Celebrating rescue animals and advice for their owners.

littleme

250,000th poster!
Sadly the companion thing isn't working out for Alvin, I tried a walk this evening and he wouldn't go. So will be returning Luke as he was on a 2 week trial and I don't want him to settle here and then have to go back on the weekend. Really upsetting as he is the sort of dog I wish Alvin was, good confident walker. But I need to devote all my efforts to Alvin and I will consult a dog behaviour expert for help. Got a lot of work ahead with him.
Awww Alvin was there first so it's only fair, good luck with finding him another friend.
 

gilesjuk

Well-Known Forumite
Awww Alvin was there first so it's only fair, good luck with finding him another friend.

That is true and I love him to bits. But it's more a case of no dog being able to solve this issue. I need to focus on him until he is better. Hard to do that with two dogs. Luke is a lovely dog, but he needs a home where he can be the only dog to focus on him too, he's a bit of a handful and could easily injure himself if I wasn't paying full attention. He tried to eat a roll of poop bags earlier and growled when I tried to take them back, really bad as he could choke on them. Earlier I thought he had really hurt himself badly, he rolled over and started yelping for about 20 seconds. I think he rolled over onto a piece of half chewed bone. No damage I can see, but it must have hurt :(
 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
Sadly the companion thing isn't working out for Alvin, I tried a walk this evening and he wouldn't go. So will be returning Luke as he was on a 2 week trial and I don't want him to settle here and then have to go back on the weekend. Really upsetting as he is the sort of dog I wish Alvin was, good confident walker. But I need to devote all my efforts to Alvin and I will consult a dog behaviour expert for help. Got a lot of work ahead with him.
Oh thats a shame :(. Hard thing to do , but got to do what's best all round.

Hope Luke gets another good home
soon.

And hope you can sort Alvin's fear of walks.
Keep persevering . I'm sure he'll get there in the end , especially with a dog behaviourist giving advice. (Seen them on telly working miracles...)
 

gilesjuk

Well-Known Forumite
Oh thats a shame :(. Hard thing to do , but got to do what's best all round.

Hope Luke gets another good home
soon.

And hope you can sort Alvin's fear of walks.
Keep persevering . I'm sure he'll get there in the end , especially with a dog behaviourist giving advice. (Seen them on telly working miracles...)

We will get there eventually. I'll have more time over the xmas break to work with him. Seeing Luke and how energetic he is makes me think Alvin may need some help with his joints. I've started him on Glucosamine, he's also had limp since Wednesday which I'm getting looked at this week, hopefully not the dreaded corns. He does need his nails clipped though, I've done a bit but I can only do so much.
 

littleme

250,000th poster!
We will get there eventually. I'll have more time over the xmas break to work with him. Seeing Luke and how energetic he is makes me think Alvin may need some help with his joints. I've started him on Glucosamine, he's also had limp since Wednesday which I'm getting looked at this week, hopefully not the dreaded corns. He does need his nails clipped though, I've done a bit but I can only do so much.
Where do you get glucosamine gravy? I think our eldest cat (and me) could do with some..... She had lots of broken bones, after, a car accident years ago and I'm sure her joints/bones must hurt at times.
 

gilesjuk

Well-Known Forumite
Where do you get glucosamine gravy? I think our eldest cat (and me) could do with some..... She had lots of broken bones, after, a car accident years ago and I'm sure her joints/bones must hurt at times.

I got this from Amazon. First time I mixed it in with Alvin's food and he ate the lot, he normally just picks at it. It does say for Dogs. Perhaps there's a cat version.

 

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
Sadly the companion thing isn't working out for Alvin, I tried a walk this evening and he wouldn't go. So will be returning Luke as he was on a 2 week trial and I don't want him to settle here and then have to go back on the weekend. Really upsetting as he is the sort of dog I wish Alvin was, good confident walker. But I need to devote all my efforts to Alvin and I will consult a dog behaviour expert for help. Got a lot of work ahead with him.
That's a real shame but you have to do what you feel is right.

Good luck with Alvin
 

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
Here's some positivity for those who are struggling with various rescue dog related issues. Got out little landshark 10 weeks ago aged 5 months from Romania. She was terrified or everything but particularly people and situations she didn't know. Generally this manifested itself as keeping well out the way but after a few weeks barking furiously to keep strangers away.

I've been doing extensive socialisation both outside in busy environments but also at home with visitors!. Friday night I had a few friends over (all LFT negative!) and whilst the land shark didn't interact particularly she did just lie in the same room calmly rather than the manic barking and running round. Then yesterday I took her to daughters v busy shared house in Liverpool and again, she wasn't keen on close interaction but she was happy to just wag her tail and be in the same room without any fuss.

I'm not saying we've cracked it as there is still work to be done but I'm feeling far more confident that she will become happy in the company of those she has only just met even if she never wants actual physical touch from them! Keep the faith everyone worried about the issues they are struggling with

Now just to sort the land shark tendencies 🦈😁
 

gilesjuk

Well-Known Forumite
That's a real shame but you have to do what you feel is right.

Good luck with Alvin

It wasn't solving any issues and was creating new ones sadly. They're not getting along very well either. They just were in the garden and were about to have a fight until stopped them. I'll make it to 1pm today, but I'm on edge.
 

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
It wasn't solving any issues and was creating new ones sadly. They're not getting along very well either. They just were in the garden and were about to have a fight until stopped them. I'll make it to 1pm today, but I'm on edge.
There are a whole load of guidelines it's best to follow before introducing a new dog to a resident one, it can take a few weeks to integrate the new dog successfully. The removal of high value items, toys for example, and keeping them separate when food is around were recommended to me when introducing a new dog to the established dog. It can be quite complex to get a status quo with both getting along easily together. We are almost 3 months in but I still separate for feeding and crate the pup if the adult has any chews etc. I also removed my old dogs favourite toy so he didn't get possessive.

Try not to worry but if needs be put them in separate rooms if possible. Hope all goes ok
 
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That-Crazy-Rat-Lady

Well-Known Forumite
It wasn't solving any issues and was creating new ones sadly. They're not getting along very well either. They just were in the garden and were about to have a fight until stopped them. I'll make it to 1pm today, but I'm on edge.
There is no shame rehoming if it's not working out, dogs have big personalities and like humans not everyone gets on.

We rescued a lurcher from Dogs Trust years ago, they told us he was a little apprehensive towards other dogs but otherwise no issues.

That was a complete lie - he had been living in a flat and clearly never been walked. We quickly found out he was aggressive towards anything that moved (dogs, cars, cats & children)

Despite this we persevered and saw a Dog's Trust trainer twice a week for socialisation sessions. He improved massively but liked routine - he would remain calm on the same short route. Any deviation from that, somewhere else / longer walk and he would panic and get aggressive again.

Dogs Trust advised to stick to same routine - forever. This obviously wasn't what we envisaged when adopting a dog as we're big walkers and campers.

In the end he went back to Dogs Trust. They called me a week later to say his original owner was so heartbroken and missed him so much that she took him back. They were a perfect fit! She clearly didn't like walking him and he clearly didn't like walks. Nonetheless they adored each other!

The thing I found most frustrating is she adopted him originally from Dogs Trust as a puppy - why on earth would they give a puppy to someone with no time living in a flat??

Anyway it was a long story but I have no regrets - we clearly weren't a match and I'm glad I didn't martyr on as we would have both been miserable!

Out there is Luke's perfect family - give him the chance to find them!
 

gilesjuk

Well-Known Forumite
We rescued a lurcher from Dogs Trust years ago, they told us he was a little apprehensive towards other dogs but otherwise no issues.

That was a complete lie - he had been living in a flat and clearly never been walked. We quickly found out he was aggressive towards anything that moved (dogs, cars, cats & children)
I think I might have had that with Alvin. He might have been anxious already. When I first got him I did get a lot of walks out of him, but there were no shotguns or fireworks going off back then. Plus they tend to comply for the first few weeks.

I dropped Luke off today. I donated a coat, a harness (a decent Ruffwear one) and some food as well. I will donate some money on payday too. Sometimes as you say it just doesn't work. I did very little work today, just too much going on. I have decided to look at homing another one later, maybe one whose owner has had to give them up.
 

littleme

250,000th poster!
I think I might have had that with Alvin. He might have been anxious already. When I first got him I did get a lot of walks out of him, but there were no shotguns or fireworks going off back then. Plus they tend to comply for the first few weeks.

I dropped Luke off today. I donated a coat, a harness (a decent Ruffwear one) and some food as well. I will donate some money on payday too. Sometimes as you say it just doesn't work. I did very little work today, just too much going on. I have decided to look at homing another one later, maybe one whose owner has had to give them up.
Hope you are ok, I know it was a very hard decision, but you did the best thing for your family, Alvin and Luke. Please don't be too hard on yourself, hopefully another good fit will come along soon x
 

gilesjuk

Well-Known Forumite
Hope you are ok, I know it was a very hard decision, but you did the best thing for your family, Alvin and Luke. Please don't be too hard on yourself, hopefully another good fit will come along soon x

Thanks. I've booked 5 x 1 hour sessions with a dog behaviourist but they are fully booked until January, so I have a month to wait. I expect even if I make a bit of progress myself over the xmas hols it will be wiped out by new years fireworks.

Given I'm struggling to get him to do any walks locally I decided I would at least take him to the pet shop for a trip out. We were doing so well so I thought I'll walk him around the car park after putting the shopping bag in the car. That was going well until about 8 fireworks went off. Honestly, Stafford sounds like a warzone every time I take him out. I might have to resort to walking him at about 4am in the dark at this rate.
 

littleme

250,000th poster!
I might have to resort to walking him at about 4am in the dark at this rate.
My son has to resort to this when he took on Annie, she wouldn't walk with Cici and was scared of most things, people, cars, children anything that moved or made a noise.

They are much better now, although Annie spends much of the time trying to escape... Fortunately Cici will 'heard' her back, or at least get her to stop still until someone can catchel her.

Cici only problem is projectile vomiting if she has to travel in the car... She livesong walks in different pkaces, but vomits 'everywhere' on the way.
 

Cue

Well-Known Forumite
9D82606D-DEFE-4F96-8094-525011C21CF0.jpeg
Believe it or not this little asshole is a rescue, or “pseudo rescue” as he was a referral from a charity to the previous owners who could no longer look after him

His fur wasn’t great and he was underweight when we got him but with some TLC he’s like a totally different cat.

A timeline from Got’cha Day to more recently (left are 2016, right are… this year or last I can’t recall)

66B4375D-ADB2-447F-A90D-F5A2872A57CF.jpeg


Some may recognise him from the Express & Star, where he is known to be the wielder of the country’s best meow
 

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
View attachment 11744Believe it or not this little asshole is a rescue, or “pseudo rescue” as he was a referral from a charity to the previous owners who could no longer look after him

His fur wasn’t great and he was underweight when we got him but with some TLC he’s like a totally different cat.

A timeline from Got’cha Day to more recently (left are 2016, right are… this year or last I can’t recall)

View attachment 11745

Some may recognise him from the Express & Star, where he is known to be the wielder of the country’s best meow
Gorgeous!

There are many pure bred animals that end up in rescue sadly!
 

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
My son has to resort to this when he took on Annie, she wouldn't walk with Cici and was scared of most things, people, cars, children anything that moved or made a noise.

They are much better now, although Annie spends much of the time trying to escape... Fortunately Cici will 'heard' her back, or at least get her to stop still until someone can catchel her.

Cici only problem is projectile vomiting if she has to travel in the car... She livesong walks in different pkaces, but vomits 'everywhere' on the way.
My pup would still rather not go near traffic, even stationary cars and she's done daily walks that include the busy Stone or Eccleshall roads. To my mind she hasn't really improved, maybe I'm being impatient and the dark evening walks make her even more fearful with all the lights etc. Just keep persevering I guess!

As for car sickness, we have that too BUT I have found motorways are fine, no puke, so I try and stick to them and as little town driving as possible while gains her car confidence.
 
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Cue

Well-Known Forumite
Gorgeous!

There are many pure bred animals that end up in rescue sadly!
Aye got really lucky with him, he was a crappy photo on the last page of the rescue’s list, looked like a little potato on a dining chair

Wish we had his pedigree papers though, just out of sheer curiosity really
 
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