Rescuing a dog offers enormous rewards, but it can be a disaster if not handled well. The process can take a high emotional and financial toll. Just as first-time parents need instruction manuals, families adopting dogs also need clear-cut advice at their fingertips. There are books on the market you can read, but some of us who have rescued can offer our advice, too.

So, here's some things to talk about:

* What to do if you find a dog in need: What can happen in the first few hours.
* When your adopted dog comes home: the critical first 48 hours.
* Common health and behavioral problems of rescue dogs; how to prevent and deal with them.
* Health issues you know about and one's you don't.
* The "Baggage" they can bring with them.
* Integrating a rescue into the family.
* Changing his name
* Training a rescued dog with issues: tips, steps
* Issues like fear even terrors, aggression, shyness.


Help us with more...your ideas for new rescuers...your advice.

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Posts

Reply by Lynne Fowler - RR Collective on February 2, 2009 at 5:03pm

This is a letter I wrote a couple of years ago for Jodi (from whom I rescued Ginger and Jack). It is also posted in the Rescued Doodles Owners Group, but I thought it could start the conversation, here.

Dear New Rescue Parent,

As someone who has rescued two dogs (three if you count the one I rescued from my brother), my best advice to a new rescue owner is … be patient. When our first rescue came to us, she was young. At only five or six months old, our Doodle Girl, Ginger, was scared and very nervous around everyone. By having someone from the family home with her constantly for the first few days, she was quickly brought out of her shell. She took a few days to let us all touch her. I believe in training with love and I am not big on crate training, so it is important to be there to take the new puppy out every 15 to 20 minutes. It’s like having a baby in the house and some accidents will happen.

At first Ginger was scared of everything. She didn't understand what grass was and was afraid of it. She would freeze up in place and refuse to move. If the wind whistled or it was raining, she would start to shake. I had to keep her corraled in the kitchen until she became comfortable with me. Her first night home, I had to hold her on my lap to sleep. She attached herself to Cody, our Bijon, and he helped to socialize her. By petting or brushing him, she saw that it was OK. She started to come around. Over about a month or so, she began to feel safe and comfortable. She is now loving and loves to cuddle and kiss.

When I got the call about another Doodle rescue, I was excited but not sure what to expect. I’d never had three dogs at once before. It was suggested that I give it a couple of weeks and call it a Foster and now I’m glad that I did. Just like people, dogs have different personalities and these three did. My older dog, Cody is seven and somewhat set in his ways. My Doodle Girl was more laid back and lovey-dovey and the new guy, Jack wasn’t very welcome at first. He and the seven year old battled from the minute he came in. Ginger knew she was Top Dog in this house and set out to make sure Jack was in his place. Jack on the other hand was the largest of the three and was not about to be last on any list and he let everyone know he was not going to be last, everytime.

The first few days were rough. Jack didn’t know the family routines. He didn’t know what he could or could not do. He didn’t even know where he was able to sleep or relieve himself. We tried to “get into his head” and think about what he was thinking. Again, I made sure someone was with them at all times (mainly me) but there were times that I thought, “this is not going to work.” At about the five day mark, I still thought this was not going to work out.

As day six and seven came, though, things started to level out. Routines became routine. There were no more accidents and hierarchy was established. Ginger allowed Jack to be leader sometimes but took her place at other times. Life got easier for all of us. My kids were falling in love with Jack and so was I. Because he was a rescue, he had been hungry for a week. As he started to fill out he was less aggressive. He knew where his next meal was coming from. Thinking like him, we realized that his past made him act the way he did and now that he was settling into his future, he was a great dog. By the two week mark, Jack was home for good.

I am so glad that it was suggested we give this a two week trial. Thinking Jack was a foster and not an adoption we were able to bring him into the family slowly. If I had given him back after a few days we would have missed out on seeing the real Jack. The personality he showed the first few days was not the real Jack. It was the fear of the unknown Jack. It was the, “I don’t know the rules, pecking order, or where I belong” Jack. It was literally at the two week mark that Jack felt safe and let us know it. He now is a happy, well mannered boy.

A great training book that I use is “The Loved Dog,” by Tamar Geller. If you plan on making this little life a part of the family, the book teaches training through love. It gives some great tips on teaching manners to dogs through love and caring, not threats or punishment. Our Ginger is a sweet, loving one year old today. Jack has learned very quickly to sit, come and stop in just two weeks. Even Cody has learned some new “tricks.”

I feel somewhat like an expert now in rescuing dogs. I have educated myself in training, feeding and raising my “pack.” With the dog food scare of a few months ago, the problems with immunizations and the lack of punishing laws for animal abusers, potential adoption families should really be aware that they have to be the advocate for their pets. “Think like a dog,” and life will be easier. What do dogs really need to eat? What are all these vaccinations doing to our animals? Why do some people need to hurt or abandon helpless animals? This is my new “soapbox” and all pet owners should learn all they can if they want to really be successful pet owners.

Enough preaching; “BE PATIENT” with a rescued dog is my best advice. You don’t know what baggage they bring to you and they don’t know what to expect from you. Give it some time to teach each other. Like I said before, two weeks is the magic day. Teach through love and you will have a faithful and true friend for life.

Love,

The Fowler Pack

Lynne, Dennis, Sam and Dan & The Fur Members: Ginger, Jack, Cody
Reply by cathy meier on February 3, 2009 at 3:53pm

I so agree with everything you said. Your letter is wonderful. So that being said, rescue dogs are not for everyone. Some people just don't have the time, know-how or patience for all the issues that can come with a rescue dog so they choose a fresh young puppy from a respectable hobby breeder and that's OK. But, I sure do commend all of you who do have the $$, time, and patience to rescue these wonderful animals. There should be more of you out there.
Reply by Lynne Fowler - RR Collective on February 3, 2009 at 5:50pm

Thank you Cathy. The point is for people to understand that rescue IS NOT easy. It takes a lot of time, love and patience to bring these dogs around to be loving family mambers. One of the reasons I started this discussion about 6 months ago is because people were talking about their fuzzy pink bellied ball of joy they just brought home from a great breeder. And my experiences were different. Then you hear people say that they want to rescue their next dog and I wanted them to know that it would be a different experience than the puppy they had. I'm not saying people shouldn't rescue but I wanted people to be prepared for what they might encounter. Knowledge is power and I thought if it helped one person help one dog, it was worth it.

And you're right, no matter how well-intentioned, if they don't have the time, know-how or patience to deal with the (we call it) baggage some rescue dogs come with, they shouldn't rescue. More damage will be done if he has to rehomed after being rescued.
Reply by Lynne Fowler - RR Collective on February 4, 2009 at 5:02pm

'Baggage' ~ A Poem


Now that I'm home, bathed, settled and fed,
All nicely tucked in my warm new bed.
I'd like to open my baggage lest I forget
There is so much to carry - So much to regret.

Hmm . . . Yes there it is, right on the top.
Let's unpack Loneliness, Heartache and Loss;
And there by my leash hides Fear and Shame.
As I look on these things I tried so hard to leave –
I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain.

I loved them, the others, the ones who left me,
But I wasn't good enough - for they didn't want me.
Will you add to my baggage?
Will you help me unpack?
Or will you just look at my things -
And take me right back?

Do you have the time to help me unpack?
To put away my baggage, to never repack?
I pray that you do - I'm so tired you see,
But I do come with baggage –

Will YOU still want ME?


Evelyn Colbath
'Baggage' © 1995 Evelyn Colbath. All rights reserved.
Reply by Lynne Fowler - RR Collective on February 4, 2009 at 5:04pm

*A Footnote to Adopters:*

'Lassie and Cleo and Rin Tin Tin and Toto don't show up in rescue. We don't get the elegantly coiffed, classically beautiful, completely trained, perfectly behaved dog. We get the leftovers. Dogs that other people have incompetently bred, inadequately socialized, ineffectively 'trained,' and badly treated. Most Rescue dogs have had it. They've been pushed from one lousy situation to another. They've never had proper veterinary care, kind and consistent training, or sufficient company. They've lived outside, in a crate, or in the basement. They're scared, depressed and anxious. Some are angry. Some are sick. Some have given up. But we are Rescue and we don't give up. We never give up on a dog. We know that a dog is a living being, with a spirit and a heart and feelings. Our dogs are not commodities, things, or garbage. They are part of sacred creation and they deserve as much love and care and respect as the next Westminster champion. So please, please don't come to rescue in the hopes of getting a 'bargain,' or indeed of 'getting' anything. Come to Rescue to give, to love, to save a life -- and to mend your own spirit. For Rescue will reward you in ways you never thought possible. I can promise you this -- a rescue dog will make you a better person.'

~Diane Morgan, animal lover and rescuer~

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