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Good Advice for the first few days/weeks after adopting a rescue dog


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I came across this blog entry titled "Decompression - The Two-Week Shutdown" which does an excellent job explaining how to deal with a rescue dog in the early days of adoption (or fostering). There were some minor points that, if I was really picky, I could argue with, but overall, I think it is a fairly complete coverage of the topic.

 

http://lgarinc.org/decompression-the-two-week-shutdown/

 

I am sensitive to this issue because our rescue group has had a couple of cases where dogs were returned because they were 'overfaced' and reacted defensively. I will strongly impress on an adoptive family that they should NOT be bringing their new-found love everywhere, to meet everyone and do everything, nor should they be inviting the whole extended family and neighborhood to come and meet their new dog. I know I have had a few adopters that probably did an inner eye-roll when I discussed this, but I really feel that the early days can be very important.

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I disagree with enough of what is said in this article that I would not refer a new adopter to it. There are some good things in it, but it is trying to paint all rescue dogs with the same brush.

 

There are a few things in the article that are true across the board for a newly adopted rescue dog, but trying to apply all the rules it lists to every dog would be foolish, and would really amount to a lazy approach in that it would replace what I think is the most important thing to do with a new dog, rescue or not, which is dedicating yourself to being a keen observer of the dog. It was disappointing to me to find no reference whatever to that in the article.

 

You don't know who that dog is at first, and you need to find out. Even if it is a young puppy, he or she will have a specific personality. Of course no matter the age what you see at first may very well not be what you see a month later, or even a couple of years later. Which is why that close and constant observation is so important.

 

Applying some of the rules suggested could be detrimental to the building of a relationship, depending on the dog.

 

One of the most important things I learned in fostering was not to make assumptions about the dog and let him or her show me who they were.

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I disagree with enough of what is said in this article that I would not refer a new adopter to it. There are some good things in it, but it is trying to paint all rescue dogs with the same brush.

I'm with you there. Each dog is it's own and "one size fits all" is misguided and sometimes just plain wrong.

My advice to adopters is to start low key and work to earn the dog's confidence. Some dogs adjust so fast that it's amazing (ex-foster Bryn took all of 30 minutes to tell me he was OK with his new digs). Others have taken months to feel at ease.

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Kit is my first rescue dog in over 20 years. I think she had her decompression with the rescuer. She had been neglected and then surrendered at a little over a year to a shelter who contacted the rescue. By the time I met hera few months later, she had learned the basics about indoor living and niceties such as leash walking.

 

Other than not allowing her on the furniture (she is currently dozing on the other end of the sofa) or putting my face next to hers, I didn't follow any of those rules. We went for a hour long walk our first morning and each morning after that. During the first week, she met several friends and took a 2 hour beach walk. And she was so desperate for affection, that she got lots of petting and attention. I'm not sure what is meant by all affection should have a purpose. Is that like NILF?

 

Oh, I did keep her on a leash at all times outside because my gate had blown down. I remember thinking that was probably a good thing to keep her connected to me for the three or four week period before I had the front section of my fence replaced.

 

All in all, I think Kit was exceptionally easy to assimilate into the household. I believe the rescue did a great job with her. And she has the best temperament of any dog I have owned. Not too much fazes Kit. In the 4 months I've had her, she has loved every human she's met and has been friendly with all dogs and cats. She is close to perfect to live with. She's even quiet. Days go by that I don't hear her bark and when I tell her stop, she's like, oh, ok. :)

 

I would like to adopt a 2nd dog next year but part of me worries about upsetting the peaceful life apple cart. I can't imagine another dog being anywhere near this easy. Someone told me today I hit the lottery with her and I have to say, I agree.

 

Anyway, maybe if Kit hadn't been so happy go lucky, go with the flow, I would have done more along the lines of what the article suggests. I do try to take my cues from the dog. For instance, I train Kit differently than my previous dogs who I had from pups and grew up living closely with humans.

 

Thanks for sharing the article. I like to read what I can on rescue dogs. It has been interesting and fun watching Kit settle in and more and more show what an awesome dog she is.

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I think the purpose of the 'two week shut down' is so people who may not be the most dog savvy and dogs who may be acting 'off' are given time TO be able to read and get to know each other. No, that doesn't mean it applies to every person and every dog but as universal advice I don't find 'slow your roll' offensive or bad. It's not going to hurt to be done if it's not necessary, but if people aren't capable of really reading and adjusting to the dog, doing it may well REALLY help.

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I think the demographic that would most benefit from the blogpost is the new adopter and/or general non-dog savvy person. (I agree that experienced dog owners or dog fosters - like D'Elle and JohnLloydJones - is not the audience to which this post was targeted.)

 

Did I think some of the rules too rigid and limiting? Of course. But I felt that the first part of the blogpost (before reaching the list of rules) would be quite a wake-up call to many adopters (or at least the majority of adopters with which I have interacted). It reminds me a bit of Suzanne Clothier's iconic post "I just want to say Hi" (sorry if the title isn't exactly correct).

 

CptJack wrote: "....but if people aren't capable of really reading and adjusting to the dog, doing it may well REALLY help." I agree with this. Experienced dog owners and foster parents are able to read a dog better than the average adopter. They know when not to push a dog. And they can recognize the signals if a dog is pushed too fast and will back off the pressure.

 

As with JohnLloydJones, I advise adopters not to go too fast with 'socializing' the dog, but I think sometimes this verbal advice goes in one ear and out the other - particularly when they may be focused on the dog they are about to go home with. Having an essay that can be read at a quieter time, and perhaps re-read as needed, might be helpful.

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experienced dog owners or dog fosters - like D'Elle and JohnLloydJones

...

As with JohnLloydJones, I advise adopters not to go too fast with 'socializing' the dog, but I think sometimes this verbal advice goes in one ear and out the other - particularly when they may be focused on the dog they are about to go home with. Having an essay that can be read at a quieter time, and perhaps re-read as needed, might be helpful.

While I have fostered a dog or two, I make no claim to being an expert. I have, however, learned a bit about both dogs and the people have adopted them. Verbal instructions may "go in one ear and out the other", so I usually followed up with an email or two containing advice that was customized for the particular dog/people combination. Obviously some matches were such good fit that little extra guidance was necessary. In other cases weeks of follow up by the rescue were needed.

 

I know some rescues talk about the "three threes": three days, three weeks, three months. These are the (somewhat loosely defined, lengthwise) milestones of a dog's adjustment with it's new environment. The first period -- three days -- is where decompression, where needed, plays its part.

 

Back to the webpage you suggested. My discomfort with the advice given boils down to the page concentrating on establishing control over the dog. Well yes, we do need to be in control, but I cringe when I read:

"Do not allow your new dog to “go ahead of you”. Establish this rule right away. You go out and in FIRST through the door. In fact, it is a good idea to have them sit before they can enter, before you leash up, etc." This is run-away NILF. You control the door; you open it, you close it. Who goes through first really doesn't matter, as long as you control the door* itself. Train a boundary command (e.g. Wait!) by all means, but why worry about who goes first? [it may come as no surprise that I work on the boundary command (Wait!) and recall (Here!) right from the get go. I don't bother much with Sit! -- the dog can stand, sit or lie down for all I care as long as it doesn't go running off into the distance!]

 

Another thing I do differently from the webpage advice is bring a new dog into the existing pack as soon as possible. By walking together (on a coupler) with an experienced dog, the new comer learns the ropes very quickly. It also learns its territory, which means if the dog gets loose, it is far less likely to ran far away, because it has learned its local area.

 

Note*: Ah Rudy! Ex-foster Rudy! He who could open wire crates from the inside, open doors and "drum roll" open the dead bolt latch of a main door to let himself out. His innocent looking face and diminutive stature concealed a giant personality. He never let physical restrictions limit his actions.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I agree with John above.

The NILIF thing is for the most part irrelevant in my experience with dogs, especially with border collies.

 

I have suggested it a time or two to people whose dogs I am helping to train, but to be honest it was more for the owner than the dog. some people are afraid to assert any authority with the dog, or are submissive people by nature and need to buck up their confidence in taking the lead.

 

Like John, I introduce a new dog to the current pack first thing. Through the fence at first, then outside the property, on leash one at a time, and then assuming all goes well with the first two I simply turn them all loose in the fenced-in back yard under my supervision.

 

Except for the dogs who were completely shut down or terrified of everything, all the fosters relaxed within minutes. I think they figured that if the dogs in the yard seemed happy and content, this couldn't be a bad place, so no worries.

 

I always try to put myself in the dog's place if I can.

So, I get dumped without my choosing into a strange place where there are several other people in a small area. If those people seem happy and relaxed and friendly, my fear of what this place might turn out to be will be at least somewhat alleviated.

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