Yay! soon to be a proud owner!

congo_90

Hey I posted up a few months ago enquiring where to get a dog etc. This sat I'll be going up to a rescue centre with my mother!
So now for some refreshers.
I know roughly what I need but is there any special advice to help a dog feel welcome at home? Obviously i'll get him/ her a few toys, bowl etc.

It'll be interesting when I go to baby sit my brothers King charles too. For this reason the dog has to be ok to socialise. A good dog trainer would also be appreciated. I'm near blanch but can travel a bit

Thanks!

CreedonsDogDayc

Hiya, best of luck on sat!!

Few tips, decide between all the members of the house what the rules will be (allowed upstairs or not / allowed on couch or not / allowed lick people or not etc). STICK TO THE RULES from the very first second so the dog knows where it stands.

Decide who will feed the dog and when.

Find a quiet area of the house where there is very little foot traffic and let that be the dogs private area, put its bed there.

When the dog comes home keep everything very calm, very few visitors for the first few days.

As soon as you get home, bring the dog out the back to go to the toilet and sniff around quietly.

When the dog then comes inside dont full about it at all. If it comes for cuddles give it quiet cuddles but let it sniff around and settle in itself.

Show it its bed.


Are you going for a pup or an older dog?

If you introduce your new dog and the king charles on neutral territory (at the park maybe) they should get on ok!

congo_90

What if they were to meet in my house? I usually let my brothers dog sleep on the landing between the 2 rooms. I'll be going for a young dog ~1 year old. I'm just afraid the more energetic pup could be too much for charly (my bros dog).

As there is only two of us in the house mainly working opposite ends of the clock its agreed my mother would feed in the monrning and I'll do so in the evening. This also gurantees the dog walks and that it'll never be on it's own for more than an hour most days.

So bottom line is stay calm and let the dog wander around the house to familiarise itself yea? Perhaps put some food out on arrival aswell?

TooManyDogs

Take your new dog on a long walk after you collect them, before you go home, and then give them space to explore as much of the house as you want them to have access to. Don't fuss them too much, give them time to quietly settle in, they'll have a really good sleep and won't stress as much about new settings cos they're tired. Any house rules have to start day one, you'll only confuse them by being too soft the first day cos they're new and then trying to put down rules.

And then really enjoy them! Good luck.

congo_90

Any good obedience tips? I don't wanna be the type pulling the chain on him/ her but just some general important ones like recall. Especially because I live in the country and some farmers dont mind you walking on some fields but others do.

@toomanydogs, What if he/she won't take the lead? Some are afraid of it.

*edit*

TooManyDogs

congo_90 wrote: »

What if they were to meet in my house?

So bottom line is stay calm and let the dog wander around the house to familiarise itself yea? Perhaps put some food out on arrival aswell?

I think we were cross posting! Very important not to just bring in your new dog ontop of your brothers dog. Bring your brothers dog with you on the walk. Definately don't put food out for new dog if established dog is there too, food is the quickest way to start fights between dogs, especially if they've never met before. I'd feed them seperately initially.

But staying calm is definately good advice.

anniehoo

CreedonsDogDayc wrote: »

STICK TO THE RULES from the very first second so the dog knows where it stands.
!

Well done OP on your new arrival.Its very exciting. I agree with everything CDD said above especially what ive quoted. Rules..and stick to them from day one. Consistency is the key for a well balanced, calm and well adjusted pet. Although as ive just stated in another post it doesnt always work in every dog if theres an underlying medical (eg.neurological) condition.

But, all going well my advice would be:

• Let dog have a roam around all the areas in the house he will allowed to be in. If hes not allowed upstairs..dont even start just because its his first day.
• Keep food and water bowl in the same area at all times and his bed a little bit away but close enough so he knows thats his spot.
• Keep the introductions with the other dog short and relaxed. Let them suss each other out for 10 minutes or so.Gradually increase it over the next few days.
• Vaccinate and neuter as soon as possible if it hasnt been done.
• Start on a relatively decent diet. Im not an advocate of mad expensive ones but dry is best imo.
• Obedience classes if you can afford them are a godsend. If not, learn the basics and be consistent. Hard at the start but worth it in the end.
• Basics to have from the off incl:bed or kennel, food bowl, water bowl, food,collar with tag, lead (or harness).Add bits (grooming tools,nail clippers,worm tablets,flea treatments etc) over the coming months.

Good luck! Im sure others will add loads more to what i wrote.

congo_90

TooManyDogs wrote: »

. Bring your brothers dog with you on the walk.

See the thing is. My bothers dog only comes down say 2 days in a month that's all for when my brother is away. Otherwise my potential dog has the rule of the house.
@anniehoo, your advice on the bed and bowl placement is intertesting. Might place the bed near the rad in the dining room then. Normally I place charlies bed upstairs. He likes to sleep near us but always finds his food/drinks bowl at night.

A big concern is toilet training. Again, Charly is toilet trained and 70 years old so he knows how to get our attention when he needs it. Would an obedience class cover things like that? Its from looking after my brothers dog for long periods of time that I know I'm ready.

I'll have many questions but will try do a lotta research myself. So please bear with me. I think rescue centres have a delay on when they give you the dog so it may be a number of days till we get him/her

*sooo excited!*

anniehoo

Im going to *gently* correct ya on a few things

congo_90 wrote: »

my potential dog has the rule of the house.

No he doesnt. You do. End of! Its your house and he's your pet. This might sound cruel but thinking like this leads to really bad habits that are so hard to correct in the long run.

wrote:

He likes to sleep near us

He probably does but think about it. If you're happy to have him there then grand,but he'll be equally as happy in his warm cosy bed in the kitchen if "thems the rules". And dont think im being harsh here (my dog used to sleep on my bed every night and i didnt care,but she didnt always listen to me either) Again it depends what you are happy with.

congo_90

anniehoo,
I meant of the two dogs. Mine will have its 'territory'. I can see how that can be misunderstood so my apologese!

As for the lead issue. Any tips? These dogs are rescue dogs so they may need some gentle coaxing and love to start wearing a collar and lead. Some people sugggest putting it on while they're relaxed from eating etc.

CreedonsDogDayc

maybe meet your bro a few times for social walks and the doggies can get to know each other, then on his first sleep over, meet in the park, do your walkies and then let them come home together.

Crate training is the easiest method of toilet training if done correctly. If your getting an older dog chances are he will be more or less toilet training, may just need reinforcement.

LOTS of trips outside for toilet duty, and praise when he goes.

If theres any problems, set your alarm for every hour during the day and take him outside every hour so he wont get the chance to go in the house.

When your bro's dog comes to stay, if he sleeps upstairs fine, but keep your dog in his normal place (kitchen perhaps) dogs dont think "not fair" so again, consistency with the sleeping arrangements.

Dont put the food / water by the rad, it'll dry out!

Dont let the new dog annoy charlie. monitor them (and never leave them alone together until your 100000% positive they get on well).

Give charlie his space (perhaps if he's allowed upstairs and the pup isnt then charlie can go upstairs for peace and quiet).

You must monitor their interactions, but also allow them to create their own pecking orders. Dont scold charlie if he growls at the pup when the pup annoys him, he's telling the pup to leave him alone, and the pup will learn what a growl means.

if charlie picks on the pup you have to step in, but if their getting on with the odd growl and bark thats ok, even if charlie nips at the pup if the pup is really at him, thats ok (as long as charlie doesnt actually bite deeply, a little nip that doesnt hurt but startles the pup is just teaching the pup about canine body language).

When the pup jumps over charlie, and charlie growls, and the pup goes at him again, say NO to the pup and bring it away from charlie!

CreedonsDogDayc

its unlikely the dog will have an issue with a collar, the vast majority of rescue dogs are family dogs that the family got bored of!

And the pup prob wont be the boss of the two dogs, even though its the pups house!!

congo_90

Charly has a strong tolerence of other dogs and generally just stays friendly. He only ever calls out to get our attention but thanks for the advice. I'll acquaint them not too soon but sooner rather than later. baby steps for now.
I meant I could leave the dogs bed near the rad. I would leave the food across in the kitchen. Should mean best for dog and food

congo_90

2days to go is there anything to look out for in a rescue? particularly any dog to avoid? any questions I should ask?
thanks!

boomerang

If you're near Blanchardstown, then Dog Training Ireland will be right up your alley... Lucky you, you've got the best dog training school in the country right on your doorstep! They are wonderful; I can't recommend them highly enough. Tara, Lisa and Laura all have a background in rescue and fostering and itake a gentle, understanding approach. Lots of people come to the classes with their newly adopted rescue dogs, so you guys will fit right in. I did their beginners obedience course with my dog and it was fab! Really simple, effective techniques with no choke chains or any other nasty gadgets - just chopped up ham, cheese, ham and hotdogs!

namurt

Definitely make sure you walk as many dogs as possible so you can see how you get on with each of them. Also, see how they react to other dogs around them, and of course to you and other people. Feel free to bring treats to see how the dog responds to you with food.

I know you're really excited but I think the most important thing is not to make a decision in haste just because you really want a dog and you want it now. I went to one pound (not a rescue so I know it's different) and they wouldn't even let me walk the dog I was interested in, it was very hard to walk away but I had to, there's no way you can choose a life-time companion by just looking at it.

Keep us posted.

By the way, do you know which rescue you are going to?

congo_90

its summerhill pound. thanks for sound advice. i think you *know* when you've found a companion!
Would the rescue not frown upon me bringing treats?

Toulouse

Summerhill as in Dunboyne?

It's a pound. A rescue does take dogs when their time is up but Dunboyne is a council run pound. Rescue has no say in pound rehoming.

You will not be allowed to walk any dogs. Your dog will not be neutered, vaccinated or microchipped unless it was done before it came to the pound. List of dogs currently in the pound are up here in Urgent Matters under 'A Dogs Life'. http://petsireland.invisionzone.com/index.php?showforum=4 Photos were taken yesterday so that's what is currently in there. If you do see a dog you'd like then you'll have to book it at the pound and come back when it's time is up. Strays get 5 days, surrenders just 1.

seamus

I would ask you to consider the less desirable dogs - those missing half an ear, an eye or only standing on three legs. I don't know if other rescues take dogs from the Dunboyne pound, but in general it's the imperfect dogs that get left behind to be destroyed. I don't mean take a sick animal and spend thousands of euro patching him up (most of the rescues won't do this either), but a dog with three legs, for example, doesn't incur any more medical costs than a dog with four.

But I am biased

anniehoo

Toulouse wrote: »

Strays get 5 days, surrenders just 1.

Hi just to clarify, if someone walks into a pound and hands over their dog, it literally only gets one day to live. Am i reading that right?

Toulouse

Yep, that's right. Surrendered dogs have 24 hours and then they can be PTS or passed onto rescue if there is a rescue taking dogs from that pound.

Just to add OP please don't let any of this pressurise you into taking a dog from the pound. Dunboyne Pound has the second lowest PTS rate (7% in 2008) of any pound in the country and the lowest of any council run pound in the country thanks to the group of volunteers that take dogs from there. If you don't find a suitable dog there don't be worrying about the ones left behind, they will be sorted. You have to pick a dog that is right for you.

As you have an existing dog I would recommend that you go the rescue route. There are a good few in Dublin and Meath and you'll be able to try out your brothers dog with them. http://www.irishanimals.ie/general/index.html

namurt

Sorry to say this Congo but I would stay well away from Dunboyne pound. I know that's not fair for the animals there but they were the pound who wouldn't let me walk the dog....absolutely ridiculous. Since you're in Meath and near Blanch I'm assuming you're near Dog's Trust. I would highly recommend going to them instead.

congo_90

Some posts are disturbing yet confirmation on what I knew.
It's a sad thing to see a dog 'destroyed' or to have it's life ended. The thoughts of which break my heart.

I've had a friend get a dog from Dunboyne pound. He got a vacination, licence and spay done under a set charge with the local vet in collaboration with the rescue/pound (can someone clarify what it is?).

All I know is I'm not going to a breeder. I'd rather re-home a dog and give one a chance to be with a loving family for the duration of his/ her life.

namurt

Dunboyne is a pound. Dog's Trust is a rescue and believe me if you go to both places you'll understand why I seem to be pushing you to go to Dog's Trust. The support they offer is amazing, they really care about the dogs they are rehoming. You should at least check out their website, although the last time I looked they only had a small selection of the dogs available photographed on it, but it will give you an idea of what they do.

TooManyDogs

anniehoo wrote: »

Hi just to clarify, if someone walks into a pound and hands over their dog, it literally only gets one day to live. Am i reading that right?

The pound don't even have to get one day, a surrendered dog can be PTS straight away

namurt

So how did you get on Congo?

congo_90

Well folks.
Just to update ya.
We went to the pound early this morning. A little terrier called suzie jumped and greeted us at reception.
We then went in to look at the dogs and talk about them.
I don't wanna jinx it yet but theres a beautiful black Lab X in there who I couldn't take my eyes off! He was so friendly and fond.

There was also a collie x in there with plenty of energy who caught my eye. I put my name down for both but preference to the lab. He's still quite young (about 1-2 years). I've to call on Tuesday to see if the dog is available or has been claimed. I feel sorry for the previous owner but look forward to collecting him! Been thinking of names already!

Will post an update on tuesday afternoon and hopefully pics on wednesday!
Thanks to all for the good advice.

congo_90

Gettin nervous. Will be calling the pound tomorrow afternoon. Hope they still have the dog. (not giving his name out yet. We've come to a decision on it though )

Is there any way to find out what breed he is? I know mostly lab and for all I know from the cage could've been a pedigree :eek: These are just my anxious thoughts at me!

Anyhow. As promised, will update tomorrow and Wednesday!

Toulouse

I'm pretty sure he's a purebred lab, certainly looks like one in his photo.

congo_90

Just got off the phone with the pound.
Looks like Harvey is getting a home!
Will try post some pics up tomorrow depending on how things go.
Thanks to all who replied in the thread.

boomerang

Congratulations!