Rescue Dog

Apparently, language is not a problem. Dogs, generally, respond to the tone of voice and hand signals. In our experience, rescue dogs need time to trust you and be very comfortable in their new environment.

And don’t forget it will take time for her to learn English! Wishing you a wonderful life with your new friend.

Just sent you a PM, Framilode, wondering how you're geting on.

That's good to hear twiceasnice, our cat was a rescue, no cruelty we think, previous owners just couldn't look after him and their three other cats anymore and handed them all in to the local rescue ( better than chucking them out on the street!). After a day or so of hiding in wardrobes and behind bathroom cabinets, he decided we were ok and he was the best cat we ever had, heaps of personality and loved a lap, especially if said lap was trying to sew, or read a book.......

GillT57 I know but I am giving her lots of attention and love. Her previous owner had obviously been kind to her and she has settled and seems to love me so win win !

Sending every good wish to you and your new girl!

Not sure if someone has said this but many overseas rescues escape in the early weeks/months and then are very, very hard to catch. They are used to fending for themselves. It is best to use both a harness and a collar on your new dog and to have a lead on each, in case one of the systems fails. Be really careful not to leave windows/doors/gates open and be sure your garden is absolutely secure before you let her out in it (they can get through really small-seeming holes and over quite high fences if they are determined). If you do lose her, inform www.doglost.co.uk IMMEDIATELY so you will get best advice and local help.

I would take it slowly, not stroking her until she feels ready and not introducing her to other people (particularly children) until she has settled in a bit and you have found out more about her (and any fears she is harbouring, which, with patience, you should be able to help her with).

You probably have thought of this already, but give her a basket or dog bed in a quite corner and talk to her but don't touch her when she is in her bed. It needs to be where she feels safe.

This worked well with two rescue cats and should work as well with a dog.

Try to avoid visitors until she has settled down.

Twiceasnice that is a terrible story about those people throwing out their Mother's cats when she died, how heartless and cruel.

We had a rescue dog. He'd not been ill treated but had been passed from pillar to post because he was bigger than anticipated. We had him from just over a year old and he made it to 12. He was a wonderful friend and we miss him very much. His only problem for us was that he would let people into our home but not let them out!!! I would certainly get a rescue dog again.

The funny thing was that I went to the rescue centre to look for a middle aged, middle sized female and came away with a young, large - and still growing - male!!! No regrets

Same as Bellsnanna, we have a very anxious rescue dog. Had her for 3 years, she will still scurry away if I drop a spoon on the floor. She's a bit reactive to other dogs if they come up to her, due to anxiety. We are working with a behaviourist and SLOWLY things are getting better. Having said that she is a lovely and loving dog, we have to be a bit careful when we see other dogs, she has yellow lead cover saying "I need space". Despite the issues I wouldn't be without her, she has so much love to give.
Framilode you will be fine, it's comes down to love, patience and taking things very slowly. If there are big issues consult a behaviourist - mine is amazing (Behavourist for the dog not me!).
Good luck and enjoy your new dog.

I have never had a dog but 2 weeks ago got a rescue cat. The vet says she is about 4-5 years old and she had been living with an elderly lady who died very suddenly. Her son put the house on the market and threw Amie and another cat out onto the street.

The neighbours fed them for a bit then one of them took them to the rescue centre , she was there 4 weeks when I got her. She had not come out of the accommodation she was in choosing to live in one corner .

She was scared when she arrived and spent several days behind the sofa although she would allow me to coax her out. She now can’t get close enough to me and if she gets the chance spends half the day on my lap, she is so affectionate, licks my hand and nudges me with her head . She doesn’t like the dark and sleeps on my bed and meows when she wakes up looking to make sure I am still there I’m the dark. She is very vocal lol! I love her to bits, she is still wary of my family burp we are all cat lovers so she’s getting there and so will your little dog. Hope he gives you much happiness.

How awful for this little dog to suffer so but I feel she will recover with your care and have a happy future.
My little dog was rescued from a Californian euthanasia centre by a charity who rescue 80 dogs at a time and fly them here. Potential adopters, previously vetted and screened were invited to choose a dog the day after they arrived. The dogs each had a volunteer caring for them overnight in an airport hanger. I chose a 9 month old puppy who had been abandoned. She'd had a long flight and was very quiet, tired and bewildered and ate very little for a couple of days. She didn't bark at all. Apart from frequent toilet training walks and gradually socializing with the neighbourhood dogs we stayed home quietly and got to know each other with lots of cuddles. She stuck to me like glue following me from room to room all the time. She found her bark when I went out for 10 minutes! She had separation anxiety. To begin with I'd go out for 10 mins., then 20 mins and so on always giving her a little treat on leaving and returning. I'd say she got used to everything within 2 months. She's two and a half now, happy, relaxed , and obedient, adores my grandchildren, long walks and she particularly loves swimming . She's my constant companion and I'm so lucky to have her.
Do please let us know how you get on.

Our last rescue dog had similar problems Framilode but not quite so severe. She needs a calm environment and time to find her own space with you. Regular small meals and lots of patience. Give her time to approach you, don't fuss her too much.
Our girl is the kindest, most gentle dog you could wish for but it didn't happen overnight she had to learn to trust us. Good luck to you and your little dog.

Framilode's story made my blood run cold I wish i had not read it.

Most of my dogs have been rescues. They aren't always easy as many have been strays and become used to making their own decisions. Hard to teach recall. One of mine was afraid of feet can guess why. Some are not house trained.I would not like to have missed out on any of my beloved dogs.

Hi Framilode, what lovely news. I have had dogs all my life. My parents always had pedigrees but when I left home I opted for rescue dogs.

We've had 9 at the last count. The most recent is lying next to me as I type. A JR cross who was a one year old little madam when we got her but she soon calmed down with patience and love.

We've had 2 greyhounds. Ex racers who weren't accustomed to the luxury of living in a home. It didn't take them long to get used to it!

Dogs are so amazingly forgiving and trusting. With love and patience you'll be fine.

It will be lovely for you to have another 4 legged friend around the house.

Some lovely responses on here. It is heartwarming to hear the stories of rescued animals that now have such a good life.

GillT57, none of my rescues had been street or beach dogs. They were all from the UK and had been abandoned or placed with specific breed rescues. They all came with 'issues' having been either ill-treated, starved or in one case, both then thrown out of a moving car on Christmas Eve outside our local shelter. He joined us in late February the following year, was still skin and bone, had awful gastric problems from which the vet didn't think he'd recover. He did, once he realised he was safe, would never be hungry again, no one would kick or hurt him, he became a legend. Much loved x

Oh I understand Iam64 and of course you have to be careful with a dog of unknown history. Not all dogs that are rescues are street dogs though; my dog had to be given up by her owner ( who was very upset about it) because her circumstances had changed due to divorce, having to work full time and did not think it fair to leave a 9 month old dog at home all day, so we took her on, and my late Mother's dog, from The Dogs Trust, had been owned by an old lady, who subsequently died. Neither of them had been ill treated.

We previously had terriers of one type of another. This little girl is a mixture but reminds me a bit of our Cairn Terrier. When she has settled I will send a photo. Thanks for all the advice and good wishes.

GillT57 bought a pedigree pup 45 years ago but rescued and fostered till I bought a pedigree from the same line, just a couple of months ago.
My rescues and fosters have all come good but, with four grandchildren under 4 I couldn’t risk bringing an nknowm, unpredictable dog in to join or older dog. The young dog is coming on well, I bought because I know the temperament of the breed and her particular line.
I understand your point but some of us are no longer in a position to rescue. I find it difficult to accept rescuing dogs from abroad, some have been street or beach dogs, haven’t been domesticated and won’t adjust easily to life here. Our shelters and breed rescues are overwhelmed with dogs. Many of the so called designer breeds are rejected ny 7-17 months. The reason often given is the amount of time needed - complaints about behaviour that’s normal for the age.
I try not to be judgemental because most people mean well

Thank you for taking in this poor dog, and as others have wisely said, calm, routine, plain food will help to build up her trust. Talking to her will help too. I have to admit that I now get very judgemental about people who 'buy' dogs, especially from amateur breeders who produce designer puppies. We have dogs for companionship, exercise, and rescued or re-homed dogs show many years of gratitude for the chance of a decent home.

I meant to put in that over the first few months we did find that something must have happened to her with 'men' and 'boots'. My husband is getting to be her best friend now! He's been so patient with her. Goodness knows what the previous owner did to her.

We've had a rescue dog for 5 months now. She's 4 years old and a mixture of collie/husky/german shepherd. We love her to bits and she loves her new home. She's had to get used to walking with a lead and coming to call. Not quite yet but she loves the woods we walk in daily. We had been looking for a while for a rescue dog. We preferred to take into our family a dog in need.

Our Mya comes from a rescue centre in Cornwall. I visited Mya lots of times and someone from the centre came out to vet us. She had been in the centre for 6 months recovering from infections. They only let dogs go to a new home when they are well and truly sure that both us and the dog will be happy. We knew all Mya's traits and are enjoying training her. She loves her treats (very tiny bits of chicken skin). They are an excellent reward to responding well.

You will love your dog and thank you so much for taking in a rescue dog. There are millions of expensive pedigree puppies out there but there are so many rescue dogs in need of a loving caring come.

Mya is never far from my side and accompanies me when I'm working in the house we are building. This is her spot!

How lovely,i am sure this little dog will be very graeful,
All the advice i cn give really is don't let her out of your sight, not even in your garden alone
I have so many stories of rescue ogs escaping, sometimes even before they have got to their new homes, as they are so frightened,
Some have never been found,
I don't think people always realise that just because they are in a garden maybe that they are not safe
I hope all goes well, and good luck ,
What breed is she/he
I was thinking of rescuing a dog from Greece, but a family crisis cropped up,and i couldn't do it
I was told about this poor dog in Greece, she was found under a truck with puppies, and her mouth had been nailed up so she couldn't even eat
I will never forget the pictures i got of her,made me cry