About to get our first rescue dog/puppy. Any tips/advice?

[cookie-monster]

We've wanted a dog for a while, and have found the perfect rescue dog for our first pet. :razz: She looks like a lab. and is about a year old, is very sweet-natured and loves to please (good for first-timers like us!). We've visited her, and she's visited us at home for a few hours, and we all got on really well. We're going to do all the paperwork in the next couple of days.

Both me and my partner grew up with pets, and hopefully can't go that wrong, but I thought I'd see if anyone has recommendations for particular toys, leashes, brands of food and snacks, etc. *as well as* things not to do!! She's currently a little underweight, and is very new to the idea of dog toys, fetch, etc.. We were also recommended to buy a crate, to give her a safe place in our house, so any thoughts on that would really help.

[NLI10D]

one of the first thing they taught us in dog school is that "guilt is a human emotion not a dog emotion" dont feel guilty for punishing your dog when it does something bad. have it cage trained very important for discipline.

[CSK'sMom]

Crate training IMHO is a must even though she is a year old. We picked up a Jack Russell puppy last night so we are doing the puppy thing again. :) The crate ends up being their safe, quiet place. It can be a life saver if she has or develops seperation anxiety. The toy thing will come in time possibly, but some dogs just aren't into toys. Another thing you should think about is obedience training. A well behaved dog that listens is a well loved dog.

[bionicbadger]

Start saving all the plastic bags you can. You can never have neough poo bags. Always keep some dog treats handy, and get a few different kinds. Watch the dog toys carefully, many are easily chewed to tiny pieces and can be dangerous. The dollar store is a good place to get ropes (dollar store dog toys are flimsy and their lifetime is minutes). Kong is a good toy and you can put treats inside it.

Read some training books. Don't always look/come when the dog whines or barks, make sure to wait at least 15-30 seconds after they are queit, or it re-enforces the negative behaviour.

[Theoneandonly]

Hi Cookie Monster, may I ask how much you pay for your dog? I am thinking about buying something similar, maybe a lab or a golden retriever, what price range should I expect? Also, does anyone know if the dog/puppy can be left alone at home while I am work from 9-5? Thanks.

[CSK'sMom]

Theoneandonly, good labs here in Niagara are going for $700-$1,000. By good labs I mean from a reputable breeder that guarantees no hip problems. Personally, I wouldn't leave a puppy alone for 8 hrs a day. It's not recommended to crate that long of a stretch either. If it was me I would be looking for a doggy daycare in that situation.

[bionicbadger]

Get an x-pen or something instead of crate all day, they are quite handy. Keeping your dog in a crate all day and having sleep in there too so he is in there for 16+ hours/day is cruel.

http://members.shaw.ca/briarlane/JPG/xpen.jpg

[keanefan]

the exercise pen is great. you can easily attach it to a wire crate. available at pet stores

then you put some newspapers or POTTY PADS (from the pet store or Walmart) on the floor, inside the exercise pen.

The dog sleeps in the crate and if he has to potty, he comes out of the crate and does it on the potty pad. The potty pad is better than newspapers but both work.

put a bowl of water inside the exercise pen.

this will work if you are not home all day.
make sure that your home is not too hot during summer.
close curtains, open window or air conditioner.

then when your dog is a mature adult and you trust him, you don't need the exercise pen. you can let the dog roam around the house when you are gone.

[cookie-monster]

Thanks for the replies guys!

I'll try and pick toys carefully. What types of toys tend to break up and become potentially dangerous?

I work from come a couple of days a week, so she won't be in the crate all the time. Also, when I go out for meetings, etc., I'm not gone all day. At the moment we don't have a fenced backyard (we bought this place late last summer), so I don't want to leave her outside by herself. But fencing is our next project, so hopefully we can get a run for her soon.

To the poster who asked about cost, we didn't "buy" her cause she's a rescue dog. We are making a reasonable donation ("fee") to the charity that's been looking after her for the last couple of months (about $170). It was important to us to rescue, rather than buy, though I know that this is a matter of preference. I also think getting a slightly older puppy will be good for us as first-time owners cause she's already had time to develop a really good temperament, be house-trained (apart from relapses), etc. There's less for us to worry about than if we'd got a really young puppy.

I'm a bit nervous about disciplining her (cause she sooo wants to be loved), but I know that it's for her benefit too. I'll have to see how I do with that.

Any recommendations for training books to buy/get from the library?

[keanefan]

Thanks for the replies guys!

I'll try and pick toys carefully. What types of toys tend to break up and become potentially dangerous?

Dogs, especially medium and big dogs, can swallow and choke on tennis balls and small rubber balls. You can perform Heimlich maneuver.

more info:
http://members.aol.com/henryhbk/acpr.html


Visibly inspect the airway by looking into the mouth, and down the throat for foreign objects occluding the airway. Unlike human-CPR, rescuers may reach into the airway and remove foreign objects that are visible
Proceed to the Heimlich maneuver.

Heimlich
1.Turn the animal upside down (head pointed towards floor), with its back against your chest
2.With both arms, give 5 sharp thrusts (bear hugs) to the abdomen. Perform each thrust as if it is the one that will expel the object
3.Stop, check to see if the object is visible in the airway, if so, remove it and give 2 mouth-nose rescue breaths. If the breaths do not go in, go back to step 1
Use gravity to help you expel the object

or you could try massaging the dog's neck and throat and try to pop out the ball out of your dog's throat/neck.

don't buy Greenies or rope toys.
Dogs can swallow greenies and worn out rope toys and the objects will get stuck in the dogs intestine. The dog can die.

If you must buy a rope toy, maybe buy the biggest size.
The dog will chew on a rope toy and it becomes worn out and smaller.
Dog ends up swallowing it and can die from intestinal blockage if the vet can't save him.

http://www.petsmart.com/media/ps/images/products/detail/standard/i/in20/in205533_11119.jpg http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2006/US/02/14/dangerous.dogtreat/story.dogtreat.jpg

thread about the danger of GREENIES:
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=255025

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/02/14/dangerous.dogtreat/index.html

[cookie-monster]

Thanks Keanefan!!

We *just* today bought a rope toy and a tennis ball (cause the shelter she's with said she loved her rope toy). Back they go.... I guess kids' size soft soccer balls, or mini american footballs might be a better idea?

(We also got some rawhide bones, and a squeeky toy that floats).

We dropped a small fortune on the crate.... Where's a good place to shop for pet supplies in Edmonton, AB? We ended up at PJ's, but I wonder if they're overpriced?

Puppy's coming tomorrow... :cheesygri :cheesygri

[NLI10D]

to house train our dog, we tied it inside the house when we couldn't watch it. a dog owner suggested this and the rationality that i was told behind it is that dogs wont go to the washroom where they sleep or eat. took about a week and a half. according to that dog show on life channel, pick up your dog while they are still young. the dog will be thinking that only a bigger dog or their mother could do that so ur teaching it that you're the leader of the pack.

[keanefan]

We *just* today bought a rope toy and a tennis ball (cause the shelter she's with said she loved her rope toy). Back they go....


Maybe the rope toy is okay when it is new and big but when it is worn-out and small, you should throw it out.

A woman posted a story about how her dog swallowed the rope toy and died.
I can't find the webpage. I think that the knot from the rope toy got stuck in his intestine.

Maybe it will be okay for your dog to play with the tennis ball. Just be aware that a dog can choke on a ball and be prepared if it happens.

Nylabone Snack Bones are good.
http://www.petsmart.com (http://)

http://www.petsmart.com/media/ps/images/products/detail/standard/i/inp0/inP022623_3d1ed.jpg
my dog liked the carrot bone flavor.


(We also got some rawhide bones).


Inspect your dog’s toys often. If there are pieces bit off the toy, discard it. Usually small pieces of a toy or chew will pass through a dog’s system, but they could end up causing an intestinal blockage instead.

Dogs like to carry around stuffed toys in their mouth. Get stuffed toys made especially for dogs. Children’s stuffed toys will usually have noses and eyes that can be easily chewed off.

I do not recommend rawhide at all. Stay away from rawhide. Avoid commercially made pig ears and calf hooves as well. Pig ears, calf hooves or rawhide treats that actually can be dangerous if those small pieces get hung in their neck or digestive system. You will end up in the emergency vet clinic.

Nylabones is another excellent product. You can get Nylabone in edible flavors, a huge variety of flavors actually. They help during teething periods and times you want to train your dog to chew on something appropriate - a Nylabone is an excellent choice to use during these training sessions.

Never, never give your dog chicken bones or any other type of bone that might splinter.

[bionicbadger]

One of the best places for pet stuff in Edmonton is G & E Pharmacy (7326 - 82 ave, way at the end of whyte ave near where it turns into the sherwood park freeway). Not fancy, but good selection and good prices, the place is always busy. Check it out and compare prices to PJs or Petsmart or Petcetera or even Superstore.

[iris1026]

If your dog is a serious chewer, beware of blankets and shoes and whatevers left on the floor. Kongs are very good for chewing and throwing around outside. You can put treats in them and keep them occupied for some time. Congradulations!

[AmberB]

Good on you for getting a rescue dog!

Having just gotten 2 dogs that have every imaginable bad behaviour trait I have done a lot of research on this lately. Since most rescues have some emotional issues they need extra care at the start. My best suggestions for dealing with a new dog and especially a rescue dog are:

1. Socialize it asap with people and other dogs in a non-threatening environment.....
2. Don't coddle it too much or it will become over-attached and suffer separation anxiety when you leave it...this is especially true for rescues who may already be traumatized and afraid of being left alone. (ie. foster independance in her)
3. don't punish the dog too harshly and never if you don't catch them in the act. They may look guilty when you yell at them but they are only responding to your anger. They cannot make the connection between what they did earlier and why you are yelling at them now. You especially dont want a rescue dog to fear you....respecting you is way better.
4. Establish that you are alpha so she knows her place and can relax and let you be in charge. (by teaching tricks, controlling feeding times etc.)
5. If she reacts fearfully to a situation don't pet and reassure her as it will confim to her that there was something to be afraid of and you will just foster that fear...instead remain calm and either distract her from the situation or counter-condition her by showing her an acceptable alternative
6. If you plan on using the crate method for housebreaking and other training it must always be a happy place....never ever use it as a punishment. (feed her treats in there, favourite toy etc)
7. Work on teaching her simple tricks like sit, stay, lay down and make them fun....this will help you establish a rapport with her and it certainly helps when you NEED her to obey (you want her to obey to your sit command immediately if you see her running towards the road for example)

This is probably way more info than you need but I sure wish my 2 dogs had had the benefit of these things from the start.

good luck! :)

Amber

[UrbanPoet]

Good on you for getting a rescue dog!

Having just gotten 2 dogs that have every imaginable bad behaviour trait I have done a lot of research on this lately. Since most rescues have some emotional issues they need extra care at the start. My best suggestions for dealing with a new dog and especially a rescue dog are:

1. Socialize it asap with people and other dogs in a non-threatening environment.....
2. Don't coddle it too much or it will become over-attached and suffer separation anxiety when you leave it...this is especially true for rescues who may already be traumatized and afraid of being left alone. (ie. foster independance in her)
3. don't punish the dog too harshly and never if you don't catch them in the act. They may look guilty when you yell at them but they are only responding to your anger. They cannot make the connection between what they did earlier and why you are yelling at them now. You especially dont want a rescue dog to fear you....respecting you is way better.
4. Establish that you are alpha so she knows her place and can relax and let you be in charge. (by teaching tricks, controlling feeding times etc.)
5. If she reacts fearfully to a situation don't pet and reassure her as it will confim to her that there was something to be afraid of and you will just foster that fear...instead remain calm and either distract her from the situation or counter-condition her by showing her an acceptable alternative
6. If you plan on using the crate method for housebreaking and other training it must always be a happy place....never ever use it as a punishment. (feed her treats in there, favourite toy etc)
7. Work on teaching her simple tricks like sit, stay, lay down and make them fun....this will help you establish a rapport with her and it certainly helps when you NEED her to obey (you want her to obey to your sit command immediately if you see her running towards the road for example)

This is probably way more info than you need but I sure wish my 2 dogs had had the benefit of these things from the start.

good luck! :)

Amber

your good. your real good!

[AmberB]

:)

[cookie-monster]

Amber, that's great advice.

So.... I have to work on the separation anxiety (fostering independence) thing, as well as not reassuring her too much when she's concerned, and trying to act cool. It's like trying to raise a toddler!

[Bree]

Be prepared for issues with a "rescue" dog that you wouldn't have to deal with if you were getting a "new" dog.

For food, a veterinary grade (you buy it at the vet's office) like Medi-Cal is the only way to go. Same for treats. It's a little pricier, but well worth it in the long run.

Toys - Stay away from ones made of animal products (like pig's ears, rawhide, etc.). Most animal experts really like the idea of the KONG toys, but don't really approve of using peanut butter in them.

A pet kennel/carrier is a wonderful idea. It gives the animal a safe haven in a strange place. You might also find it useful for transporting a distressed pet to the vet.

[AmberB]

Amber, that's great advice.

So.... I have to work on the separation anxiety (fostering independence) thing, as well as not reassuring her too much when she's concerned, and trying to act cool. It's like trying to raise a toddler!


EXACTLY! lol!

[CSK'sMom]

Or in our case a newborn! At almost 8 weeks old he is up every 3 hrs to go outside and makes sure that everyone in the house knows it's time! He had hubby up at 4am! :cheesygri