Hi everyone,
i'm just after any advice you all have to offer. i'm bringing home a rescue dog mid next week, she's a beautiful 3yr old collie x and is coming from a wonderful rescue home. she's been personality assessed and i've been briefed on her nature and background. and i've spent a fair bit of time with her (keep visiting the rescue home!) she's a wonderful gentle girl, and i want her change into the new environment to be as smooth and easy on her as possible, does anyone have any tips for me?? its about a 40 minute drive from the rescue home to my house i'll be bringing her home in my car using a dog car harness thing X) forgot what its called. so any advice would be MUCH appreciated!!! (sorry 'bout the babbling, i'm so excited!)

I'm no expert, but my suggestions would be, could you have someone drive you to pick her up so that you can sit with her and reassure her during the journey? Take a towel, toilet roll or tissues in case she's sick, and a carrier bag to put them in. Maybe a toy to keep her amused during the journey; hopefully you'll have her bed/crate all ready for her, with a couple of treats inside, then just take things quietly for the first few days, not too many visitors etc until she settles in a bit. Hope that helps a bit? I'm sure someone with more experience will be along shortly.

Good luck with your girl :)

liberty

Forgot to ask what her name is ?

thankyou so much for your bit of advice, it really is appreciated! and yes i will be sitting in the back with her (my friend will be driving) thanks for the tip about bringing things to clean up vomit in case she's sick! and her name is Satine :) thanks again!

Elise.

have you heard of the bach flower remedy caklled "Rescue Remedy"? I have used it when our poodle gets anxious about people going away for too long.

Hi,

Definately get someone else to drive as previously mentioned, so you can spend as mich time as possible with her in the car to calm her down.

Go to your vets and buy a DAP Diffuser (Dog Appeasing Pheramones), these are plug in diffusers which help to calm dogs down in difficult situations. Each refil lasts a month and we have had great success with them in the past.

Definately Rescue Remedy also as mentioned previously, this is a great remedy. You need to mix it up as 4 drops in 4 eye droppers of mineral water and give it directly into the mouth.

Get a large Kong toy and stuff it with meat, freeze it and give it to her as soon as you get her home and have put her outside for a wee. This will keep her occupied and keep her mind off of the scary environment when she first comes home.

Don't make too much fuss if she gets worried and whingy, be calm and patient and try to make things as normal as possible.

Wherever she sleeps the first night, will be where she will expect to sleep forever, so make sure you choose the right place and stick to it. Also stick to using the same commands and don't let her get away with anything on the first day that you don't want her doing in the future. Changing the rules after a few weeks will only confuse and upset her.

Lastly, it will take her possibly a month to settle in and then you will start to see changes in her behaviour. Work through any problems and you will be fine, be consistant and firm but gentle and you will be fine. Please to enrole in some training classes (APDT registered if possible as you know the training will be kind and fair in these classes) as soon as you can to increase your bond with her.

Good luck

manda
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