Adopting a dog - need advice

[IcyReader]

Hi all, I signed up just for this because I don't know what to do and who to ask. Hopefully you can give me some advice.

I am in the process of adopting an 11-year old dog. His owner died, and the remaining family unfortunately cannot keep him, because they have a dog, the two dogs do not get along and (soon, once the house is sold) they have no means to separate them. The family is desperate to find a good home for the dog but because of his age, there has so far been no interest - except from me. I do not care about his age. I do not want a puppy anyway because a puppy is so much work.

I thought it would be best for the dog if he gets to know me in small doses first, so that he won't be stressed out as much if he does eventually move here fulltime. So far, the dog has stayed with me for three hours on Saturdays / Sundays and a full day today. I work from home, so I am always available.

The dog is 11 years old and deaf (so doesn't hear commands), but he is super fit, walks like a champion. He is friendly to and interested in everyone he meets. He is lovely and already comes to me for cuddles etc. It could be a great match! But there is a problem. He never rests.

So this is what we did today:
8 am: arrival
8-9 am: first walk
9-11 am back home: I sit down to work. Dog walks around the flat (he always does this, which is fine) then comes to me and starts barking (not nervously or aggressively, just like a request for me to get up). I get up and the dog runs into the kitchen... eventually I give him something to chew because I just cannot work when he is barking. He is happy until he has finished. Then he starts barking. Ignoring does not work... I give him something to chew. Etc.
11 am - 12: second walk (I thought this might tire him out, but no chance!)
12 -2 pm: Same as 9-11 am
2-3 pm: third walk
3-4 pm: Same as 9-11 am, only I have run out of treats, so the dog keeps barking at me.
4-5 pm: fourth walk
5-5:30: see above...
5:30-6:30 pm: fifth walk (I don't know what else to do, the barking is starting to strain my nerves!)
6:40 pm: treats get delivered and I give him something to chew (:facepalm:)
6:50 pm: family member arrives to pick him up. Dog doesn't really want to leave because he is happily chewing on his treat (:facepalm:).

The weekends when he was here for three hours at a time we went for a walk for 2 hours or so, so the problem wasn't as apparent, though it also happened then.

I really need the dog to be able to lie still for four hours (ideally) at a time, so that I can work. The other problem with the barking is that the neighboring flat is a holiday let. I really like the owners and do not want to cause them any problems which would surely be the case if the dog keeps barking. But in all other respects I love the dog and I do not want the dog to have to go to an animal shelter which will happen if the family cannot find someone to take him on.

Please help me: Is there any way this can this be fixed and how? (Keep in mind that the dog is deaf, so verbal commands won't work.)

I really do not think it's nerves - he is super-relaxed on walks and when he chews on something and does come to me for cuddles. I think he is just very very hungry...

Please help me if you can.

Right, lol, I hope this helps:

What a lovely thing to do for an old dog ❤️ he’s probably excited to have some company, imagine being in a room all day in your own with just a bowl of food, he may not have had much interaction since his owner died, yes he may take abit of work, but I bet in time to come, he will be a absolute dream and you sound like an amazing person to be taking him on.

Thank you. Handsome chap.

Apparently the dog only barks if he hears them move around in the house. If this is true......

This can't be true if the dog is deaf.

Yes, maybe he doesn't bark a lot there because he doesn't hear them, I'm not sure. (I don't know if he is completely deaf or just hard of hearing.)

I really hope so but I feel so doubtful and sad right now. However, I have asked the family if I can dog-sit at the dog's place on the weekend, so hopefully things will be clearer then.

He looks a lovely old boy Op and you are very kind trying to give him a good home.
I really hope it works out for you ❤️

I adopted from the Dogs Trust Dec 2023 and she is a dream dog. But over the past 6-8 months has started barking much more,. No idea why and I will have to get additional help to stop her as its becoming an issue during working hours (she comes with me to work)

She also will not rest at home, every time I move whether its to get a glass of water, go to the toilet or just shift my weight in my seat, she's up and ready to go with me as she always assumes I'm heading to the kitchen for food.

Maybe its rescue dogs - is it worth getting your dogs some chew toys? Mine loves dismembering toys from B&M by taking out the squeak before systematically removing either the ropes or stuffing inside. She also likes the marrow bone things that they just lick the inside out of.

My golden when in an unfamiliar place paces the whole time. When at home is fast asleep on her back. I think it will take time for him to settle in the new place. You are doing exactly the right thing having getting to know you sessions. They say it takes a dog up to 3 months to learn it’s new family’s routine and be truely settled.

Sounds like he’s going to have an amazing home!

@schoolstruggle
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My golden when in an unfamiliar place paces the whole time. When at home is fast asleep on her back. I think it will take time for him to settle in the new place.
--

Thank you so much, a few people have mentioned this now and I really hope this is the case.

Thank you for those suggestions. I think he would love the toys, especially if they smell like food (:facepalm:). I really hope it works out for you - are you planning to hire a behaviorist?

@ everyone: Thank you so much, I will hopefully be able to update after this weekend.

I'm not an expert but have 4 rescue dogs. If you and the rescue are happy for the adoption to go ahead, I think you should simply do that.

The poor dog has lost his owner and must be feeling so unsettled in the old home by himself, going back and forth with you and the relatives. It seems understandable that he can't rest when with you for only a short time.

If you want him, you should take him on fully so that he can become settled with you.

That's my two penn'orth anyway. He is gorgeous and sounds very lucky to have you interested in caring for him, I hope all goes well for you both.

💯 and beagles are lovely 😍 used to own one 👍

Hi,
I would suggest that your current tactics are training him to bark. Most dogs will go after you constantly for a treat if they think they would get it.
If you were able to take some time off to get him settled in to a routine it might help. Ignoring his barking and rewarding him at set times that suit you may be all you need. Dogs do love to earn their treats. Also, don't start a walk routine that you can't keep up long-term.

When I was looking to adopt a dog many years ago I went to a rehoming centre, I came across a poor thin scrap shivering in his pen. A note attached to his pen said he was there 'through no fault of his own', fair enough, we took him.home and my goodness he was wild, completely untrained apart from toileting, and he had colitis, imagine the worst runny tummy. It took a while and £££ to sort him.out, although he did become the most loving loyal dog. Just be sure he's for you before you commit.

Am quite an experienced rescue dog owner. These are my thoughts;
it takes time for them to feel safe, a lot of the behaviour you describe is anxiety, he’s on high alert.
when he barks, pick an area you want him to settle in and give him a game or toy, ideally filled with something tasty and hard to get out. Kong toys are designed for this, especially the more complicated ones (Kong genius). You can fill with pate, bits of cheese, almond butter (peanut is ok but can’t have sweeteners has to be natural), dog treat bones, bits of chicken, anything really.
he may needed to be trained re how to use if he’s not used to them but suspect not.
When he starts playing or shows interest, praise.
this will tire him out.
I think you are walking too much, they need their brains working also. Also a short sniffy walk is just as valuable, and stimulating in a different way.
also buy decent quality food if you can and variety, all this helps. Bad quality food with lots of additives won’t help, short of long term.
There’s a website which gives you a breakdown of quality, I think it’s called All About Dog Food.
I could go on but just wanted to contribute.
also sometimes you just have ignore, because they are looking to you to know how to behave - top line ‘ignore bad behaviour, reward good’.
good luck, rescue dogs are the best and I’d consider any other breed!

Oh op how lovely are you!!! And your so to be dog too!!!
worth a check up at the vet! They can prescribe trazadone or fluxotine - which you phase out once you two are settled if there are no medical issues. Perhaps his previous parent fed him after every walk? Maybe take him out and the feed him. What breed is your soon to be addition?

Defo get insurance. My 9 year old lab is with many pets - a tad expensive but she is worth it!

licki mats are good. Just freeze it with doggy peanut butter or wet dog food. I have used kongs. I used to put cooked shredded chicken in and froze and then offered to my lab.

do you have a nice/comfy place for him to play down? Where he can see you? Try walking, then feeding him and then taking him to his bed. Give him his treat and a cuddle and leave. Do it for a few minutes at a time and increase the time you are away for. Maybe he just needs to know you are coming back to feed him. Good luck and let us know how you get on

You could try a valerian and skulcap couple of tablets from Dorwest Herbs.

hmm. She did send us the most vital information

Thanks a lot to everyone who replied.

I changed plan over the weekend - instead of going to visit the dog, he came to visit me for 8 hours (during the day, no overnight stay). Since this is where he will live it made more sense.

This time, the family brought his bed. We went for a walk, then I let him drink, led him to his bed and gave him a large piece of beef scalp to chew (before he could bark). This kept him busy for almost two hours. (It stinks horribly though.)

After that, every time he barked, I immediately went out onto the balcony and closed the door. And the barking almost immediately stopped! Apparently he has already learned that if nobody's there, barking is useless. Though I think it made him sad to be left alone which made me sad... :-(

So I think the poster who suggested trying another room was spot on.

The first time after coming back in I led him back to his bed and gave him a kong. He loved that! I think he emptied it in about 15 minutes (not frozen) but then kept licking / chewing it for another 30 minutes. I should probably have led him to his bed every time I came back in from the balcony and given him something, but I didn't want to associate the balcony with food supply either so mostly I just gave him a cuddle after coming back in and also didn't bother with the bed - I should probably do that. The problem is that some kibble is not long-lasting enough, he'll just immediately start barking again.

So I think I will put my desk in another room. I'll leave the door open so he can see me, but if he starts barking, I will close the door (is that enough of a punishment or is it too harsh - I think he does have some separation anxiety, he'll scratch at the door and whine). Then hopefully with time I can just leave the door open all the time.

When he lives here I will feed him his normal food after walks, so he won't need as many treats, hopefully. I think they are probably not that good for his stomach.

I think you are doing a great job and you evidently care for the dog. In your situation I would continue as you are and if you need to try different options then do. All dogs are different and different things work for each. In your case it is an old doggy so I would not worry too much about perfect training but make him fit your lifestyle. Feeding after a walk is defo good (for a younger energetic dog you should never feed them then exercise anyway). If treats work, go for it. Mine is very food obsessed so that is how we control her. You can get fat free treats or even make them yourself. Sometimes whatever works is the solution. Keep going, you are doing great!

Thanks a lot. Yes, I thought this too - treats work, so maybe just use them, at least until he has settled in and is more naturally restful. I think I will use a mix of treats and separation, then reward him after a quiet separation period with a treat etc. I'll also ask the vet.

i would not bother with giving a treat after a quiet period. Dogs don’t understand that it is what you are rewarding. It is action reaction with them. I use treats for recall mainly and sometimes give something to chew on when I leave. But now she expects something every time I leave. 😑she doesn’t get it but if pissed that day might go and do a protest pee (very common for the breed). The other thing to note is that dogs love routine. The same things done at the same time everyday brings a sense of calm. So establish a routine with him that YOU like and fits you. He will adapt. Just don’t chop and change.