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Rehoming a rescue dog - what else do I need?


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Old 02-08-2016, 16:50
wench
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So I've passed the home check and the interviews, I've had 2 meet and greets with a potential dog (3 year old Aylestone Bulldog) and the 3rd and final meet and greet is this weekend.
With any luck she will be coming home to us within 2 weeks so I'm desperately trying to make sure I have everything in place for when she comes home.

Its been a good few years since I had my own dogs and so I'm racking my brain to remember everything

So far I have

Dog Bed
Dog guard for the car
Dog gate (so she can't get upstairs)
Bowls and stand
Lead and head collar
Pet insurance
Brush/Shampoo
Toys
Old towels
Blanket
toothbrush
Puppy pads just in case

Locks on all the cupboards she can reach
Increase the height of the garden fence
Register with a vet
Get her microchipped
(the rescue centre have already spayed and wormed her)

Anything else anyone can think of ?

Thanks in advance!
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Old 02-08-2016, 16:53
wench
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Also do you think it would be easy to change her name?
She was named Winnie by the rescue centre but in all honesty she doesn't look like a Winnie.

Do you think she would respond to a new name?
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Old 02-08-2016, 17:08
katt
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firstly well done for giving a rescue dog a lovely new home!

seems like you have most bases covered - ie the essentials - you can always get things as and when you need them or when you think of them after you have the dog

how about some dog treats just to praise her when she does something right/is a good girl?

I recently rehomed a rescue cat and tried to change her name - sadly didnt work as she responded to her name but I think it might be different with dogs.............

try it and see

I hope you will both be very happy together - I am sure you will be and I am sure she will love her new home
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Old 02-08-2016, 17:23
skinj
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Can't think of much.
Poo bags! Can never have enough of them.
Maybe a harness, the dog we got hates being controlled by the collar, something maybe happened before we got her, on the harness she's fine.

Good luck & good on you!
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Old 02-08-2016, 17:46
CaptainObvious_
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Sounds good to me...lucky doggy!

Hope all goes well for you both
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Old 02-08-2016, 18:43
Absolutely
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Food!! lol


I think they will chip the dog before you get it (they always did it to my rescue dogs)
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Old 02-08-2016, 23:03
Wolfsheadish
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I think you'll find a new name is an excellent idea - it's surprising how quickly they adjust to it and it's somehow symbolic of a new start.

Good for you taking this dog into your life. I hope you'll both be very happy
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Old 03-08-2016, 00:24
seacam
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Also do you think it would be easy to change her name?
She was named Winnie by the rescue centre but in all honesty she doesn't look like a Winnie.

Do you think she would respond to a new name?
Hi Wench,

First off congrats', I hope it all goes well for you and her.

I think you have covered all in your list but be aware of Wobblers.

As for changing her name, you as the owner have to be happy with the name as you call her, with most dogs there isn't an issue with changing a name, takes a little time for them to get use to it but they will respond, some faster then others.

The problem with the bulldog breed, and I am writing from experience here and changing their name, is they are, more then many, a thinking dog, everything you ask them to do appears to have a 2-3 second time delay before a response, makes things a little harder when changing their name.

You may be stuck with Winnie, you may not.

But you will have a loving, protective, loyal dog regardless.

Good luck.
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Old 03-08-2016, 08:26
Elyan
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It may be a worrying time for the dog at first. Settling in to new surroundings with new people, and all of the noises and smells that come with it. She may need a little time to properly settle in, so avoid too much fussing, pulling and poking. Just let her have a wander around. Not saying ignore her, just let her have a bit of space. If she comes to you for a bit of affection, then of course, give it.

Set your rules, boundaries and limitations. i.e. if your long term plan is to have the dog sleeping in a certain place, then put the bed there straight away. If you don't want her on the couch, then let her know she's not allowed on it from the start. Set the feeding times/place etc. Think about what you want from your dog, and firmly but fairly set the rules. Dogs just need to know what the rules are, and they're happy.

Good luck with your new dog.
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Old 03-08-2016, 09:47
wench
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Can't think of much.
Poo bags! Can never have enough of them.
Maybe a harness, the dog we got hates being controlled by the collar, something maybe happened before we got her, on the harness she's fine.

Good luck & good on you!
Of course, Poo bags!!! How could I forget them!

She's used to a head collar as that is what the rescue centre has been using so she's fine with that luckily.
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Old 03-08-2016, 09:48
wench
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Food!! lol


I think they will chip the dog before you get it (they always did it to my rescue dogs)
She apparently has a sensitive stomach so needs a hypoallergenic diet.
Does anyone know if raw food is better?
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Old 03-08-2016, 09:51
wench
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Hi Wench,

First off congrats', I hope it all goes well for you and her.

I think you have covered all in your list but be aware of Wobblers.

As for changing her name, you as the owner have to be happy with the name as you call her, with most dogs there isn't an issue with changing a name, takes a little time for them to get use to it but they will respond, some faster then others.

The problem with the bulldog breed, and I am writing from experience here and changing their name, is they are, more then many, a thinking dog, everything you ask them to do appears to have a 2-3 second time delay before a response, makes things a little harder when changing their name.

You may be stuck with Winnie, you may not.

But you will have a loving, protective, loyal dog regardless.

Good luck.
She will be my 3rd bull breed so I know just how clever....and stubborn they can be!!
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Old 03-08-2016, 09:54
wench
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Thank you everyone for your kind words and good wishes.

She wasn't actually the dog I was originally going to get, but when I heard that she was the longest resident in the rescue centre, having been stuck there for over 18 months, I just couldn't let her stay there any longer
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Old 03-08-2016, 10:00
riversmum
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I think you'd be ok changing her name if you chose one that ended in ...ie like Winnie. I have read that dogs respond to the end of the word rather than the start so something like Lucy, Poppy etc may work well. We changed Seren to Sapphy, couldn't find anything closer and it was fine.

Good luck and well done for adopting a rescue
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Old 03-08-2016, 10:09
Elyan
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She apparently has a sensitive stomach so needs a hypoallergenic diet.
Does anyone know if raw food is better?
My bull terrier x had a sensitive stomach and dry coat when he was on the dogs home food.

I put him on Aatu and cooked chicken. He gets a half a cup of kibble and the meat from a chicken thigh twice a day. He's thriving on it. No dodgy guts and a nice dandruff-free coat.
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Old 03-08-2016, 10:13
mrsgrumpy49
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My dog was known as 'Puppy' when I got her so I changed it to Poppy
But I think any name change would work over time.

Re poo bags I use those budget supermarket nappy sacks.

Re raw food there is a big debate online and plenty of discussions if you decide to give it a go. Whatever - I would continue to feed whatever they have been feeding and make any changes gradually.
So are you putting food bowls on a stand? There is a big online debate about that too.
I've just started raising Poppy's bowls but that's because of joint and other problems.
Well done and good luck!
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Old 03-08-2016, 10:14
wench
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It may be a worrying time for the dog at first. Settling in to new surroundings with new people, and all of the noises and smells that come with it. She may need a little time to properly settle in, so avoid too much fussing, pulling and poking. Just let her have a wander around. Not saying ignore her, just let her have a bit of space. If she comes to you for a bit of affection, then of course, give it.

Set your rules, boundaries and limitations. i.e. if your long term plan is to have the dog sleeping in a certain place, then put the bed there straight away. If you don't want her on the couch, then let her know she's not allowed on it from the start. Set the feeding times/place etc. Think about what you want from your dog, and firmly but fairly set the rules. Dogs just need to know what the rules are, and they're happy.

Good luck with your new dog.
Thanks for the tips, luckily I'm fairly firm but I worry that my other half is going to be too soft on her! She adores my OH (far more than me much to my dismay ) and so I think she's going to be able to wind him round her little paw!!
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Old 03-08-2016, 10:19
wench
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My bull terrier x had a sensitive stomach and dry coat when he was on the dogs home food.

I put him on Aatu and cooked chicken. He gets a half a cup of kibble and the meat from a chicken thigh twice a day. He's thriving on it. No dodgy guts and a nice dandruff-free coat.
The rescue centre have her on dry hypoallergenic food but she still has very watery poos, so I'm not sure that is right for her.
I'll have to experiment and see what she can cope with.
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Old 03-08-2016, 10:20
wench
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I think you'd be ok changing her name if you chose one that ended in ...ie like Winnie. I have read that dogs respond to the end of the word rather than the start so something like Lucy, Poppy etc may work well. We changed Seren to Sapphy, couldn't find anything closer and it was fine.

Good luck and well done for adopting a rescue
Lucy has been suggested already and I think that might suit her well.
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Old 03-08-2016, 10:34
wench
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My dog was known as 'Puppy' when I got her so I changed it to Poppy
But I think any name change would work over time.

Re poo bags I use those budget supermarket nappy sacks.

Re raw food there is a big debate online and plenty of discussions if you decide to give it a go. Whatever - I would continue to feed whatever they have been feeding and make any changes gradually.
So are you putting food bowls on a stand? There is a big online debate about that too.
I've just started raising Poppy's bowls but that's because of joint and other problems.
Well done and good luck!
Yes thanks for the tips. I will slowly introduce her to a raw diet and see how it goes, but I'm not entirely sure what she is having now is helping her, despite it being hypoallergenic and that's why we need to change her diet.

Yes I am putting her bowl on a stand as she's a tall dog and I think it will help with her digestion.
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Old 03-08-2016, 14:12
riversmum
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Sometimes when they're in kennels no matter what they feed them some are sloppy because of the environment even if they don't seem stressed. Be prepared for a sloppy tum to continue for a while but hopefully it will settle quickly.

Even if they say they've wormed her I would get a good one like milbemax from the vet as all of ours have had worms even though the kennels did them regularly. It can be hard to keep them worm free in kennels not necessarily a sign of them not being cared for properly.
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Old 03-08-2016, 14:33
TWS
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Sometimes when they're in kennels no matter what they feed them some are sloppy because of the environment even if they don't seem stressed. Be prepared for a sloppy tum to continue for a while but hopefully it will settle quickly.

Even if they say they've wormed her I would get a good one like milbemax from the vet as all of ours have had worms even though the kennels did them regularly. It can be hard to keep them worm free in kennels not necessarily a sign of them not being cared for properly.
Basically this her poos will change as she settles and becomes less stressed, basically the above post x 2
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Old 03-08-2016, 14:36
wench
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Sometimes when they're in kennels no matter what they feed them some are sloppy because of the environment even if they don't seem stressed. Be prepared for a sloppy tum to continue for a while but hopefully it will settle quickly.

Even if they say they've wormed her I would get a good one like milbemax from the vet as all of ours have had worms even though the kennels did them regularly. It can be hard to keep them worm free in kennels not necessarily a sign of them not being cared for properly.
Thats good to know, thanks.
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Old 03-08-2016, 17:14
CaptainObvious_
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photos please!
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Old 03-08-2016, 17:30
wench
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This is the rescue website and Winnie is 7th one down in the list

http://largebreeddogrescue.co.uk/our...needing-homes/

Or if you have facebook you can see her album here

https://www.facebook.com/Large-Breed...43074525710216

She's not the prettiest dog, probably why she's not been rehomed after 18 months in kennels, but she's beautiful to me!
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