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The doghouse

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Original poster

Inheriting a dog

153 replies

Mol1628 · 13/09/2017 07:21

I'm taking on my nanas dog. Have had cats,rabbits,various reptiles and rodents, never a dog!
I'm not completely clueless but it's new to me. I'm just wondering what I've forgotten and what else I need to consider

She's a middle aged small dog, not sure on breed. She was kept as a breeders dog for 5 years and though not mistreated she didn't experience much life when young so consequently she's timid. Well behaved but timid.
I have two small children but room for her to be able to be away from them when she wants.
She's used to sleeping and going into her cage when my nana went out of the house or went to bed so I assume I should keep up with this and keep it her safe space where the children aren't allowed to approach her.
I'll be bringing her cage, bed, toys, food, bowls etc everything with me.

All medical stuff is up to date she's been well cared for so after a couple of weeks I'll take her to register with my local vet. Assume I shouldn't do this straight away till she's come to trust me a bit more!

We have a secure garden with grass so she can toilet and exercise out there and she's scared of traffic noise so I think early morning and late evening walks.

What am I forgetting?! I'm actually quite nervous despite having taken on lots of animals in the past.

Thanks in advance.

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19
PollytheDoily · 19/09/2017 14:23

❤️

Oops4 · 19/09/2017 14:29

Try and take her favourite toy (or teddy) with her on a walk. You can distract her with that when trying to cross a road or if she gets nervous. My dog used to get nervous but if we had his tug of war duck with us he would quite happily take that and walk along.

Original poster
Mol1628 · 19/09/2017 16:06

Ah that's a good idea I'll take her teddy. I don't want to be restricted where we can walk her but at the same time it's such early days.

Having a bit of a wobble about it all today to be honest, wondering if I've done the right thing, hoping she will be ok with the kids etc etc. Tired because the children are getting colds and misbehaving. Worried Peggy will suddenly change and become really difficult to manage. Anxiety overload. Don't want to mess things up. Need a good sleep.

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BiggerBoatNeeded · 19/09/2017 16:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Mol1628 · 19/09/2017 17:24

Thank you. You're right it's working for now.

I know she was well behaved with my nana and she managed her fine so logically I don't see why it would change but I do worry.

Shes seemed more herself every day. I suppose I can worry about getting her used to traffic and new commands etc as time goes on and we are all a bit more used to each other.

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dudsville · 19/09/2017 21:25

Since you know she's anxious about traffic you can help. When you approach the road speak to her, use her name to get her to look at you, and when she does look calm and be soothing. So long as her attention is on you and you're in control it will help her,
But she had to learn this so give it time. Keep aware of any attempt for her to back out of her harness, use your hand and kneel to soothe her and use your voice to reassure her. Then be clear when it's time to cross and soothe her again on the other side. I'm loving your updates, and the pic of her in the sun with ted is lovely!

Original poster
Mol1628 · 20/09/2017 10:53

Thank you. She's already better with smaller roads. I keep the lead slack and say wait and she calms right down and waits most of the time. If it's a noisier road she freaks out.

Although this morning I was using her name a lot more whilst walking and it made such a difference, she was focussing on me a lot more than she has done.

I guess tackling the main roads can wait till she's a bit more settled in as well. I'll probably take her to the vets in the car when we do go even though it's a short walk we have to cross the very big road and it's a double crossing so lots of waiting and stress right in the middle of traffic at both sides. Hard to calm her etc when I'm on my own with the pram but when I'm on my own or with my husband it'll be easier too probably.

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Original poster
Mol1628 · 20/09/2017 17:39

Another good day. She's doing well and seems happy.
Seem to have cracked the food too. Wet mixed in with dry is working. She's excited for breakfast and tea time and she's stopped looking longingly at our food and ignoring her own. She completely clears the bowl and licks it clean. Still using the harringtons dry mixed with some wainwrights wet. Shes spent today mostly in the living room with us she just loves being on the sofa or in her basket in there watching telly.

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Original poster
Mol1628 · 20/09/2017 19:27

She loves having a little roll around on the grass

Inheriting a dog
OP posts:
BiggerBoatNeeded · 20/09/2017 19:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Mol1628 · 21/09/2017 10:44

Thank you. She seems perfectly happy until it's walk time! I know this is normal for her though and nothing new since she's been here (it's been a week already?!)

I don't know what to do to be honest. If I should just walk her the much quieter route, she still reacts and looks to see the car coming but isn't as scared, or if I should carry on walking closer to the busier roads and getting her used to it. Seems like nothing works to soothe her once we are near the road. She doesn't hear or respond to me, not bothered about treats. I tried just sitting a small way away the main road on a bench with some but it was too close for comfort still and she just freaked out.

On the quieter roads when we cross she will wait and is generally a lot calmer but near the busy ones it's like she doesn't know where to put herself and she just runs around in circles and pulls every way and just freaks out.

I know long term we need to get help from a professional but I want to get her a bit more used to us all first and get her registered at the vets and groomed etc etc.

Aside from this issue she's been great though, no trouble.

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MipMipMip · 21/09/2017 18:13

Do you know any other dogs who are good with traffic that you can walk with? Might be a reassuring presence for her.

Wolfiefan · 21/09/2017 18:59

Mine broke a lead as a pup and bolted across a road. She was scared of traffic.
We used to go and sit a way back from the road, cuddle and I gave treats when she was calm. The idea is to expose them to the thing they fear without making them scared and "flooding" them. You need to be close enough to see and hear but far enough away that the dog isn't scared.

Original poster
Mol1628 · 21/09/2017 19:28

nope don't know of anyone with a dog actually!

It's a difficult one. She's ok on the side street. When on a walk at any point though she's just not responsive to me at all. Treats don't work at any point. I give her a fuss and she just wants to carry on walking. It's like as soon as we get out she just wants it over with and to get back home. When she knows we are about to cross a road she just pulls and pulls and wants to get it over with as quick as possible. I can now put her in a wait at the smaller roads but no chance at the busier ones.

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Original poster
Mol1628 · 21/09/2017 19:29

Maybe it'll get a bit easier once I know her more as well.

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Paddingtonthebear · 21/09/2017 19:39

She's adorable! I was going to suggest Wainwrights wet trays mixed with a bit of dry kibble.

Original poster
Mol1628 · 21/09/2017 19:42

Thank you. She loves the wainwrights I've just bulk ordered some more of the trays.

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Original poster
Mol1628 · 22/09/2017 19:48

Does anyone think a traffic noise sound track would help played in the house at all :/

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Wolfiefan · 22/09/2017 20:06

I would keep away from busy roads for now and do the desensitisation. Quiet sounds played may not be a bad idea.
Just a random thought. It's heading towards darker nights. Avoid walking in the dark around firework night or Diwali etc.

Original poster
Mol1628 · 22/09/2017 20:17

Yes I was wondering what she's like with fireworks. Problem is if I walk when it's lighter there's more traffic!
Will keep away from the busy roads it's not helping her, just flooding instead of getting her used to it.

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Original poster
Mol1628 · 27/09/2017 14:02

So a 2 week update.

Doing well. Walks are very slowly improving. Occasionally she has times where she is more nervous but very very slowly she is seeming better.

Found her some more toys at my nanas including a small squeaky football. She loves it and will play chase and fetch with it in the garden with me now! She rolls and everything it's so lovely to see her play. Squeaky toys are definitely a winner for her!!

Food. Not doing so good. Got her the wainwrights trays which for the first two days she loved and cleaned the bowl. Suddenly she's decided she's going to have a mouthful then not bother. That's been the last couple of days. So I'm going to carry on with them for a while then consider changing again... despite the fact I bought loads because she seemed to love them! 🙄

Overall though she seems happy and settled.

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Wolfiefan · 27/09/2017 14:31

That sounds good. My girl would ignore food sometimes. I think she self regulates. I put it down. Leave her to it. Take it away after about 10 minutes of her not eating it.

Original poster
Mol1628 · 27/09/2017 17:08

Thanks. She's eaten it all tonight. Seems more keen on it at tea time than she is at breakfast.

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Catsrus · 27/09/2017 20:42

She won't let herself starve Grin. Just take it away after 15 mins and then offer it again at the next meal. Harden your heart Smile

Original poster
Mol1628 · 04/10/2017 13:39

Wow three weeks already.

Doing ok I think. She's finally eating her dog food most of the time! Fussy thing.

She even seems better with traffic which I thought I would never see. We are going to consult a professional to get them to see her and help us with her issues but only once she's fully settled.

She started limping yesterday 🙄 Not severe. She's still running and walking normally mostly but sometimes on one side she seems to drop her shoulder more. I'm really hoping it's over exertion and she's strained it somehow and it'll sort itself. But either way we are at the vets saturday for a general check etc so will see.

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