THE RESCUE DOG
There are a group of rather wonderful people out there who for whatever reason decide to take on a dog that is desperate for a new home. That dog may have been put in that position due to a variety of reasons from family bereavement, moving house, divorce, or just grew too big. The list is endless. There is another group that deserves our attention and those are the abused and traumatised dogs that need special understanding and care so they might again take their place in our society as a treasured and valuable member of a loving family.
RESCUE RULES.
TIPS THAT MIGHT HELP.
Think like a dog.
Dogs are not humans, don't try and make them into one! We, hopefully, can rationalise most situations, a dog cannot. He will react by instinct and as a result of his treatment and learned behaviour from previous owners. It is time to reach for a few books. If we are interested in DIY, various hobbies or child behaviour, the books are bought or borrowed, but not so much if a dog is going to be introduced into the family home. It is an important part of learning how to understand why your new acquisition is reacting the way he does and then you will not be so perplexed because he is not showing his abounding gratitude for saving him from an awful life but has instead chewed your favourite shoes and insists on peeing on the kitchen floor each time you go out shopping.
Coming home.
There is always great excitement when a rescue dog comes home for the first time. There are many good intentions but the most important thing to establish is that your dog has a place of his own in the first few days where he can take time out and has some space of his own. Many traumatised dogs will just want to be left alone and be quiet for a while. I have had dogs that just sleep for a few days, refuse food and water and have had to be given a drink off a spoon until they can be tempted to take a little food. Really traumatised dogs almost get to a position where they give up and accept that all treatment will be bad treatment. They as it were, implode and turn in on themselves and just wait for what they see as the inevitable bad treatment and cruelty. If your rescue dog is outward and full of beans, still give him quiet times so he can start to feel a little more secure. We all need quiet times, dogs are no different.
Where to sleep.
If a dog comes into a home, he should come in as a member of a family group. Dogs are pack animals and respond well to becoming part of your family pack. A nice warm kitchen is a lovely place to put a basket. During the day there are people about, lots of nice food smells and voices and touching. Night comes and the light goes off and the door is closed and everyone has gone. The crying and scratching starts, there might be a puddle on the floor. The words 'no' and 'don't do that' begin and a muddle starts. Imagine this, in dog language of course, 'these people seem nice, this place is better than I have had so far, perhaps I will be allowed to stay, it's dark and they have gone and left me, perhaps something bad is going to happen, if I call out perhaps they will understand that I am frightened and confused'. That puts a rather different light on the noisy, naughty nuisance howling its head off in the kitchen.
Things to try
· Put an old jumper in the dogs bed, one preferably that has not been washed and has some of your perspiration on it. Your body scent might help to reassure an insecure dog.
· Cover the dog in something light and make him cosy so he feels a little more secure. Just let his nose peek out.
· Just reassure him with a quiet voice. A harsh voice has no place in trying to sort out this problem.
· Some dogs feel more secure in a house kennel for a few weeks and you can leave the kitchen door open when you are upstairs and call down to him with reassurance so he knows he is not alone.
· Have a dog-bed in your bedroom for him. This requires some gentle firmness so that the word 'bed' is learnt from an early stage to stop him getting onto yours.
· A small electric night-light might be of help. Some traumatised dogs are genuinely afraid of the dark. (I have one).
· Gentle persistence in all things will get the desired result but it will take time. Always remember that he is the traumatised party, think dog and give him a chance.
Visit the vet.
A trip to the vet never goes amiss after taking in a rescue dog. Many times I have found that an underlying problem is a basic health related one and can be put right with nutritional support like careful and selective feeding. It is not uncommon for a newly homed dog to experience stomach upsets or have food travel through its system too fast resulting in 'accidents' in awkward places. If it persists, see your vet but most often careful feeding for a while will sort it out especially when the dog begins to relax and settle a little. Try fish and rice or chicken and rice and biscuit to see if it helps you out. Accidents are accidents nothing more at this time. The dog will be as distressed as you are. Help him out, think dog and don't get cross with him or he will begin to be unsure and dirty because of anxiety. Don't forget the vet can advise you on a worming preparation that will not cause a upset tummy and also the important flea and tick prevention preparation can be discussed at that time. Remember dog insurance is available and well worth thinking about
Basic manners.
A dog starts learning the minute it walks into your home. The messages you give him from the start will determine his understanding of what he is or is not allowed to do. He will in fact learn from your behaviour and responses so if it goes wrong don't blame him. Teaching a dog the behaviour you want him to follow is not easy and is not quick. There is no 'quick fix' in dog training. I prefer the word teaching to training, it implies tolerance, time and understanding. There are many times that it will go wrong when perhaps a slower approach or different method might get the message through. No one knows it all and with traumatised dogs you will be surprised how often you will have to improvise to get the results you want. The best way of teaching a dog is through play, praise and reward. Happy dogs work and learn well. A dog that does not know how to play will have great difficulty in learning things. Puppies learn through play and play needs to continue through adult life. That's not much different to us really, is it? The best way of thinking about it is to never put your dog in a position where he will make a mistake. Think ahead all the time. If you leave your dog in a position where he has to make a choice then he will probably make the wrong one and that can lead to all sorts of trouble.
It is important to get the basic dog manners established quietly and calmly. Feeding times are helpful. A gentle command followed by the food as a reward is one way. (Never withdraw food just because a dog won't do what you want it to). Look at Kay's clicker page it has some very good tips for you.
Play time.
Play with a rescue dog needs to be conducted carefully. Unless you have a good idea what your dog has been through approach play as if it might also be something that might be seen as a threat. Dogs that have been beaten or hit with objects could see a toy as a weapon. Show him the toy at ground level wiggle it around the floor, don't shove it in his face, and watch his reactions. If he should wince or duck your hand be suspicious that he is worried that he is going to be hit and adjust your type of play until he realises that will not ever happen to him again. Keep all play gentle. Some rescue dogs find stroking difficult. Sometimes it helps to start any bodily contact with a tickle on the shoulders and up to under the chin. Never lean down and put your hand forward into the dog's face with the intention of stroking his head. Never look him directly in the eyes, it is an aggressive act to the dog, better look over his head or divert your gaze until you have had a chance to study all his reactions. Some dogs will remain hand and eye shy for the rest of their lives. Learn to understand his worries. Trauma is burnt into the brain, much of it will never be forgotten. How many of you can clearly remember something frightening that happened to you as a child, the dog is no different. Help him, think dog.
Meeting other dogs.
Introduce your rescue dog to other dogs quietly and carefully. Don't just let him off the lead and hope for the best. Never let a dog off the lead until he knows his name and you have taught a good recall. Socialisation is vital. Find a respected dog-training club and go along. Tell the trainer you have a rescue dog and want to help your dog settle in and learn good manners. There will be good days and bad days when teaching a dog, never let a trainer take your dog from you if things are not going to plan. A good trainer will take you to one side and quietly assess what the problem is and help you through it. Stand firm on this one, your dog is traumatised enough without suddenly having a stranger take him off to enforce a command. Look at Kay's clicker page, she will give you some guidelines.
A dirty dog.
It is not uncommon for a rescue dog to have either not been house-trained, has been in kennels, so need to be re-trained or be so consumed by anxiety that 'accidents' are an indication of the stress levels the dog is experiencing. Go back to basics. Do not get cross, the dog will be more distressed than you can imagine. Get into a routine that will help. Keep feeding and walking at about the same times each day. Be watchful for the times when the dog is snuffling around looking for a place to go in the house or becomes unsettled. Pop him outside and be ready with praise if he goes. Like the word 'walkies' you can get a dog to respond to the words 'who wants a wee' quite easily. (Seven dogs rush to my back door each time I utter those magic words).
Getting a stressed dog to understand what you want in this area can take a lot of time. Just consider it to be 'potty training' for dogs, when it goes pear shaped, don't 'freak' deep breath and start again.
Things to try.
Establish a routine.
Put paper by the door.
Praise when your dog gets it right.
Make no comment when he gets it wrong.
Expect it to take more than a week.
Expect it to go wrong if something upsets or worries your dog.
When it goes wrong, go back to basics.
Never become cross with a dog that has been dirty while you were out. If you do he will develop an anxious behaviour pattern because he will worry about the telling off he has begun to expect each time you return. It may be down right irritating to come back to a parcel on the floor but be careful of the message you give your dog by telling him off. It may go against the grain but show him you are pleased to see him, ignore the present, (an 'oh dear' will suffice) and your dog will be reassured by your behaviour and the anxiety about being left will slowly fade. Getting a solution can take some time.
Home alone.
This one is another minefield. Dogs do get used to being left alone for reasonable periods once they realise that you will always return. It is essential that they see being left as part of their normal routine.
Things to try
· Always walk a dog before being left.
· Perhaps leave a biscuit or two to divert his attention while you leave.
· Do no make much of going, 'see you later', is enough. If you spend time petting, reassuring and in a fret yourself the dog will pick up on that and be worried himself.
· If you are going to be away for a length of time and have a friend who will call in to let your dog out, introduce them a few days before you go so a perfect stranger does not come through the door and worry him.
· Leave something that will take a bit of chewing, a bone or chew. This diverts the attention and might stop your dog worrying and chewing something in the house.
· Leave the radio on, not maximum volume, but about normal speaking level.
· Leave a light on if you go out at night or it will be dark by the time you return.
· Leave an old well-worn jumper or slipper in his bed. It will act as reassurance as it will carry your scent.
Thoughts For The Future
Quite often, as time goes on, people who take on a rescue dog forget the importance of the traumas that dog might have gone through before finding a safe haven with them. The dog will never forget. Some find that difficult to understand but it must be remembered that trauma is burnt into the memory part of the brain and is always there ready to be resurrected if a situation that alarms the dog or makes him/her unsure about something occurs unexpectedly.
My rule at home is to try to never put a dog in a position where he could make a mistake. That means a lot of hard work and thinking ahead of situations before occuring . Not easy. Thinking like a dog is the key. After- all, as a human you would have understood his original abusive situation and you would have done the best for him, as you see it, but the dog might be seeing it all quite differently from you.
Many rescue dogs are damaged dogs. Dogs do get depressed and have nightmares. One of my dogs, now 16 years old had awful depressions for years after I took him home and he would wake at night terrified until he was reassured that he was safe. Like humans that experience trauma, the memory sits there and can be a stumbling block for life. The attitude that the dog should be grateful for your kindness or should have forgotten that part of his life is a fantasy, yours. Dogs that I have had for years are still hand shy, one if you look straight at him will cower, I am in the middle of convincing two little dogs that my feet are not a danger to them. It all takes time.
If something goes wrong or you experience a reaction that makes you wonder why, think back to the original situation when the dog came to you. Don't immediately blame the dog or think he /she is bad. It might mean you do a little more training in a certain area to reassure the dog that the situation is safe. It might also be that the dog you have has found a way to try to be boss over you and some help with reducing the dominance is needed. It might be that something scared him witless; give the dog a chance. Many traumatised dogs experience the 'broken wing' syndrome. They appear to be over the worst and are happy and friendly chaps, then something, sometimes so obscure and simple can make it all go pear shaped because the dog's confidence is not as it really should be or his messages to you have been misread. A 'broken wing' will always ache however much you try to make it better. Don't give up on your dog if something happens after a while that makes you wonder why you bothered in the first place, 'ungrateful dog' should never be in your thoughts, 'back to basics' should.
A FEW THOUGHTS
If you take the time needed to help a rescue dog over his worries, you will be rewarded with unbelievable pleasure at watching a destroyed dog develop and become whole again. Remember some abused dogs can only achieve so much and will always carry their fears with them for the rest of their lives.
What you give is what you get returned. No dream is impossible.
Therefore you must seek out the rescue remedy because the mission is never impossible
GOOD LUCK.
Books to read
Second Chance. by Judy and Larry Elsden
The Rescue Dog by Gwen Bailey
How to be Your Dog's Best Friend by The Monks of New Skete.
Hear Hear, A Guide to Training a Deaf Puppy by Barry Eaton
To the Rescue by Dr. David Sands.
On Talking Terms With Dogs by Turid Rugaas
All these great books are available from "CrossKeys Books" just click the banner below to buy them online.
PS.
Rosemary Elliott and I have been friends for a number of years. She and I together with our dogs Tom and
Sam had a successful partnership in mini-pairs agility culminating in reaching the finals of the Mini-Barbour
Pairs where we eventually came third! Both Tom and Sam have retired from competition now!
Rosemary has devoted herself for over 25 years to rescue dogs and her expertise of the subject comes not only from knowledge
but hands-on experience with a mix of badly treated and traumatised animals that she has lovingly restored
to health and happinness.
Any rescue dog would consider it their lucky day if Rosemary took them on!!!!!