New rescue terrier. I need hand holding

[TheFlyingFauxPas]

After lots of thought and research we got the most beautiful rescue terrier on Monday. Fostering at the moment. He is a little star. So friendly. Walks nicely. Sleeps well on my bed. Great back-up from rescue. He was fine Monday. Poo normal. He's just been neutered and 1st vaccs. Hasn't eaten much then in last 2 days he's had 3 very runny poos and been sick 4 times. He ate the most since he arrived yesterday. He's now eating plain chicken breast and rice
I'm only giving him tiny amounts. He's been drinking water. He's tiny. Weighed about 5kg but he's lost almost 1kg since. He's perky and tail waggy. Rescue lady visiting him later. So worried about him. He's so lovely

A real and proper pickupable poo 😊 Hurrah! All is good

Yay.

Ampnd I love the picture of him in bed. I want to join in...

The only problem we have now is that he insists on barking when out at other dogs. When he did come up close to 2 spaniels he was nice not aggressive so thinking its friendly want to meet not aggression. I had a google and it suggested saying a word like 'focus' and giving him a treat like cheese to train him to look at me rather than other dog. When I tried it though he had no interest in cheese! So I'm just avoiding before he sees them
today though twice we had dogs coming at us from both sides nowhere to hide! Because he's not finished vaccs he's not allowed to socialise yet
I do want to get him meeting friends' dogs which may help.....

Any suggestions welcome. I'm trying to be more organised but today I forgot the bloody cheese so couldn't even try it. I wont be going out at that time again!

Use sausages?

Search for the 'Look at That' game on Donna Hill's YouTube Channel.

Many thanks boob and lil 😊

What a lovely little foster dog! My advice would be to slow down a little bit. He has had so many things happen to him in the last week or 2 - no wonder he is unsettled and stressed. If he came from the dog pound, you also have no idea of his previous history I suppose.

Things like the dog groomer, taking him out for exciting walks etc, it all really needs to wait. He just needs to adapt to his new environment and then you can slowly introduce new experiences to him rather than flood him with so many new things all at once.

It is very common for dogs coming from the pound and going into foster to have upset tummies. It should settle in a few days. He needs to be on a high quality complete dry food - there are many good ones and many terrible ones. So do your research and read the ingredients labels! I would recommend Burns or James Wellbeloved, and definitely avoid Wagg, Bakers or pretty much any of the dog foods that you can buy directly from the supermarket.

You can train a 'watch me' behaviour in the following way. Have a high value treat, such as a small bit of chicken. Hold it in the air with your arm out straight at shoulder height. Do not say anything - this is key. Watch your dog and wait for him to look at you. As soon as he does, then click (if you using a clicker) or simply praise and give him the treat straight away. Repeat a few times and do this several times a day. The idea is that he learns to look to you regularly. This is really helpful when you are out and about.

With regard to him barking at other dogs, this is not uncommon for little terriers. Try not to let him get into situations where he feels uncomfortable and is bombarded by other dogs - you are his protector. Don't rush the socialisation process and just let him settle into his new life and get to know and trust you first.

I would suggest attending training classes once he has had time to settle into his new environment properly. Just take it steady and it is also not unusual for rescue dogs to display different behaviours the more and more they settle. You just can't judge them in the first few days as it is likely to all change as they get their paws under the table so to speak.

Thank you floss that all makes a lot of sense. The grooming thing I did dither a bit over. Basically the poor guy was so matted he seemed uncomfortable so it seemed important - not a vanity thing. He does seem a lot comfier. Another plus of getting him clipped was because his poos were so runny it was hard to clean him up. I've taken a look at the watch me training and will give it a go - he seems receptive to training. He learned sit in one afternoon. Because he's been ill he was confined to garden but was getting a bit stir crazy. For now our walks are limited to round the block but trying to avoid dogs is very hard believe me! I've never seen so many. I've become a dog magnet 😞 at the moment he's eating Hills puppy food which he loves and it seems to be suiting. We're now getting more proper poos than runny 😊 I have tried to keep things as calm as possible but will bear in mind the slow down. Yes I've read that repressed behaviour can emerge as they settle. I'll watch out for that. He did bark at the postwoman for 1st time today. Don't know if it was because he was in bed in hall.

Ooh and yes looking into training classes

Just been out for a walk in the rain. Ideal circs as no other dogs out in it! Lovely stroll

He's gorgeous. I've had my terrier since 3 months (she's now 5) and she now has a great appetite . . . but to begin with, she was really nervous about food and was quite irregular as far as loo habits go. It takes a few days for most dogs to adjust to a new home. It's also sensible not to change their diet too much as this can have an affect on their system - take time to gradually change their eating plan. I always wrap any of my dog's medicine in some ham - if it's folded she can't lick it away and I know it's all consumed. Best of luck - he sounds like he's landed in a really happy home x

Two weeks in and we and both in love with dd.

I took him to vets today to have stitches out and 2nd vaccs. This vet spotted straight away he has a problem with his front legs. I don't know what it's called. It was all a bit much to take in. His front feet stick out. Problem with his wrists. Could cause problems later. Arthritis etc. He recommends xrays and take ut from there. He doesn't think he's in pain.
Me and DD gave been snuggled up on settee together all night.
I'm still fostering at the moment

Cont...

But I doubt the rescue has funds for this kind of thing. Feeling very down tonight 😞

Quite a few terriers are bow legged in front and chrondysplasia (sp?) is common in some breeds, also a lot of older dogs with all sorts of conformation get arthritis. I wouldn't think it should be a reason not to keep DD, look up chrondysplasia (sp?)

My mum has a JRTX border with a deformed front leg ( bends oddly at the knee joint) and he's 14 now ,has been on medication for arthritis for a couple of years but still coping well .

Ours has a distinctly loppetty back left leg. As well as Queen Anne back legs but normal front legs. Distinctive charm is what I call it. Arthritis later just means he will have to slow down with me. Worth it for so much love.

Thank you so much for the encouraging messages. It means a lot to me 😊 he is so wonderful and we love him so much I can't imagine nit keeping him. I've been so sad tonight. We've cuddled up on the settee most of eve. Need to discuss it with rescue lady and take it from there. I'll be giving her £140 which I can imagine barely covers costs - castration etc. I'm wondering if to say can we go half on the xrays then we know what we're dealing with
I'm not made of money. I know this is a consideration when one takes on an animal but he's not even ours yet. But he is in our hearts. We do qualify for pdsa. I wonder if they could help at all.

Is he actually limping / having problems with his legs ? If not I doubt PDSA would do anything because what's the actual point . I don't think my mums dog had any X-rays until he was about 10 and actually started getting stiff . My dog had X-rays last year on both front legs for diagnostic purposes and it was £600ish ( he weighs 13-14 kg) but that was a full anaesthetic not sedation so they could manoeuvre him effectively.

No he's not limping Floral. So they're more for treating problems than prevention? Feel a bit bad really as I've heard not good things about the pdsa vets but I've really taken to the other vets who spotted the problem. So yes I was considering using pdsa for the expensive stuff. That's awful isn't it? Besides though I've never been to the pdsa vet I feel I may struggle to trust them so may not feel up to trusting them with such important treatment anyway. I really like the vets I've taken him to twice.

What vet advised was get the xrays now them we know what we're dealing with. May need surgery now or next year or sometime in future or never. Best to know and I agree.
I believe we're talking 200 ish for xray. Could be 000s for op.

I'm starting to think a bit straighter now. If I take out insurance on him as soon as I adopt then we'll be covered if treatment needed down the line... I think??? Going to check out Petplan my dog loving cousin recommends them. Any thoughts peeps??

Rescue lady thinks this may be classed as pre existing condition. Reading ts and cs of policy is complicated. Don't know if classed as pre existing because vet has mentioned possible problem?? Or because it's something he was born with??? I've spoken to her. She has another vet hospital where she says xrays would be cheaper and they would cover costs. However this vet didn't pick up problem. Either: They noticed but don't think it's as serious as other vets, or they didn't pick it up.

God he's so cute! Yes it will unfortunately be classed as a preexisting condition. The vet will be obliged to provide a history to any insurers and the dates won't add up when you take out the policy. You have to decide whether to ask the rescue to help, or to agree in advance with the vet on the exact charges or go to the PDSA.