Need suggestions for helping rescued/re-homed pup adjust

I helped an elderly woman get my pup's brother as a re-home. He is much more of a rescue. He is so fearful especially of movement. He was so matted and full of fox tails that he had to be shaved - even his face! He will come to women, and to a man (if seated and offering treats). If you stand or move too quickly, he runs. The woman has limited mobility for walks and doesn't live near many places to take him so..... She keeps asking me for suggestions and I am asking all of you. I set her up on doodlekisses but, at 80, her internet capabilities are only basic. He already loves her, but she just had hip replacement surgery and had to leave he and her other dog for a week. She left them at home with a friend coming several times a day but he missed her so much he was somewhat destructive, poor baby. Nancy

SEE ALSO "LETTERS TO NEW RESCUERS" In this Group FOR MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC

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AdminPermalink Reply by LM Fowler - Admin on January 19, 2009 at 8:38pm

Reply by Lynne NJ on December 29, 2008 at 2:11pm
Oh Nancy, we will help however we can. Does she have a backyard where the pup can go out by himself? If so, that should help, or a young neighbor who would be willing to come over a few times a day to walk him? That's all he needs.

The fear will take time and patience. And love...he will get better with time. Let us know how we can help.

AdminPermalink Reply by LM Fowler - Admin on January 19, 2009 at 8:39pm

Reply by Nancy and Ned on December 29, 2008 at 2:54pm
She has a backyard, a doggie door and another little dog (yorkie mix) that has accepted him fully. She lives in a retirement community and has a lady come to clean who thinks he is cute. This lady has been the one feeding him while he is in the hospital but she and her husband (a boisterous guy who means well but doesn't understand that he has to let Teddy come to him and to move slowly) don't understand how gently he needs to be treated. The older lady is coming home today to the damage Teddy did while missing her as well as the puppy damage. She is fine with any damage but just wants the best for Teddy. She has only had him since Thanksgiving. I think in the end he will be fine with her - maybe never social with men or walk well on a leash, but he will be loved. We don't live in the same town but will visit her as often as we can, except now that she is recovering we don't want to tire her out with a visit. We are virtually strangers so can't make ourselves at home like with a close friend. We have made it clear that if she needs something we will come especially if it concerns Teddy. He hasn't been crated and she is wondering if, at 9 months, it is too late to crate him when he can't be watched? What do you think? Sorry this is so long, just want to get out enough of the facts that you all can give me advice to give her.

AdminPermalink Reply by LM Fowler - Admin on January 19, 2009 at 8:40pm

Reply by Lynne NJ on December 29, 2008 at 3:04pm
Personally, I am not a fan of crates. I have never used one, ever for any of my dogs. Little puppies I gated in the kitchen, all others lived with me and my family. I wouldn't try to crate if he has never been.

Anyway, it sounds like it will be OK. He has enough people around him, and will adjust to everything. Dogs are very resilient if living with love. They will love you back no matter what your frailities are. When my mother was in her last days with cancer, my little Cody (we kids decided) had sympathy cancer, too. He slept when my mom slept, he ate when she ate. He would get up quietly and let himself out if he had to go. And behaved as though he were just like her. Now that I have him, and two doodles, he behaves more like them. He runs around with them like he never did with my mom.

Give Teddy a chance to adjust to his new life and he will be fine, even with "a boisterous guy" if it is done with love, all will be well.

AdminPermalink Reply by LM Fowler - Admin on January 19, 2009 at 8:40pm

Reply by Karen & Jack on December 29, 2008 at 3:39pm
Nancy, ordinarily I would suggest small socialization classes for this poor guy...that's what I did with Jackdoodle when I first got him. There were just 4 of us, all with rescue dogs, and we met weekly for 6 weeks at a veterinarian's office, where we did very simple obedience exercises (sit, down, etc.) with positive reinforcement & lots of treats. Then we had an assignment each week, usually involving taking the dog to different public places...pet supply store, auto service place, walking in a downtown shopping area, etc. But this lady doesn't sound as if she's mobile enough for that.
I don't share Lynne's dislike for crates, but it depends on the dog...I used them with puppies, and the dogs as adults actually used them as "doghouses" once they were trained...it was like their "safe place". But they were not rescues, so it's hard to say. Maybe a baby gate would be better. How big is this doodle? Sooner or later, he is going to need some kind of restraint, and some positive-reinforcement obedience training. That really goes a long way toward building up their confidence, and they are less fearful when they are feeling confident. Plus, a lot of exposure to non-threatening public places where the dog can also build up some confidence and get a chance to experience new things without fear.
As Lynne said, it takes a lot of time...sometimes years, depending on the dog's previous experiences, and a lot of love. I am just concerned that this lady may not be healthy enough to handle a big rambunctious young dog, and for him to have to go through another adjustment would be a shame. Is there any $$ available for a dog trainer to come to house for a few sessions?

AdminPermalink Reply by LM Fowler - Admin on January 19, 2009 at 8:41pm

Reply by Nancy and Ned on December 29, 2008 at 4:29pm
He is a mini like Ned but weighs quite a bit less - less fur? less nutrition? He may or not have been crated by the first owners. Her house is an open floor plan and it would take some work to gate off an area. I don't think she could do classes with him because of her frailty at this time. She was going to ask the housekeeper to walk him but I am not sure that is a good idea yet. My DH and I took Ned and Teddy for a short walk when we visited and he was fine on the leash but hated the walk. The owner can put a leash on him easily so he was used to that and I am thinking that she might put a leash on him that has already been fastened to a chair or place where she is sitting so that she can keep him close and out of things. Feeding time is an issue too - he eats the other dog's food (other dog is really picky and a slow eater).

AdminPermalink Reply by LM Fowler - Admin on January 19, 2009 at 8:42pm

Reply by Karen & Jack on December 29, 2008 at 4:52pm
I don't think the crate would necessarily be such a bad thing, especially if he's been using one before. Some dogs actually feel safer in them...they can sleep without worrying about anyone stepping on them or hurting them, they can chew their bones or toys, I have actually read that it makes some dogs more secure knowing that they can't do anything wrong, especially in a new environment where they aren't sure of the rules yet, if that makes sense. I know that Lynne's Jack can't be crated, I've known of a couple of rescues with the same issues, but if it works, it can be a Godsend! Kobe used one here with no problems, and it gave both dogs a separate place to eat or chew a bone without worrying about the other one taking it. I don't mean crating him in isolation...it should always be in an area of family activity like a kitchen, etc., where they can see the comings & goings, etc. I think it might be worth a try, especially if he IS used to one. Just my (tired) 2 cents worth.

AdminPermalink Reply by LM Fowler - Admin on January 19, 2009 at 8:43pm

Reply by Karen & Jack on December 29, 2008 at 6:24pm
I agree; I thought Nancy said he might have been crated by the previous owners, but I guess it's a "might" like Jackdoodle might have been crated- we'll never know. Either way, I wish that this lady had chosen a senior dog instead of a puppy. But, she has him...so we need to figure out what can be done. The fear issues make it tricky, as we so well know. One thing for sure, the cleaning lady's husband needs to be made to understand how to behave with this poor little dog, in no uncertain terms.

AdminPermalink Reply by LM Fowler - Admin on January 19, 2009 at 8:45pm

Is the pup a labradoodle or a goldendoodle? I think he looks more like a goldendoodle, but sounds more like a labradoodle. What is his size? Actually, hip replacements heal rather rapidly, but with an 80-year-old lady, it may take a while longer. The dog may be very good for her to get some exercise as soon as possible. I know my dogs were good for my knee surgery as they had to get out and I was the one to take them. It is very hard leaving dogs alone for long periods of time and thankfully they had each other. Where does the lady live?

AdminPermalink Reply by LM Fowler - Admin on January 19, 2009 at 8:45pm

Nancy, where is this lady located? Do we have other members that might be close by that could help out? I am thinking the same as some of the others, this may be too much for this lady to take on all by herself. If there was some support by someone that is more dog wise, maybe we could help her with the adjustment?

AdminPermalink Reply by LM Fowler - Admin on January 19, 2009 at 8:46pm

Reply by Lynne NJ on December 29, 2008 at 5:51pm
I agree, at first I thought she had had the dog for awhile and just had surgery. But it is beginning to seem like it will be difficult going. I am glad all you guys jumped in. What a hard time of it this little guy.

AdminPermalink Reply by LM Fowler - Admin on January 19, 2009 at 8:47pm

Reply by Jessica on December 30, 2008 at 6:09am
Hi Nancy--
I'm just jumping into this discussion, but I had a very similar situation with my rescued labradoodle. I got him when he was 6-8 months old. I've had him now a little over a year. He had not be socialized, was (and still is) fearful of men, submissively urinated, and was incredibly destructive while I was at work. After a year, while he is fabulous and loving with me and my closest friends, he warms up to women after a few minutes, and maybe a couple of hours with men. It may take Teddy quite awhile to even out, and a LOT of patience. My biggest concern would be this woman's limited mobility, specifically when walking Teddy. My dog still will jerk my arm when on a walk if something startles him, and I would be afraid that even a mini might throw her off balance. If there's a dog park in your area, and a willing volunteer, Teddy might really benefit from that sort of interaction in a wide open area. Regarding her cleaning lady's husband, you might suggest that he ignore Teddy completely. My dog will only warm up to men if they don't approach him and he has a chance to observe them from a distance for a while. Then HE decides when he's ready for interaction. Anyway, I wish you luck. I'm sure you'll get some great advice from this forum!

AdminPermalink Reply by LM Fowler - Admin on January 19, 2009 at 8:47pm

No it is never to late to start crate training. Sounds to me this fella needs a safe secure place and cover with a sheet or blanket It will help him adjust a little quicker. Give him a bone for crate, start feeding in crate. Whenever your not able to watch him put him in crate until your finished with what you were doing. I always leave tv on for my new dogs when I leave with a new puppy in the house. Beverly