Support/ Advice needed on settling a rescue dog particularly barking at noise/ visitors.

[TodayIsatrickyone]

Hi, We’ve just adopted a 10 month old miniature Daschund from a local rescue charity.

We’re experienced dog owners and rehomed 2 daschunds 12 years ago who passed away last year so we’re familiar with the breed.

However, I have to confess this is much harder than I remember and I suppose I’d just like reassurance that it will get better in time as it feels very full on just now. I’m just asking on here for any advice on helping her settle generally but in particular with barking particularly at visitors.

We've had her for 10 days now and in many ways she’s settling really well. She was very nervous and on high alert on arrival, barking at any noise in the house and comings/ goings but this has improved slowly.
I live with my DH and 17 year old and for the first week we kept things fairly low key to allow her to bond with us and she’s now happy and affectionate with us 3 and playing/ eating etc and she really is a very sweet girl.

The main issue however is her reaction to anyone coming into the house. We’ve had a couple of visitors who came in with my daughter and that seemed okay as I guess she was excited to see her so the extra person wasn’t as scary. By the end of the visit she was taking treats and allowing them to touch her.

However we also had my mum and MIL visit (separately)and she pretty much barked non stop at them both. It’s obviously coming from a place of anxiety but just wondering if anyone has any hints/ tips on the best way to handle it going forward. I tried meeting mum outside with her on a lead but it didn’t make much difference. We’re trying to keep to a regular routine, short walks as she’s rather nervous out and about, enrichment activities like treat balls, lick mats ect.. to occupy her brain.
My DH says it will take time and she’s doing well but from those experienced in settling a rescue dog Is there anything else I should be doing?

The rescue charity say it’s just her adapting to a new environment but I’m having a wobble today and the barking is getting to me so thought I’d ask for advice from anyone who has had a similar experience.

Having a wobble is completely normal, especially when you’ve taken on a new dog after having previous dogs that fitted in so well. Comparrisons are inevitable. To me it sounds like you’re doing all the right things and it’ll just take time for her to settle and adjust. As time progresses, you’ll learn any triggers from her previous 10 months and hopefully as she feels more secure in her home, she’ll relax. We’ve just got a puppy after losing our previous dogs. Puppy blues is real when settling in a new dog, and it doesn’t just occur with a puppy. Rescue dogs will take a while to feel secure after their recent upheaval. But things generally get better quickly. Also take time out if you can get DH or 17 yr old to take over. Even if just for an hour. I found accepting it was normal to have wobbles like this helped and two months in, it’s so much better. We have begun to find our groove together. Good luck.

@Larrylobstersrollerskate thank you so much for your reassurance and kind words. I keep telling myself it’s early days but the barking today had me wondering what have we done?!
You are absolutely right about the Puppy blues, I do remember it a bit with our others but I guess it’s a long time ago so this has taken me by surprise as we’ve been looking and waiting for the right dog for a few months.
Congrats on your new addition too and good to hear things are getting better.

@TodayIsatrickyone I had completely forgotten the puppy blues from before, and it can be brutal at times in those first few weeks while settling in. With puppies, they say it can take 3-4 weeks to feel like their home and obviously your girl has had a little more insecurity as she was in rescue. But it’s so common to struggle, especially after you’ve had a longtime doggy companion that was fully adapted to your life. She’ll probably become desensitised to visitors as she feels more secure in your home and time passes. After she’s seen your mum or MiL a few times, she’ll start to realise they’re part of her family pack hopefully. Someone said to me, we have to try and put ourselves in their heads. Admittedly not always easy when we’re struggling to keep our sanity! 😂

Thanks again, I think I’m worrying over the barking in case it’s an ingrained behaviour and possibly why she was rehomed. Though we were told it was an issue with another resident dog. Plus I’m tired as it’s been a pretty full on week so I’m overthinking a bit and worrying about it not improving.
Its definitely going to take time for her to fully settle and it’s early days but I think you’re right I’m perhaps also missing my longtime dogs and maybe comparing a bit. I hadn’t thought of that.
Shes currently calm and looking adorable next to me on the sofa 😊

Understand completely. My catchphrase for the first few weeks was ‘She’s so lovely when she’s asleep’ 😂 Fingers crossed your girl will settle down, but yes the fatigue, anxiety and overthinking is quite horrible. Sounds like she has a lovely home with you and once she feels secure in this, hopefully the barking will stop. Also if she was kennelled at the rescue centre, dogs bark constantly in those places, so it may take a while for her to let go of this. Even nice rescue centre kennels are a very stressful place for a dog to spend time in. May take a couple of weeks for her to decompress from this. Good luck, ♥️

@Larrylobstersrollerskate that catchphrase sums up how I’m feeling too! I had forgotten how playful and energetic young dogs can be too so that’s definitely a shock after older dogs that liked to sleep most of the day 😊

3 days
3 weeks
3 months.

If you're not familiar with that, the rescue should be discussing with every prospective adopter.

Rescued dogs won't behave the same as a pup you've raised - and even young pups who've been through traumatic experiences won't behave the same.

There are lots of variations on the 3-3-3 guidance but it amounts to the same information.

I'd avoid visitors to the house for a few weeks, and if they do appear then keep your dog calm and relaxing in another room and allow her to soak up the new noises and smells.

Thanks, I am familiar with the 3-3-3 guidance but perhaps need the reminder. I think the visitor and reaction yesterday unsettled both of us so maybe keep it to just us this week too.
There’s some reactivity to inside/ outside noises too but again understandable and hopefully a case of time will help. She has got better with noises in the house already. I’m using the adaptil calm plug in too which I’m not sure if it’s helping but worth a try.
How would you go about trying to stop her when she barks, we let her bark a couple of times initially, then used ‘No’ and praise when she calms but it doesn’t work if she really gets stressed like yesterday. I’m not sure if I should tell her no when it’s just coming from a place of fear but I also want her to know it’s not desirable behaviour. I’m open to any advice.

Maybe distract with a game or stuffed Kong or licky mat? Yes I’ve not had any visitors initially at the house. Just so pup settled, obviously slightly different from a rescue dog, but everyone was trying to book in once they heard about the puppy and I said no.

As you say a complete shock going back to young dogs. My last two were very geriatric by the time we lost them so very easy, now it’s like a doggy play school!!

@Larrylobstersrollerskate Doggy play school sounds about right! How old is your new puppy now?
It was perhaps too soon for visitors but as you say, they knew we’d got her and were keen to meet. Distraction with treats/ kong is a good shout.
We left her at home for an hour today for the first time as I needed to be somewhere and that went better than expected, she didn’t like it but nothing chewed etc.. She hadn’t touched the kong or chew I left out but pounced on them in delight as soon as I got back!

My puppy is five months old now. Kongs are great, if she’s had too many training treats she also likes sliced carrot in the Kong. Also doggy peanut butter on the licky mat, or even some of her doggy meat as I feed mixed. Really good news on her being left, it’s looking positive. I’ve had to keep reminding myself that everything is so new. We had the plumber in today for a small job, and even that was something unusual. I find myself forgetting this as you immediately think they’ll just behave like your old dog and not even notice.

With regards to visitors, it’s hard because I found people are actually quite determined or even pushy about wanting to come over to see the puppy asap. I’ve been strict (mostly because I’m too knackered tbh) but one friend has slightly got the hump because I said she couldn’t visit in the first couple of weeks. But my thinking is the puppy needs a chance to feel secure with us as a family and find her feet, before she meets others in her home or safe space. I’ve especially refused visits from those with lively loud young children for now. We are doing a lot of socialisation, but generally by going out atm. Mind you, I quite like my house to myself too 😊

Oh trying carrot is a good idea, my old daxies would eat anything ( and everything) but she doesn’t seem to be especially food orientated but that might change as she settles.
It’s not easy wirh visitors but yes I think you’re right, it’s good to get secure with you first but sorry to hear you had one friend get a bit huffy over it but yes the last thing you want is lively young children and a puppy charging around when you’re knackered!
I FaceTimed my mum instead of a visit today and put the camera on the dog, she really enjoyed watching her play and interact with me, none of which she saw when she was here as doggy was too stressed so I think that’s the way forward for now!