I have a "new dog" came en route from others and the local pound

S

smiley

Senior Member
Location
Australia
Yes my beloved last dog of 15 off years had died.

Someone suggested "abandoned" dogs at the pound might be a good idea? So I got Bundy. A very shy ; cautious dog not easy to make good friends with. History [uncertified] of running away or escaping regularly ; but I am no spring chicken - this dog seems to be untrusting and wary of humans.

I feed him twice a day and him does slowly pop through my open office door/bedroom to say a quick hello but spends most of his day just sleeping on his cushion in the living room. Not been given much info by the council yet awaiting paperwork with reqd fee expected. I would say he was quite young and generally seems mistrustful of humans and not fully house trained yet - but that is no bother - have a mop and shovel and bucket!! - I do need to start walking him soon - haven't been well myself unfortunately so all happened at wrong time.

Not having a moaning session just wondering any sparkling ideas from anyone - it seems like "clutching at straws" atm but we do seem to be getting along ok? One significant factor - first few days I had him - he jumped on my bed at night as I tucked in - I brushed him off a few times and he has never done it again - I feel a bit guilty about that now but draw the line at relatively unknown dogs on my bed!!
 

We got a rescue about 4 years ago, and he warmed up to my wife very quickly, but was guarded with me. He'd let me scratch and pet him, but would move away if he thought I was getting too close. It took probably a year and a half for him to realize I wasn't going to hurt him.

When he finally got comfortable enough to play/wrestle, he would still instinctively pull away if he felt I was going to 'trap' him, where he couldn't get away.

Somewhere along the way, it just clicked with him that he wasn't in any danger at all, and out of nowhere, he started 'paw fighting' with me, swatting at me and jumping on me.

Now? He's the most intrusive, pesky, I don't care about your personal space, dog I have ever had. I couldn't love him more.

Just be patient. You'll soon have a second shadow.
 
Dave03 said:
We got a rescue about 4 years ago, and he warmed up to my wife very quickly, but was guarded with me. He'd let me scratch and pet him, but would move away if he thought I was getting too close. It took probably a year and a half for him to realize I wasn't going to hurt him.

When he finally got comfortable enough to play/wrestle, he would still instinctively pull away if he felt I was going to 'trap' him, where he couldn't get away.

Somewhere along the way, it just clicked with him that he wasn't in any danger at all, and out of nowhere, he started 'paw fighting' with me, swatting at me and jumping on me.

Now? He's the most intrusive, pesky, I don't care about your personal space, dog I have ever had. I couldn't love him more.

Just be patient. You'll soon have a second shadow.
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Same deal here with our latest rescue. Warmed up to the wife after only a few weeks, but, here it is a year later and he's still a little shy of me. (he'll come for a hair brush, and some chreme cheese, but no sudden moves or he's gone)
Makes me believe a man had truly abused him.
 
I am so happy to hear you are persevering with the new dog. They, too, have gone through a trauma - being put in a shelter and probably confused and trying to sort out where their last owner went to. Just keep doing what you are doing - building trust slowly and showing him love and affection and praise. I have a feeling you will both bond soon. (y)
 
We adopted a cat, she is sweet and adores our son. We are convinced that someone wanted a dog and tried to turn her into a dog. However she becomes more cat-like every day. She won't sit on our laps,but will sit on sons lap when scared, would not sleep on his bed, then would with a newspaper under her.She now will sleep on his bed most of the night.

She likes boxes and will dig in them until she gets a couple of holes. She loves petting, but tries to bite us, not hard but can get carried away.

She also thinks anyone who comes in comes just to see her and becomes so sad if a delivery man rings the bell and doesn't come in. Needless to say we love her, and all her quirks.
 
mrstime said:
We adopted a cat, she is sweet and adores our son. We are convinced that someone wanted a dog and tried to turn her into a dog. However she becomes more cat-like every day. She won't sit on our laps,but will sit on sons lap when scared, would not sleep on his bed, then would with a newspaper under her.She now will sleep on his bed most of the night.

She likes boxes and will dig in them until she gets a couple of holes. She loves petting, but tries to bite us, not hard but can get carried away.

She also thinks anyone who comes in comes just to see her and becomes so sad if a delivery man rings the bell and doesn't come in. Needless to say we love her, and all her quirks.
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sounds cute and smart at the same time!
 
smiley said:
dis modest operandi methinks is that just occasionally he will approach my bedroom half open door and stand and look in - then I invite him in and in he comes - all very polite?? then he gets a small chewy treat
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That sounds good.
And if you want him to come in more often, you might put a bed for him, in your bedroom?
Or perhaps move one slowly, gradually closer to it?

Just thoughts.
It sounds like he will come around, with your patience and consistency.
(And the treats, too ;))
 
I bought a "fresh" dog three years ago. I couldn't take him home until he was weaned. I considered foster dogs, but I don't have a fenced yard and was rejected on every offer I made. It seemed that a lot of foster dogs don't want to stay at home. I was able to train my dog not to leave the yard, and it wasn't hard. The trees and driveway are off limits. He stays at home. He house broke in a hurry. Some dogs are easy to train. He's a golden retriever, and they usually are.

But one thing I've given up on. I can't get him to bring the ball back. Most retrievers don't need to be trained for that. It's in their DNA. Just throw something away, and a retriever may bring back the thing you were trying to get rid of, but this guy all most gets it, but then forgets it. Not that I need a retriever. I no longer hunt, but it's just weird.

As a companion, I couldn't do better. He's always with me. And only gets left behind on rare occasion. I believe he loves me, or whatever some dogs do that make you believe they love you.
 
Kaila said:
That sounds good.
And if you want him to come in more often, you might put a bed for him, in your bedroom?
Or perhaps move one slowly, gradually closer to it?

Just thoughts.
It sounds like he will come around, with your patience and consistency.
(And the treats, too ;))
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good idea might try and work on that one - mind you in my single bedded room not room to swing a cat!!
 
not that I would want to swing a cat! - but last night came the breakthrough - probably sooner than I thought. I had invited him in a few times and he hangs around for a while but always leaves softly. I was up past midnight last night and he
tentatively looked in and then entered and finished off the treats bag - so no more till thursday. this time he remained in and lay on the floor majestically. I grew tired turned all off and jumped into bed and he promptly followed - could have blown me over with a dogs whisker!! and stayed all night to 6AM!! outside the sheets!!
 
smiley said:
yea that first jump just seemed so needy for him and yet never again
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Sounds like a move to show he was starting to trust you and wanted to be closer to you for security. My dog sleeps with me in bed, they all have in the past, but I understand it's a personal preference and not for everyone. You can't shoo him off the first time, then invite him up the next, best not to give mixed signals. They are usually eager to please once they feel comfortable around you. Glad you're adopting, good luck!
 
After our last dog had to be put to sleep (brain tumor), I thought and thought about it and decided I didn't want another dog. (I didn't think I'd ever get to that point where I could be okay living without a dog, I had.) But, even though Huzz had said he'd do whatever I wanted, if I wanted another dog, fine; if I didn't want another dog, fine; no, he decided he wanted another dog, we adopted a 2-year old from a rescue org. and now we can't get her housebroken completely, sigh. Kinda wish now we had gotten a cat instead.
 
officerripley said:
After our last dog had to be put to sleep (brain tumor), I thought and thought about it and decided I didn't want another dog. (I didn't think I'd ever get to that point where I could be okay living without a dog, I had.) But, even though Huzz had said he'd do whatever I wanted, if I wanted another dog, fine; if I didn't want another dog, fine; no, he decided he wanted another dog, we adopted a 2-year old from a rescue org. and now we can't get her housebroken completely, sigh. Kinda wish now we had gotten a cat instead.
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Yeah, cats come housebroken right out of the bag.
 
Nathan said:
Lol, doesn't THAT sound familiar!

View attachment 416750
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That's not quite his problem. He can't wait for me to throw it, and he loves chasing the ball. After that, he picks it up runs around with if for about 30 seconds and then drops it and walks away. If I tell him, "Drop," he drops it with no sign of disappointment. He'll drop anything on command, but bringing it to you... Well, he just doesn't see the point of that. While he's running with ball, if I say, "Come," he just drops the ball and runs to me. It's like he can only hold one idea at a time in his brain.🙂
 
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