Speak To Me Of Rescue Pups

[JoffreyBaratheon]

Picking up an 8 week old staffie pup from a rescue next week. We've only ever had bull breeds and hoped they'd get a litter of staffies or staffie crosses.

Our beautiful elderly dog died 8 weeks ago tomorrow and most of that time we've been ringing the rescue who put us on their puppy waiting list - but no pups came in. On Friday they got a large litter and today we reserved a beautiful little white bitch.

It's been 14 years since we last had a staffie puppy. And we have never had a rescue before. I'd love to hear about people's experiences and also advice on rescue pups and rescues in general.

Should say the pups were brought in but not mum. The mother - owners claimed - got out and came back pregnant. The pups look like purebred staffs but are very small. Backstreet breeder who got to 7 or 8 weeks and realised she couldn't sell them, I think. They are healthy, (the vet thinks) and appear to be normal, happy pups.

[EasyToEatTiger]

Any dog or puppy will grow up into its own character and it is our duty as their guardians to guide them along the way. 8 weeks is still young enough to get in lots of socialisation and the tools the dog needs as an adult. Our oldie was a puppy farm dog and passed from pillar to post in really unsuitable circumstances before he came to us. It took a long time for him to learn to live as a dog. Start as you mean to go on.

[EvenBetter]

We did this last year-our old girl died and we couldn't bear our house/lives without a dog in it! We got a weeny puppy from a kill-pound one month after she died.
I was worried, wondering what she'd be like, if she'd like us, if she'd be healthy, etc. she was only about 8 weeks old and the puppy stage is very intense, but over so quickly. We had to toilet train her (took months because we didn't mind piddles in the house that much!), teach her words, play with her, show her different things and of course-cuddled the shit out of her! At one point I thought I might be affecting her hip development because she was never out of my arms! Losing an old dog really teaches you to cherish them, and savour their babyhood.

She had her own distinct personality at 8weeks, and is exactly the same now, albeit with less biting and steadier on her feet. She sleeps in the exact spot she first sat on, in the bed, when she was weeny. She didn't look for her mummy or siblings or seem upset at all.

Congratulations! You'll love her!

[JoffreyBaratheon]

Thanks, both. EvenBetter that is so reassuring - thanks! My bullie dying left a huge dog shaped hole - we weren't ready for how devastating it was going t be, even though she had dementia about the past 4 years and was blind and going deaf, and every day you sort of thought the end was nigh... But on another level, you couldn't prepare for it, either.

We will do all the socialisation stuff, and try and expose her safely to lots of different situations.

[Ephedra]

Here is a link to 2 free ebooks books about raising puppies. We used them for our collie.

Well you know what a disaster my collie was health wise but when we rescued him at 11-12 weeks he was amazing. He settled in very quickly and didn't have any major issues although we had to catch up on socialisation as he had never been out.

Good luck!

[JoffreyBaratheon]

Thanks, Ephedra. Downloading now! Appreciate that. It's been 14 years since we had a puppy and I feel clueless. Two more days and we go to see her tomorrow.

I'd never known any collies til the neighbours who we share a bit of top garden with, moved in a few years back with their rescue collie. She is very quiet and reserved and getting on a bit now, so she's got a few health problems - some sort of arthritis, and is putting on weight. But she is a sweetheart and we are very fond of her. It was one reason we decided against an adult rescue dog - as it might be too much for her. Puppies are annoying to older dogs but not a threat in any way!

[Ephedra]

You're welcome Joff I found the books very helpful.

My collie was never quiet or reserved!

[Chasabeth]

We rescued a Greek street dog who was 2 months old at the time just over a year ago and paid for him to come back to the UK, the best thing we ever did. He was rescued from gypsies and had no social skills at all.

My advice is to get them into a puppy class as soon as you can. They teach them the basic commands and it's reward training, helped ours a lot especially with socialising. Plus it's things you can do at home to keep them entertained. If you've had a dog before then I'm sure you will have doggie friends so once they've had their injections get them out for walks with other dogs.

For the chewing stage I would recommend a puppy kong or something similar, you fill it with treats and they have to work at getting the food out, keeps them entertained for hours.

My friend also recommended a guy called Cesar Millan, the dog whisperer, he's American but his ideas and training methods are amazing - //www.cesarsway.com - Plus he's on Nat Geo if you have sky. Also a book called the dog listener was great I found.

Lots of info I'm sure you already know but I hope that helps.

[Ephedra]

Um, please don't use Cesar Millan methods. Especially on a puppy.

[Chasabeth]

Funny, as we used Cesar Millans methods when our dog was a puppy, as did few of our friends and our dog is fine, very well behaved and well balanced considering where he came from.

Take from him what you will, some things I did not agree with but he teaches exercise, discipline, affection to raise a well balanced dog. It might not work for everyone but it certainly worked for us.

[EvenBetter]

OP, join the facebook group for modern, force free science based training and behavioural advice, Cesar's methods are hideously cruel (electric shocks, beating and kicking dogs) and entirely disproven, years ago, scientifically. Dogs are not pack animals, they don't seek to dominate anyone and the modern methods work for ALL dogs, as you can read about on the group page.

[VanitasVanitatum]

Might have 'worked' chasa but why would you want to do that to your dog?? There are many fantastic reward based training ideas that work brilliantly and will make your dog happy and secure.

[Ephedra]

^ What EvenBetter said.

[Chasabeth]

Ok, let me make one thing very clear. I DO NOT beat, kick etc my dog at all. These are not ANY of Cesars methods that I have come across and I was not suggesting anything like that. He taught me to teach my dog, rules, boundaries, limitations which leads to a well balanced dog. There was no force, dominance or anything cruel about any methods we used.

Might I add to this my to all of the above comments my dog is extremely well balanced and happy and to suggest otherwise is ridiculous. He goes to two different dog classes and is even used in puppy training classes to show as an example of what to do and for puppies to be socialised with. If you read my comments I did suggest puppy classes with reward based training which also worked very well for me.

My dog was rescued from horrific circumstances that I saw first hand and brought back to the UK so do you really think I would do anything to harm his development and rehabilitation. He is a very happy dog, and is extremely well looked after and cared for.

[JoffreyBaratheon]

Yes, the rescue we are getting her from has puppy classes and we hope to continue with classes beyond that, too. I clicker trained the last dog I trained, a few years back now so will defo be going with that. My last dog came to me aged 2 and already trained, so it has been a while... I have always been intrigued by flyball, when have seen displays - and staffies are good for that. But will see how her personality develops.

Went to cuddle her tonight as she is a sweetheart. Very calm (the kennel worker who seemed to know the pups well, heard me saying how calm she was and said she thought she was too) without being too shy. She seems a sweet little soul - just like our last dog. Am excited about getting her but we still can't agree on a name!