I have the opportunity (or luck!) to be able to give a home to a neglected newfie x GSD.He is 6 yrs old and has always lived outside (chianed up) because his owners couldn't be bothered with him in the house.He is very playful & affectionate and as my flatcoat bitch lives inside i would really prefer him to be inside with her ( she sleeps on the bed with me).has anyone any experiences of this type of cross breed and do you think he will like being an indoors dog or is it too late for him to change?He is rather neglected at the moment - even thru his thick coat you can feel his ribs.I would love to be able to give him a loving home but i don't want to put him thru changing his habits if it will cause him distress.Any advice welcome

Hello,

Poor thing, so glad you can make his life better for him now. :)

You will need to treat him like he is a puppy, because he won't know anything about being a pet dog. Toilet training may take longer than with a pup, because he has had 6 years of doing it where and when he wanted, so be patient with him with this.

He will probably be very scared of things like the TV, Washing Machine, Hoover etc etc, so introduce him slowly to these things and don't make a big thing about it, or he will think there is something to be scared of.

I take it your bitch has met him and gets on well with him, as she will be his guide and he will most likely copy things from her, which will be a big help to you.

You must get some basic training done, I would guess he is quite large and solid, so you will need some control. Once he has settled in, get him enrolled in some training classes (motivation based training), I am sure he will enjoy that, as both breeds are intelligent and enjoy learning.

Depending on what he was fed on and how often, you may need to build him up slowly and introduce him to a good quality food slowly, so as not to upset his tummy.

Good luck and good for you for taking him on!! :D

manda
X

Hi GUEST
Bless him,go get him !! and give him a nice new life :) The shepherd in him will be wanting to be with you but will also be a little worried about wether that is what you want so take it slow, i would give him a pretty wide birth and not be full on with him until he settles, let him come to you or call him every so often for a treat and a pat,try to keep your movements arounds him slow and calm, he is going to need to adjust to this new life. As far as him living inside I think he will enjoy this, as soon as he realises that he's allowed to be.
Hope everything goes well, why not join the forum and keep us posted
Tracey

Thanks a lot for all your advice.I have now joined the forum so will keep you all updated.I will probably have more questions to ask as we go along.

My first newfie was a rescue that had lived outside in similar circumstances for the first 3 yrs of his life. He was one big knotted mess so I had no option but to shave off his fur (even had poo stuck to him). It took almost a year to completely house train him at night times but it was more than worth it. He repaid the effort a hundred times over. He will probably prefer to be where you are once he gets secure with you, be that inside or out! Wish you all the best.