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. 😁

So glad to hear that the training went well!

There will be lots of light bulb moments early on and it will be strangely enjoyable to learn about your new companion!

I can't get over how many funny moments we've had already despite it being hard. Last night I thought I could get at least 24 hours use out the bed before binning it so i put the stuffing back in and tied the broken fabric back together. So instead of being flat its now all round and stiff like a ball. He's lugged it onto the sofa and now decided he would quite like to sleep on it after all, so he's gone to sleep perched on top of it like a folded up spider.

Oh bless him! I bought a load of second hand soft dog toys from a local selling site and would lob one at her every now and again. She happily ripped them to shreds. It did look like roadkill at the time 😊
Oddly she didn’t rip up rubber or silicone toys.

Omg, those ears! I think he’s Batdog! What a guy!

Oh bless him ❤He's still just a baby.
You've just put tears in my eyes with your updates 😭
This boy is so lucky he got you.

Are you aware of trigger stacking and how stress hormones 'work'...

Adrenaline (and to a slightly lesser extent, cortisol) continue to go UP for a short while after the exciting/stressful event. They can take 24 to 36 hours to drop back to normal!

So 20 to 30 minutes after that whizzy walk where there was lots of ball chasing, a shout at some pigeons etc... the dog is not calming down but still off his furry little tits!

I see this a lot in dealing with Separation Related Problems, people think 'Oh I'll do a big exciting walk then leave the dog and go off to work... he'll zonk right out' and really they've left the dog utterly amped up with absolutely nowhere for that to go... except in trashing the cushions or having a massive shouty session..

Trigger stacking... happens to us all. Those little events that push our stress hormones up... add up. So day 1 we just about tolerate something fairly major, day 2, we keep a lid on it... juuuust, people think we coped well... day 3 we're sobbing over a bastarding potato that won't stay still to be peeled, because by day 3, the tiniest of things is enough to push us over threshold.

I don't want to overwhelm you with info I think you've got enough on your brain already... but do check Youtube for 'Chirag Patel Drop method' - by far the funnest and safest way to teach 'drop'. I'd never ever bank on a dog tolerating the 'fish it out of the mouth' thing for long.

Oh wow his ears are a sight to see ☺️😍😍😍

Pleased you are less anxious that will help for both you and the dog. Well done for what you have done so far, but I really need to echo some who have posted - slow down, let him settle and find his feet. You have a lifetime together all being well.

Oh, dear lord.....those ears are magnificent!

Yes thanks @WiddlinDiddlin that is more or less what he explained to us too. He said we'll get more into it in the next sessions.

I wouldn't normally stick my hand straight in either but I really thought it was a daffodil bulb as opposite to plain ol' shite (minger).

Just left the house for a short decompression visit at my friends while DP minded DDog. Her toddlers climbed on me for the full hour but at least she got a break from them lol

Chaos goblin

Whaaaaat? These things just... sploded! All by themselves!

🥰 🥰
He has no idea how they got like that, honest! You must of been burgled!

Honestly you’ll look back on this with fondness and laugh… one day I promise!

@HangingOver Kennelmate beds are good for managing to keep the soft fluffy bits inside the cover.

I’m gonna say it again as not sure if you missed my first post!

Our behaviourist recommended not allowing free access to toys as it gives the dog too much choice; if you have a dog that is inclined to tear stuff to shreds, help them make the ‘right’ choice by eliminating the temptation. He cannot win if he’s allowed free access to all this stuff!

Awwww he's a beaut and you're so wonderful for giving him so much love and care! I have a podenco maneto but he was middle aged when he arrived so a lot less crazy!

GiddyDog looks like he enjoyed that :)

I've been interested in this thread simply because I cannot understand what people are prepared to go through in order to own a dog. I honestly get assistance dogs & the value they bring but for the life of me I can't understand why the OP is putting herself through this. I am not an unkind person as my love & empathy with & for both adults & children is huge. I just wish I could undersrand this love of dogs. All I see is being tied down to a dogs needs regarding holidays,days out, meals out, daily poo bags for years, nips ( bites) when agitated, dog hair all over the home & clothes, etc etc, not to mention the dangerous breed dogs around children. I am sorry to add this to a thread supporting the OP but at least I'm being honest here & adding a different perspective which I know many others share.

There are about a billion anti-dog threads on which you can share your perspective with likeminded people. This thread started with excitement for OP bringing her dog home and is now for advice on how to manage his behavioural quirks and a handhold for OP during the more difficult bits. If you’ve no helpful advice or anything positive to say, I don’t think this is the thread for you. 🙄

Interesting & I didn't realise this. I'm serious when I say I wish I could undersrand it & the idea of being licked by a dog,well I won't go there but agree this is probably not the thread for me 😂

I for instance cannot understand why people who don't like dogs try to highjack threads in a subforum called THE DOGHOUSE.

But, if you are genuinely curious and not trolling, here are the reasons why I can't imagine my life without dogs in it:

• They offer love and companionship without judgment, creating deep emotional bonds with their owners. Dogs are incredibly intuitive to human emotions. They can sense when their owners are sad, stressed, or anxious and often freely offer comfort.
• Caring for a dog gives people a sense of responsibility and purpose. Walking, feeding, and nurturing a dog creates daily routines that many people find fulfilling. Dogs also have a natural curiosity and adventurous spirit that often inspires their owners to explore the outdoors, try new things, and embrace spontaneity. Their enthusiasm for life's simple pleasures is contagious.
• Studies show that dog owners tend to be healthier, both physically and mentally. Dogs encourage their owners to be active, reduce stress levels, and can even lower blood pressure. Simply petting a dog can lower cortisol (the stress hormone) and increase serotonin and dopamine (hormones that make us feel good). This ability to soothe people makes dogs great therapy animals.
• Dogs are famously loyal, sticking by their owners no matter the circumstances. Their loyalty often builds deep trust, and many dog owners feel that bond is unique and irreplaceable. Dogs don't care about appearances, social status, or flaws. They accept their owners as they are, which creates a feeling of pure, unconditional acceptance that can be hard to find elsewhere.
• Having a dog can create social opportunities. Walking a dog or visiting dog parks often leads to conversations with other dog owners, fostering a sense of community and connection.

I could name a few more, but this is pretty much it.

There are many things I don't understand. For instance, I don't understand why anyone would choose to have a large family. But you know what I wouldn't do? I wouldn't post on a thread started by (for example) someone who had just given birth to her fifth child and express my incomprehension and all the negative things I associate with large families. Nor would I excuse myself for doing so by declaring that I am just being honest.

It's fine if you don't like dogs. But your comments are really unhelpful on this particular thread IMO.

Your point being what? Is this like people with no kids going onto childcare threads just to make an obtuse observation about how much better/easier their life is? Many others share their perspective too but it adds nothing constructive to a discussion about toddlers.

What do you want us to say?
Most dog owners go on holiday. Some of us holiday in the UK and take our dogs with us.

Days out can include our dogs, we can take them to nice places.
Dogs only usually nip when they are teething which doesn't last long.
How is dealing with poo bags any different from years of shitty nappies?
Hair all over the home gets vacuumed up.
Sometimes the children are more dangerous than the dog.

I have had 9 dogs and none of them has ever licked me or anybody else. Not once, ever.
You clearly know absolutely nothing whatsoever about dogs.

We were told not offer lots of toys either as it can overstimulated them, so we did one ‘fun’ toy, and one chew toy. In fact, we had to learn how to let our dog learn how to settle himself.

our dog also sometimes has a crazy five minutes after coming in fir a walk. Yesterday he grabbed a shoe and did a mega zoom ie around the garden. Not sure how many land speed records he broke, the speed he went.