What Rescue Dogs Need Most

[Weasels]

Not all dog parks are created equal. One near us has a separate section for little dogs and bigger dogs (although I wouldn't take my dogs there in the evenings, apparently it is OK during the day).

And areas that aren't fully fenced, like sporting ovals that are turned over to dogs when not in use, have been pretty good in my experience. Even if there is a worrying dog, there is plenty of room to get away.

Edited August 21, 2012 by Weasels

[megan_]

A dog is a very long term commitment, I can't understand people who don't research it properly, get some education and know what they are doing. Most people probably research a car brand far more than a dog breed/type and this is why dumpage is so enormous - that and the fact that if they were honest with themselves they would have been better getting a plant for their garden than a living being that was going to take some effort and expenditure on their part.

Sadly, people often ask for help and get very bad advice. For example, that socialization means getting out and playing with lots and lots of dogs at the dog park. This advice often comes from so-called professionals. I joined a club recently and there was a lot of yelling, screaming and pinning of over-excited dogs. The poor owners were really trying but so-called trainers were giving them down-right dangerous advice.

[Guest lavendergirl]

A dog is a very long term commitment, I can't understand people who don't research it properly, get some education and know what they are doing. Most people probably research a car brand far more than a dog breed/type and this is why dumpage is so enormous - that and the fact that if they were honest with themselves they would have been better getting a plant for their garden than a living being that was going to take some effort and expenditure on their part.

Sadly, people often ask for help and get very bad advice. For example, that socialization means getting out and playing with lots and lots of dogs at the dog park. This advice often comes from so-called professionals. I joined a club recently and there was a lot of yelling, screaming and pinning of over-excited dogs. The poor owners were really trying but so-called trainers were giving them down-right dangerous advice.

Hard to know why anyone would continue to attend - what enjoyment/benefit would they be getting out of that?

[Maddy]

Hi,

I am a dog walker, and often get to walk rescue dogs, whether it is long after they were rescued or soon after.

If there is one piece of advice that is invaluable to all dog owners but especially rescue dog owners is SOCIALISE YOUR DOG DAILY.

What I have found is that many rescue dogs have socialization issues, either because of their hard core breed (fighting or guard dog types) or abuse, or from their experience in the shelters with lots of fearful dogs. The excuse I regularly get for dogs not being exposed to other dogs, is that they want to reduce the suffering, their dog is scared or their dog is aggressive.

Unless it is a red zone dog (very high aggression) on-lead in an off lead area, with a good restraint and muzzle if necessary, is infinitely better than restricting such a dog to the back yard every day. You may have to work harder to bring these kinds of 'damaged' dogs around, but hey, didn't you rescue them for a reason? Human pity or compassion, misunderstands what most dogs need - to be social again. If you cant do it yourself, get a dog trainer or a dog walker. The longer you delay walking them daily, the more you reinforce their antisocial behavior.

This is not judgement, its just practical advice for people to start giving dogs what they need, not what humans think is easiest or best (from a human viewpoint). Most rescue dogs I have walked do come around to being good off lead, but again its a process for many. Good exercise, and good food resolves 90% of the problems of 99% of the dogs out there.

I hope that helps!

I got this far and then had to stop.

I assume you watch Cesar Millan (given it's his wording) and frankly, I'm of the opinion that the last thing any rescue dog needs is the CM style of dog training where the dog is bludgeoned with the stimuli until it snaps (and then choked until it "calms down").

Throwing a DA dog (even with a muzzle on) into a pile of dogs at a dog park to "be social" doesn't work and is only going to create more problems. Terrible, terrible advice.

Edited to add..

And as for the advice of bringing a DA dog onlead into an offlead area.. that just displays a glaring lack of knowledge of dog behaviour and will result in someone getting hurt.

I'd seriously recommend against dishing out behavioural advice aimed at DA dogs without the knowledge to back it up because some of what you have suggested is dangerous.

Edited August 22, 2012 by Hardy's Angel

[Aphra]

What I have found is that many rescue dogs have socialization issues, either because of their hard core breed (fighting or guard dog types) or abuse, or from their experience in the shelters with lots of fearful dogs. The excuse I regularly get for dogs not being exposed to other dogs, is that they want to reduce the suffering, their dog is scared or their dog is aggressive.

I'm assuming that by "hard core breed (fighting or guard dog types) " you mean the guardian breeds (mastiff-types, Rottweilers, Shepherds and etc?) I'd hate people to think that those kinds of dogs are necessarily dog or human aggressive by nature. Guardian breeds should show stability and good judgement about what constitutes a threat. Random aggression is a sign of an anxious, fearful dog or unstable dog. While timidity is certainly found in the mastiffs, it is a breed fault, and guardian breeds displaying this behaviour should be managed as anxious and fearful dogs. It's not about their breed, it's about their behaviour.

My Neo bitch was quite an unstable dog, she was timid, although not aggressive, with people, and could be randomly aggressive with other dogs, although mostly she was pretty dog social. She disliked new situations and hated leaving home. In familiar surroundings with dogs she knew, she was happy and content. Forcing her out to socialise with strangers would have distressed her enormously.

I'm sure you mean well with your advice, and for lots of dogs more exercise and fun with other dogs is an excellent way of keeping them happy, but it should be on a dog-by-dog basis, and highly dog aggressive dogs need serious and well-informed management.

I was interested in your first statement about walking dogs long after they've been rescued. When is a rescue dog no longer a rescue dog? I don't think of our dogs as some special category of scared and abused animals, they are just dogs who got a bit unlucky. Out of of our care and into a new home they are just dogs. We encourage our adopters not to make special allowances for their new dogs as "poor rescue dogs", but to treat them as any dog with clear rules and expectations.

[Tibbie_tabbie]

As someone who adopted a reactive, completely unsocialised dog, I can tell you taking them to a dog park would been extremely detrimental for the dog, and incredibly rude and stupid for the other dogs at the park.

We joined a reactive rover class and trained on lead. First greetings were on lead and very gradually worked on off lead. These first off lead sessions we walked around a park (no stopping) and watched my dogs (and others) body language intently so we could pre-empt any issues and gently remove her from the situation. Luckily she wasn't aggressive, just had no manners, which I wanted to protect others dogs from.

It has been a long road, training every day but we got there. If a dog walker had done with her what you suggest it would have set her further back. Also if I was at a dog park and you turned up with a DA dog and let them loose (muzzle or not) I would report you.

Maybe you should invest in some dog behaviour training to assist your current profession before innocent dogs (both DA and the dog park attendees) get hurt.

[tdierikx]

Why do some people need to think there is something "wrong" with rescue dogs? Most rescue dogs are perfectly fine canine citizens who just managed to find themselves homeless is all. The notion that they may have been abused or neglected is often the furthest thing from the truth.

Rescuers who rehome a dog that has serious issues are not exactly doing anyone a favour - least of all the dogs...

Funnily enough, there are more dogs out there who have had the best of everything since puppyhood that have many more issues in public than most rescue dogs I've met...

... and while we are talking about dog parks, it's been my experience that a larger number of smaller breed dogs will be antisocial and go out of their way to annoy some larger breed dogs. My large breed girls were forever trying to get out of the way of "snappy yappies" when I used to take them to the dog park - and not because my dogs went to socialise with said smaller dogs - the little terrors would charge at nearly everything that went even remotely near them or their owners. Funny how it was deemed funny by most people when a SWF would launch and attack my Pittie X girl... good thing my girl is non-reactive and waits for her mummy to come save her from those situations, but she still got looked at as being a "nasty type" of dog because of her breed mix, not because she ever did anything to confirm the theory.

T.

[Katdogs]

We encourage our adopters not to make special allowances for their new dogs as "poor rescue dogs", but to treat them as any dog with clear rules and expectations.

And that's what I think rescue dogs need most.

[mita]

Too many to list, but great responses in this thread. The voices of considerable dog knowledge and experience.

[tdierikx]

We encourage our adopters not to make special allowances for their new dogs as "poor rescue dogs", but to treat them as any dog with clear rules and expectations.

And that's what I think rescue dogs need most.

I'll second that sentiment...

T.

[Tazar]

Dog park = disasters waiting to happen.....

Q. How many people at a dog park have control of their dog(s)? i.e reliable recall for one....

Edited September 7, 2012 by Tazar