Taking on a Rescue dog.

[TrasaM]

Long story short I volunteered to walk the dogs at a local rescue in Cyprus last month. They have a major problem there with dogs being dumped and mistreated especially hound and hunting dog breeds. The lucky 'failures' are dumped the less lucky are shot and left to die.
Ditching them on the motorways and main roads is a favourite trick too. If the dog is lucky they stop the car first. The less lucky ones..well I'll leave that to your imagination
Anyhow this is how I got involved with Sam the pointer who was scared and displaying fear aggression to other dogs. Over the two weeks I was there he went from a terrified insecure dog who was dreadfully thin to a more relaxed and trusting dog who then started to put some weight on and started to interact nicely with the other dogs. And of course in the process I became very attached to him.
He had a UK home lined up but that has fallen through and I'm now going to take him on.
I've been doing lots of reading up about GSPs and I know we've made the right choice as does the lady who runs the kennels.
So I know that there are lots of very knowledgable people on here who will probably have lots of invaluable advice to offer - I hope
He's just about a year old and were pretty sure that he's a german short haired pointer .
Photo to follow
So any guidance would really be appreciated.
So issues I'm trying to think of..diet ? Good dry food brands ?
House training ..won't know until I return to Cyprus next week how he's going to deal with being in a house but I do have a crate sorted for when he comes home.

Oh dear..not so short after all. thank you for reading

 

[TrasaM]

Day 1. Skinny as a greyhound.

Two weeks later

 

[{97702}]

Congratulations I'm sorry, I don't know anything about GSPs so can't really help I'm afraid, but he looks to be a lovely dog

 

[TrasaM]

Thanks Levrier.. I think he's lovely but I'm very biased lol

 

[TrasaM]

Bump **

 

[Wella]

I've just re homed a GSP from Cyprus. What would you like to know?

 

[Wella]

 

[gallopingby]

He looks lovely, although you are in Cyprus I'm sure the breed society would help you, there will also be a GSP rescue charity and they would be my first contact in your situation - I volunteer for a breed rescue and we have contacts for all sorts of problems. Not sure how pointers will work our is divided in to areas and some are better than others so if you don't have any luck with one maybe try another!! I once walked a GSP for an elderly friend - she was a lovely loyal dog.

 

[TrasaM]

Wella. Lovely dog you've got and a sadly familiar photo of dogs behind metal grills ..the lucky ones anyhow. Which rescue did he come from? Have you had any issues once he arrived here...food behaviour etc.
I think the kennels feed a variety of brands depending on what they get donated to them so hopefully I won't have too much trouble getting his diet sorted. But he still needs to gain a few more kilos.
I don't have any particular worries about behaviours right now apart from the normal ones you'd get with any young dog. Ooh..hope I'm right lol.

Gallopingby
I just found the GSP pointer FB group today so I've asked to join.
I've been warned that once you have a Pointer you don't ever get another breed..I suspect most breeds make that claim

On the practical front..I've ordered a collar .anti pull.lead thingy and a long lead for recall training.. Doggy shopping is fun

 

[Wella]

I got home through C.A.R.E not sure which kennels they are on fb. I have had him 9 days he has put on 2kg. He has been an absolute love with the kids and the cat. He wasn't house trained and we had a few accidents but only lasted a couple of days. Sort of got to know the signs. Had him out first light each morning but he can go for longer now. He was food mad at first and would jump on the tops and jump on your plate. But now he's fine and his bowl is no longer spotless. I've been feeding him cobbydog supreme. 3-4 times a day. My last GSP had terrible seperation anxiety which is common in HPRs. Was hoping Jimmy wouldn't but he has!!! I'm leaving him for 15 minutes each morning and increasing it. He is very hyper of a morning and needs a long walk. He is nervous of traffic. He thinks every dog and human should love him plus he loves men!!! Oh and he'll need a coat lol.

 

[pointersrus]

aww congratulations on your new doggie, I have had GSP's for more than 20 years and I absolutely adore the breed, I shall always have a pointer in my home.

They are loyal and gentle and highly intelligent, but highly motivated too!! I have one that is very hunty and one that is terrified of her own shadow, very different girls but both very loving and loyal. I find that they need a lot of stimulation and crave human company. I have always found that they like to have a job or purpose, my scaredie girl loves agility and my huntly girl when she isn't out with the guns helps collect the duck eggs from the bird enclosures and never touches the birds!! (or any of our livestock - horses, sheep, pigs etc)

I have always socialised them well and involve them in everything, treat them like a member of the family and they will be happy and relaxed, they do not thrive in a kennel environment. They do not cope with being left alone either and once again - crave human company!!

I hope you enjoy your boy and have fun together!

 

[Wella]

[/URL][/IMG]
Jimmy on his lunge line

 

[pointersrus]

Just noticed you mentioned feeding the GSP, I have just started mine on a raw diet - including veg pulped, and am finding that they have a little more energy although they are 9 and 10 and they look fab on it, lovely shiny coats and no stinks or bad breath AT ALL and only small poops that are firm and dont reek!! I am finding it as cheap as a good quality dried kibble and not difficult or time consuming to make either. I just make a batch once a month and pop it in the freezer = job done.

 

[TrasaM]

I'd wondered about the separation anxiety too.. I'll have time to identify any toileting issues in Cyprus where there are no carpets. It'll be interesting to see how much weight Jimmy gains and how quickly. I suspect I might have similar food problems with Sam.
I was joking earlier today about how I'd have to knit leg warmers and a wooly coat for him to wear when it gets cold as his hair is very thin too
Odd you should mention he's scared of traffic . OH took Sam out yesterday and he froze each time a car went past ..I don't remember him doing that with me.
So many of the dogs are dumped on main roads so I suppose it's possible this is what happened to your Jimmy hence his fear of cars. Also a relief that he's good with cats. Only thing is I'm pretty sure my mamma cat does not like dogs.

 

[TrasaM]

Pointersaurus.. Thank you. I'd always said that when the time was right I was going to get a German Pinscher..instead a German Pointer got me
I've yet to fully gauge SAMs true nature. Once he came out of his scared shell he was all eyes and nose. He displayed no interest in birds..possibly his downfall, but quickly got the hang of chasing lizards ..I only showed him only once and the following day he pounced on the first one he sighted.

 

[TrasaM]

[/URL][/IMG]
Jimmy on his lunge line

Looks like someone is following his nose ?

 

[Wella]

Think it helped that my cat didn't run. First time I let him loose with her I put a muzzle on him and she whacked him. He is quite strong willed now and is having to have a few boundaries. He is a typical GSP leans on everybody and hasn't heard of personnel space lol.

 

[TrasaM]

Sam update.
We picked him up from the kennels he's been kept at yesterday and he was a bit suspicious about getting in the car but settled quickly. Arrived back at the house and he was having an explore when he spotted something through the kitchen window and fled yelping with tail between his legs. Got the same reaction later on when we walked last a shop with a resident tom cat. Seems he's terrified of Tom cats..he ignores some cats so can only think that's the reason. No toilet training issues..waited until he was on grass or soil to wee and poo and by 7pm was fast asleep on the sofa. Took him out before 9pm for a short walk and he has slept solidly all night. We got up at 6 thinking he'd need to go out but no, we have a very sleepy dog who is still snoozing on the sofa. We're going to take him to the beach today for a long walk.

 

[TrasaM]

Think it helped that my cat didn't run. First time I let him loose with her I put a muzzle on him and she whacked him. He is quite strong willed now and is having to have a few boundaries. He is a typical GSP leans on everybody and hasn't heard of personnel space lol.

Same here..loves to be cuddled but is not over friendly to strangers although he does not pull away if they approach.

 

[galaxy]

I have a 4 year old GSP. They are the most wonderful dogs. Yours sounds typical and has already found his place.... On the sofa!!! Has he flipping upside down asleep yet? Also a common pointer pose! 😜

They are gentle sensitive dogs and need to be treated as such. When I first got H I took him to a training school that approved of cesar Milan, I knew no different. H learnt very fast, GSPs love to learn, constantly, and are happiest when doing so. At 18 months I stopped training there and started agility which only uses positive reinforcement. H has thrived. Any issues I was having has gone since I changed my way of training him. He didn't need harsh words or actions. Once shown in a positive way how to behave he is more than happy to oblige. I now compete agility and he is great!

I'd recommend finding a positive training school, maybe trying something like agility. Learning makes happy GSPs. The fb page is good but you obv get the odd odd job!

I terms of the cat issue. If H is scared of something I get him to watch me as it goes past (he's scared of bikes) and then reward him. Has worked really well.

I feed H at the moment on wainwrights lamb grain free. He struggles keeping weight on too. Have used fishmongers and fish4dogs too which work well. Anything with rice/ grain in he didn't keep the weight on as well.

Good luck! If you ever want to pm me feel free!

 

[galaxy]

Forgot to add...

Most GSPs I know have some degree of SA. I have to work on it constantly with H. If he hadn't been a left for a while I have to start almost from scratch. He has to be crated. Otherwise he doesn't stop pacing and winds himself up. In his crate he just settles down happily and I give him a stuffed kong.

 

[TrasaM]

Not such a good day today. He's had a couple of accidents so we need to be better at spotting the signs. He's a lot more relaxed though and after a very long busy day he's now fast asleep.
Galaxy.
Thank you got your post. I may well take you up on your offer to provide support. I've tried being very strict with him today and it doesn't seem to be working too well. I think I bear in mind that he's had a huge change in his life and bit to expect too much too soon. On the plus side he has no reaction whatsoever to dogs barking at him from behind gates. I've not seen him lying flat out on his back yet but I think it'll happen once he relaxes a bit more.

 

[galaxy]

No problem! Any time. GSPs just seem to get stressed that you've told them off rather than working out what they've done wrong if that makes sense. Although 'time out' did work quite well with H when he was young and going through a brat stage. Being excluded from being with us is the end of the world for him!

I'll try and upload a pic of the upside down look!

 

[galaxy]

The upside down look



And a couple of others...

 

[TrasaM]

Galaxy..he's gorgeous ! They do all have that solemn expression
We've tried to get him into the sea today but he didn't like it much. He needs a buddy to show him how I think and help him to be brave.

 

[galaxy]

H will only paddle, he won't swim unless it's a heated pool! Lol!

 

[thewonderhorse]

He is lovely !!! Bless him!!!

 

[TrasaM]

Day 5 and really starting to see his personality blossom. Theres lots of chewing going on and I've just had to divert his attention from the fleece blanket I got him earlier as he seemed intent on shredding it. Been told that the chewing goes on until about aged 2..oh well! His social skills are improving with other dogs up he's inclined to be dominant and is still nervous of new dogs who approach too quickly and are excited. It's been fascination watching a 2 year old bitch, Lady, trying to show him how to behave and how quickly she moves in and calmly intervenes if she sees him getting too excited. For a dog who 3 months ago was emaciated and terrified he's doing exceptionally well. There have been moments when I wondered about the wisdom of taking him on but then last night we went for a meal and when we got back he calmly came over and snuggled up next to me properly for the first time and the heart melts. There's absolutely no food anxiety or agression and I left him alone today and he was still snoozing in His sofa when I returned. I've got a really funny video clip of what happened when his friend Lady came on a play date yesterday which I'll try to link to ..he's getting to be quite the caracter

 

[TrasaM]

https://m.facebook.com/groups/57970300565?view=permalink&id=10152009591750566

Unfortunately didn't get to my iPad quickly enough and missed the funniest part where he led her into the house.

 

[horse1]

hi, when i was younger we had a weimaraner rescue dog and although she was a bit clumsy here and there she couldnt have been a more perfect dog - was so gentle good luck