A Small Dog

What to Expect from Your New Rescue Dog

Posted on 15. Sep, 2009 by Jeff K. in Rescued Small Dog

Congratulations, Sir or Madam, on selecting your new rescue dog! We know you will enjoy many years of satisfaction with your rescue dog. Your rescue dog has been designed with the very latest features in canine technology to provide maximum comfort, convenience, and safety for you and your whole family.

Your rescue dog comes with a limited warranty. Your dog’s warranty requires you to read, understand, and carefully follow all safety and operating instructions included in this manual.

Warning: Failure to comply with the terms of this warranty may void the agreement, making you liable for any disappointment in, or damages caused by, your rescue dog.

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1. Your rescue dog requires a break-in period that may last anywhere from a few weeks to a few years.

2. During this break-in period it would not be unusual for your rescue dog to exhibit one or more of the following behaviors:

1. Fearful posturing or cowering
2. Hiding
3. Barking at unfamiliar noises
4. Ignoring you
5. Clinging to you, also know as “shadowing”
6. General unresponsiveness, also known as “shutting down”
7. Food avoidance
8. Food gorging
9. Self-stimulation, including licking, tail-chasing, spinning, scratching, and teething
10. Marking territory with urine, feces, saliva, or nail scratches.
11. Pacing, particularly at night
12. Hoarding toys or household items

3. During this break-in period, your dog may manifest physical symptoms associated with nervousness including, but not limited to episodes of:

1. Diarrhea
2. Vomiting
3. Rapid and extensive hair shedding, also known as “blowing the coat”

Note: Physical symptoms may not necessarily be caused by nervousness. If you suspect your dog may be ill, consult your veterinarian.

4. Or, your dog may not display any weird behavior at all during the break-in period. However, do not expect your dog’s true and normal range of behavior to fully manifest in the first weeks and months after arriving in your home. Dogs can and will mask or suppress certain behaviors as they size up their new owners and determine what is and is not acceptable. In some cases, it may take years before a rescue dog reveals its full range of behavior.

Do not be scared, proud owner of a newly rescued dog. Dogs are one of the most adaptable creatures on earth. Even if your rescue dog seems to act strangely, or a little “off” when he or she first enters your home, in time your dog will adapt. See: New Hope for Rescued Small Dogs for an example of how a rescued dog can thrive in a good home.

The amount of time it takes for your new dog to adapt depends on three key factors:

1. The experiences/trauma your dog went through prior to reaching your home;
2. Genetics; and,
3. How you respond to your dog during his/her break-in period.

You cannot do anything about what happened to your dog before it reached your home. You cannot alter your dog’s genetics. You are, however, in complete control of what happens after your dog arrives in your home. That is the subject of my next article.

Take Action:

1. If you have taken in a rescue dog, start a journal about his or her behavior. A journal will help you objectively track your dog’s mannerisms and habits. If you are diligent about tracking your dog’s behavior, you will note, over time, how well your dog is adapting to his/her environment. Journaling positive steps in your dog’s progress is good for your spirit, and that good energy will transfer to your dog.

2. Watch this website for my next article on how to cope with weird dog behavior. It will help you and your rescued dog adapt.

Tell Us What You Think

We owners of rescued dogs need support. Tell us how your rescued dog improved over time by adding to the comments section below. We’d love to hear your story.

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• A Rescued Dog’s Weird Behavior, Part 4, Building Confidence (0)
• A Rescue Dog’s Weird Behavior, Part 3, Substitute Good for Bad (2)
• A Rescue Dog’s Weird Behavior, Part 2 Ignoring Weird Behavior (0)
• Small Dog for a Day (0)
• New Hope for Rescued Small Dogs (3)

Tags: pet rescue, rescued dog, weird behavior