Advice please - Rescue Dog

[MrsChumleyWarner]

We re-homed a rescue dog yesterday. We asked advice regarding which would be the best dog for us as we have 2 children and a cat.

I am the only adult so it was my decision solely. I met her once and walked her - she seemed fine walked nice, attentive and intelligent.

We got her home yesterday and I thought we would take her for a walk and hopefully see a cat to see how she would react - interested but ok.

Got her home introduced her to the cat - cat went into hiding. All was ok.

My problem is she is a really strong dog. She was a nightmare to walk she kept getting under my feet. I have a daughter who has a problem with her joints and I thought the dog would help get us all out and about and walking. My arms and shoulders are killing me!

At one point I went to pick the cat up and the dog bounded over in a playful way but I couldn't control her. My worry is what if she goes for the cat in an aggressive way or worse still my kids. She is about 2 years old and apart from the above seems a lovely dog. Except when we are eating and she is practically in our faces wanting to take it so I put her in the back yard while we eat.

Can anyone please advise.

Please don't return her unless you've got some training advice first. I know how it feels to be a newbie dog owner but there is help out there. I had my first dog owning experience earlier this year with a foster dog. My guy was great to walk but was shocking for jumping all over visitors and trying to rush out the front door. If I'd kept him I know both of those behaviours would have been easily fixed with proper training.

I can't afford training. I thought an older dog would be more settled - not running along the back of the sofa and jumping all over it! It's entirely my fault. I've just put my 8 year old to bed crying because she hurt her whilst playing.

You've got to put your family first. Don't feel guilty about sending the dog back. It's really sad and you will be upset but consider your priorities. Some rescue dogs come with behaviour problems that aren't easy to solve, unless you're a dog training expert, or you can afford to pay for one. I really feel for you.

Please keep the dog, it's all new and existing for her!
You said, you can't afford training... go to the KC website and look for your local dog club. They run puppy classes, which are a bit pricey... but subsequent classes past the puppy stage are dead cheap! Our dog training club will make you a member for a fee of £60/ 12 months. For that you get obedience/ good citizens training, the group is smallish, and you will find, that your dog will be in a group with other rescue dogs- so lots of likeminded people! Our club will make you help out with other things, they run 2 annual agility and one obedience competition. Overall you will find a lot of experience and help with every day dog issues.

Where have you rehomed her from OP? Dogs trust offer a behaviour advisory service that you can phone if it was one of their shelters? TBH handing over a 35kg untrained rescue dog to a single parent novice owner with kids and cats and expecting them just to get on with it is a recipe for disaster!

Can you use a baby gate to get yourself some breathing space? What facilities do you have for the dog? Bed? Crate? Harness? Toys? How much time for exercise and training? How much money for training, insurance , food etc?

If you can give more details we could give more specific advice but just to reassure you - all of her behaviour sounds normal! My friends have a 9 month old golden retriever, beautifully bred and had since a pup - she!s a nightmare! Overexcited and boisterous (the number 1 reason dogs are given up) strong, and plus on the lead - it's partly age and partly training - they do get better!

I'm sorry OP, this is going to sound harsh, but why did you think that getting an older rescue dog was a good idea when you don't have funds or a clue how to train it?

Don't want to upset you, but I'm concerned that you didn't consider this.

As it stands, you have a decision to make - give up on the dog and send it back or make a commitment to the dog. The easy option is handing it back. The most rewarding option is keeping it.

I've had rescues and they're bloody hard work - very much like having a toddler with behavioural problems.

The first step is to build trust and allow the dog to have a safe place to go to when it's all a bit much. Remember that you are strangers to her and your home is strange. It's going to take time for her to settled. It took around 6 months for our first rescue to fully settle and around 1 year for our next one. This is time you need to bond and get used to each other's quirks.

With regards to pulling, I personally don't like or use Halti's. I think that they don't serve any purpose at all other than to irritate the dogs sensitive nose and make them more likely to pull, trying to get nose to paw to get it off! I've always used chest/shoulder harnesses which for me meant that I have good control of them in a heel position and then a stinky treat in front of the nose to encourage heel.
We also bought a training lead and did recalls on the lead at home, gradually increasing the distance she had to come, then doing the same while out. It on the long lead (end of lead under one foot so she doesn't leg it), with a stinky treat and a big good girl and ruffle of the ears when she gets it right. (We used to use garlic sausage but now use fish based dog treats.

Using short words like 'heel', 'sit', 'down' 'off', 'stay' are much clearer for the dog to understand and as dogs are physical rather than verbal creatures, use a hand/arm signal with each command. If she jumps, turn away and say 'off' then when she's at floor level, praise.

It's all repetition and praising good behaviour. Dogs are pack animals and essentially want to please the alpha so by removing your attention when her behaviour isn't acceptable and giving attention when it is, you're teaching her that she gets more by behaving.

Also, don't shout at her, don't do the 'getdowngetdowngetinyourbedyoubaddog' stuff as to dogs it's a jumble. Be calm, be clear and simple, be consistent and give praise when it's been earned. And give it time. It's going to take a lot of patience.

Have a look around for local training classes. Some people do the from local village halls and it's a great way of all of you bonding and learning together, even the DC should get involved with the training too. These smaller groups tend to be cheaper and are actually really good in understanding dog behaviour and will help you to love her.

Good luck!!

A basic training class is only £5-10 a week, can you really not afford that? Surely you budget for that when getting a dog?

I know it's tough in the early days but why wouldn't you give the dog chance to settle? My dog was a right handful when we got her, but now she is the friendliest, loveliest dog I know (and not just saying that because she's mine, she is utterly asorable). The change is mostly down to her settling in and building a bond with us rather than anything great I've done!

I did my Bronze test with our rescue lurcher in the summer. Annual membership of the dog training club is £3 plus weekly subs of £3. If you can't afford that, then you really can't afford the dog. Training classes are essential for ANY dog.

You are also expecting far too much too soon. Your dog is in a new home environment and everything will be even more topsy turvy in the run up to Christmas. Concentrate at this stage on building a daily routine and have a look on You Tube for some videos showing games you can play with your dog in the garden that will help tire her out mentally. This will also be fun for your DD and help you all in bonding with each other.

The good news is that loose lead walking is a very easily learned skill - most dogs can get it quickly once you have the basics in place and are consistent and keep practicing. Classes will help you with this.

Thanks everyone she was a bit more settled today. I will look into training I didn't realise it was so cheap!

Please don't be too hard in yourself, it's only been a few days. Our dog is about 1, and I deeply doubted out decision to get her a few weeks ago for similar reasons to yours.

The difference in her now is amazing. Still a bit draggy on the lead, but I've taken to walking slower and slower when she pulls and saying "slowly" in a calm voice. It's been working really well. Obviously not much good if you are on the way to something and are short on time, but she's much calmer now. It didn't take long.

Lots of bits of kibble and practice sit, lie down, on your bed, off the sofa etc. Lots of praise for her doing what she is told, no reward for disobedience.

Firm tone of voice, make eye contact, use hand commands to back up the words.

We use a first finger up with "sit" . For lie down, we started by getting her to sit, then with a piece of kibble or a treat in a closed fist, bring that down to the floor a foot or so in front of her - she'll follow it with her face, and hopefully lie down as she does it. When she is down properly, she gets the treat.

We do it every day, even though she knows the command now, just to reinforce the training, but with a treat only now and again.

For recall off the lead, we have a bag of dried sprats (stinky as hell) which she absolutely adores. These are only for recall. We run away from her, get her to chase us - make it a fun game to come back, and get a treat too.

Thanks Viv she is just over a year old. I am concerned she's only going to get bigger and stronger. We have just been out for a walk she gets the scent of something and practically drags me off my feet!

I am waiting for the kids to go to bed then I will look at dog training. My arms and shoulders are killing me but she enjoys her walk.

Please don't despair op, a year old is still young and in the puppyish stage, they do mellow as they get older. Staffs are lovely dogs but need a firm hand because often they just don't know their own strength. The first week is SO hard with any dog. We have a foster pup and I cried on day 4 because it was so hard and I wanted to give up and Iv had dogs before!
He's been here nearly 4 weeks now and he's come on leaps and bounds. Google the breed and their traits to see what works for them. Staffs tend to be very food orientated which it sounds like you already know so making her work for treats is a great step. Haiti is also great, you are doing well. You can get shock absorbing leads to help you arm a bit. I have a lead that's designed for running with your dog and it clips onto a belt. I don't know if that would help you so she's attached to your waist? I like mine because it frees up my hands for the clicker and treats while training.
I got mine from amazon but it came from Germany and took forever. Iv
Just looked and they do a
Similar one on eBay
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/281818039949?trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368&&_mwBanner=1

Thanks NoFucks I am worried she'll snap my spine with one of those if she gets the scent of something - she does take off a bit. Lol

I will keep the waist lead in mind for when she has settled a bit more.

Food orientated is a huge understatement lol. She scoffs her food really quick which I think is left over from being in the rescue centre with the other dogs. The poor cat is luck to eat lol. I've moved her food off floor level but the dog is determined lol

We have a green dish that has ridges which slows eating down, our dog is a bottomless pit and a horrendous thief, it wasn't cheap about £25 but has slowed him right down.
The other thing is to put her food in a kong (about a tenner but doubles as a toy, goes through the dishwasher) and make her Work out how to get it out- helps tire out her brain as well as feeding her.
She should be pretty much full grown at over a year.

I second feeding from kings/puzzle feeders - this will keep her occupied and give you some peace and slow down her eating (which can result in gastric torsion if fast)

The KC website has done useful training resources
www.thekennelclub.org.uk/training/

I saw a ridged dog feeding bowl in B&M yesterday! About £7. Can't see it on the website though

Try a kong wobbler for her food, they're great.

There are other things liek a Halti that might work better for her, until she is trained. My dog (half staffy so very muscly and strong, also rescue) has done well with a Kumfi head collar which I bought full price then saw a day later in BM Bargains. Much cheaper!

I've heard good things about Dogmatic and Gencon as well. Have used various ones with my dogs over the years and different ones work with different dogs. So I would explore other head collars, too, as funds permit.

It sounds to me like your dog may even have had some basic training in the past if the first time you took her out, she walked OK. She is clearly excited. It takes ages for any rescue dog to totally relax and be themselves with you. I think this is symptomatic of that.

The best training I have seen for walking to heel - is the Dogs Trust short videos. I got mine from the Dogs Trust but have seen them on YouTube. You start off the lead and indoors. It's ingenious. I'd make a start on that.

Avoiud foods full of additives - they can make dogs hyper. My dog simply eats real meat (Iceland beef or lamb mince, or the big packets of fish) and table scraps. She had her check up last week and the vet said she is in very good condition. My last dog was on the Bones And Raw Food diet for many years (present dog refuses to eat raw meat but loves it microwaved). I haven't bought commercial dog food of any type for maybe 15 years, and our dogs have been in outstanding health, touch wood. It's cheaper, too. Not a crank but I do think ANY commercial food (even the high end 'natural' ones pushed by vets) are snake oil. Dogs are fine with meat and leftovers.

Nothing you're describing sounds like a huge behavioural problem...yes, they're annoying and not nice to live with, but they're just basic training and manners in a young dog, not ingrained deep seated problems.

Imagine you adopted an 11 year old child who was used to a house where there were no rules, no-one had ever told them they weren't allowed on furniture with shoes on or how to say please and thank you or that snatching from your plate wasn't ok, but at the same time, they were affectionate, eager to please you and had no major issues.

You've got the canine version of that.

A bit of training and some patience and the dog will be fine, honestly.

The dog has been moved from a kennel presumably, with a very structured routine, regular long walks, off lead, and then back to boring old kennel time.

Your house and children, cats etc are hugely exciting for her and she is probably suffering from overstimulation, ( nothing you can do though as its the environment). Get her into a solid routine, treat her like a puppy, solid meal times, walk times and quiet times. She probably needs more exercise than you are giving her too. IF she can go off lead, great, do loads of that. If she cant go off lead in open spaces, no amount of lead walking will ever be enough. Dogs were designed to hunt run and be on the move for miles and hours everyday. Lots of enclosed safe dog walking areas are starting to open up - find one and use it regularly. Take friends with dogs with you so they can encourage each other to run. Tire her out!
Regarding the feed, nothing will do your dog more favours than putting her on RAW FOOD. Forget all the biscuit feeds, you need to feed a species appropriate diet which in the case of a dog is raw food. Simples. Thats what they were designed to eat so that's what we should feed them.

Put these measures in place and you will have a different dog in a matter of days.