Meeting a rescue dog tonight!

[Clodagh]

For what it’s worth, I’ve had dozens of dogs and every new one I think what do I do and how will I cope. Every single time. Have a nap this afternoon when you can. I don’t train immediately but reward good behaviour and don’t reward bad.

 

[Clodagh]

Red is a damaged girl and is a bit kid gloves. She always assumes the worst. Even so I didn’t allow what to me is unacceptable from day one ( jumping up was her main crime).

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Red is a damaged girl and is a bit kid gloves. She always assumes the worst. Even so I didn’t allow what to me is unacceptable from day one ( jumping up was her main crime).

That's the thing, if you allow unwanted behaviours to go unchecked at the beginning of your time together, you can't later blame the dog for thinking that they are perfectly acceptable behaviours but you do have to pick your battles.
Our biggest problem is that the brown one thinks that counter surfing is normal behaviour. We don't get cross but tell her 'off' and then 'sit' when she does it. Slowly she is getting better, very slowly.
.

 

[ArklePig]

Today has been lovely and calm so far. She has started taking herself off for a snooze, whereas previously she wouldn't let us out of her sight.

POV-you're eating an ice pop.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

That sounds good, bit more settled already

She really is so pretty!

 

[ArklePig]

I might be biased but I think she's the most beautiful dog I've ever seen. ?

 

[iknowmyvalue]

She’s gorgeous ? I do have a weakness for anything vaguely resembling a spaniel though! (And also love pointers but never owned one)

sounds like you’re doing everything right. Hopefully she will get more acclimatised to sounds, in terms of transitioning from bedroom to kitchen I’d do it like a puppy. Gradually move her bed/crate further away from you, until she’s outside your room, then out of sight, then outside with the bedroom door closed. Once she’s got that far, transitioning to being shut in the kitchen shouldn’t be too much of a stretch in theory.

I’m another who would advocate crate training, even if just to get her used to it as a positive experience if she ever has to stay in the vets or for flexibility if she goes on holiday with you (as some places do not allow dogs on furniture, and I’ve found a crate is the easiest way to ensure no sneaky furniture adventures when you’re asleep!)

Ginger spaniel does not love her crate (despite being crate trained as a pup) but she knows the score, and it allows her to come most places with me.

but I’m sure professionals who meet her in person will be able to give you the best guidance!

 

[ArklePig]

A friend of my riding instructor who is a dog trainer, very very kindly rang me today and gave me a good half an hours free advice. She has given us some short term things to work on, and we're going to have an in person session soon. She sounded like a very sensible type, and riding instructors dog is v well adjusted, so hopefully we're on the right path. It was nice to just have a chat, though there's a lot of advice here and support which I greatly appreciate it was very helpful to actually just go through everything and have her pick up on a few things I said that I might not really have registered as issues. She also asked some specific questions which helped her give some more advice. Turns out we were inadvertently doing a few things wrong.

We will definitely be crate training her.

 

[ArklePig]

She was in the bed again last night, as trainer has given some things for us to work on during today to start getting back her into the crate this evening, and we decided to just do what we needed to do last night, but I'm pleased to announce there was not a peep out of her all night. Yay for a full night's sleep. I'm sure there'll be howls tonight when she goes to the kitchen. But at least I've had one night's sleep.

ETA we had no accidents over night either, which I'm most pleased about.

 

[scats]

What a gorgeous dog!

 

[Moobli]

She’s lovely! Sounds like you have plenty of good advice to be going on with.

 

[ArklePig]

She’s lovely! Sounds like you have plenty of good advice to be going on with.

Thank you! We prepared so hard for a dog and I still can't believe how ill equipped we were, but I can see the light now ?

 

[Clodagh]

Everything is easier to cope with when you’ve had a nights sleep!
I know it’s important you only stick with one train of advice but IMO it sounds like a huge step from her sleeping in the bed to bring in a crate in the kitchen, I’m not sure I myself would do that in one step.

 

[ArklePig]

Sorry I worded that all wrong she's not being shoved in the kitchen to cry it out, I meant I'm sure there'll be howls today when we try to leave her alone in the kitchen for a few minutes- we were advised to try it for a few minutes at a time during the day. Does that make sense? I'm second guessing everything. The longest peace we've had so far is 10 minutes yesterday while she had a frozen kong.

We're prepared to take shifts sleeping downstairs with her if neccesary but she does need out of the bedroom and it'll take as long as it takes to get her down there alone. We just needed a sleep last night before we attempt anything today. I don't sleep well anyway but the first two nights have broken me ??

 

[Clodagh]

I wouldn’t have her in the bedroom either, although Tawny sleeps upstairs. ?. Baby steps sound like the way to go. Good luck!

 

[Sandstone1]

Maybe try giving a stuffed frozen kong when you leave her, radio on low with a talking or classical music station on. Make sure shes had a chance to pee and poo outside first. Personally not a huge crate fan but they can be ok if used correctly. If you dont want her upstairs or on the bed now is the time to start that. Letting her do something then stopping her will be much harder and more confusing for her. Set the ground rules now as if you let her do something one day but not the next she wont know where she is.

 

[ArklePig]

She's been snoozing on the sofa of her own accord for the last hour after her morning walk and we are pottering around the house without being whined at or howled at. This is honestly amazing.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

She's been snoozing on the sofa of her own accord for the last hour after her morning walk and we are pottering around the house without being whined at or howled at. This is honestly amazing.

It is such a huge change for her that she was bound to be unsettled at first but she is obviously beginning to settle and feel more at home now. Well done!

I don't have dogs on the bed either but agree that now you have allowed her to sleep there, you will need to make changes slowly. I would start with a crate in the bedroom but have another crate in the kitchen, if that's where you want her to sleep eventually.

 

[ArklePig]

Thanks @Pearlsasinger makes sense think we will do it that way.

 

[ArklePig]

This is probably a stupid question, but the Internet is giving me conflicting advice. She absolutely stinks of that distinctive kennels/rescue smell, but I really don't want to overwhelm her, when do ye think I might be able to give her a clean?

 

[wren123]

I'd tentatively try washing her with a sponge and bucket of warm water in the garden, if she doesn't mind then I'd give her a wash and rinse, with rewards. If she doesn't like it I'd leave it today. Take your cue from her.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

This is probably a stupid question, but the Internet is giving me conflicting advice. She absolutely stinks of that distinctive kennels/rescue smell, but I really don't want to overwhelm her, when do ye think I might be able to give her a clean?

I would ask the rescue what they have done with her, a good brushing would probably make quite a lot of difference and you can get wet wipes for dogs.

 

[Sandstone1]

you can get sprays that will freshen her up. I would not bath her yet. Let her settle first.

 

[AmyMay]

I'd tentatively try washing her with a sponge and bucket of warm water in the garden, if she doesn't mind then I'd give her a wash and rinse, with rewards. If she doesn't like it I'd leave it today. Take your cue from her.

This.

 

[ArklePig]

Writing this as a reference for myself so hopefully I can look back in a few months and breathe a sigh of relief.

I didn't wash her, decided just to put up with the stink as fabric can be washed but it's harder to settle a dog. She is mostly very good, we had an accident in the house yesterday morning for which OH blames himself as he said he didn't let her out earlier enough so I wouldn't hold that against her. Not that I would really.

We had a nice walk yesterday evening and bumped into a friend of mine and she sat nicely and interacted with my friend and DIDN'T JUMP ON HER. This is a big win.

We are experiencing a couple of anxious behaviours in the house, particularly leg humping of the OH. It doesn't sound like a lot but it is a lot she can be relentless and her nails scratch against you while she's holding on for dear life. It's honestly a nightmare. It seems like an anxiety behaviour and she is very amped up when she's doing it. She also gets mouthy when she's anxious-she doesn't attempt to bite at all I think just mouthy. This went on for a good while yesterday afternoon and at one stage I did cry and think what have I done. But then she was an angel later that night. She had previously taken to howling whenever someone went up the stairs, down the stairs, took a shower etc, but this is getting less frequent as she learns our normal household noises. Yesterday OH was working from home and he went upstairs and left her downstairs for a half an hour and she was fine.

We're trying not to over train her right now just deal with things in order of what we really can't live with and build up to bigger stuff. We really can't live with the leg humping/mouthing . She's not great on the lead but not the worst dog I've ever walked either and she's clever so she'll get there.

Last night she slept in her crate downstairs with OH in the next room, there wasn't a peep out of her. I'm on sofa sleeping duty tonight.

On Tuesday evening we had a scary experience (for me), someone at the end of our road has two dogs, a staffy and something big and black not a German shepherd but similar size. The staffy barked while we walked past and when we were coming home he got out of his garden and came over to us. I tried to keep walking and tried not to react as I didn't want her to be afraid, but then he had a sniff, growled at her twice and then he went away. While nothing terrible happened, I was so afraid of what could happen. If anyone has any thoughts as to how I should have dealt with that I'm all ears, as I now have a bit of anxiety walking past that house. I saw the owner arriving home last night and the bigger one was growling at his own owner. I'm not a staffy/big dog hater at all but these ones seem a bit mean.

This morning she stepped straight into her harness and stood nicely while it was fastened. The basic training is there somewhere I think.

Other than the neighbour dog, which I have no strategy for (neighbour himself a bit intimidating) I feel like she has the makings of a cracking dog, she just doesn't know much yet. She's a good girl, and very clever, it's just very overwhelming but I already feel so attached and will do whatever it takes to make her a bit more civilised. Over all I think she's as good as any rescue dog who didn't get out a lot in her old home could be so soon. Dog trainer is coming tonight , I cannot wait.

If you read this essay thank you.

 

[Sandstone1]

I would say the humping and mouthing is a anxious behaviour, I would just try to distract her with a toy or teach her a alternative behaviour which you can reward her for. Can you avoid the neighbours house by going a another route? If not maybe take her in the car to avoid it for a bit. At least until shes more settled. Maybe speak to the neighbour as if hes dogs getting out that could be a problem. Report to dog warden?

 

[Clodagh]

I suspect she gets overwrought and overtired and that leads to mouthing and humping. Try to schedule plenty of rest/ sleep and downtime into her day. If she starts humping remove her from your leg (I’d keep a collar on her if not already) and shut her away to calm down. Maybe have a filled Kong or whatever so the shut away isn’t a punishment but just a rest break. Be calm, nonreactive and persistent.
She is only a pup and their brains just explode .

 

[Clodagh]

And I always get between my dog and an approaching dog. It can be easier said than done, especially if your dog is scared and reluctant to move.
Also my dogs don’t mind me swearing at others, you don’t want to frighten your girl though.

 

[Birker2020]

Today has been lovely and calm so far. She has started taking herself off for a snooze, whereas previously she wouldn't let us out of her sight.

POV-you're eating an ice pop.

Lovely looking dog, you done well there girl!

 

[ArklePig]

Thanks @Clodagh we've been keeping the collar on for this reason. I have screenshot your message and sent it to OH who is home with her at the minute but apparently there's been no humping yet today. Yet.

I didn't really acknowledge the other dog cause I didn't want to scare her but I will try (or maybe send OH) to talk to the neighbour. His dogs are in the front garden so Ican't just knock the door. He sometimes turns at the end of our cul de sac so if I keep my eyes open I might spot him at his gate.