Is that the doubts about their actual behavior are always a niggling worry.
While it is important to remember this and always stay confidently alert for the safety of this new family member, there is a measure of relief.
When parenting an older rescue dog, it is imperative and extremely
beneficial to provide them with a safe space to
explore, react, learn, and adjust to new situations.
Here is a personal experience that I recall. This is not even
outside my home with other elements of distraction.
When my family moved homes; in the same city to a
different neighborhood, I expected that toilet training would be
challenging for our rescue dog, Marshal.
You see, Marshal is a Catalan Sheepdog, a jumper, herder.
While breed does matter, it isn’t everything
in a rehomed older rescue dog.
I did not know Marshal’s breed when I
started training him as a rehomed older rescue dog.
There were very little cues with which I could gauge on
how well this rescue dog was settling into our family.
So, I did the best I could; gave Marshal time to adjust, looked into
different rescue dog training options, worked on his toilet training.
All one day at a time.
My patience, faith and consistence worked!
From the day we moved homes, Marshal sniffed around the designated toilet area (the dogs use our human squat toilet space and I flush the poo) and began using it.
This experience taught me a lot about caring
for a rescue dog. And how to know if my rehomed older dog is happy.
As a responsible pet parent, this is an example that there are
certain things to think about before adopting an adult rescue dog.
Marshal may have come to us as an older rescue dog. Yet his special ways
made him a family member from the moment I walked out the
local rescue shelter with him.
3 important factors I always keep in mind when caring for Marshal, are:
- Always carry a first aid kit.
- Attach a bold and clear ‘dog in training’ leash tag when I walk Marshal.
- Keep him leashed (mainly for his own safety) in unfamiliar surroundings.
Marshal’s personality, the journey he went through and how he
blossomed with our faith and love inspired me to
publish his story and educate fellow pet parents on
how to be a pet parent to rescue older dogs,
how long does it take for a dog to feel comfortable after being rehomed,
what are red flags when adopting such a dog, etc.
This eBook is available for purchase at ten dollars
On page 29 of my eBook, there is a short curt paragraph highlighting the importance of the 3 important factors I state above.
That’s because as a pet parent and practicing interspecies telepathy communicator, I am saddened by the volume of anxious calls I receive, the
anxiety when pet parents reach out to me in tears saying
“the loud noise spooked him and he just slipped out of the collar and disappeared. Where’s my baby”
Or the DM’s on 4th of July “I locked the windows but I went to answer the door and she just bolted out. I have been searching all week, no sign of her”
1 of the wonderful perks of adopting an older dog is that
they often come with some existing training.
Now it is up to us, as their responsible pet parent to stay alert about
their safety while showering them with love and affection.
In summary, older adopted dogs are a sweet spicy delight and
totally worth the initial slow introduction into your family.
Does this post get you excited, hopeful, willing to take 1 step towards
thinking about it?
Would a ‘guidebook’ like this one👆on adopting an older dog be helpful?
Purchase it here!
I always encourage feedback and respond to any clarifications you may ask.
Speak it out 👇👇right here!