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The doghouse

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Original poster

What have I done?

48 replies

OhWhatHaveI · 21/05/2019 18:15

Rescued a dog. She's 9 months, a lurcher.

I'm overwhelmed. It's day 2. My anxiety is through the roof :(

Help.

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GoldenFlaps · 21/05/2019 18:17

Are you on Facebook? There's a lurcher rescue page - lots of people there with experience.

Sallyseagull · 21/05/2019 18:17

What is the dog doing that you weren't expecting her to do?

NeatFreakMama · 21/05/2019 18:18

What's overwhelming you in it?

SamBaileys · 21/05/2019 18:23

My dog was 9 months when I rehomed her. She had issues and the first few weeks were tricky but now, 5 years down the line I can't remember life before her. Were you not planning to get a dog?

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 21/05/2019 18:26

Post in the doghouse.

We rescued a greyhound recently and my dp was very anxious for a few days
It's like baby blues I think

Original poster
OhWhatHaveI · 21/05/2019 18:26

She's exactly like I was expecting from an older puppy that's been bounced around and has learnt bad habits (separation anxiety, into everything, no training at all, not toilet trained, totally food obsessed).

It's my own capabilities that are failing. I have lots of experience with dogs that have issues - I think it's the number of issues all bundled up in an energetic ball of madness that I'm floored by.

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snowdrop6 · 21/05/2019 18:34

I rescued a 2 year old male cross recently.its been so hard..about 7/8 weeks ago.i have a thread somewhere,lots of people in the dog house gave me such good advice,maybe get this thread moved there.
Your dog will be so great full to you for giving him a new life and a new start .well done op xx

BiteyShark · 21/05/2019 18:38

Just like the puppy blues it is perfectly normal to have the rescue blues where you feel completely overwhelmed.

Stick at it as it will get easier Wine

Original poster
OhWhatHaveI · 21/05/2019 18:42

Thank you for the kindness, I adore her already. It's just heart wrenching/exhausting.

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Sexnotgender · 21/05/2019 18:45

Deep breaths. You’ll be great, lurchers are amazing. I’ve got a ridiculous greyhound Smile

Any chance of a photo?

CSIblonde · 21/05/2019 19:16

It's a lot of issues in one packages so I'd prioritise & address one thing at a time. Toilet training first. Once that's sorted, whatever you feel is most important next. Make a list, it will help you feel in control if you have a written plan. And on the bright side, the food obsession should make commands training a breeze.

Original poster
OhWhatHaveI · 21/05/2019 19:36

She's doing amazingly with toilet training. She's very clever.

Main issue is the barking and crying when left alone for 1 minute. She has her own room downstairs (baby gated) with a crate (I haven't locked her in though, it's just 'bed'.)

I have neighbours and it must have kept them awake.

I left her with a chew and kong but after 2 hours she realised she was alone and just barks and barks. Will it get better?

And thank you. I need a hug.

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Wolfiefan · 21/05/2019 19:39

Oh bless you. That’s tough. Dog training advice and support on FB have great advice on separation anxiety. For now can you avoid leaving her? I slept by my pup to start with.

Original poster
OhWhatHaveI · 21/05/2019 19:59

I could go down & sleep with her but would that make it worse? Confused

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Wolfiefan · 21/05/2019 20:03

If it’s separation anxiety then leaving them to get more anxious doesn’t help. Can you access that group? They’re brilliant!

bert3400 · 21/05/2019 20:08

Try leaving the radio on and a hot water bottle in her bed . A good walk a couple of hours before you go to bed . We have a 6 month old puppy and she loved the water bottle . Also I would put her in the crate at night, shut the door and cover it over with a blanket, she may be overwhelmed with the space she has around her .

Summerorjustmaybe · 21/05/2019 20:09

Bite the bullet and share your bed??
And share pics op!!
Just mean!!.....

iMatter · 21/05/2019 20:14

Probably not helpful but would you consider letting her sleep upstairs? Our rescue lab was/is so needy and as much as we tried to get her to sleep downstairs it just didn't work. She was distressed, I was distressed, we were all distressed. As soon as we put a dog bed on the landing and left the bedroom doors open she was fine. She very occasionally pops into our room to check on us in the night (maybe once a week) but mostly sleeps on the landing or, ironically, downstairs.

Original poster
OhWhatHaveI · 21/05/2019 20:33

DH is a 100 percent, absolute no on sharing a bed/room with pooch.

He's a huge dog lover and has only 2 rules: dogs not allowed upstairs and dogs not allowed on sofas. Anything else goes!

I'm so sorry I can't share proper photos she's very distinctive looking and I've shared on social media so I'd be easy outed/recognised. Confused

Which FB group is it? I searched but found LOTS of Lurcher groups!

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hoopieghirl · 21/05/2019 21:40

My greyhound joey on his walk today rescued him 2 months ago. Love him too bits

What have I done?
What have I done?
What have I done?
CMOTDibbler · 21/05/2019 21:52

I've got a lot of puppies to sleep on their own by starting off sleeping next to their crate - sometimes with my hand in there. I then very slowly withdraw - hand out, turn round on the airbed so my head isn't next to them, creep down the room and so on. Apart from the hand, I'll spend hours or nights on a particular stage until they are comfortable.

Localher0 · 21/05/2019 22:00

I’m 2 months in with a collie cross. He also has his ishoos but the regrets are diminishing and he is such a fab dog. Our main issues are barking in the car and terrible fear of traffic whilst also wanting to chase cars 😳

GemmeFatale · 21/05/2019 22:00

I used to start puppies sleeping in the crate next to the bed so I could stick my arm down for comfort/scent if they cried and gradually moved them away and downstairs. A night on the sofa will probably do the same thing

Original poster
OhWhatHaveI · 22/05/2019 07:01

A better night...I tried keeping her calm in her crate to settle her but she was getting herself really worked up howling/biting the cage.

So I let her out, and DH and I slept on the floor directly outside her 'room' (baby gated) - so she could see us/touch us with her great big paws. She easily settled the other side of the baby gate with lots of calm talk.

After an hour she went in her crate, which is out of sight around the corner of the room! That's progress right? She came out twice to check we were there and went back in.

Will continue giving her company as she settles and then gradually remove ourselves...

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Original poster
OhWhatHaveI · 22/05/2019 07:03

@CMOTDibbler I think your method will work with her, thank you Flowers

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