Adopting Older Dogs

[BarbedWire]

My dog had no problems with men and I have not said he was abused in any way because I think he had been loved. All I am saying is that it seemed to me that he wanted to go home to the place where presumably he had lived for eight years. My older girl is now eight and I think she would always regard living with me as being at home. I hope she would because I love her very much. The dog in the OP did come to a house where he was very welcome and where I already had one other dog who was settled and quite happy to see him and they got on well from the beginning. I have said today was a bleak day because I am remembering him and so wanting him back. Now I feel I failed him. RIP beautiful boy.

You didn't fail him. Read the last sentence of my reply again. I'm sorry you are having a bleak day but try to remember the good times with him.

I didn't mean your post. You are always positive. You are right I do need to remember the good times. Once when he ran off when I let him off the lead thinking I could now trust him and after chasing after him I finally gave up and took my other dog home balling my eyes out thinking he was gone and when we got home he was there already sitting on the front door step looking very pleased to see me.

I just woke up this morning missing him. (It might be something to do with having a cardiologist appointment shortly.) I have just found homes for his towels (my dogs have their own colour coded towels. His were yellow because that was his colour) and I just miss him all over again. Anyway I am probably being too sensitive. Hopefully I will feel better after my appointment.

Sorry for being negative and thank you to those who have understood - stellnme, vehs, Juice, raineth, Powerlegs, and anyone else I have missed.

[mita]

Sars, I'm going OT, but all the best for your appointment with the cardiologist. Cardiology is so advanced these days. I've had first-hand experience.

I've been amazed how the vet cardiology is just as advanced. Tibbie girl in Sydney recently had a stent put in... & now is fine. My own Tibbie's daughter will have surgery to repair a birth defect after which she'll be perfectly healthy, too.

I can understand why thoughts of missing your dog surfaced so strongly at this time. Our pets bring us such comfort. So, as others have said, take comfort in the many positive memories.

[Dame Aussie]

Sometimes I think we get too caught up in not attributing human reasoning to behaviours. Obviously we can't know but I definitely think some dogs remember past lives/owners, I'm also sure a lot couldn't care less!

When I was working at the pound we had people who would come and adopt the oldest dog there, give them a good last few years/months and then when they passed they'd do it again. Couldn't do it myself but I thought it was lovely.

[Bundyburger]

Sometimes I think we get too caught up in not attributing human reasoning to behaviours. Obviously we can't know but I definitely think some dogs remember past lives/owners, I'm also sure a lot couldn't care less!

When I was working at the pound we had people who would come and adopt the oldest dog there, give them a good last few years/months and then when they passed they'd do it again. Couldn't do it myself but I thought it was lovely.

We have one we suspect won't give a rats! She kept checking the door and crying the first evening, after that it was like, old owners who? She'll happily go off with anyone anytime, and I think it's good, shes very adaptable despite having crazy high energy levels. Her old owners will be seeing her soon, we've had her nearly a year and I'm curious to see how she reacts. She's a complete contrast to my other dogs in that regard.

[tdierikx]

I should add that usually they end up closely watching then copying the others and settling in. Monkey see monkey do. LOL

And some barely look back at you despite the hard yards we both did with rehab. I do love those moments. Ungrateful little critters. :laugh:

And this is why we do rescue, yes? Happy, healthy, and well adjusted little souls happy to go off on the next stage of their life journey...

T.

[stari]

We adopted our dog from the pound a few years ago, he was 6. From day one he was "home" there was barely a period of adjustment, he just fitted right in. He was in the pound for quite a few months before we got him.

Strangely, we found out that he had actually lived a few doors up from us when he was a pup, but he never shows any recognition or interest in that house now.

[Scottsmum]

Hey Sars - Hope the appointment went OK. :)

You know we adopted Scottie at an estimated age of 10. He did the bolt on us a number of times - but I think that's just cause he can be a bit of a dick. If he thinks he's been wrongly done out of a walk - he'll quite happily take himself for one. Which is how I assume he ended up at the pound.

He came with no chip, no history, never claimed. All we know is the council area he was picked up and that he's been desexed before he found his way to the pound. He was Well cared for, has great house manners (wouldn't get on furniture ect) housebroken / trained - has never had an accident.

He's got a fondness for kids - particularly young kids and girls. He's very VERY drawn to a particular race of people - if there is a group of people in an open pace (like an off leash) and there is someone from that particular race there - he'll go say hi. Especially in the early days - he'd do a head snap if she saw someone of that race. It was kind of funny, has always made me wonder.

So I have made a story up in my head about who they were - I have no idea how he got out - maybe he bolted, maybe they got sick and taken to hospital.... maybe he was dumped. Who knows.

I've often wondered what he'd do if his old owners walked through the door.

But now - I'm pretty sure he's mine . I am as sure as sure can be his old owners wont show up out of the blue - I suppose they might spot him online but that would be a 1 in a million thing ...

I think in our case - the bolting is him having fun, I do think he took a while to really warm to us as "family" and I do think he missed or was looking for familiar for a while - Its possible he belonged to a stay at home grandparent or something which might explain some of his separation issues too. But he's definitely settled and part of the family unit now.

Hubby and I agreed that if he never came to "love" us we'd still provide all a dog needs including a warm and safe home for him to live out his years.

[Two Best Dogs!]

I wonder sometimes, as to where she came from.

I don't think her fear of men is a sign of anything particularly sinister, so I wince that some regular people introduce her to others as the "dog who has been horribly abused" but I've given up protesting on that front. Pretty sure she's just an undersocialised yellow belly lol.

She certainly likes short thin women (of all colours), blond women and long haired women. It could reflect where she came from, or perhaps someone in her 3 month pound stint.

I would say she is thoroughly mine and I doubt she has any firm memories of where she came from or even of the pound. She does dislike enclosed cement places but I think that is more the lingering stress she felt in such an area than memories.

But if say, she wasn't so strongly bonded to me as she is I would not mind. Some animals* are just not as people focussed (or one person focussed) and I am content to do things with them and let them live out their lives in a safe and loving environment. As long as the animal is happy, I am happy.

_{*I say animal because it seems no matter the species, sometimes I have a huge person focussed one and sometimes I get one where it's more a amiable coexistence.}

[westiemum]

When Sarah arrived from her breeder in Brisbane as a mature aged westie all those years ago, she drove me mad the first 24 hours - she was racing around the house like a lunatic and I wondered what I'd taken on! But I later found out that, unbeknownst to me, she was separated, probably too early from a small litter of puppies - I suspect she was looking for them when she got out of her crate from the airport. I was actually quite cross - if I'd known I would have waited as long as it took for her puppies to sell and her being separated from them in a much gentler way.

Having said that, because I had Mac at the time and I bought her to keep him company, she settled very quickly within 24 -36 hours. She and Mac bonded very well and it was as if she had always been here. She's lying next to me at the moment and is the most beautiful natured westie. Some rather 'rude' friends call her the 'Goldie Hawn' of the westie world cos they think she's an 'airhead'! I think she just has the most beautiful sunny, happy nature! She's always smiling and wagging her tail!

This is Snook's photo of her from a couple of years back - and is my favourite of her:

[Loving my Oldies]

If that is an airhead, can I be an airhead please?

[BarbedWire]

Thank you for the replies. My cardiologist appointment is over and nothing new came out of it. Just a reminder that I am finite as are we all.

My dog did bond with me eventually. It probably took him about twelve months. It is interesting that some people have had similar experiences. I think my dog had always been very well-treated before arriving at the pound. He was chipped with his date of birth on the chip record and desexed which to me means he came from a responsible breeder. I have oftenwondered if he came from the early breeding of the Cobberdog when they used wheatens in their program and he was rejected for some reason, perhaps because his tail which curled up over his back. He was about the right age. I always imagined that he had belonged to a young family who had to move and couldn't take him, possibly an army family, although of course I realise that is pure conjecture and I will never know. It's fun to think about it though.

I thought dogs had evolved to belong to people and loyalty is a trait that we value in our dogs. I also thought I had read somewhere that Cattle dogs are known to be one person dogs and then there are the stories about the dogs who stay at their owner's graves (Greyfriars' Bobbie although that has been disputed). I would like to think that my older girl who I have had since she was four months old would miss me if anything happened and if she were stolen or lost she would try to find me. We invest a lot in our dogs - some even refer to them as their heart dogs - and I hope they return that loyalty or are they just complete parasites who just hang around and pretend to love us because of what's in it for them.

[Scottsmum]

Thank you for the replies. My cardiologist appointment is over and nothing new came out of it. Just a reminder that I am finite as are we all. My dog did bond with me eventually. It probably took him about twelve months. It is interesting that some people have had similar experiences. I think my dog had always been very well-treated before arriving at the pound. He was chipped with his date of birth on the chip record and desexed which to me means he came from a responsible breeder. I have oftenwondered if he came from the early breeding of the Cobberdog when they used wheatens in their program and he was rejected for some reason, perhaps because his tail which curled up over his back. He was about the right age. I always imagined that he had belonged to a young family who had to move and couldn't take him, possibly an army family, although of course I realise that is pure conjecture and I will never know. It's fun to think about it though.I thought dogs had evolved to belong to people and loyalty is a trait that we value in our dogs. I also thought I had read somewhere that Cattle dogs are known to be one person dogs and then there are the stories about the dogs who stay at their owner's graves (Greyfriars' Bobbie although that has been disputed). I would like to think that my older girl who I have had since she was four months old would miss me if anything happened and if she were stolen or lost she would try to find me. We invest a lot in our dogs - some even refer to them as their heart dogs - and I hope they return that loyalty or are they just complete parasites who just hang around and pretend to love us because of what's in it for them.

Good to hear there is no new news. ;)

I think our dogs love us. I'm sure there are "parasites" who hang out for the free feed. I know there are less dependent breeds but all in all I think out dogs enjoy our company and love us. maybe not in that "i'd cross hell and fire to save you" kind of maternal love I feel for Scottie - but I reckon he thinks I'm alright - and that's enough for me.

It took Scottie a good 4 weeks to really settle at home - we nearly returned him after the 2 week trial (I just couldnt) - but it was AGES - maybe close to 12 months - before the instructor at obedience commented on how healthy and happy he looked & how much he'd come out of his shell.

When Sarah arrived from her breeder in Brisbane as a mature aged westie all those years ago, she drove me mad the first 24 hours - she was racing around the house like a lunatic and I wondered what I'd taken on! But I later found out that, unbeknownst to me, she was separated, probably too early from a small litter of puppies - I suspect she was looking for them when she got out of her crate from the airport. I was actually quite cross - if I'd known I would have waited as long as it took for her puppies to sell and her being separated from them in a much gentler way. Having said that, because I had Mac at the time and I bought her to keep him company, she settled very quickly within 24 -36 hours. She and Mac bonded very well and it was as if she had always been here. She's lying next to me at the moment and is the most beautiful natured westie. Some rather 'rude' friends call her the 'Goldie Hawn' of the westie world cos they think she's an 'airhead'! I think she just has the most beautiful sunny, happy nature! She's always smiling and wagging her tail!This is Snook's photo of her from a couple of years back - and is my favourite of her:

Off topic - WM - you've turned me. I have always sworn no long haired dogs. and God almighty - not white - I struggle enough with B&W - but westies are in my top two "next dogs" because of you and Boronia :)

[BDJ]

Sometimes it is hard when you adopt an older dog, if only because you don't always know what they are saying :-)

Many years ago we heard about an older (8 or 9 yo) sheltie that the son was looking to place out as her elderly owner had passed away and no one in the family could take her. She settled in beautifully and we had her for 7 years. But, we never did understand what we were supposed to do with her right front paw. She would come and sit in front of us and lift it up and out as if she was offering it to us. But if we tried to touch it she would snatch it back and walk off (and give us a look of 'yikes you are stupid, why do you think I wanted you to touch it' :-)). We never did work it out, and I always felt I was being dumb as she really, really wanted us to understand something (it wasn't playful, it was really like a message or special think she used to do)

[Perry's Mum]

Friskie was 14 when she came to me - her previous owner had died and his relatives had dumped her. It took her about 4 weeks to settle in. She has been here 3 years now.

[Loving my Oldies]

Friskie was 14 when she came to me - her previous owner had died and his relatives had dumped her. It took her about 4 weeks to settle in. She has been here 3 years now.

I think we need a photograph of this little champion

[Rozzie]

Columbus was estimated to be at least 12 when he came home. He slotted straight in and gave us 9 years of doggy love. I miss the old man.

[westiemum]

SM

WM - you've turned me. I have always sworn no long haired dogs. and God almighty - not white - I struggle enough with B&W - but westies are in my top two "next dogs" because of you and Boronia :)

And another falls for a divine breed!!! Not that there aren't others but believe me westies are special (and yes I'm completely biased!! ) Welcome to the westie club SM! You won't regret it.

[Scottsmum]

SM

WM - you've turned me. I have always sworn no long haired dogs. and God almighty - not white - I struggle enough with B&W - but westies are in my top two "next dogs" because of you and Boronia :)

And another falls for a divine breed!!! Not that there aren't others but believe me westies are special (and yes I'm completely biased!! ) Welcome to the westie club SM! You won't regret it.

Long way off yet.

[Perry's Mum]

Friskie was 14 when she came to me - her previous owner had died and his relatives had dumped her. It took her about 4 weeks to settle in. She has been here 3 years now.

I think we need a photograph of this little champion

[Two Best Dogs!]

Friskie was 14 when she came to me - her previous owner had died and his relatives had dumped her. It took her about 4 weeks to settle in. She has been here 3 years now.

I think we need a photograph of this little champion

I give this dog a 10/10 for being awesome and having amazing ears. Lucky you!