Oh my giddy god......

[HangingOver]

I can't actually believe I'm finally typing this... I think I'm getting a dog!

I've wanted one of my own my entire life. I had one growing up and look after friends and neighbours at every available opportunity as I adore dogs so much. A rescue came up locally and I thought he looked lovely, he was snapped up immediately, but came up again yesterday! Me and DP are meeting him this afternoon.

Any tips for meeting a rescue for the first time? Other than being gentle and calm? He's 8 months so a bouncy chap.

ARGGGH! So excited. 😁

Such great advice. I wish rescues gave advice like this.

I do need a wee bit of advice actually...

So tonight and last night DDog has had a bit of a witching hour where he is pacing, whining and ripping up his toys. He also drags out soft stuff I gave him for a bed and rips the stuffing out.

I'm in pick my battles mode at the moment and thought that in this initial settling period and given that he's ripping up his stuff not ours (and his "leave" is getting brilliant already!) I need to just keep in mind we're only on day three and he is bound to show some stressed behaviour. I think he's also a bit confused by the wind because it's quite loud here tonight.

I have my first call with the trainer tomorrow to go through it but I just hate the idea of him having nothing soft to sleep on in his crate. He's got an old mattress protector in there which is good as the stuffing is stitched in but the little crate base I bought him to today was torn open and dismembered embarrassing fast (TBF I now see it was crap because it was just like a pillow filled with loose stuffing).

Any ideas? I have a single duvet but again he'll just chew it open and pull the stuffing out.

We resorted to an old sheepskin in a similar situation. Still ripped a bit, but much tougher than the bed. But to be honest, they will sleep if tired on a bit of mat, or folded blanket. He does sound tired. Do you cover his crate to make it like a nice dark unstimulating cave?

Sounds like the zoomies or Frenetic Random Activity Period, which is when young animals blow out the jams and get rid of tension/stress etc from the day.

Ignore the shredding for the minute - get some Vet Bed (the original is the best but the knock off stuff is also fine) as its unrippable, and use that in his crate once that arrives and again ignore whatever he wants to do with it.

Provide toys that meet that need to rip/pull/tug - Tearribles are good, K9 Connectables are good, theres loads though. Amazon have a good range of 'things you pull out of other things' toys, carrots from a garden patch, bees from the hive, eggs out of the turtle (that one sa bit grim i think).

For tuggy games with a person (and i think he may benefit from this but carefully and probably in a week or two from now) the Collar brand 'Puller Rings' are fantastic, they're sold in pairs, so you have two identical rings.

Then you can teach him to tug and to 'out' when asked, by using the other ring and more play as the reward.

So if you're tugging away, and he grabs your flesh/clothing, stop responding, go quiet and pause for a sec, if he pauses, lets go etc, great, reward that with more play.

If he doesn't let go, drop the ring and walk away (with him I would back up not turn and walk away) and then pick up the other ring and make that one fun and let him play when he drops what he has and comes to you. If walking away is too much for him, just have the other ring where you can get it and he can't and do the drop what he has, pick up the other one and make that more interesting.

Let him win often. Stop playing often and lob some treats down for snifferoos, get him used to playing and stopping and playing and stopping without triggering frustration.

He sounds like he needs an outlet for that behaviour that is appropriate, with rules he can understand.

Thanks so much that's all great advice. Placing a door between us for ten seconds to halt a nipping frenzy in it's tracks is working in the house but he occasionally jumps up mid zoomies in the garden and makes a grab for me. I can obviously walk back to the house but it means he gets a good few chomps in while we're walking. Not ideal for me but not sure how to avoid it. Someone suggested throwing treats on the ground but wouldn't that make him think hanging off my arms = rewards? So many questions for the trainer tomorrow!

You can get loads of chew proof crate mats, that can fit the crate. When my dog was a pup she constantly chewed and shredded her crate bedding, she did settle though and we got her a chew proof one. She grew out of it after about 3 months.
I’m sure your trainer will have loads of good tips but with pups it really is perseverance, especially since yours has had the disruption of being re homed too. I remember how difficult those days were and I had times where I though what have I done, but honestly once you come through this it’s the best thing ever, they bring so much happiness to your life. You will get there, even if it seems like it’s impossible right now!

For the jumping up thing could you try padding your arm by wrapping it with a hand towel or something under your sleeves to soften the blow a bit?

Technically... yes it could, however if you're pre-empting the behaviour often enough that the treats prevent it happening, it doesn't matter, as it gives you the chance to set him up to then do something nicer that you ask for.

If there were another option with no chance of him thinking 'ah, if I do this, then that happens' we'd go for that, but the other options are:

He jumps and you manhandle and yell and he thinks you're joining in in a wild wrestling game - so does it more.

He jumps, you manhandle and yell and he gets scared and that damages the relationship..

He jumps, you somehow manage to stand still and totally ignore him - he gets frustrated and does it more until you respond.

So this is the best of the available options and the most likely to reduce conflict, avoid frustration, set up for success.

Ideally, pre-empt him wherever, whenever you can - sometimes you won't get that chance and you'll just be lobbing treats/toys/the kitchen sink so you can redirect and step out of the room/step over a gate... its messy, but it will work in time.

In a perfectly world he'd have learned all this when he was 8 weeks, not 8 months but we are where we are really!

Just let him be him.

I know your heart is in the right place, but you are seriously trying to micromanage the situation beyond a reasonable level.

He's an animal who's been jacked around hither and yon by humans. He's confused and bewildered.

And sounds like he's trying his best. You really need to back off and let the poor creature adjust for a while before trying to turn him into the perfect pet. You can't solve everything in a couple of days. Just chill.

I am really starting to worry about this dog because your expectations seem very unreasonable and overly dramatic.

I wouldn't play tug with him (at least not yet), but the rest is very good advice. The zoomies are normal in young dogs, but if it's longer than five minutes then Mr. Rip-a-lot has probably had too much input throughout the day and he doesn't quite know how to process it.

I find that chewing often calms them down. Kong is fine but there comes a point where you just have to stop feeding them treats. My dog likes antler pieces and buffalo horns. They're not super good for the teeth, but ok if you don't let them nibble on them for hours. They can be pricey, but they last months.

It sounds like he needs to learn how to calm down. Most dogs do, and he's still young, so I'm sure it'll work out, but ask your trainer tomorrow how to help him. Does he follow you everywhere and jump up as soon as you start moving or is that not a issue?

Throwing treats should distract him, but you are right, it's not ideal. Can you "arm" yourself with a broom or something for the walk? To keep him at a distance while you walk. He'll probably think it a fun toy and try to shred it, but at least it will keep you from getting injured. Also, don't interact with him when he gets like this, no talking or eye contact.

Edit: I meant to quote @WiddlinDiddlin , but it somehow got left out

I think you try to do too much too fast @HangingOver ... All those beach walks, meeting other dogs, it's overwhelming him. He enjoys it, definitely, but then his baby brain is trying to process all those new experiences on top of the relocation, all those new smells and new people and it sort of "bluescreens" (resulting in wild zoomies).

There's a reason why they tell you to take it slow the first few days. It's exciting and you want the best for him, but there's time for the two of you to experience everything. You will have many years together. Don't do anything tomorrow, just relax and help him calm down, and see what happens when you do.

So this is the best of the available options and the most likely to reduce conflict, avoid frustration, set up for success.
Ideally, pre-empt him wherever, whenever you can - sometimes you won't get that chance and you'll just be lobbing treats/toys/the kitchen sink so you can redirect and step out of the room/step over a gate... its messy, but it will work in time.

Thanks that's super helpful. I think I can already sort of tell when it's going to happen outside... Like sometimes the zoomies are just random laps but sometimes I'm starting to tell when there's a shark attack coming.

This x10,000.

Let the poor creature just be, and have time to adjust. He's not a plush toy.

You can get loads of chew proof crate mats, that can fit the crate

Thanks, I'm having a look now. He's quite skinny so it'd be good to have a cushion he can't instantly turn into confetti. He's got some old towels tonight.

If you're a list/note/diary type person, keeping a diary of what you do with him, what he experiences, how he sleeps/naps etc might be a good idea.

I get all my puppy people and anxiety/separation clients to do this, as it can really help spot patterns, pinpoint things that need tweaking, where the differences when you think about them may seem minimal or progress too small to spot, but written down over the days, starts to become clear.

And yes, I wouldn't do tug now - but I think he might be a dog that benefits from tug later!

Its very hard to get up to speed with and read a dog who is a total stranger to you, you really have to hit the ground running and that is nigh on impossible when they're a strong adolescent, rather than a teeny tiny puppy! I think you're doing really well!

I second getting vet bed for the bottom of his crate or bed - it’s soft & fluffy but my pup has never tried to rip it whereas he destroyed his old padded bed in a mad moment.

Also, you can get beds in hard plastic which they can’t destroy. With something soft inside like vet bed plus old towels.

Destroying soft toys I have no solution for as my old Lab did it all his life. Used to shake and “kill” them within 5 minutes of getting them. The pup I’m raising at the moment doesn’t do it - yet - but he’s only 5 months old so who knows. My old dog wasn’t allowed on the sofa or bed which was just as well with his attitude to soft things!

I think no one here is suggesting that OP treats the dog like a toy... I certainly wasn't.

Its very hard to get up to speed with and read a dog who is a total stranger to you, you really have to hit the ground running and that is nigh on impossible when they're a strong adolescent, rather than a teeny tiny puppy!

I think this is the crux of it really. For example the rescue said the previous owners said he was crate trained and went fine in the car.... Yes this is sort of true... As in, we physically managed to get him in the car to bring him home but he was not a happy boy so theres no way we're doing car again yet. When the time comes it be gently building it up with treats and him just jumping in and out and sniffing.

Ditto the crate, he sleep in it happily overnight which is great but previous lot had him in it 2 - 3 hours at a time while they went out so I'd bet anything he spends the whole time crying in it. So again, we need to go right back to ten minutes here and there with a king etc etc and make it a nice place to be again.

Ditto he walks fine on lead...again... Sort of true! We've been doing a ten minute up and down my road a couple of times a day and now he's used to it he's way better.

TBF he might just have gone backwards a bit from the stress of moving.

That's for your help, you sound like an expert.

Destroying soft toys I have no solution for as my old Lab did it all his life. Used to shake and “kill” them within 5 minutes of getting them

Lol same. If and well being relative brought my old dog a soft toy we used to place bets on how long it would last (in minutes).

I don't mind him ripping up his toys obviously but the bed yesterday was so thoroughly dismembered no part of it was usable, he looked like he was laying inside and igloo 🤣 Ordering vetbed today!

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, have you covered the top of his crate?

Yes sorry I have. The first two days he just yanked the covers down and ripped them but he's not grabbing as much now so it's covered on three sides.

I love your sense of humour & positivity @HangingOver & think both will stand you in good stead for the challenges ahead.

Your dog is very lucky to have you as he has had a rotten start but you’re really trying to understand him which is such an important first step.

Rescues are hard in the beginning. I am nearly a year in and look back on those first few weeks thinking "how did we cope?". But we did and it does get better with time and consistency.

One thing I underestimated was just how strong their breed traits can be. I have a scent hound and his prey drive is off the scale. He caught and killed a rat yesterday - while on a short lead!

One thing I underestimated was just how strong their breed traits can be. I have a scent hound and his prey drive is off the scale. He caught and killed a rat yesterday - while on a short lead!

My lurcher is the same. It was a shock as my previous lurchers had been much lighter and easier to handle.

The many secure dog fields that have sprung up have been a godsend. At first i had to drive quite a long way to the only one, now there are several within half an hour. She's not so bothered now she's older but it was great to let her run in complete safety.

God, that reminds me of something I've tried hard to forget.

When my lab was about a year old he caught, killed and ate a pigeon while on a short lead. He refused to let go of it and wouldn't let me take him somewhere less public. So I had to stand there holding the lead while he ate every last bit, including the feathers and feet! The only good thing about the experience was how quickly he killed it, one shake and its neck was broken.

It was a busy walking trail, families out for a walk, some children were upset but most people thought it funny.

@MasterShardlake sorry but that made me 🤣

Although I see your pigeon and raise you the rotting carcass of a washed up seagull ....