10mo dog coming this evening - panicking slightly! Any advice gratefully accepted!

[elQuintoConyo]

Hello!
We are in the process of adopting a lovely dog which had been abandoned two weeks ago in an industrial estate.
She is 10mo and 'houndy'! She is a real mutt, a mix of a mix of a mix. Best way to describe her is Irish Wolfhound but Airdale size!
She visited us last Saturday with her foster carer and we were all set to have her this coming Sunday.... But plans changed and she is coming tonight!

We have a list of things to buy now, which is fine, but mentally we aren't prepared and neither is the garden (we wanted to cut the grass back on Saturday as she seems fond of eating it!).

DH and I have had dogs in the past, but from puppies.

What advice can you give on settling her in?

No pics as yet, I'm afraid!

And she needs a new name. She is white and houndy!

TIA.

[elQuintoConyo]

Welll... Off to a disastrous start

She stayed outside until our 5yo went to bed. Then she came indoors for a sniff a few times and i gave her some (plain) chicken from my lasagna.

She has been growling but not really "at" anyone iyswim? More a sad lost abandoned 'where TF am i?' kind of growl/whine.

She is not impressed at all by our son although he has kept his distance and doggy hid in the garden. We know none of her history, just that she was found wandering and taken in by a woman to foster until an adoptive family could be found.

I shall take her out for a lovely walk tomorrow, give her some exercise.

Still not got a name in mind for her

Ooh, pics...

[Troublesmith]

You have overachieved. That is a gorgeous dog, I am very jealous

Your new dog is scared, lonely and tired, like that f&&& on plane thread

No one is on best behaviour. Set ground rules, no dog on furnitures, esp beds, fleas, worms, scabies. Cuddle all the time. More you are kind to animals, better they behave xx

[EstelleRoberts]

I'm afraid I have no experience to advise you, but I would have thought her being wary at this stage was par for the course. Guessing you don't know her history and whether she has been mistreated? Hopefully with lots of kindness, gentleness and love she will soon settle.

She is GORGEOUS and I'm very jealous!

Wishing you all the very best of luck.

[DutyCalls]

She is stunning but my advice is to let her be for now, she is in a new place, surrounded by new people and hasnt a clue if she can trust you or not.

I have worked with rescue dogs in the past and the best thing you can do for her now is to provide a safe space without any stress or pressure to respond to you. She will come to you when she feels ready and the bond will be stronger for it. Make sure your 5yo respects her space during these early days and keep every interaction with her positive and you will be giving her the best start in her new family.

Once a dog is overly stressed they can't learn anything new. Keep her stress levels as low as possible with patience and kind gestures and she will come around to you very quickly.

[elQuintoConyo]

Bless you all for answering! I thought i'd be talking to myself for days

I am at home until 3.30 tomorrow, a walk and then sit in the garden/at dining table with front doors open so she can wander freely i think would be best.

She didn't come with a decent collar (the one she has on is too big) so DH will get a better one tomorrow. Just hope she lets us put it on her.

Poor doggy, I can feel tension and wariness coming off her in rolls. Yes she is a gorgeous girl. Called Alba but we'd like to change it.

DS is coughing tonight and just got up for a wee, dog barked a lot. The house is open-ish plan, but we have put a suitcase at the bottom of the stairs so she won't come up.

I just want to hug her! But will definitely give her lots of space. And walks.

[gleegeek]

Oh bless. Well done! It'll take time for her to trust you but will really be worth it She is utterly gorgeous and I'm very jealous!
I second leaving her to come to you. Just tend to her needs very quietly and gently. No raised voices or attention. Once she knows you deliver food she will begin to need you. Gradually she'll become curious and hopefully the barriers will come down. Keep your little one away for now.

[elQuintoConyo]

Thank you! Yes, DS needs to be busy colouring in another room or so... I work when he gets out of school, so it will be DH and DS all evening.

Poor DS doesn't really understand. He is very sad that the dog doesn't like him but space and calm will help, I'm sure.

It was all rather thrust upon us at late notice, so we're all a bit whaaaaaa?!

[BewitchedBotheredandBewildered]

Oh she is beautiful, and you are doing a lovely thing, if a bit disconcerting at such short notice.

Please tell your son she doesn't dislike him she's just scared and doesn't understand what's happening to her and doesn't trust humans.

Agree with pps, let her come to you, do the regular walking, feeding, routine and lots of talking in soft, reassuring voices. Would help to choose her new name and use it lots.
Or even consider keeping Alba? May give her some continuity.

[ErrolTheDragon]

We got our current dog aged 10 months too - from a breeder (he'd not turned out to be the showdog they'd hoped), no traumas - but he was very wary at first. Started off sitting in a open crate just keenly watching us, and then would sort of skitter away from people. My dd was nearly 8, and having lost previous DDog a couple of months earlier she'd just wanted to cuddle the new one, but understood he was confused to be in a new place with strange people.

Anyway - we gave him space, and it wasn't long before he'd made himself completely at home.

Your plan how to proceed sounds good. I expect if your DS can offer her treats (without at this stage expecting anything in return) and help feed her etc she will learn to trust him too (its possible shes encountered some unpleasant kids before).

[Daftaboutthecat]

She is lovely I hope she comes round some excellent advice on her we have never had a rescue dog before but pretty much followed the advice on here for our rescue cat in that we just let her be and when she was looking more relaxed started approaching him with really high value treats cat now adores us and dog.
How did alba get on through the night?

[MaynJune]

You've got good advice already, especially about giving her space. She'll gradually start to feel more secure with a good routine of walks and food and calm kindness.
The dog I rehomed at about that age reverted to puppy behaviour for a while but we got through it.
Your dog is gorgeous, just be prepared for steps back as well as forward.

[luckylambchop]

What a beautiful dog! I have no advice to add but just wanted to say good luck!

[elQuintoConyo]

Thank you thank you thank you!

DS woke coughing and needing a wee in the night and Alba barked, but I think DS was half asleep and didn't register!

She slept the night on her bed and this morning I fed her and she wolfed it all down! And she drinks like a fish! I just went upstairs for a wee and she followed me into the bathroom a friend with adopting experience says she might be used to females and was freaked out when left with two males last night, DS and DH - i got home around 10pm.

I have been working at home andvshe keeps wandering overvfor a sniff then naffing off. She just voluntarily came up and sniffed my fingers - but wouldn't accept a tickle baby steps.

Here are two more pics...

[ErrolTheDragon]

Sounds like a very good start.

[Hoppinggreen]

She's very pretty and I think Alba suits her

[EstelleRoberts]

Yay! Sounds like a really positive start. I love that she has felt OK to venture upstairs. So pleased for you.

Do keep us updated!

[BewitchedBotheredandBewildered]

Sounds good, she may just be more wary of males

Eating heartily I'd take as a good sign, and having her approaching you must be exciting.

I like the name Alba too.

[elQuintoConyo]

Quick update: after a week Alba has settled really well. She follows us everywhere, she goes crazy nuts if one of us comes home after being out - real bum in the air, propeller-tail, happy woofs!

She is still slightly wary of DS but they ger on very well. DS is kept out of the kitchen (where the bed and bowls are) just in case and is good at not picking up sticks to wave around when we're out walking!

She has only whoned oncecat night for just 2 minutes. Oh, she does pee and crap at night but we're in Spain with ceramic floors so it cleans up very easily).

We are all very happy!

[elQuintoConyo]

Woof!

[maroda16]

Oh call her eira! Means snow in Welsh I think!! Beautiful dog, best of luck!!

[elQuintoConyo]

Alba means sunrise/dawn in Spanish and she has had so many changes in her short life that I think we are going to keep it.

She offered me her tummy for a rub yesterday

[ErrolTheDragon]

Aww. I think Alba is a great name for her. Lovely to hear you're all happy!

[Kidnapped]

You've done really well with her and it sounds like she has really bonded with you. Sounds like she just loves living with you all.

And now she's got her paws under the table she can relax a bit.

She really is a gorgeous girl.

[elQuintoConyo]

Thank you all! It has been quite a week