn`t offer your new arrival/s affection, but take it slowly, and keep it quiet. It never works to shout at a rescue dog (dare I say, any dog?), and this is where you may need a great deal of patience!

Bear in mind that if you are taking a traumatized dog, it may take weeks or even longer for it to start to trust you at all, and in these cases, it is often best to leave the dog in peace until it feels able to come to you, or to join in family life with you and, possibly your other animals. In these cases, gently put the feed down for the dog at set times, leave the dog on its own, but keep a discreet eye open to see how it behaves, and to ensure it is getting food. In time, the dog will come to you, and you can let it join in and relax.  Above all, make sure it has its own cosy place to sleep and feel safe.

I find that it is very often a good idea to change the dog`s name, if it has one, as soon as you get it home. Dogs seem to have no problem accepting a new name, and it represents a break with it`s former life, so everyone starts fresh. Obviously, if you get no response, by all means use the old name, but use the new one at the same time, until you can dispense with the old name.

Some common "problems":

Peeing

This one is difficult to understand, and may only occur with dogs who have had to share food with other dogs, or who move in to a new home where there are dogs already. The dog eats its food and then pees on its bowl - or even on another dog`s bowl! The only way to handle this is to say "NO" very quietly (remember, no shouting...), and to remove the bowl as soon as you can when the dog finishes eating. Eventually, the problem should disappear, but it may take a while, and you are well advised to watch carefully whilst the dog is feeding and remove the bowl before there it time for a pee!!

Calling the Dog

Another difficulty with very nervous/abused dogs is that you call them (facing them) and they either try to go the other way, or stand rooted to the spot. Try calling the dog gently, but walk in the direction you want it to go. Keep it casual! Dogs are naturally nosey, and chances are it will follow, probably at a safe distance. This one is usually easier to cure, and as soon as the dog begins to trust you, it should come to you. Even so, don`t stand facing it and cheerfully patting your knees - it will smell a rat!

Putting on a lead

Many rescue dogs have been tied up, and even cruelly treated whilst tied up, and very often these dogs panic if you try to put on a lead. A perfectly gentle dog may bite if panicked, so try not to put a lead on too soon, and if the dog really panics, you could try a body harness instead. Even so, there are some souls who will never accept a lead. All you can do is assume that there is a very good reason for this reaction, and it is certainly not appropriate to regard it as bad behaviour. Please do not punish the dog! If you absolutely need to put the dog on a lead or harness, and you encounter difficulties, your vet may be able to help - sometimes, temporary sedation is the only solution, but it doesn`t always work.

Toys and Playing

Bear in mind that rescue dogs very often have to learn how to play. Toys are very important for any dog, and we find that leaving toys around (particularly soft toys, until you know the dog, since some dogs are worried by squeaky toys) is a good idea. It`s also very rewarding when your fragile new friend decides to give it a go one day, and picks up a toy. They won`t necessarily want to play with you just yet, but the important thing is that the dog is relaxing enough to want to experiment. Rawhide chews are also a very good idea, and usually get accepted almost immediately!!

Bathing

If when you get your rescue dog home you think it is in sore need of a bath, do think twice about this... Unless the dog is absolutely unlivable with, it may be best to wait a few days before clean-up! Even dogs who are used to baths and enjoy them are usually fairly dubious first time around, so bear in mind that a rescue dog may never have had a bath in its life, in which case this will be an added trauma to the re-homing process, and may put the animal off being bathed for a very long time.

Even more important, please remember that many dogs are terrified of hosepipes, so hosing the dog down is really not an immediate option. When you are better acquainted with the dog, you may be able to start hosing very gently, but be careful how you hold the dog (best NOT to tie it up), and stop straight away if you get an adverse reaction. Our dogs are regularly hosed down, as they get hot and filthy running with us when we ride our horses, and one or two of them are very unwilling to be wet, even in hot weather, and one traumatised soul has to be wiped very gently with a sponge, as he panics at the mere sight of a hosepipe. Hygiene comes second to the dog`s peace of mind, and surely isn`t the end of the world if you don`t have a shampooed pooch from day one.

Weight and Diet

You may think your rescue dog is very underweight when you choose it. This is obviously a not uncommon state of affairs. However, it is best not to rush the fattening-up process! Remember that a small quantity of good quality food is always preferable to large amounts of "fillers", and as your rescue dog relaxes, and you gradually increase amounts of food, it will very quickly put on wieght and condition. If you try to fatten it up too fast, it may not work. Patience is needed here, and is generally soon rewarded. If in doubt, of course ask your Vet`s advice. Also, remember to stop giving extra food as soon as the dog looks healthy, or you will have an obesity problem on your hands!!

This may all sound a bit daunting, but most rescue dogs are not a problem, and turn out to be delightful animals! Some adapt almost immediately - they are the lucky ones - but whatever your experience, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing your new arrival make progress. With really traumatized dogs, I have been known to phone friends to announce each small step forward!! And now, 25 years later, I would only have rescue dogs. They will show you what true affection, loyalty and gratitude mean - assets many humans don`t really understand.

Hope this isn`t too verbose, and may be of some use. We are constantly getting queries from friends about what seem to be trivial problems, but loom large if you have never had a rescue dog before.

Robbie

If you have adopted a rescue dog from the shelter or from elsewhere, please ask for help at anytime if you need a little help or guidance. 
 

“There are lots of positives to adopting a senior. Puppies and kittens can take a lot of patience to train and figure out their personality. With older pets, what you see is pretty much what you get.”

Older pets have a tremendous amount of love to give,  This may sound silly, but they really do understand and appreciate being rescued. Older pets often are more mellow and require less strenuous exercise (in the case of dogs) when being cared for.

They often make an easier transition to a new home than a puppy. They enjoy easy living.

HOW TO ADOPT

Once you’ve made the decision to adopt a new family member, you’ll need to decide what type of dog will fit best with your lifestyle. Dogs come in all shapes, sizes, personalities, and temperaments, just like people, so it’s important to think about these things before you adopt.

Taking a dog into your home is a big responsibility but well worth the effort. Knowing what your needs and capabilities are before taking a dog into your home can ensure a rewarding experience for you, your family, and your new pet.

First and foremost, decide if you are really ready for a pet by asking yourself the following questions:

• Do I have a permanent residence, enough funds for a financial commitment, a stable enough home life, and will children be a factor?
• Can I commit to a ten to fifteen year commitment, proper veterinary care and personal attention for this pet?
• Is my entire family truly a part of this decision?
• Am I ready to discuss my decision with the foster care giver or rescue worker?

Certain requirements must be met before a pet is able to be adopted. Therefore, a family should expect to be interviewed with some personal questions being asked and possible veterinary and personal reference checks.

The reason for the above requirements is that we want this to be a permanent, healthy and loving situation for these animals, so please do not take any personal offence to our screening process.

Ingrid Moody