Rescuing/rehoming...
Discussion
Folks,
We have a 5 year old Samoyed b
h. We are going to see another 2.5 year old Samoyed bh on Sunday that is in need of rescuing. The reasons for the need to rehome are currently unknown but it appears to be a family pet that is suffering due to changing work and financial circumstances. We have found out she has been bred from and they haven’t disclosed that. But that matters not but our Samoyed is spayed but a very dominant sort. She,rules the roost on walks etc.
Any tips on introducing the dogs, should we be watching for anything etc, etc. We are meeting the owners and dog on independent ground and they know we understand the breed as my other half has had Samoyeds all her life.
I’m just looking for integration of a new dog experiences as I don’t want to make a mistake with the rescue.
Cheers
We have a 5 year old Samoyed b
h. We are going to see another 2.5 year old Samoyed bh on Sunday that is in need of rescuing. The reasons for the need to rehome are currently unknown but it appears to be a family pet that is suffering due to changing work and financial circumstances. We have found out she has been bred from and they haven’t disclosed that. But that matters not but our Samoyed is spayed but a very dominant sort. She,rules the roost on walks etc.Any tips on introducing the dogs, should we be watching for anything etc, etc. We are meeting the owners and dog on independent ground and they know we understand the breed as my other half has had Samoyeds all her life.
I’m just looking for integration of a new dog experiences as I don’t want to make a mistake with the rescue.
Cheers
It does depend a lot on the character of your dog.
We took on an 8 month old rehome 3 years ago, our dog was almost 3. He had always been very chilled with other dogs and not at all possessive with us but we still met outside the house and immediately went for a walk. Mabel was a bit loopy back then but lovely natured!! After the walk she came into the house with him and they went into our garden and it was all good.
The only situation we had in the first few days was when I gave them a dentastix each Mabel ate hers too quickly and went over to Bryn to take his, this was the first time ever that I had seem him act in a protective/ negative way ever!!! It shocked me there was a bit of blood but all superficial and it was over very quickly (before I even had a real chance to intervene)but it was an eye opener. I was a lot more cautious for a while after re treats.
Bryn is defintiely the dominant one re possession of treats (only ever with Mabel though never ever with the kids or me or my husband) but that is the only time he displays it and there has never been blood drawn since that first time, it is just noise. Mabel still keeps trying!! They eat next to one another and because Bryn always finishes first there is no issue as he doesn't try to take food from her.
Not sure if any of that is useful but I guess my point is you will soon learn possible triggers for a situation to arise and ways around them if they are fairly minor. And don't take chances in the early days especially (ie shut them in one room and go out for a few hours when they have only known each other a couple days - seems obvious but it happens!)
For a long time even though they were getting on really well and slept in the same bed etc we still crated them separately overnight and when we went out just to be on the safe side but not now they've shared one large crate when needed for the last couple years and never had an incident.
We took on an 8 month old rehome 3 years ago, our dog was almost 3. He had always been very chilled with other dogs and not at all possessive with us but we still met outside the house and immediately went for a walk. Mabel was a bit loopy back then but lovely natured!! After the walk she came into the house with him and they went into our garden and it was all good.
The only situation we had in the first few days was when I gave them a dentastix each Mabel ate hers too quickly and went over to Bryn to take his, this was the first time ever that I had seem him act in a protective/ negative way ever!!! It shocked me there was a bit of blood but all superficial and it was over very quickly (before I even had a real chance to intervene)but it was an eye opener. I was a lot more cautious for a while after re treats.
Bryn is defintiely the dominant one re possession of treats (only ever with Mabel though never ever with the kids or me or my husband) but that is the only time he displays it and there has never been blood drawn since that first time, it is just noise. Mabel still keeps trying!! They eat next to one another and because Bryn always finishes first there is no issue as he doesn't try to take food from her.
Not sure if any of that is useful but I guess my point is you will soon learn possible triggers for a situation to arise and ways around them if they are fairly minor. And don't take chances in the early days especially (ie shut them in one room and go out for a few hours when they have only known each other a couple days - seems obvious but it happens!)
For a long time even though they were getting on really well and slept in the same bed etc we still crated them separately overnight and when we went out just to be on the safe side but not now they've shared one large crate when needed for the last couple years and never had an incident.
We've had a couple of foster dogs so have had mixed experiences with introductions as we've had dogs just arrive at the door, but also been able to try and introduce them.
We lost our female Dobermann due to liver complications, so after a few months decided to get a rescue Dobe. Poppy came in from Serbia and was a mess. She was about 14kgs and looked like she was on deaths door. She'd had an ear cut off at the scalp, had broken her legs / pelvis at some point, had severe demodex and where she'd been travelling for a long time, she was also covered in the contents of her crate she travelled in.
She arrived at the door at about 21:30pm so there was no real easy way to introduce her to our male, she was lead straight in to the house, allowed a quick sniff, then taken on-lead to the garden to meet the male Dobe. Surprisingly, he wasn't very interested in her. He prefers humans to dogs, but this one was in his garden so was surprised he didn't kick off. She stank and was covered in faeces so was given a deep clean. She did smell funny for quite a while despite regular baths. As the smell went, he started to interact with her more, but she integrated seamlessly. Where she was a stray and close to death from starvation, she really puts her food away quickly, so as soon as she finishes hers, she goes straight for his and just barges him out the way. He's bit of a gentleman so lets her, so always keep them separated when feeding or he won't get to finish anything. They've had a few minor altercations but nothing serious. When they are left alone, despite them living together for the last couple of years, they are still separated. They sleep together at nigh, but if there's nobody home during the day then they are separated by a tall babygate. This was as easy an introduction as possible.
At the other end of the spectrum, we had a foster (female Dobermann) who finally had a home ready to go to but needed introducing to their existing dog. We met on neutral ground and walked the dogs on leads round and got closer and closer. The issue was their existing dog (A Dobermann), if just kicked off everytime they got within 30 feet of each other. As we were close to home, we tried them on lead in the garden but got the same result. Ironically the problem was their existing dog and the fact it has never been socialised properly so wouldn't let them have the female foster Dobermann until they'd done the right work with their dog.
We also had a huge cropped and docked female Dobe from Bosnia. She really had a lot of issues!! She got her happy ever after, but was really hard work. Things started off ok apart from psychological damage from the trauma she went through (you really don't want to know, but yes, it is the worst thing you can think off). After about 2 months, she just flipped out and kept attacking the male. As w'd had her a while, we were fairly sure she was fitting in ok, but around 6 - 8 weeks things changed, so one thing I will say is that when you do your introductions, stay on the ball for a while as it can take time for things to change for the worst.
We lost our female Dobermann due to liver complications, so after a few months decided to get a rescue Dobe. Poppy came in from Serbia and was a mess. She was about 14kgs and looked like she was on deaths door. She'd had an ear cut off at the scalp, had broken her legs / pelvis at some point, had severe demodex and where she'd been travelling for a long time, she was also covered in the contents of her crate she travelled in.
She arrived at the door at about 21:30pm so there was no real easy way to introduce her to our male, she was lead straight in to the house, allowed a quick sniff, then taken on-lead to the garden to meet the male Dobe. Surprisingly, he wasn't very interested in her. He prefers humans to dogs, but this one was in his garden so was surprised he didn't kick off. She stank and was covered in faeces so was given a deep clean. She did smell funny for quite a while despite regular baths. As the smell went, he started to interact with her more, but she integrated seamlessly. Where she was a stray and close to death from starvation, she really puts her food away quickly, so as soon as she finishes hers, she goes straight for his and just barges him out the way. He's bit of a gentleman so lets her, so always keep them separated when feeding or he won't get to finish anything. They've had a few minor altercations but nothing serious. When they are left alone, despite them living together for the last couple of years, they are still separated. They sleep together at nigh, but if there's nobody home during the day then they are separated by a tall babygate. This was as easy an introduction as possible.
At the other end of the spectrum, we had a foster (female Dobermann) who finally had a home ready to go to but needed introducing to their existing dog. We met on neutral ground and walked the dogs on leads round and got closer and closer. The issue was their existing dog (A Dobermann), if just kicked off everytime they got within 30 feet of each other. As we were close to home, we tried them on lead in the garden but got the same result. Ironically the problem was their existing dog and the fact it has never been socialised properly so wouldn't let them have the female foster Dobermann until they'd done the right work with their dog.
We also had a huge cropped and docked female Dobe from Bosnia. She really had a lot of issues!! She got her happy ever after, but was really hard work. Things started off ok apart from psychological damage from the trauma she went through (you really don't want to know, but yes, it is the worst thing you can think off). After about 2 months, she just flipped out and kept attacking the male. As w'd had her a while, we were fairly sure she was fitting in ok, but around 6 - 8 weeks things changed, so one thing I will say is that when you do your introductions, stay on the ball for a while as it can take time for things to change for the worst.
Gone a bit AMG said:
Thanks so much for the comprehensive replies. Really appreciated.
That last paragraph from Autopilot is a very significant one tbh, especially if a rescue/rehome has been traumatised or stressed prior to their new home because it can take a few weeks for their real characters to shine through! So you could have a difficult start that improves as the dog relaxes and trusts or you can get the opposite, a dog that becomes more bolshy orr assertive as they settle in and gain confidence! Just good to be aware of this. bexVN said:
That last paragraph from Autopilot is a very significant one tbh, especially if a rescue/rehome has been traumatised or stressed prior to their new home because it can take a few weeks for their real characters to shine through! So you could have a difficult start that improves as the dog relaxes and trusts or you can get the opposite, a dog that becomes more bolshy orr assertive as they settle in and gain confidence! Just good to be aware of this.
Indeed. The only time (fingers crossed) I have had serious issues between any of my rescue dogs was between two bhes. The resident dog was a very calm and laid back dog, the incoming dog was very submissive and nervous (towards humans) but more confident with other dogs. I don't particularly like the terms 'dominant' and 'top dog' but it became clear that's what this dog wanted to be. As with Bex, the first flashpoint involved treats - unfortunately I wasn't there (my fault, but in my defence, I'd never had issues with any of my dogs before this). Looking back, I should have admitted defeat then, because my resident bh had a few bite wounds, but I didn't want to return a dog to rescue. The rescue also (I feel) gave me incorrect and unfortunate behavioural advice, which was not in the best interests of the other three dogs I had already adopted from them. After a further incident, I decided that I couldn't risk it any longer, and returned the dog. The effect on my other dogs was immediate and extremely apparent - we had all been 'walking on eggshells'. It was quite some time before I risked adding another dog, and that was a male, rather than a female. It certainly wasn't that my existing female couldn't live with another bh - she had joined my household when I already had an older female. However, the dynamic between them was very different. Just to say too, these were both greyhounds, so not known for being particularly bolshy or aggressive.So in summary, it is (as Bex said) very dependent on the individual personalities involved - not just how you introduce them. I have a different group of four dogs now, but the ratio is the same - one female, three males. There has been the odd instance of 'handbags' between the boys, but it is just that, over very quickly. I think that issues between b
hes can be far, far more serious, so I would be more cautious about adding another female.I hope (if this is the right dog for you) that it does work out, but equally - don't be afraid to walk away if there is any doubt.
We had two rescue girls for a while and they were generally fine but they would fight each other and it wasn't pleasant. Now we have a boy and a girl and if they ever do have a row the female always ends it quickly and never any blood so far.
I don't think I'd ever have more than one female again at the same time personally.
I don't think I'd ever have more than one female again at the same time personally.
All taken on board. Thanks again we are meeting the current owners and dog on Sunday and will not rush into anything.
Our bh is dominant so we are increasingly thinking of waiting and getting a male puppy when available next year.
We shall see how we get on on Sunday.
I’ve had two bhes before but they were springers and mother and daughter.
Our b
h is dominant so we are increasingly thinking of waiting and getting a male puppy when available next year.We shall see how we get on on Sunday.
I’ve had two b
hes before but they were springers and mother and daughter. Thanks again folks and the really comprehensive replies were appreciated.
The dog to be rescued was half the size of ours and understandably submissive immediately. Neither of us would be comfortable leaving them alone because of the disparity between the sizes, ours is 33kg and the new dog (to us) was 15kg and I’m not sure she’s a pure breed Samoyed. That didn’t matter but as they did not gel together, Given the size disparity if there’s a worry it isn’t right is it?
We have confirmed that our dog is hugely possessive with my other half, we knew it but today confirmed it 100%. Perhaps a male puppy in the future but for now we’ll let Mia be Mia and enjoy just the one Samoyed.
Thanks for the advice.
The dog to be rescued was half the size of ours and understandably submissive immediately. Neither of us would be comfortable leaving them alone because of the disparity between the sizes, ours is 33kg and the new dog (to us) was 15kg and I’m not sure she’s a pure breed Samoyed. That didn’t matter but as they did not gel together, Given the size disparity if there’s a worry it isn’t right is it?
We have confirmed that our dog is hugely possessive with my other half, we knew it but today confirmed it 100%. Perhaps a male puppy in the future but for now we’ll let Mia be Mia and enjoy just the one Samoyed.
Thanks for the advice.
So we had a foster dog turn up last night, as it was a bit all last minute. Originally from Romania, found on the street and brought over to the UK. Had a few issues with flare ups, teeth showing and had to seperate them twice. Great on a walk this morning, and even started to play fight with each other. Got back home and your can tell they are still unsure about each other.
Main issues have been bones, they have one each but the resident dog wants the other one all the time. Also had a few issues around food, i think being a street dog she is very protective of food and is thinking she wont get another meal if she doesn't get this food.
Both sleeping now but will see how it goes. Our Cockapoo is very playful, but the rescue is more reserved and very timid. Hopefully they can sort themselves out.
Main issues have been bones, they have one each but the resident dog wants the other one all the time. Also had a few issues around food, i think being a street dog she is very protective of food and is thinking she wont get another meal if she doesn't get this food.
Both sleeping now but will see how it goes. Our Cockapoo is very playful, but the rescue is more reserved and very timid. Hopefully they can sort themselves out.
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