Adopting a rescue dog

[Serena1977]

We are getting a rescue male dog next week from abroad.

We have lots of guidance from the rescue centre and he is booked in for a health check at our vets 2 days after he arrives.

What things, info, gadgets, toys etc can you tell us that we might not have thought about in addition to the info we have from the rescue centre please?

We are super excited (and a tiny bit nervous!)

Give him space to decompress. Take it very slowly. Use a long lead in the garden so he doesn't escape. Read up about the behaviour of rescue dogs from abroad - where do you mean? Romania, Cyprus or similar? They have very particular issues.

Cyprus.

I have read an article about caring for dogs from abroad.

We have a quiet space set up. I'll be with him 24/7 for 16 days.

16 days may sound a lot but then what? TBH I’ve known VERY few rescues from abroad without issues. Has he spent time in a house? Is he used to a lead? What do you know about his history? Do you have a decent trainer to help if you need it?

We adopted a dog from Romania 5 months ago. He was 4 months old at the time.

Some of the stuff they warned didn’t apply. He came and lay his head in my lap of his own accord within 15 mins of arriving and slept with me from the first night. He is good with other people and dogs and not an escape artist.

Otoh he is very nervous of some things. Mostly traffic (motorbikes will make him lie down and freeze). We’ve worked on it a lot with positive reinforcement but I still couldn’t walk him on a slight busy road. He’s also very freaked out by marquees in gardens when it’s slightly windy.

He has no food or guarding aggression and woll let me take things from his mouth (I don’t - I swap for treats)

His recall was fab at first but recently sketchy. That’s adolescence though I think

He was lead and collar trained when he arrived but is touch sensitive and hates having his harness out on. He runs away when he sees it come out but does stay still to let me put it on and is happy when it’s on.

He didn’t like his crate as we used it to get him out of the van - if I could do it again I’d have a temp one for this and then crate train with permanent one.

I recommend perfect fit harness, halti double ended lead at least one kong and a portable water bottle - but this would apply to all dogs rather than rescue specific.

Oh and he hated mud. Would freeze at puddles. Not sure if this is resolved or if it’s just that it’s dry now!

Mine was rescued from the streets at 2 months so don’t know anything about his life before but was in a lovely rescue from then so had it pretty good compared to many.

Oh and whilst you can be with him 24/7 I’d recommend getting him used to you leaving and coming back. I worked up to it 5, then 10 mins etc and now can leave him for a few (max 3) hours and he literally just sleeps the entire time I’m gone.

Cuddly toys to begin with nothing squeaky because you don't know the environment the dog has come from, squeaky toys may upset or scare the dog esp if abuse was involved. Good luck with the new doggy, adopted animals make the best pets

He is about 13 months old. Been with the charity 4 weeks. He is used to the lead. We have an harness, dont like neck leads anyway.

I'll build up to leaving him in 5 minutes increments, thanks for the tip.

What a lovely thing you are doing. I have a boy rescued from Spain - best thing I ever did. You have had good advice already re taking it slowly, and building up the time you leave him alone, so he gets used to it. Go at his pace - he may settle quickly, he may not (my boy was abused, and took a long time to relax). Go with his quirks - my boy has no issues with fireworks for example, but is utterly freaked out by plastic bags or the noise of a coke bottle opening (go figure). Above all, be patient - for example, my boy hated doorways at first (he was a stray, rescued from outside), and was very nervous with other dogs and with men (fine with women and children) - but all fine now, with care and training. Enjoy op, my boy and I have defo changed each other’s lives!

I have one from Cyprus and one from Romania.

Neither have any issues. Had one for 3 years and one for 1 year.

They just need to chill out, feed bland food such as chicken and rice for the first few days, don’t force walks. No need to get all the toys, your dog may not be into certain things. Take it slowly