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The doghouse

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Original poster

We are considering a rescue dog...

19 replies

GoldPlated · 06/10/2010 19:12

...but I'm scared Blush

Bit of a long back story here, so please stay with me Grin

Ok, we adopted a dog in 2007, who seemed perfect, but once we got him home it became apparent that he had severe separation anxiety. Couldn't even be left in a different room for 30 seconds without chewing/barking/howling/peeing everywhere. He was petrified poor thing Sad. Rescue had no idea, and so quite happily took him back. We were devastated, but there was no way we could have kept him (I work part-time, which the rescue were fully aware of).

Anyway, fast forward 3 years, and we are considering another rescue dog. She is only 10 months, and has spent last 3 months in kennels. She sounds perfect, good with DC, good with cats, good with other dogs etc. But I'm worried that she will panic if taken away from kennels, and then left in her new home?

I know that no-one can give me any definite answers, just getting it off my chest!

Thanks if you read all that Blush

OP posts:
Vallhala · 06/10/2010 19:54

Is this girl in one of the big rescues (RSPCA/Dogs Trust/Wood Green or similar) or an independent one?

Depending on the rescue you may be able to take her on a foster basis for a short, agreed time, to see how you get on together.

dooneygirl · 06/10/2010 20:27

I agree I can't give you a definite answer, but let me tell you our story. . .

3 years ago, we got a purebred puppy. I could go on and on, but it was an agonizing ordeal in which we went through much money, several trainers, and ended up with a dog that didn't mind and we gave back to the breeder because it had a congenital breeding defect and was going to die. I swore I never wanted a dog again. That was miserable

Cue this summer when DH and the DC's wore me down on the idea of a dog. We went with a rescue dog this time. We ended up with one I didn't really want to see, because it was so badly abused and burned, there is about 20% of her body that will never grow hair back. But we kept going back, and she was the sweetest dog with our children, and ended up taking her home. We are so happy with her, and she is just the most loving, best behaved, easily trained dog ever, who is great with the kids and our cats. (They aren't mean to her, but they are 5 and 7, and sometimes give her more love than she wants) I guess it just goes to show you never can guarantee what you'll end up with when you get a dog, and sometimes it goes better than you ever imagined.

Original poster
GoldPlated · 06/10/2010 20:48

I was hoping you'd come along Vallhala!

She's in an independent, although I think reasonably large, rescue. Do you really think that might be possible? I thought it may look like we're 'not fully committed' if we suggested a 'trial run'

OP posts:
Original poster
GoldPlated · 06/10/2010 20:53

Sorry dooneygirl that looked really rude - I had the reply to Vallhala typed, was then on phone hit post and then saw your reply Shock

Your rescue girl sounds lovely - exactly how I hope things would be. I can't stop thinking about the poor thing being in kennels for so long Sad.

OP posts:
dooneygirl · 06/10/2010 21:32

I would want Vallhala on my thread, too, as Vallhala seems quite the expert in the area of dogs.

I had the same problem of thinking about our dog being in the kennel, too. I'm actually in the US, and where we got her from, they were only allowed to be there so long, and then they were put down. I just knew that she wouldn't be adopted because she's not the best looking thing in the world, with missing fur and mangled ears, and we just had to keep going back and seeing her. I was really reassured by how much the staff loved her, and were so happy to see her get a home.

Vallhala · 06/10/2010 21:51

Sorry for the delay in coming back (have had a cruddy day!).

IMHO a rescue would far rather you were honest and agree to you fostering to ensure that you are happy with your new pal than hand her over thinking it is all okay and having a desperate and unexpected - and, heaven forbod, perhaps unsuccessful - scrabble to find a space to put her in if you took her permanently and suddenly wanted to return her post haste.

Commitment is all about making sure that the dog is for you and vice versa - why not speak to the rescue and see what they have to say?

(It's not Somerset and Dorset is it? If so, although I don't know their policies I have spoken to them and they appear to be very dedicated, friendly and reasonable).

Vallhala · 06/10/2010 21:53

PS dooney, thank you, but expert... me??? :o :o :o Nah!

Vallhala · 06/10/2010 21:55

PPS pah, I was thinking of DORSET dog rescue, not Somerset and Dorset. The latter rings bells but it's the former I know for sure I have dealt with and found lovely. Sorry (told you I was having a cruddy day!).

Scuttlebutter · 06/10/2010 23:11

I'd endorse what Val has said. Most rescues (certainly the one we're involved with) will have checked out basics like separation anxiety - this is why many rescues like to place dogs in a foster home first - to get a really good feel for this type of behavioural issue.

This is also why I am always Blush going on about offering your services to rescues as a foster carer as there is no substitute for this type of assessment - even the best kennel and most responsible staff are no comparison to a home environment.

Also, good rescues will also offer back up service, behavioural advice and will work hard via the homecheck to match the right dog to the right person/family, not just the one in the third cage on the left!

What you've suggested sounds sensible and reasonable and in no way invalidates your commitment - in fact it suggests you are being rightly cautious and not getting carried away - something in very short supply and a welcome change. Fingers crossed for you all and hope it goes well. Smile

reptile · 07/10/2010 07:12

Both our dogs have been from Rescues - we wouldn't consider anything else - and were/are wonderful. We can't work out why they ended up in a Rescue to be frank

Original poster
GoldPlated · 07/10/2010 09:08

Thanks everyone, will try and speak to the rescue today. :)

Val - it's Friends of the Animals RCT - don't know if you know them?

OP posts:
Vallhala · 07/10/2010 09:19

The South Wales based rescue, Gold? If so, I know of them but haven't dealt with them - but AFAIK they don't have kennels. All their dogs go into foster homes from the start, so I'm a bit confused.

DooinMeSizers · 07/10/2010 09:29

GoldPlated could you get an APDT registered trainer in to help you if she suffers from anxiety? I have one helping me with my dogs over excitement/on the lead agression towards other dogs and it's only cost me £55 for four sessions and at the end of that he gets his good canine bronze award from the KC.

But going from personal experience it's really rewarding getting a dog with a few small problems and then watching them change before your eyes. My dog was very fearful when we got him. If anyone shouted he would flinch and run out of the room. Raising your hand to indicate sit to him would make him crawl away from you on his belly Sad. He is now a very friendly confident dog and loves meeting new people.

Rescue dogs are far more rewarding than new puppies.

Original poster
GoldPlated · 07/10/2010 09:59

Val - as far as I can see they haven't been able to get a foster place for her - link here

Dooin - yes we did consider that with Scooby, but it was so severe he couldn't even cope with me putting the bins out. The rescue decided to home him with another dog, he had always been fine when left with other dogs there. I will definitely keep it in mind this time, but fingers crossed!

OP posts:
Vallhala · 07/10/2010 11:21

She sounds lovely and thre's no indication that there's a problem is there?

It IS hard, rescues like this HAVE to resort to using boarding kennels far too often, for want of foster homes. The alternative is that the dogs concerned are PTS in the pound or taken to the vet by uncaring owners and PTS, hence rescue has to step in fast, despite the huge cost which they struggle like buggery to afford.

I seriously think that the rescue here will have NO issues about placing Marley on a foster basis with a view to permanent homing as long as their other criteria are satisfied, such as a homecheck - and I think, from reading that, although I'm not sure which poster you are, this may have been carried out already?

Original poster
GoldPlated · 07/10/2010 11:56

No we haven't had a homecheck as yet - I've filled in the form and we're waiting for a call...

No indication at all that there's a problem, it's just I can't help worrying :)

OP posts:
TooImmature2BMum · 08/10/2010 08:19

How part-time are you? I have a rescue dog who can cope with being alone for about half the working day, but would start crying and digging up the carpet and peeing if left alone after lunchtime. Long story, but basically when we got him my husband's job allowed him to take the dog to work, which was why we had adopted one, but the business went under and neither of us could do that anymore, and both worked full-time. We didn't know what to do, but eventually bit the financial bullet and got a dogwalker to come in and take him out at lunchtime. It costs £9 a day for an hour's walk and he is so much calmer and has stopped crying in the afternoons. If you're able to be home with your dog for part of the day, even if she has separation anxiety, she might be okay to be left for a few hours. If not, perhaps a dogwalker would help to settle her in. It would give you peace of mind too. Good luck!

Ephiny · 08/10/2010 08:37

I think it's not unusual for a dog to develop a bit of separation anxiety after rehoming, even if they didn't suffer from it in the previous home - our rescue dog had it for the first few weeks, and it was very difficult to leave him because he'd get so upset at even being in a separate room from us (barking and howling and scratching at the door). DP had to work from home for a while as we couldn't just abandon him for the afternoon as originally planned!

But he did get better, and is now absolutely fine - we did building up the time gradually, starting with just going a few minutes down the road and coming back, up to leaving him for an hour or more, and using toys and treats to distract him from our leaving. But I think the most important thing was just giving it a bit of time, rehoming must be a stressful and confusing time for the dog, and he needed time to realise that this is his home now, and to feel safe and secure here, and to know that we are his people and we love him, and that we go out sometimes, but we always come back.

I know there are some dogs with more severe problems that wouldn't be resolved so easily - I guess what I'm trying to say is don't panic if she shows a bit of anxiety and clinginess in the first few weeks at home with you, it's not necessarily a permanent state!

janmoomoo · 22/10/2010 23:12

My rescue dog was quite anxious when we got her and it took about a year to settle her properly. She got a bit anxious and started barking again when we moved house about two years later and we got some tablets from the vets. Also the DAP pheramone (?sp) diffusers seemed to work.

But we had her for sixteen years and after the first year or so of being a bit jumpy she was good as gold. So what I am trying to say is that it can work out even with a few teething probs.

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