ARghhh Rescue dog problems

[carolwilts]

All those of you out there who have experience with rescue dogs....


I have just "adopted" a middle aged collie cross bitch (sure that this programme will change this, but female dog) called Ellie. I felt very sorry for her.. her owner changed jobs and was away a lot and left her tied up outside all day (and sometimes longer)... etc.

I already have a 3 year old flat-coated retriever (Skye), who has been an "only dog" since he's been here.

They are getting on sort of OK, but Skye is very jealous and is now sulking (2 days in and looking very miffed). If Ellie shows enthusiasm or excitement he gets all stroppy and barks at her. He didn't eat last night and is definitely out of kilter.

Ellie is quite insecure having been "left" by her owner.. poor girl.. she spent the first few hours staring at the door her "mum" had last gone through, and now has transferred her insecurity to me. She's following me around and sticking to me like glue and crying if I go out without her.

As you might guess this is not going down too well with Skye who is used to being the only (and spoilt) child.

Not quite sure how to resolve the situation.

any thoughts?

carol

[EMW-UK]

Carol get them both outdoors together as much as possible, long walks on neutral teritory will soon breed an alegiance (sp?)... within a few days they will start interacting and you'll think you've not ever had jsut one dog...
emw x

[carolwilts]

Thanks EMW

Very useful.... I will up the number of walks! Since this may be the "last day of summer" I may go out shortly!

One of the issues is around Skye's toys... obviously Ellie has played with toys at one stage in her life , and is delighted to find balls etc. I suspect she once has done obedience work by the way she brings things back. Skye is NOT pleased.... He doesnt nescessarily want to play with the toys in his toy box, but he doesnt want her to either!

Just hoping it will work.. OH is grumpy about my gesture of rescuing Ellie (though he is melting when she looks at him and puts a gentle paw on his arm)

Its heartbreaking to see her wondering why this has happened... after 9 years or so. I'm hoping all will settle soon.

[carolwilts]

Here are the two miscreants!

Ellie is supposed to be 8 years old, but I am sure she is much older, given the grey muzzle. Still, hopefully she will have a much more pleasant end to her life.....(if Skye gives her some peace!)

carol

[RW]

Well done Carol for rescuing her! It is very very early days yet so don't panic, a friend of mine said, when we rescued our dog and were despairing at the time, make a note of all the problems and write down everything now then when you look back in a few months time you will be amazed at the changes and in a year you will laugh and say "remember when...."

EMW has some excellent advise there, also I think you have to let them sort themselves out too, where the toys are concerned Skye will let Ellie know if he is really unhappy. You will never be able to sort out "pecking order" or acceptable behaviour in their eyes they will have to find their own boundaries. Give them both lots of love and cuddles and reassure Skye he is still special and soon you will feel normal again. Good luck.

[RW]

Oh bless them! Our posts crossed Carol. They look like old mates and butter wouldn't melt!! Our black dog is coming up nine and has quite a bit of grey showing, apparently it does come on quite early in black dogs.

[carolwilts]

This is probably more indicative of how they are feeling!

[springyy]

I love the second picture! She's got a fantastic expression on her face. She reminds me of one of my dogs, she started greying around the muzzle at about 18 months!!

[rosemaryhannah]

I have a very similar situation - adopted Bridget when Poppy was here on her own. Admittedly Poppy had been one dog of three earlier, but the other two dogs belonged to other family members, Poppy was and is 'my' dog - it took both time to adjust - in fact it was weeks before you could have them both in the same room without a referee. Now they usually get on fine and play together - there are certain flash points when we still get snarling - usually over affection from me rather than food.

Poppy is 13 and hardly grey at all. Bridget is also eight, and very grey indeed. Our vet's dog is know to be three and really pretty grey already. But Bridget is fast, fit and not an old dog in anything but colour ...

[heidi]

They are both gorgeous! Good Luck, I hope it all works out and well done you for giving Ellie a chance!

[sarak]

Awwww - good luck. Hope they settle down. I love that second photo - it speaks volumes!! ;D

[Ann NF]

We have recently had a visiting Border Collie to join our two .Taking them all out for walks really helped, as EMW has suggested. Neutral territory, sharing the smells and the excitement. When they arrived back home they were much easier together. I had more trouble from my old cat, who jumped out of the shadows and clawed visiting dog in the eye, so it was a quick rush to the vet and eye drops for the rest of the week.

Lovely dogs Carol. Ellie is bound to feel strange. Hope they settle down together soon.

[carolwilts]

Thank you all for the advice!

Onlyone major fracas last night .. over a tennis ball. Food is no problem, but Ellie playing with Skye's toys, or getting attention/affection from me or OH is the provoking factor.

OH hates the dogs having a fracas so consequently is very grumpy. Probably not made any better by Ellie barking for an hour in the middle of the night. I eventually got up to see what the matter was and she was barking and staring fixedly at one of our cats who was asleep (or trying to go to sleep) on the sofa. Fitz was duely rescued up to my bedroom to give us some peace!

Ah well.. I'm sure it will settle.. hope OH doesnt divorce me before it does!

carol

[aberlemno]

You have my sympathies Carol, as I know that your OH and my OH came out of the same mould, e.g. not total animal lovers. It took mine weeks to get over me arriving home with a strange dog, and he still tries to give him away to D when she comes to visit! He too was supposed to be 8, but is very grey around the muzzle, pretty deaf but still quite sprightly.

I loved the photos - especially the second one, which speaks volumes! You've had some good advice, and I am sure everything will soon start to settle down. It helps that one is a bitch and one a dog - two of the same sex might have taken longer to settle.

When I came home with a new baby when T was 4 and G was 2, G immediately wanted to look after her little brother, but T was really quite unsettled by it all (which showed up at Nursery). They are all best enemies now though : ) I am sure that Skye and Ellie will soon settle down together - it's early days yet.

[trallwmfarm sanctuary]

We have foster dogs in all the time and my dogs particularly work well with traumatised dogs because being Deerhound types they can move faster than the speed of any aggressor However Bojangles (my first born Dearhound) is sneaky and will do things when Im not looking to get others into trouble etc. I find that it helps to sometimes take no 1 dog for special time away from the interloper.When you do your join up bit with the two ,take no nonsense and buy a new joint toy that they can play with together .A tuggy toy is good that is big enough to hang on both ends. You can encourage both to "win" and they will feel loved by you but also part of new family group involving the new dog/old dog.To reinforce this new pairing always remember that "he who shouts loudest wins".When they show the slightest grumping towards each other chase both away in a disapproving voice and make sure they really do both go away from you.
Very soon you will find them collecting in corners together with "thier"toy discussing "the mental woman who growls at them "