What to expect with a rescue dog?

[BabyElephant]

As you know I've been helping out in rescue for a few years now and am always counselling new homes on what to expect with their new rescue dog. I've done some research on the Internet and it seems that nobody has put together a comprehensive list on what to expect when bringing a rescue dog home.

Now I know all dogs are different but I just thought we could pull all our experiences together about bringing a rescue dog in to your home.

[Moo]

Expect the unexpected

[FairyDogMother]

I don't think there's any cut & dry formula for expectations.
Give them 24 hours to adjust to new surroundings and then begin to enforce what you want from/out of them. The longer you "give them a break" the more likely they can fall into negative behavior.

Get as much information about the dog as possible so you are less "surprised" once they're home. Like people, they usually have their negative points but going in knowing, you can determine if it's something you can deal with. Sometimes, you get a wonderful angel with no issues too.

Come to the forum with everything to get a variety of input to find what best works for you and your home..

Get lots of best wishes headed your way for a relatively easy transition and wonderful life together!

[Dax]

History is very important in understanding what a rescue dog might need from it's new home.

Reserve dogs are common here in Edmonton. These dogs are nearly ferral in many cases. Since they competed for limited resources, almost all of them will exhibit dog to dog aggression, food aggression, poor socialization and no early obedience.

Strays, since thier history is a blank slate - you will never know what to expect. This dog could be a sweet lovable creature until someone walks by with an umbrella.

We had a dog who was terrified for nearly 2 months of everything. This dog needed baby steps to fit into the family. She was allowed to adapt to our family routine at her pace. Some need more love than structure some need more structure than love.

We had one from the SPCA that was a stray. He was a stray because he had developed the skill of scaling a 6ft fence. He did not think of us as his pack but as a pit stop. With him, you had to stop the escape first so he could develop attachment to the home.

Dogs that are owner surrenders usually have a behavior that they did nothing to correct. Jumping, counter surfing, garbage diving, biting, herding, etc. You should expect several issues to surface usually not right away but as the dog begins to feel that he is home. That is one of the most heartbreaking aspects IMO, is that many persons wonder what happened when in reality the dog feels like it belongs.

Aggression, unlike a puppy an adult dog will have it's own idea of it's pack worth. A puppy readily excepts it's place at the bottom of the pack. A young adult does not. A previously dominant dog will not.

Extra precautions around children, other dogs, strangers should always be taken for at least a year IMO until the owners have gained the insight into the dog's normal behavior.

Assume health issues will surface and need to be accounted for. A dog that has had poor diet and little or no vet care, can be expected to have medical problems eventually.

[weezyNollie]

Expect the trust/bonding process to be potentially slow. Some rescue dogs make take awhile to really get to a place where they trust their environment. (IE -- for the longest time Louise would still hide her treats from me, i guess she thought I was going to eat them?!)

Don't expect the dog to immediately understand you. Depending on their background, they could have been taught to "sit" or "stay" with different commands. Or their potty rituals were abnormal. OR, if it's a stray -- expect the dog to take a bit of time to potentially learn?

Expect the rules to be broken. Both yours and theirs. Be flexible with these to earn the trust. (IE -- furniture. Louise had never been exposed to furniture and the first thing she did was jump over everything and even try and CHEW on the corner of a couch. Of course I taught her she can't do that, but I also was understanding that she came without any known boundaries.)

Expect your idea of a good diet/regime to potentially change. Rescues can be picky with their food, or the exact opposite. Be flexible with the amounts, the times of feedings, etc to cater to the dog. (IE-- sensitive stomach, thin dog needing to gain weight, food aggression, etc)

Those are the couple I can think of, off the top of my head.

[Faith]

from the lolin website - http://www.lolin.org/

PLEASE CONSIDER THIS BEFORE ADOPTING:

Whether he was born in the bushes behind the laundromat or an adolescent abandoned on the streets by his once-upon-a-time owner, the streetwise stray can be a real challenge to incorporate into your life. The famous "he followed me home, can I keep him, Mom" canine is a special animal that needs time and space, calm and understanding.

This is a dog that has had to compete to stay alive; he's fought for food, scrambled for shelter. His reliance on his inborn canine savvy kept him alive on the streets long enough to be rescued and be adopted by you. Now that you've committed yourself to him, it becomes a crash course in Canine Socialization and Human Interaction 101.

If he's street-born, chances are he's never heard a toilet flush or seen a vacuum cleaner in action. He'll gobble up his food, throwing furtive glances left and right. The acoustics of the indoor environment may make him anxious. Edgy, he'll whine and pace. A sudden sound and he'll either bolt upright or slither along behind you.

Be reasonable in your expectations. Be sensitive. It's culture shock, pure and simple. Just imagine that you've been snatched away from home and suddenly find yourself in an aboriginal forest community. No language or gestures in common. Communication is by trial and error. Put yourself in his shoes. Then be patient and supportive. You'll succeed.

The stray that was "previously owned" enters your home with a completely different set of baggage. Leashes, hands, rolled up newspapers and magazines, feet, chairs and sticks are just some of the training equipment that may have been used on this dog. Words like "come here" and "lie down" may bring forth a reaction other than the one expected. This dog is a product of a never ending series of scrambled communications and unreal expectations.

As an adolescent or adult dog, he's already formed his opinion regarding humans. Be prepared to meet with confusion, reluctance and resistance as you retrain this fellow. He may flinch when you reach to pet him or when you make a sudden move or raise your voice. But don't let yourself be held hostage by thoughts of past cruelties and abuse. Don't treat him like he's a victim. The key here is confidence. Build his with firm, consistent training and you'll turn him around.

The dog that has been voluntarily surrendered for adoption has somehow let someone down. Not housebroken, too active, too noisy, destructive when left alone, too friendly. Or maybe he's a victim of circumstance. An owner who died, is ill or was arrested. A newborn who is allergic. Whatever, he's separated from those he loves and trusts. In despair, he waits for them to return, sniffing for the familiar smells that make him feel good all over. He misses them, he mourns them. His pack, his family...where are they?

When you get him home he's confused and very disoriented. Sights and sounds are simultaneously familiar and unfamiliar; things are jumbled up. He jumps on the couch and bed, he drinks from the toilet bowl, barks at the phone and makes wild lunges at strangers. In another life these behaviors may have been encouraged or maybe just not discouraged. Don't worry; he'll catch on. He'll get past it all. He'll become your dog.

Taking on the responsibility of a dog with a past is hard work. Make sure you and he are indeed suited for each other; that you can meet his needs for activity and companionship according to his breed type. Most of the problem behavior you'll encounter is an expression of the dog's inability to cope with the demands of your personality and lifestyle. Things may proceed slowly; you'll hit frustrating learning plateaus. But if you're committed, you'll get there. Remember that the basic period of adjustment can be anywhere from six to twelve weeks. Go into this with your eyes open and then stand back and marvel at the transformation. It will knock your socks off!

From ASPCA instructions for owners of rescued dogs.

[alimel]

I guess from my experience in adopting rescue dogs, their true personality does not show for many months. Even though you feel sorry for them and you want to spoil them in their new forever home....not a good idea. It is important to let them know you are in charge..take Buddy for instance He was so withdrawn and sad for months..today he is happy and chubby,however, he is no longer shy, he is a terror at times!

[BabyElephant]

These are all great posts - it's certainly made me think about things I never even considered before.