topic Re: Rescue Dog - questions in Community Chat

Rescue Dog - questions

CalminHeart — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 01:34:28 GMT

Hi. I just adopted my first pet. Coop is a rescue dog. He was kept in an outdoor kennel with 4 larger dogs for most of his life (he's 2 now). He was the submissive one. He wasn't abused but he was certainly neglected.

When I got him, he didn't know how to eat or drink out of a bowl. I've taught him this now so we're getting there. He'd never had a treat and didn't know what to do with it...but that didn't take long for him to understand. LOL. He is house trained now.

I'm working on leash walking and playing. He doesn't know what to do with a toy.

Coop is very timid, afraid of things. He won't come up on the couch with me either. I spend a lot of time on the floor petting him (he loves it) but that's getting difficult at my age and with my arthritis.

I know it'll take time and lots of love.

I'd appreciate your input on how to get him to trust me more. How do I get him to understand it's a good thing to get on the couch with me? How do I teach him to play with toys?

Thanks!!

Re: Rescue Dog - questions

lisaebk — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 01:56:37 GMT

It sounds like you are doing all the right things, and it will just take love and time. Maybe you can find a local doggie class for you to both take, he can learn to be more social and you can ask a professional some of your questions. Bless you for taking him into your home and your heart! All of ours were rescues too and they are such a gift to us.

Re: Rescue Dog - questions

pommom — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 02:01:22 GMT

My rescue was so shy and timid, too, when I brought her home. Your dog sounds like her when she first came home about 1 1/2 yrs ago. It takes time. She's had to learn to walk on a leash and play. Now she has her favorite "bone" (Nylabone) that she can't do without. We play tug-of-war with her rope and I'm still working with her on other skills.

She was a puppy mill mom for 10 years and had little to no attention. Her condition upon surrender was horrible.

Considering all she's been through, I got a gem of a companion. She is so lovable and gentle.

She still has a ways to go with other dogs, but is making progress.

You are on the right track - just remain consistent.

Re: Rescue Dog - questions

JeanLouiseFinch — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 02:03:37 GMT

Awww, bless you! You're on the right track, I think. Love and patience will pay off in the end. Be sure to use the same words/commands with each particular behavior so he can make the connection and work with him every day. Give a little treat when he gets it right, but no treat for just trying and because you love him. That will just confuse him. Once he knows food is involved, he might be more motivated to get on the couch with you. Professional training classes might be a good route, too.

Re: Rescue Dog - questions

luvmyteddy4 — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 05:58:34 GMT

Out of my six dogs, only one played with toys. They either do or they don't I have found. All adopted but the worst case was one that had been badly abused, whipped and had cigarette marks on her face, so it took a year for her to come around just to eat in front of me. She would only eat hiding under the coffee table. She came around and was the only dog I had that would never leave my side. Never left the yard and was the best protector ever. I would take her with me in the car and she felt special. All mine slept with me and I don't know if yours does or not. They all liked treats though.

It just takes patience and they will come around.

Re: Rescue Dog - questions

mousiegirl — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 06:16:09 GMT

One of my rescues, the girl, doesn't play with toys unless the male, another rescue, gets her interested. They play tuggie, and I throw balls, which also involves them in play. the male is a toy hog. and the girl could care less, she prefers chewies, and only wants to play with him, whereas he can play with his toys by himself and be perfectly content, but of course, he loves to play with her, though she is not always interested.

Re: Rescue Dog - questions

NeNe1010 — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 17:21:41 GMT

He is a very lucky boy. You sound like a very compassionate person. When we adopted our Grace about 2 yrs ago she was also shy, didnt play with toys etc. She came out of her shell slowly and after about 2 months or so she was so much more comfortable with us and now has one toy she will play with ( a green Kong squeaky frog) and is a totally happy girl. You are doing everything right and everything will be fine. Like you said -time and love and you are giving him both.

Re: Rescue Dog - questions

forrestwolf — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 00:37:10 GMT

Thank you for caring enough to spend this kind of time and teach.........My little Savannah........That I rescued at 8 weeks, was so abused by her sisters.........3 times her size, that she had a broken ear, and very timid, and her sisters would not let us touch her for 2 weeks, until we found homes for them, and then I had her for 14.5 years........WONDERFUL.......LOVING..........years.....What you do, will come back to you, 10 fold.....

Re: Rescue Dog - questions

DiAnne — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 02:49:42 GMT

Sometimes just making them feel secure and not pushing them helps a lot. I had a rescue dog (5 years old when I got her) that cried at night and would not come near me. It took about 3 months until she decided to live with me. She was the smartest dog I ever had. She had to be put down two months at almost 16 years old - she had a long healthy life for a border collie.

Re: Rescue Dog - questions

Silver Lining — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 03:38:51 GMT

On 1/21/2014 pommom said:
My rescue was so shy and timid, too, when I brought her home. Your dog sounds like her when she first came home about 1 1/2 yrs ago. It takes time. She's had to learn to walk on a leash and play. Now she has her favorite "bone" (Nylabone) that she can't do without. We play tug-of-war with her rope and I'm still working with her on other skills.

She was a puppy mill mom for 10 years and had little to no attention. Her condition upon surrender was horrible.

Considering all she's been through, I got a gem of a companion. She is so lovable and gentle.

She still has a ways to go with other dogs, but is making progress.

You are on the right track - just remain consistent.

pommom, thank you for giving this dear girl the home and the care she so richly deserves. My little guy was taken to a shelter (along with 64 other animals) when the miserable $?!^#! breeder's "business" was busted. He was a young adult used as a stud. He was abused, but at least he was spared the suffering of constant pregnancies and birth in addition to the other neglect/abuse.

Re: Rescue Dog - questions

Silver Lining — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 03:44:05 GMT

On 1/24/2014 DiAnne said:
Sometimes just making them feel secure and not pushing them helps a lot. I had a rescue dog (5 years old when I got her) that cried at night and would not come near me. It took about 3 months until she decided to live with me. She was the smartest dog I ever had. She had to be put down two months at almost 16 years old - she had a long healthy life for a border collie.

DiAnne, one of my rescues was like that. In fact, he is much better but is still afraid even seven years later with much love and care. So sorry for your recent loss. (((hugs)))

Re: Rescue Dog - questions

MickD — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 03:48:29 GMT

Calm ~ Bless your heart! You are doing everything right. As others have said, if you can, go to dog training classes, or have a trainer come to your home. I have two rescues. Just give Coop love and consistency and routine.....good luck!

Re: Rescue Dog - questions

OCGurl — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 03:51:17 GMT

How wonderful. I love these stories, My little Herbie a chihuahua mix is also a rescue, we have had him a year now. He was abused and neglected for too long and was found roaming the streets. Then went from home to home and his last foster family took him too a kill shelter and dropped him through the night box.

A rescue group got him and I found him on pet finder. It has been wonderful. He stayed close to me but He was very shy and scared and would walk very low to the ground, with his little tail between his legs. He didnt like toys because the last foster had kids who would play with squeeky toys, so he wants nothing to do with toys still.

He also did not like men, especially men wearing black clothes - i.e. my husband. My husband is the most warm and patient man, he let him come to him in his own time and now he runs to him, and they play together, and he is always in his lap. Its so beautiful to see, i left for work early the other morning and they were still in bed sleeping together.

There are still some things that he doesnt like - the TV remote, he will get up and leave your side if the remote is picked up so I can only believe someone hit him with it.

He walks tall now, and his tail curls almost to touch his back. He sleeps between us at nite, so beautiful. Today he went to get his nails trimmed and he sat in the groomers lap ....the groomer is a man, and he came out carrying him - now that is progress.

Your little Coop will come to you in his own time and be by your side always. They love us more than they love themselves, they feel it is their place to take care of us and soon your little Coop will be your forever shadow.

Thank you for rescuing him and giving him a furever home.

Re: Rescue Dog - questions

Silver Lining — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 03:58:28 GMT

On 1/21/2014 CalmInTheHeart said:
Hi. I just adopted my first pet. Coop is a rescue dog. He was kept in an outdoor kennel with 4 larger dogs for most of his life (he's 2 now). He was the submissive one. He wasn't abused but he was certainly neglected.

When I got him, he didn't know how to eat or drink out of a bowl. I've taught him this now so we're getting there. He'd never had a treat and didn't know what to do with it...but that didn't take long for him to understand. LOL. He is house trained now.

I'm working on leash walking and playing. He doesn't know what to do with a toy.

Coop is very timid, afraid of things. He won't come up on the couch with me either. I spend a lot of time on the floor petting him (he loves it) but that's getting difficult at my age and with my arthritis.

I know it'll take time and lots of love.

I'd appreciate your input on how to get him to trust me more. How do I get him to understand it's a good thing to get on the couch with me? How do I teach him to play with toys?

Thanks!!

CalmintheHeart, thank you for saving Coop. Just keep doing what you can to make him feel safe and loved. Even after seven years of love and care, my little guy still has fears and sometimes won't come to me. He's not tall enough to get on the sofa on his own and won't use the doggie staircase thing. Luckily I can scoop him up (he's very portable, lol) but he still doesn't want to stay on the sofa for very long. My other dog can get up there on his own, but he only does it when he gets good and ready, not necessarily when I want him to sit with me.

Oh, yeah, have to add that neither of my dogs will play with toys. Coop might respond once he gets used to everything. Like others have said, it usually takes a long time for dogs from the situation he was in to respond to toys and playing. Best wishes!

Re: Rescue Dog - questions

Silver Lining — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 04:13:17 GMT

On 1/24/2014 OCGurl said:
How wonderful. I love these stories, My little Herbie a chihuahua mix is also a rescue, we have had him a year now. He was abused and neglected for too long and was found roaming the streets. Then went from home to home and his last foster family took him too a kill shelter and dropped him through the night box.

A rescue group got him and I found him on pet finder. It has been wonderful. He stayed close to me but He was very shy and scared and would walk very low to the ground, with his little tail between his legs. He didnt like toys because the last foster had kids who would play with squeeky toys, so he wants nothing to do with toys still.

He also did not like men, especially men wearing black clothes - i.e. my husband. My husband is the most warm and patient man, he let him come to him in his own time and now he runs to him, and they play together, and he is always in his lap. Its so beautiful to see, i left for work early the other morning and they were still in bed sleeping together.

There are still some things that he doesnt like - the TV remote, he will get up and leave your side if the remote is picked up so I can only believe someone hit him with it.

He walks tall now, and his tail curls almost to touch his back. He sleeps between us at nite, so beautiful. Today he went to get his nails trimmed and he sat in the groomers lap ....the groomer is a man, and he came out carrying him - now that is progress.

Your little Coop will come to you in his own time and be by your side always. They love us more than they love themselves, they feel it is their place to take care of us and soon your little Coop will be your forever shadow.

Thank you for rescuing him and giving him a furever home.

OCGurl, the things Herbie had to endure make me want to cry, but also make me want to do something bad to the people who hurt and betrayed him. Bless you and your husband and little Herbie. Your story makes me smile. Thanks.

Re: Rescue Dog - questions

Puppy Lips — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 05:24:25 GMT

I don't have any advice for you. I just want to say ""bless you"" for taking in a rescue dog. We have rescued 3 dogs so far. They make the best pets and I love(d) them all dearly. I will never be without a dog or two in my home.

Re: Rescue Dog - questions

OCGurl — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 06:43:21 GMT

On 1/24/2014 Silver Lining said:
On 1/24/2014 OCGurl said:
How wonderful. I love these stories, My little Herbie a chihuahua mix is also a rescue, we have had him a year now. He was abused and neglected for too long and was found roaming the streets. Then went from home to home and his last foster family took him too a kill shelter and dropped him through the night box.

A rescue group got him and I found him on pet finder. It has been wonderful. He stayed close to me but He was very shy and scared and would walk very low to the ground, with his little tail between his legs. He didnt like toys because the last foster had kids who would play with squeeky toys, so he wants nothing to do with toys still.

He also did not like men, especially men wearing black clothes - i.e. my husband. My husband is the most warm and patient man, he let him come to him in his own time and now he runs to him, and they play together, and he is always in his lap. Its so beautiful to see, i left for work early the other morning and they were still in bed sleeping together.

There are still some things that he doesnt like - the TV remote, he will get up and leave your side if the remote is picked up so I can only believe someone hit him with it.

He walks tall now, and his tail curls almost to touch his back. He sleeps between us at nite, so beautiful. Today he went to get his nails trimmed and he sat in the groomers lap ....the groomer is a man, and he came out carrying him - now that is progress.

Your little Coop will come to you in his own time and be by your side always. They love us more than they love themselves, they feel it is their place to take care of us and soon your little Coop will be your forever shadow.

Thank you for rescuing him and giving him a furever home.

OCGurl, the things Herbie had to endure make me want to cry, but also make me want to do something bad to the people who hurt and betrayed him. Bless you and your husband and little Herbie. Your story makes me smile. Thanks.

Thx Silver! Yes we tell Herbie everyday that nothing will ever hurt him again! He is loved!