Rescue Dog - questions

CalminHeart · ‎03-09-2010

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!!

lisaebk · ‎03-09-2010

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.

pommom · ‎03-10-2010

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.

If your face brightens when you meet a friend, you have struck gold. - unknown

JeanLouiseFinch · ‎10-03-2011

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.

luvmyteddy4 · ‎09-04-2010

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.

mousiegirl · ‎03-09-2010

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.

NeNe1010 · ‎03-26-2010

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.

forrestwolf · ‎06-20-2010

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..... ${#emotions_dlg.wub}$

The strength of the wolf is the pack, and the strength of the pack is the wolf.......

DiAnne · ‎09-22-2010

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.

Silver Lining · ‎04-16-2010

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.