We pick our new rescue dog up at the weekend. Advice?

[Pernickety]

We're picking her up from the foster home she has been in. Can someone direct me to one of those threads where they list everything I need to buy and think of. Please?

One other question. How should we transport her in the car? Back seat with the children? In the boot with a crate? we won't have time to get a grill fitted if that is the route we take in the future, so it has to be one of those two options. There is room for her to go on the back seat if we get a harness for her. If she's not that used to being in the car, where is likely best? The journey will be about 2.5 hours. how often should we stop?

I'm confused over how many types of lead and collar I should buy initially, or do I need to buy them all now? Bearing in mind we won't be letting her off lead for awhile, do we just need to buy an extended lead now? She pulls on the lead so a halti type collar has been suggested. Does that require a special kind of lead? Any help in that direction would be well received. Perhaps there should be a sticky at the top of Doghouse for us novice dog owners and all we need to get and consider in preparation.

We are so thrilled. We've waited a long time to get a dog.

[D0oinMeCleanin]

You will need:
A bed

A lead - please, please, please don't get an extending one, they are a danger to the dogs they are attached to and other walks. I hate them with a passion. It is almost always dogs on extendable leads who bother my whippy when we are training her to be confident around other dogs after she was attacked by a dog on an extending lead. The dog ran at her with such force it broke the lead and the owner was left with no way to reel his dog in. They are, imo, a flashing neon sign that says selfish and clueless dog owner (apologies to anyone who uses one, but that is the experience I have had of them in my area)

I rate Halti training leads for regular walking, if you want to give her extra freedom once you are in open spaces and to train recall you can buy extra long training lines, but be aware that for safety these should be attached to a harness not a collar and not one of those anti pull harnesses.

Wrt the pulling a harness is not really a replacement for training - The Complete Idiots Guide To Positive Training lists some ways to train loose lead walking using a clicker and there are lots of YouTube clips that show you how you can do it, of course halti's help but should be used in conjunction with training - not instead of. I prefer the halti harness to the head collar, most dogs seem to take to it better than the head collar.

At least two dog bowls.

A supply of the food the dog is currently - you can change the diet but do it gradually mixing in a handful of your chosen food and increasing that amount slowly.

A crate if you are using one - If the dog is not crate trained already you will need to train it to accept the crate before locking it in there for long periods fo time.

Insurance

Your local vet's number

Details of your nearest positive training class

Kongs, Nyla Bones, other toys the dog might like (ask the fosterer)

Books - The Complete Idiots Guide to Positive Dog Training is really good and covers everything, but there are loads of others recommended on here all the time, I also found Karen Pryor's book on clicker training helpful.

A clicker and treats if you decide to go down that route of training (I am in love with clicker training atm, it is like magic)

I wouldn't put a new dog in the back seat with children to be honest, my Dad has dogs in the boot with no grill, he just raises the head rests up as high as they will go on the back seat and that keeps his dogs where they should be, if not then go for the crate option.

You shouldn't really need to stop if the dog is adult but if you want to stop half way through the trip then the dog will appreciate it.

I am sure there will be things I have forgotten.

[ManifestingMingeHooHoosAgain]

A dog tag with your phone number on it

Brings back happy memories of getting our younger dog - I would get the harness once you have actually got the dog so you can get one that fits well - you can usually take dogs into petshops with you no problem.

Old blanket or towel to put under the dog in case it's travel sick in the car. Ours was at first but is great in the car now.

[JaxTellerIsMyFriend]

What sort of dog are you getting?

Dooin has covered everything else.

[JaxTellerIsMyFriend]

And although I dont agree with extending leads I have to use one for our old lab, he is deaf, nearly blind and just keeps wandering off. To give him a little freedom on walks I use flexi lead but am still in control.

[D0oinMeCleanin]

Oh yes a dog tag the legal requirements these days say you must have your name, address, postcode and phone number on. I wouldn't put the dog's name on. It can encourage theft, if the person knows the dog's name. Mine have each have two tags. One gives my details and the other has I am chipped, scan me on one side and details of the vets they are registered with on the other side. It's also an idea to have "Spayed" or "Neutered" on to discourage theft.

If you'll be walking in the dark flashing collars or tags are great.

You'll need a supply of poop nags also.

[mistlethrush]

Dooin - I agree about the flexi-leads in some instances - although I have used them with several dogs and had no issues - partly because dog is close with the lead locked short if there are other dogs or people around! But the number of people that can't use them properly gives them a bad name (I got a rope burn from one of another dog and was told off by the owner!!!).

Check whether the dog will have a collar provided.

Where are you getting your dog from btw?

[D0oinMeCleanin]

Most people round here don't even bother trying to use extending leads properly, meaning their dogs reach mine several feet before the owner does, which is not an issue if I am with Devil Dog, who is now lovely and socialised, it's not so great when they pester Whippy who literally pees herself with fear or Pup who is very large and bouncy and prone to entangling both himself, me and their dog up in the string lead.

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

Oh congratulations

What type of dog is he/she?

I think d0oin has pretty much given you an excellent list.
I also hate hate hate extendable leads but that may be because the JRT I see in the park every day is allowed to wrap itself and it's extendable lead right around BigDog who just stands there,confused whilst the owner shouts at me to move my dog.
I would love to move him but he is entangled in 5 feet of lead!

Do you know if the dog is crate trained?

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

And Yy to clicker training, it has saved my sanity with LittleDog.

Flashing collars are brilliant in the dark, we just got a flashing blue one for LittleDog as he likes to run off like a mad thing in the dark. At least we can see him now!

[D0oinMeCleanin]

I love the "Is your dog friendly?" as their dog on an extendable lead has already wrapped himself around my dog three times. I always want to reply "It's a bit late now, if he's not, isn't it?" It's happened a few times with Pup because he is a large lurcher and sighthounds have a bit of a reputation for treating smaller dogs as prey.

Luckily pup is very friendly, but you'd think he'd have learnt by now not to bounce in circles around the other dog and thus around the other dog's lead, but he hasn't. I often have to ask people to let go of their lead so I can unwrap him. It's always the same people too

[MadAboutHotChoc]

Can't stand extendy leads myself either.

Bed, bowls, food, lead, poo bags & ID tag.

Blanket in car - dog shouldn't ride with the kids.

[theodorakis]

Doin, I remember an old man who used to walk his Maltese up the bypass every day on a flexi lead. It slipped and the little dog ended up under a lorry. I have hated them ever since. Haltis are much better.

Pernickity, I am so pleased for you and impressed that you are taking a rescue (assume if in foster?). good luck

[D0oinMeCleanin]

I've heard of that happening Theo, but fortunately have never witnessed it. It must be horrific for owners and the driver and on lookers

I've seen the leads jam or fail quite a few times, but thankfully only ever in the park. To be fair most people round here use the Poundland ones, so they're not really great quality or safe imo.

Sorry OP I have taken over your thread with my hatred of Flexi leads

Good luck with your new dog and remember it is illegal not to come back and show us photos

[theodorakis]

Theopup sends his love (and little bit of excited wee)

[Pernickety]

It did not cross our mind not to take a rescue dog; it just took us a while to find one. The rescue organisation is a good one from what I can tell from my limited experience. I get telephone support, I?ve had a home check, I?m contracted to return the dog to them if something happens where we cannot keep her and the dog has been matched to what we can offer a dog.

I feel much more confident about getting a known and assessed rescue dog than a young puppy, and even more so that she is coming from a foster home.

Okay, I take on board your point about extendable leads. Recently I walked with a friend whose bouncy puppy was on an extended lead and I did note that she managed to tangle up a few (luckily friendly) dogs. It looks like I would be better getting a proper long lead for practicing recall with her, somewhere out of the way of other dogs and walkers.

I have found some training classes in my area which use positive reinforcement. I will look into that Idiot?s Guide book also (for my DH ) I already have the Karen Pryor book (psychology is a personal interest)and yes, I will get a clicker and I?m really looking forward to training her.

She?s not crate trained. I wasn?t intending to do it unless a reason presents itself?..

What kind of dog? She?s a scruffy black thing, small-medium size, between 1 and 2 years old. We were looking for a male, smooth coated dog I kind of knew that we?d end up with something that we hadn?t imagined. She?s lovely.

Good point about not sitting her with the children. Bit of a silly thing to think now you say it. I was just trying to avoid putting her in a crate for that first journey. I?m probably being too soft.

[theodorakis]

I know what you mean. Dogs find you. I heard a wimpering under a bush after saying no more dogs and found a teeny little puppy, 3 weeks old. He's grown into a Great Bloody Dane. Of all the breeds I would never choose, living abroad in a non doggy country where food is incredibly expensive.

[Floralnomad]

When we got our rescue dog I sat with him on the back seat ( about an hours drive) . Now he always goes in the front seat in his harness as he gets a better view . He adores the car and a drive is almost as good as a walk for him as it seems to mentally exhaust him .

[Irate]

I found a Halti on the beach on holiday and we have never used it, if you want me to post it to you private message me with your address, it seems a waste hanging up in our hallway.

[Pernickety]

How lovely of you to offer that. I will pm you.

[mistlethrush]

Last dog we got I thought we'd probably end up with one of those black ones with ginger eyebrows... and we ended up with a tan one with amazing khol eyeliner.

We're now looking for the next and wondering what we'll get as not that fixated on coat or colour, character is the important thing.

[theodorakis]

Mistlethrush, if only I were closer, I have a beautiful white saluki, a half husky and the great bloody Dane all in my foster care at the moment.

[bobbybearmummy]

Extending leads...are a big NO No.My dog got a 6 inch gash when he jumped out of the way of one in the park.
A friends dog was skinned alive in the road after being dragged under a car,after she forgot to put the lock on...dogs have had there necks broken,humans have had fingers amputated.
No good dog trainer would advocate the use of one,they do not teach leash manners,but encourage dogs to pull even more.

[theodorakis]

Mistletoe I have the perfect young man for you, character in spades, good mannered, healthy cat friendly with a naughty twinkle. Everywhere I go he just settles at my feet and sleeps. If only I had some spare cash I would love to send him to the UK, he has never seen grass let alone rain

[theodorakis]

Sorry iPad keeps changing your name but it has a nice Christmassy feel!

[mistlethrush]

Please don't talk to me about Christmas yet!!!

I'm really looking for a bitch - I really don't know why - but we met a charming little 5mo dog puppy on Saturday -and it just didn't feel right - he will charm his way into another home with no problem.