Dog Rescue Best Practices

[Stinger92860]

Hi All,

A dog just rescued me! Looking for things you would recommend I try. So far he is a dream!!

I did have a rescue a while back, but it was my spouse who adopted him. Then she died a year later and he was mine. I loved him with all my heart. He was the only dog plus 3 cats. He did great, but could never to get him to 100% housebroken, he liked to occasionally pee inside, but I believe I know why.

Current rescue comes with a bit more baggage, He was abused and mistreated but you would never know it. He joins 2 other dogs we have. My daughter was fostering him but she has an older dog who was not happy about The new addition. I knew that would happen and I was expecting to inherit a rescue. He is not going back. It’s been a week and every hour/day he is becoming part of the pack. The other 2 are starting to include him in their dog games. Plus we have another family dog and the 4 of them are fun to watch.

Desipte how quickly the new guy has adjusted and fit in, whenever we go for a walk or to the beach, he barks at other dogs. This incudes on leash and off. He is now 100% on leash in these situations. Any ideas out there why and how to modify this behavior. I am going to bring in a trainer. Otherwise no issues beyond figuring out his food likes/dislikes. He is definitely motivated by food/treats but his palate is different than the other 2. For them we make our own fresh food. He has no interest. He is underweight so almost anything to get up to the right weight will work for us.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[CL82]

Hi All,

A dog just rescued me! Looking for things you would recommend I try. So far he is a dream!!

I did have a rescue a while back, but it was my spouse who adopted him. Then she died a year later and he was mine. I loved him with all my heart. He was the only dog plus 3 cats. He did great, but could never to get him to 100% housebroken, he liked to occasionally pee inside, but I believe I know why.

Current rescue comes with a bit more baggage, He was abused and mistreated but you would never know it. He joins 2 other dogs we have. My daughter was fostering him but she has an older dog who was not happy about The new addition. I knew that would happen and I was expecting to inherit a rescue. He is not going back. It’s been a week and every hour/day he is becoming part of the pack. The other 2 are starting to include him in their dog games. Plus we have another family dog and the 4 of them are fun to watch.

Desipte how quickly the new guy has adjusted and fit in, whenever we go for a walk or to the beach, he barks at other dogs. This incudes on leash and off. He is now 100% on leash in these situations. Any ideas out there why and how to modify this behavior. I am going to bring in a trainer. Otherwise no issues beyond figuring out his food likes/dislikes. He is definitely motivated by food/treats but his palate is different than the other 2. For them we make our own fresh food. He has no interest. He is underweight so almost anything to get up to the right weight will work for us.

Thanks in advance!!

First, good for you and your commitment to rescuing dogs! It is tough because you often pick up behavioral baggage. Usually dogs pick up their cues from "the pack" so I am surprised that he hasn't learned that there's no need to alert everyone about the presence of another dog. Maybe it will come in time?

What kind of a dog is he, or if he's mixed, what appears to be the prevalent breeds? Some are just vocal. My dog, also a rescue, who appears to be a Rhodesian Ridgeback used to be the same way. What worked for her was for me to quietly acknowledge that I was aware of the other dog and tell her "it's okay" without breaking stride. Over time she learned that I didn't perceive other dogs to be anything to be concerned on a walk about and in a month or so she stopped barking ant them altogether.

Although I'm sure you know this, I've never found it productive to add energy to an excited dog. So a quiet acknowledgment is key. I quickly moved on from that quiet verbal acknowledgment to either a finger snap or a mouth click. With excited dogs, less is more.

Anyway, that was my experience, I hope it's helpful.