Adopting a rescue

[Linda and Bailey]

It's been a long time since I posted on this site. Bailey is now 4 years old and is just wonderful. I have the opportunity to adopt a dog which they say is a poodle terrier mix but looks exactly like a miniature version of my Bailey. I think he is a Goldendoodle. My question is, he is approximately 4 years old and was rescued from a high-kill shelter. He was fixed last week, currently has a UTI and they think he was an outdoor dog. He doesn't seem to know any commands nor is he potty trained. The people at the rescue say he is trainable, but I don't trust anyone besides the people on this site. Can a dog be trained at 4 years old? I will be meeting him again later this evening, I met him earlier today he is a bit timid but he was very very sweet but he is nervous. He lets you hold him in his arms and seems to enjoy it I'm just worried if I should proceed with this. Any input would be greatly appreciated

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Any dog of any age can be trained, but a 4 year old who has never lived in a home is going to require a lot of patience and understanding.  

Can you message me the name of the rescue? I'm quite familiar with most of them, and there are some out there I'd advise you to steer clear of. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Never mind, I found him on Petfinder. Now to do a little research, lol. 

[Linda and Bailey]

Thank you Karen. I trust your input over any vet tech i spoke with today. His name is Dexter from Help Save Pets in Downers Grove

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

They are a legitimate rescue, I worked with them years ago under their previous name.

Nobody can tell you whether or not you should adopt this guy. Search your heart and ask yourself if you can take that leap of faith that adopting an adult dog requires and commit to giving him whatever he needs. I left Jack sitting in the shelter for three days after I met him until I felt I could do that, lol. And you know how well that worked out. :) Best decision I ever made. Of course, he was only a year old and already housebroken, but adopting an unknown adult dog does require a leap of faith. If you can't get him off your mind, that's a good sign. ;)

Bailey will probably do a lot of the "work" of training him, it usually works out that way. But it will require a lot of patience. You know we will be here to help you if you do decide to make this guy part of your family. 

[Linda and Bailey]

Thank you so much, i feel much better after hearing this from you. I have not been able to get this little guy off of my mind for the last few hours. Im going to take Bailey to meet him and if all goes well i will probably take him because it does feel right. Thank you so much for checking the rescue out, i appreciate it!

[Joani, Skadi & Elli]

I know many folks rescue dogs.  I found Elli on Craigslist.  The man said he found her on another site when she was about 3 1/2 years old.  He had her for going on 3 years...had her fixed and chipped.  She came to me not knowing how to leash walk, and very very squirrley behavior when she would spot something out the window.  I immediately had a couple of my trainers come over to help me settle her in to our home.  Each trainer had a different approach.  I went with the trainer that had me give Elli "decompression" time.  2 weeks only allowing us to acknowledge her presence, no over affection, like we could pat her on the head briefly, but no hugs, kisses, etc.  Also we had a tab put on her collar so every single time she went bezerk over something outside or whatever, I led her by the tab to her "spot".  The reasoning behind this discipline was that whatever behavior we would allow when she first arrived, she would continue.  Anyway, she needed a lot of discipline!  She was very very sweet, very very loving, but very very wild.  She also was very destructive when she would chase chipmunks up the vinyl siding and the downspouts.  Warp forward, going on 3 years.  I have not stopped with periodic training with Elli.  She has been a real challenge.  We have our other dog, Skadi that we brought to our home when she was 3 months old. Skadi is 7 now.  Compared to Elli , Skadi is an "angel" LOL.  I wanted Elli for company for Skadi and they play and sleep and go for walks...and stay home together.  However, I continue to either crate Elli when I'm gone or she goes in the garage with Skadi. I don't think anyone can train that high prey instinct out of the poodle in her...or is it the retriever?  

Good luck in your decision.  I love Elli, but knowing what I know now, I would not have taken her in.  Not to say I'm not glad I am giving her a good home, but like I said before...I had an extremely well-behaved, never did nothing wrong dog...and then add a "fireball" ...and I'm not a spring chicken  (currently 68, so they keep me busy) to have taken her on...so you never know what you are in for...

You also do not know the medical history.  Elli fortunately came to us with no health problems...They didn't feed her a very high quality dog food, so hopefully I won't see any problems in the future.  She does have some mild tremors that we keep an eye on.  

I would think long and hard of the challenges you may face with this new one...financially, physically and emotionally.  P.S. If I had to do it over, I would have taken in a much much younger dog, 2 to 3 months old max.

[Linda and Bailey]

Thanks

[Linda and Bailey]

You have given me a lot to think about. I just got back from seeing him again and what worries me is he seems to Pace a lot when he is in a room, and his teeth were not in the best of shape there was a lot of tartar buildup and they were yellow. They told me he lived outside on a farm and I wonder if that has something to do with why he seems to Pace a lot. I have a lot to think about and I have 24 hours to decide.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The pacing is due to stress. Being in a shelter is unbelievably stressful for any dog, those who have had homes they lost and dogs who have lived outside both. But harder for a fog who is used to roaming around outside. When DRC pulls a dog from a shelter, there is usually a visible change in the dog the minute they get out of there. 

[Wendy and Myla]

I'm so glad you posted this!  We too took in a rescue years ago - definitely not a doodle but a beautiful Siberian husky cross.  We didn't know much about her background but we did know she was tied up for most of her life (about 1 1/2 years old).  She needed a lot of work when we got her and the only thing we couldn't change (we thought) was her guarding her food and we just figured that we would make sure that nobody could be around when she was fed (once a day).  She was a wonderful, beautiful dog.  Fast forward four years and we were camping.  My eleven year old son rode his bike into the campsite, dropped the bike and Kita lunged at him and bit him over his eye!  I watched the whole thing from the inside of the camper and was horrified!  She drew blood!  We had to put her down and we were all devastated but from that point on, I will never get a dog that I don't know the background of.  I truly admire anyone who rescues but it is definitely not me!  

[Stacy]

I think every rescue experience is different. I can tell you my story. I rescued Ava a year ago when she had just turned six, from a breeding operation. She was naked and terrified and had no idea about house living. I was told she may not be housebroken.

She has been the easiest dog I’ve ever had. She settled in beautifully. She never had an accident. She’s so eager to please and grateful for everything and undemanding. She still doesn’t love men. I’m not sure if that’s because of a bad association or just no association at all. But she tolerates them.  It really only took a day before she morphed into my dog. Like she’d been waiting for her person all her life. She loves the finer things in life. Sleeping in the bed, sleeping on the couch, sleeping by the kitchen cabinets, riding in the car, going to the park.

She’s had some pretty significant health challenges since she’s been here, but I adore her. I have never for one moment regretted bringing her home. When I first saw her picture I just knew she was supposed to be my family. Still, I questioned if I was doing the right thing. Was she was going to get along with Katie? Was I was subjecting myself to a dog who would pee everywhere? Would she adapt to our life? But deep down I kept looking at her picture and I just knew.

I think it’s really important to be informed and to weigh all the pros and cons. But in the end there’s just some feeling that leads you toward the right decision for you. That feeling has never let me down!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

DRC recently took in two ALD females who were relinquished by the breeder, who is "retiring them": one is 6 years old, one is 8.5 years old. Neither dog has ever lived in a home or really, even had a home. Each is being fostered in a private home where there are multiple dogs. In the 10 days that these former breeding dogs have been in their foster homes, neither has had a single accident. Both are adjusting very well, learning about playing with toys (and destroying them!), and enjoying being "couch potatoes" for the very first time. The first 2-4 weeks in foster care are known as the "honeymoon period" in rescue, and it's very possible that once they feel completely comfortable, some less-than-perfect behaviors will come out. But the point is, 6 and 8.5 year old "outside" dogs adapted to living in a home with no accidents and no panicked behavior. 

DRC has placed hundreds of dogs who were pulled from shelters where little to nothing was known about them, and the vast majority (I'm talking 95+%) are now living as cherished pets.