New family for rescue girl

[Lottielove]

Hello, I'm new to the forum and new to cocker spaniels, but we have adopted a lovely old girl Lottie whose elderly owner had to go into a care home. We have only had her 4 days, and are absolutely in love with her. We have 2 children aged 11 and 8 and she is brilliant with them. We are her third (and final) home this year so understandably she's a little nervous. We have never owned a dog before and I'd like to make sure I'm doing everything right, and that there isn't more I could be doing to make her comfortable. This seems like the right place to ask!
We aren't sure exactly how old she is, but likely between 8 - 10, although lots of people when out with her yesterday mistook her for a puppy.
Last Monday she had teeth out - the lady who was fostering her told me two teeth but it says on the vet paper she gave me 9 extractions. She is therefore on soft food at the moment, and her last day of antibiotics today. We are unsure if she has been vaccinated or not, so she is going to the vet this week both to check her teeth/gums and to vaccinate her. She seems to be happy and healthy otherwise, but she is quite nervous when we go out - her legs can shake a lot when she's like this.
She has 2 soft beds, and blankets over the sofa as she appears happy to just be cuddled the whole day. She doesn't really want to leave the house in the rain (I can sympathise!). She isn't drinking much, but I wonder if this is because she's on tinned food at the moment rather than complete food. She doesn't seem dehydrated. She seems happy to sleep downstairs without any fuss and she's not a chewer at all. She's generally a calm, steady girl except when there's any postmen about! We also have house rabbits and she ignores them -  they are separated by a puppy pen.
I'm not sure if she had training and forgot it, but she seems to have no recall at all, so for the moment she is staying on lead.  Training classes may well be in her future but are not financially possible at the moment.
We will be getting her a coat as she sometimes seems cold outside, and I'd be grateful if you could let me know any other must-haves. Please feel free to let me know if we're doing it all wrong, as we are complete novices and just want to do what's best for Lottie.

[elaine.e]

Hello and welcome to COL and well done for taking Lottie in to your home and hearts

She sounds very sweet. I've never had a rescue dog so can't really advise on how to help her settle in, although it sounds as though you're doing all the right things. I think giving her time to settle and adjust without putting pressure on her is probably the way to go. I think she may show changes in her behaviour as she becomes more confident in her new home and more of her character comes out.  Hopefully some of the people on here who have rescue dogs or are involved in rescue work will come along and give you good advice.

I wouldn't worry about her not drinking too much at the moment. Tinned food has a high moisture content so she won't need as much water as she would if on a dry food.

Training classes sound like a good idea and may be something that the children can help with too. It will all help the whole family to build up a good bond with her. But you can also do some training in the house and garden to help with her recall. Have some small treats in your pocket and when she comes to you of her own accord reward her. Next stage is to add her name and "come" or "here" or whatever you choose (just choose one word and be consistent with it) once she's realised that coming to you is rewarding. The idea is to help her succeed, so at first you only use the name and cue word when she's already approaching you.

I hope she continues to settle in with you

[ejp]

Hi there, welcome to you and Lottie  who sounds absolutely lovely.  We adopted a rescue girl a few years ago, and I think you are doing great.  Lottie will soon learn how your home works and she will just slot right in.  Training classes are a good idea for socialisation, I think you will both enjoy them.  I wouldn't risk off lead until you are more confident and Lottie recognises you as her person.  As time goes on you will soon see Lottie's personality emerge, it will just take a little time for her confidence in you to grow, perfectly natural.  You are in the right place for help and support, ask as many questions as you like there is always some one to help.  Enjoy getting to know Lottie and well done.

[Lottielove]

Thankyou Elaine, I'm going to do some reading up on training I can do at home - the last time I was involved in dog training was with the rottie-next-door about 25 years ago!
She is currently giving big sighs in her bed - not sure if that means she's happy or something isn't quite to her satisfaction but I'm sure she'll let us know if anything is drastically wrong.

Thankyou ejp, I hope it won't take too long for her to settle in, but I dread to think how many owners she'd had really, as I know the elderly lady certainly wasn't her first. It's a shame such a sweet dog hasn't known a forever home.

[ejp]

Thankyou Elaine, I'm going to do some reading up on training I can do at home - the last time I was involved in dog training was with the rottie-next-door about 25 years ago!
She is currently giving big sighs in her bed - not sure if that means she's happy or something isn't quite to her satisfaction but I'm sure she'll let us know if anything is drastically wrong.

Thankyou ejp, I hope it won't take too long for her to settle in, but I dread to think how many owners she'd had really, as I know the elderly lady certainly wasn't her first. It's a shame such a sweet dog hasn't known a forever home.

Well, Lottie has found her forever home now  You will be surprised how quick she settles, one day it will just hit you, I bet you won't even notice! It has obviously been a busy time for Lottie just lately, so getting settled into a routine will be really good for her.  Dogs live in the moment and Lottie will be happy to have a nice family with lots of cuddles and love.  Enjoy.

[piph]

Hi and welcome to COL - if you want to do some training at home check out the Dogs Trust training videos on U Tube -

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL14EED13B9859A457

They are very easy to follow and take things step by step.

[Lottielove]

Thankyou piph I'll take a look at that tonight. 

[Robbie34]

It is brilliant that you have taken on an older dog like Lottie.   No wonder she is a little nervous if you are her fourth home in twelve months.  Oldies are lovely, and not as demanding as a young dog.  She will soon settle down and will return your love and affection many times over.

[Emilyoliver]

Lovely that you have taken Lottie and obviously have her best interests at heart. You are doing all the right things and have been given great advice so I won't add anything extra. She will repay you 100x over for your kindness. Enjoy 

[woollypigs]

Lottie is definitely a lucky cocker to have found you. She sounds lovely. Please post pictures!

[ollie nathan's mum]

A very warm welcome to you and Lottie, looking forward to hearing more about her.

[Lottielove]

We've been letting her settle in so not taken pictures yet - this is the only one I have.
Lovely Lottie.

[Pearly]

Lovely Lottie, indeed! and also a lucky girl to have found you

Not sure where you are but there may be COL members close by who might be able to help with hints, tips or training advice - or simply a COL meet that Lottie can socialise with other cockers

Jayne and Pearl
x

[LilahLoo]

Lottie looks lovely.

Delilah came to us when she was 6 and had been a kennel dog. What I remember most is that she barely moved out of her bed for the first few weeks then suddenly she became my shadow and her personality started to show.

As others have said, just give her time and space and she'll start to come out of herself once she feels settled.

There are lots of useful threads on here and helpful advice.

[Lottielove]

We are in Stratford upon Avon. Lottie is already my shadow, she follows me round and wants me to sit on the sofa with her so she can fall asleep on me. I'm guessing she did this a lot with her elderly owner.