Mother in law just rehomed a nasty little dog advise needed

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ebbs

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Sorry it's a bit long
Mother in law has been to a shelter with sister in law and taken on a little JRT sized dog that has been abused and not feed much as is quite skinny, we went round to see the dog after 3 days fo her having it and i cant beleive that a propper shelter would let it go in the state its in and they didnt even do home checks she wont for what ever reason tell us what shelter or how much was paid for this dog, the dog was ok with her but very scared of us he took some treats off me but when the other half went to give him one he went for him and ment it then later on he just ran over and started biting his shoe, we put it down to being funny with men, she has no idea about looking after a little dog the man at shelter told her to give him one meal a day of a few tesco biscuits and a tin of meat to me this seems crazy when its so skinny I have been and got her a branded biscuit and advised feeding 3 times a day which she keeps questioning any advice about feeding a skinny dog appriciated also the dog has now broken skin on the sister in law, if it was my dog I would be returning it by now as I couldnt cope with something so unpredictable what do you think??
 
I think if he has been in an abusive situation before you all need to give him some time. If you look at it from his point of view, you all arrived and started paying him attention, if he has been abused by men having your oh lean over him was very threatening, even if he did have a biscuit in his hand. You would be better to all ignore him when you go round there and let him get used to you at his own pace.

Re feeding, I am sure Cala has more experience of feeding underweight dogs, but I do know you should build up his rations gradually. It could be that the guy your mother in law got the dog from felt all she could afford was supermarket food rather than a branded name.

If your mother in law lives on her own and can put him away when children are around etc, then I don't see why he cannot have a good home with her if he is not attacking her of course. Everyone else needs to let him settle.
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I'd be very worried about the rehoming centre!!!
If your mother in law wants to stick it out then I'd say unless she is very experienced with dogs then get a behaviourist in to help - although not one from that shelter!! Make sure they are a reputable behaviourist and have experience in aggressive dogs - although as a terrier type they do tend to become snappy quite easily so it may be something that be retrained.
As for feeding if it's really skinny then little and often is the key
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Also, although expensive you might want to think about something like SciencePlan tinned meat - most vets give it after a dog has had an operation? Very bland but good things in it still. You don't want to shock the system by suddenly giving too much high protein - also don't want to hype the dog up at all if it's prone to nipping!!
Then I'd try and find out what shelter it came from and report them!!
 
just read your heading again, don't label him just yet, if you label him and have all these negative views on him, that is how you are going to treat him. Give him a chance, everyone deserves that, especially when they have had such an abusive start to life..what happened to him is not his fault after all, he needs kindness around him now - and I am sure your mother in law, having give him such a wonderful chance, could use some support - it is Christmas after all
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It's still very early days and he will be confused and frightened, especially if he has been abused in the past, he needs time to settle.

I think the practise with skinny dogs is to feed small, bland meals often, but don't quote me on that, I am not an expert as all mine have generally been fat lumps!

However I definitely WOULDN'T follow the 'Tesco biscuits and tin of meat' advice.....
 
Some rescues are just as irresponsible as the owners that dump the dogs! That feeding advice was rubbish, as already posted little and often, 3 or even 4 meals a day.

It's very easy to make an abused and scared dog worse but very rewarding if you get it right so I'd get some really good consistant advice from a dog behaviourist or CALA
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To start with don't put the little chap under any pressure by approaching him with treats, let him come to you when he's ready. Sit on the floor with a treat in your open flat hand, avoid eye contact and wait for him to make the move. It might take weeks or months to get him settled.
 
Outrageous!!

The rehoming centre hasnt given your MIL any background info - that is just dangerous.

I would suggest that you go back to the rehoming centre and ask them for information. I would also suggest that you go and get professional advice from a behaviourist.

As for food, I believe, its little and often. Steer very clear of Pedigree, Bakers, WAGG - as its just full of rubbish.

Try Burns, James Wellbeloved, Arden Grange if you want a dry food, or if you want wet, go for Nature Diet or Natures Harvest.

Good luck!
 
SunshineTallulah, it wont be easy to go back to the rescue/re-homing centre, when M-I-L wont tell them which one she got him from.



Don't know what CALA would/will suggest, but I agree with that he should be ignored by guests, and allowed to approach on his own terms. Don't bother about trying to give him biscuits, either have some ready in case he takes contact, but maybe just drop it on the floor so he doesn't feel threatened, or continue to ignore him even if he does take contact. Unless the contact includes biting, but since you don't know what he's been through, and I haven't seen him do it, I would NOT suggest telling him any firm "No's" or such, without rather just quietly pick him up and put him in a different room and close the door, after a few, 5 to 10 perhaps, minutes, he's let out again. Or maybe spray him with some water to break the behaviour, then go to the other rooms door and tell him to go in there. This might have to be repeated several times, but if he enjoys your M-I-L company, he'll soon learn what not to do, if he wants to stay near her.



About the feeding, three or four, small meals a day is more mild for the body's liver, intestine and such, to deal with, instead of one big meal. Wrong food and/or feeding can maybe affect his temper and make him more nervous, easily excited etc.




One more that hopes CALA have time to give some good advice, from Sweden.
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What part of the country are you in? Ive heard a similar story recently, and after digging a bit more it get worse. Would be interested to find out if your in the same area?
 
Sounds like a typical pound
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, they wont even know what the dog is like themselves, cos all they would have done, is chucked some cheap food in every
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day, and
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give him no interaction what so ever.

Part of the weight issue, could be sheer stress, given his situation, and crap food.

Yo have already been given all the advice u need on this post........small portions of good quality fod, NOT TESCO!!!, if he has not eaten in a while or has been fed crap, u will double the dietry problems and he will get raging loose faeces, which will revert
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back to starving....which he sounds like he could do without, given the little weight he holds already, we use a prescription diet from vets for 2 days, then gradually introduce a good quality food, as suggested, science plan, James well beloved, Purina e,t,c.

I would not feed any treats or biscuits...this will pass through him like water...if he is in bad bodly shape as u suggest, and u don't want to over load him.

Give him a chance..let him come around in his own timed...not as mentioned force your self upon him, pick him up, e,t,c, give him a nice quiet secure space and a cosy bed, and he will come around in his own time, just like my little colli, she has been with me 2 days, she was sitting in her open crate for 2 days, now she is at my feet
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I just left her to watch from her secure little space, she decided, she liked the look of everything that was going on, and decided to join in
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Also don't try and kill with kindness, just be firm, send him away for bad behaviour, for time out, if he forces it upon u, otherwise let him come around, if family visit, ask them to be patient whilst he settles and give him space.
 
We have spoken to the lady at our local feed store and got some really good advice about feeding the little dog he is now having Royal Canin 3 times a day, he is still very nervous, when we went round we totally ignored him and let him come over just as before but when he went back to mil she put her hand down to touch him and he snapped at her and apparently he has been doing this since she got him but she didnt want to say so although he is going to her as for protection or what ever he still snaps at her, she has been trying to call the shelter but not getting any answer I think she is a bit daunted about having him and doesnt want to admit it as she doesnt really know a great deal about dealing with problem dogs although her she did have a dog for 13 years until earlier this year when he was pts but he was never any trouble. I just feel the shelter have been very irrisponsible letting a troubled dog go to someone with little experiance, I am going round tomorrow to have a chat with her to find out if she wants to keep him and get help or if she feels she needs to return him and get a companion with a few less issues,
 
It's quite unusual for a dog to go to someone for protection then bite them. I would imagine he's never known much kindness and harsh as it sounds the dog needs discipline as well as a kind home which is really hard to balance. If he thinks it's OK to bite someone who puts a hand out he's found a really good way (in his eyes) of avoiding contact and he'll continue to do it but if you reprimand him harshly he's never going to feel safe. If your mil wants to persevere I think she ought to get expert advice from a behaviourist who can see how he behaves. It could also be that he is in pain of some sort and might need to see a vet.
 
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