Community Chat

[Silver Lining]

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)))

[MickD]

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!

[OCGurl]

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.

[Silver Lining]

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!

[Silver Lining]

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.

[Puppy Lips]

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.

[OCGurl]

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!