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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

First night with adopted dog. Handhold needed.

41 replies

FlopsRevenge · 30/12/2020 00:46

My cat is scared to come in and it's freezing out (even though he's got access to a closed room, away from the dog). The dog can't seem to settle and is constantly looking for treats/to play. I don't have a crate yet, as the previous owner said she didn't like it, but I'm really wishing I did just to stop the roaming.

I know that this is part and parcel, and she is so gorgeous that I won't regret it. But I have to admit, I'm freaking out tonight.

And I also feel great sympathy for her not knowing where her previous home is.

Any tips for getting through the first night, or moral support gratefully received.

OP posts:

grassisjeweled · 30/12/2020 02:35

Gorgeous dawg 🐾

Weenurse · 30/12/2020 02:54

Ours routinely left her toy, ball and lead by the front door every night.
When she left them under the dining table, I knew she thought of this as her new home.
Good luck

Original poster

FlopsRevenge · 30/12/2020 03:45

Well, that was one block of sleep. She's very insistent on getting up again, so I've relented in letting her outside again, and hope she will settle in if I rinse and repeat.

She does have quite a rumbly tummy, so I think she may actually need to go out. May have a bit of a stressy belly.

OP posts:

Emelene · 30/12/2020 03:53

What a beautiful dog! Best of luck OP.

Original poster

FlopsRevenge · 30/12/2020 03:55

@Weenurse

Ours routinely left her toy, ball and lead by the front door every night. When she left them under the dining table, I knew she thought of this as her new home. Good luck

Oh this is heartbreaking. I can tell a lot of this is her trying to wake me up to take her home. She's so friendly about it, yet very stubborn! She must be so scared. I feel for her last owner too. It was clearly a heartbreaking situation for him too, and he seemed determined to do the right thing by her.

I know there's not an easier way, so thanks for being with me in this.

I've got my lovely next door neighbour here for support tomorrow, but tonight it's me, my sleeping boy, an absent cat and the sweetest dog that just won't sleep for longer than a couple of hours!

OP posts:

NadoligLlawen2020 · 30/12/2020 06:25

Hols you’ve got some sleep. She’s gorgeous. You can get collars that have maternal hormones on them which a lot of behaviourists now recommend using for several weeks when taking a new puppy home - I wonder if this would help her too. We have a cat equivalent plug in version - collars usually better for dogs - and it’s amazing how it reduced our anxious rescue cats anxiety to the point they’ll snuggle up to the other cats and us now. I was very skeptical at first but when I notice anxiety coming back it was because I hadn’t notice the diffuser was empty.
Can also get something to help with anxiety to sprinkle on food. Sorry I can’t remember the name of them but I’m sure your vet would know about them from that description as it was a vet friend who told me about them. Very mild - I’m not sure they’re even officially classed as medication but surprisingly effective.

Original poster

FlopsRevenge · 30/12/2020 07:01

@NadoligLlawen2020

Hols you’ve got some sleep. She’s gorgeous. You can get collars that have maternal hormones on them which a lot of behaviourists now recommend using for several weeks when taking a new puppy home - I wonder if this would help her too. We have a cat equivalent plug in version - collars usually better for dogs - and it’s amazing how it reduced our anxious rescue cats anxiety to the point they’ll snuggle up to the other cats and us now. I was very skeptical at first but when I notice anxiety coming back it was because I hadn’t notice the diffuser was empty. Can also get something to help with anxiety to sprinkle on food. Sorry I can’t remember the name of them but I’m sure your vet would know about them from that description as it was a vet friend who told me about them. Very mild - I’m not sure they’re even officially classed as medication but surprisingly effective.

I'll look into the pheromone options today.

Thanks!

I did get some extra sleep. And this morning have woken up with her right on my pillow. Which hopefully is a good thing!

OP posts:

Cluckycluck · 30/12/2020 07:18

Try and get some Zylkene. Our dog suffers with anxiety so at periods of high stress we sprinkle it on her food. We also have an angry cat who we give it to and it chills him out very quickly. It's not a medication, it's more like a supplement I guess. It contains milk protein to help calm. I buy it online but I know you can get it at Pets At Home.

Original poster

FlopsRevenge · 30/12/2020 07:47

@Cluckycluck

Perfect. Thank you for this. I'm off to the petshop for extra bits today, so will take the name of this with me

OP posts:

MuthaFunka61 · 30/12/2020 09:28

Morning @FlopsRevenge.

You did it! You got through the first night and what a treat to wake to find her cuddled up with you,I'm so pleased.

NadoligLlawen2020 · 30/12/2020 09:58

Nutracalm is the name of the one we use now. Similar to zylkene.

Hoppinggreen · 30/12/2020 13:09

She is beautiful but I fear for your cat.
It’s not a breed to be taken on lightly so I really hope you know what you are doing.
Sorry to be negative and I hope it works out ok

Original poster

FlopsRevenge · 30/12/2020 14:29

@Hoppinggreen

She is beautiful but I fear for your cat. It’s not a breed to be taken on lightly so I really hope you know what you are doing. Sorry to be negative and I hope it works out ok

She's been brought up around cats and hasn't shown any aggression to them. As far as I can tell it's just my cat that has the issue rather than my dog in this case.

At the moment I have the cat able to access the back of the house (kitchen and dining room) via the cat flap, and the dog is in the front and bedroom, so they can adjust to each others presence 'invisibly'. Trouble is the cat is refusing to come in anyway.

I know it's a tough breed, which is why I'm a bit scared, I think due to the reputation. But so far she has been gentle with every animal and person she's met, so I'm hoping that I've judged her personality right. I hope it works out ok too.

OP posts:

Hoppinggreen · 30/12/2020 15:14

That’s good then, hopefully your cat will come round.
I think as long as you know the potential pitfalls of the breed and are careful to mitigate those you will be fine. I love them but it was too much dog for me. Once on a train in Germany a lady got on with one, it sat on my foot and very carefully took my hand in its mouth and we both sat there happily until it was time to get off.

Weenurse · 31/12/2020 11:07

She is beautiful

curedragon · 31/12/2020 12:42

My rescue GSD went through a period of restlessness and it was debilitatingly exhausting

We made sure he had his last poop & pee and a decent walk/play just before bedtime. We also brought up his water which gave us peace of mind that his basic needs were covered and we could just ignore him to a certain extent.

Also, we did initially crate him in our bedroom - he still happily sleeps there now with his crate door open.

Good luck, OP. All of the things which caused us so much stress when we first got our dog completely resolved themselves- we even laugh about how unfounded 99% of the anxiety was. But when you're in the thick of it it's not easy at all! It's one of those annoying things that only comes with time :)

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