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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

After 5 months waiting for the right rescue dog...

30 replies

SeriouslyStrongCheddar · 22/03/2013 11:01

we picked CheddarDog up last night and I loves her.

It's taken us five months and numerous false starts with interest in dogs that turned out to not be suitable for one reason or another, but we finally got there and she's perfect for us.

We have three cats and a 9 month old DS so knew we might have a wait to find the right dog for us.

So far, all cats are happy to be in the same room as CheddarDog for short periods of time, and CheddarDog shows no signs of wishing to commit felicide so that's good. Under closely supervised conditions DS has been thoroughly sniffed with some associated licked and they seem mutually agreeable to ongoing policed interaction, so good start there.

Housetraining is great - one poo in the dining room 'cause I wasn't watching her carefully enough but she does ask to go out and in her defence did it as close to the back door as possible!

DH slept in the kitchen with her last night and will do so again tonight at least until she settles properly.

Anyone care to guess the cross (photos on my profile - hopefully, if I've done it right!)? The rescue reckons setter cross of some sort - her brother has a much shaggier coat and more setter-ish ears, if that makes sense.

OP posts:

digerd · 22/03/2013 11:08

Oh no, can't get through to your profile .

Original poster

SeriouslyStrongCheddar · 22/03/2013 11:15

Darn - try it now...

OP posts:

digerd · 22/03/2013 11:17

Just got through now.
Well, dalmation due to colouring and blotches more than spots, or the english setter X JackRussell?

digerd · 22/03/2013 11:20

ps you must be very proud of her. How old is she?

saintmerryweather · 22/03/2013 12:45

My aunt has a collie lab cross with similar ish markings, shes got more black in her but does have little spots

Original poster

SeriouslyStrongCheddar · 22/03/2013 12:54

digerd - yeah, I am proud of her; she's a little gem. The rescue said she was born January last year, but her passport says June so not sure how old - when I take her for a checkup to register at the vets, maybe he'll be able to give me an idea of which is more likely.

saintmerryweather - I must admit, when I saw her brother I did think 'collie cross' as he looks a lot more collie-ish, but I really don't know!

OP posts:

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 22/03/2013 13:20

She's all legs and tail isn't she?
Looks lovely , really unique (in a good way) markings.
How old is CheddarDog ?

digerd · 22/03/2013 15:26

Yes, from what I could see on photos her ears are collie type and she has the long narrow nose. Just wondered if she has more growing to do as seems smallish for an english setter/dalmation cross. But Collie is smaller and hairier.

She is unique whatever she is - special

RedwingWinter · 22/03/2013 15:33

Congratulations! She is really gorgeous, whatever she is!

EauRouge · 22/03/2013 15:36

What a lovely dog! Thanks for posting this, we're hoping to start looking for a rescue dog towards the end of the year. We also have cats and young children so we're anticipating a long wait too.

Owllady · 22/03/2013 15:41

oh she has a lot of collie in her :) she's lovely

Original poster

SeriouslyStrongCheddar · 22/03/2013 16:35

70isaLimitNotaTarget - she's somewhere between 9 months and 15 months depending on whether I believe what the rescue told me or what her passport says; who knows!

Hmm, the consensus seems to be that there's some collie in there, that's really interesting.

She seems quite bright and keen to learn and I'm dying to train her, but the rescue said to give her a couple of weeks to settle before I start clicker training so we'll have to wait and see.

They've also said I shouldn't take her out for walks for a week or so, just keep her to the garden while she settles in - she has quite a bit of energy so the next few days are going to be fun!

OP posts:

Floralnomad · 22/03/2013 16:43

If she's fully vaccinated I can't see why taking her out on a lead would be an issue . Two weeks in a garden and mine would be going completely bonkers !

Owllady · 22/03/2013 16:46

I walked mine straight away :) obviously you can't let them off for quite a while, but really I see no issue with walking her on a lead or training her at home tbh, just basic stuff and playing with her to build a bond. My rescue said wait a month or so before beginning training classes which i think is sensible, but at home I think it's different

she looks a lovely dog

groovejet · 22/03/2013 17:46

She looks lovely, have you chosen a name for her?

She reminds me of this dog www.petsugar.com/What-Do-You-Know-About-Pointers-1961134 from a dog reality show I watched, that dog was a border collie/pointer cross.

digerd · 22/03/2013 17:52

She does look that pointer dog, doesn't she.

gymmummy64 · 22/03/2013 18:17

Aww she looks luffly! Congratulations!

Dogs Trust told me to hold off training my rescue too, but I someone on here told me to start as I meant to go on, just not try anything overly complex. That made sense to me, so things like leaving us alone when eating, responding to his name, not trying to force his way out of the front door or the car door, taking a treat GENTLY, going into the lounge when someone was at the door etc etc all started straight away. If I'd had any rules about sofas or upstairs then they would have started straight away too. Recall took a bit longer - 6 months and counting, but I think we're largely there now

I can't imagine how I would have coped not taking him out for a week though.

RedwingWinter · 22/03/2013 19:00

Great advice from Gymmummy. I also think it's fine to take her for walks, just keep her on a lead for the first few weeks until you know she's settled in. It's also a good idea to make sure that she knows her way round the neighbourhood, so your walks are helping her build up a map of the place, just so that she knows her way around. Sometimes dogs go missing soon after arriving at a new home just because they get let off-lead too soon.

My neighbour has an english pointer and she definitely looks like she has pointer in to me.

neepsandtatties · 22/03/2013 21:00

She's lovely! Where was she from originally (you mentioned the pet passport)?We've had our rescue for 4 weeks now, a pointer cross from Spain. We took him out on walks immediately and I let him off the lead within the first week and he's been fine (he had been in foster so we knew he was good off lead).

Original poster

SeriouslyStrongCheddar · 22/03/2013 21:20

groovejet - we've stuck with her original name, which is Etta. She was found as a puppy with her brother, who's called Henry . I did wonder about pointer actually, as I think Spanish Pointers are a bit like English Setters from a colouring perspective.

gymmummy & Redwing - I have to confess to doing a little bit of training today on 'sit' and 'here'. Nothing to taxing and no clicker as yet, but we were all going to go nuts if we didn't do something! Think I'll get the clicker out this weekend actually, just to get it primed if nothing else. Might well take her for a walk on Sunday, depending on snow. Need to get a new car harness though (also for use with long lead as her recall is not good as yet) as the one I bought for her is waaay to big!

neeps - she is indeed from Spain. Sounds like your dog has settled in well if he's good off lead with you already. Think we'll have some work before we get to that stage

OP posts:

poorpaws · 22/03/2013 21:46

Aww no wonder you love her, she is gorgeous. I am so jealous. Have a wonderful long and happy life with the little beautie.

LadyTurmoil · 23/03/2013 19:46

Oh yes, I'd seen her pics on SOS Animals website, she's absolutely beautiful. Congratulations

Original poster

SeriouslyStrongCheddar · 24/03/2013 10:11

LadyTurmoil - I owe you my thanks actually, as I only found SOS because of one of your posts where you posted links to some overseas rescue. So ; it it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have Etta.

OP posts:

LadyTurmoil · 24/03/2013 11:47

Awww, I'm "seriously" chuffed, seriously So pleased for you - she is gorgeous - seems like the 5 month wait was worth it and thanks for the flowers!

idirdog · 24/03/2013 12:16

She is lovely what a fab dog. I am so glad you have found each other.

I would start charging the clicker and also working on the Reinforcement Zone. (something I always do with new dogs) When she is next to you click and treat. Snicky counderconditioning that means it is fantastic to always be around you.

Makes recall, heel work a piece of cake to teach.

Other thing I would do is the food circle. Throw her food a small distance away from you so she runs to it, let her eat it and then call her name(no recall command) she will turn to you and give her a yummy treat. So kibble to throw and hot dog sausage for coming back to you.

Have fun with her she looks fantastic

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