Lexi's Pups Six Months On

Back in February we enjoyed an emotional day when Apollo and Lexi's puppies left our care for their adoptive homes. Those pups are now six months old, and here we catch up with a few of them and their pawrents.

First we catch Evie, adopted by Cathy and Chris.

We we are a retired couple who live in the Norfolk countryside with an enclosed acre field for our GSDs, and so were in a position to offer one of the Welfare puppies a loving home. We had/have two boys: George 6 and Milo who was only 11 months old at that time. Sadly we'd lost our girl Meggie Moo to a tumour on the spleen which had then burst, she was only 9 yrs old and we were devastated.  

We certainly had room in our hearts and our home for a new little girl, but weren’t actively considering getting another puppy at the time.  Then the pups were born and Debbie said that Welfare were giving first consideration to people who had previously adopted from Welfare. Although being long time supporters over 30 years we had never adopted. Then I saw Debbie’s post about two pups looking for homes and I contacted her and asked if any girls were available.  And the rest as they say is history 😁. 

Evie settled in really well with us and our boys, in fact, I would say she chose us… I sat on the grass and she came running to me. This is amazing as she really is cautious in nature and takes time to get to know new people, not worried at all but she does things at her own pace. We feel blessed to have her in our lives and she has gone a long way to healing our hearts after the loss of our darling Meggie Moo.  We can’t thank GSDWF enough for the opportunity of letting Puppy Evie share our lives. 

Jane also shared some lovely photos of Jackson with us.

Young Dickie Hill is probably the more famous of the litter with his own social media channels (you can follow him on Facebook here -  https://www.facebook.com/DickiesDiary), and was adopted by our chairman Debbie Hill.

  

The day these wonderful puppies were born, is a day that I wont forget easily. Just over eight weeks previously we had taken in a male and female GSD that had been presented at the vets for euthanasia. They were so frightened that we couldn’t touch them. This particular day, 10th December 2021, I had visited the kennels to get updates on our 

Welfare dogs. I had interacted with several of the dogs and then they brought out Apollo (the male of the pair that had come from the vets). I was blown away with his progress. He interacted with me and was no longer the terrified boy that I had brought here. When it was time for Apollo to go back to his kennel, the kennel owner told me she was fetch Lexi (the female from the pair). I waited, quite excited to see how she had progressed. 

Nadine came back out of the kennels and shouted something to which her husband Craig went running over. He then came out and called me over. I was getting a bit worried that something had happened to one of our dogs. In no way did I expect to hear what they told me. Lexi had a puppy. I went and looked, and sure enough, there she was laying on her bed with a puppy. We all sprung into action. Nadine, who had a wonderful bond with Lexi, went in to help her and supervise the birth. Craig was arranging another kennel for her, where she would have more privacy and I went off to source a whelping box and all the nutritious food mum would need.

A total of 9 puppies were born but sadly mum lay on one, despite having roll bars in the whelping box. And so began this new journey. It was quite worrying that not only were these puppies born in rescue, but mum and dad were both nervous so not the best temperaments to be producing puppies, and also, we had the madness that the pandemic had brought about in the dog world. The market was flooded with puppies.

We couldn’t do anything about the parents’ temperaments, but we could give the pups the best start possible. We took advise from behaviourist Lisa Hird and from day one we provided stimulation for the puppies. Different obstacles and surfaces. As the days passed, we watched their characters emerge. Cuteness overload! We took them on car journeys to the pet shop. We needed these pups to be bomb proof.

The thought of finding the right homes for these puppies was terrifying. The world and his wife were asking for them, but we were concerned people were seeing them as a chance to have a cheap puppy. They had not had the best start in life, being born in rescue, we wanted to do our very best to ensure that they found forever homes. We decided that we would give first refusal to our members and to people that had adopted our dogs previously. We were very lucky in that the homes we found were all people known to us, or recommended to us by trusted friends.

At six weeks, we started the puppy parties, introducing the pups to their potential pawrents. As the pups all came running out, exuberant and full of confidence, I couldn’t have been any prouder of them. We paired them with their potential parents and I almost sighed with relief. I felt really comfortable with the selection we had made.

The day for the pups to go off to their new homes came around so quickly. It was a very bittersweet moment. We were so pleased and proud to see them starting their new adventure, but by the same token, it was sad to see them go. We have a Facebook group, especially for the puppies so that we can all keep in touch and share the highs and lows that having a puppy can bring and offer each other advice. It has been amazing to watch their progress and see them grow.

Sadly, one of the pups, Sparkle, was taken ill. She was diagnosed with a brain degenerative disease which means she suffers seizures and has trouble using her back legs. Her pawrents have been amazing and have done everything in their power to get her the right treatment. Unfortunately, this is the risk of breeding from dogs with no health tests. Most back street breeders do not health test and this is precisely why we advise against it. In this instance, we had no choice. Lexi had come to us already in whelp. Also, when adopting rescue dogs, you never really know their background. That said, there is so much more to gain from adopting a rescue dog.

Although I had no intention of adding to “my gang”, one of the pups really took a liking to me. He was the naughtiest and was always at the centre of the mischief. I did worry what would happen when he was adopted. I had a home lined up for him and they came and met him, but then changed their minds at the last minute. It seemed fated that he should come home with me. Mr Green became Dickie Hill.

Dickie is a working dog, although working in media rather guarding a flock from wolves :-) He helps us promote Welfare and the work we do. We desperately need to educate people so that so many dogs do not find themselves in rescue. He features in training videos, not only demonstrating the effectiveness of positive reinforcement, but also sharing the fun of growing up as a pup. He recently made his first public appearance on behalf of Welfare at a street collection helping to raise funds for us and was a star.

We are so proud of all these puppies, and eternally thankful to their adopters for giving them the most amazing homes that we could ever have wished for. We may all be a bit greyer and a few more wrinkles but we are all ready for the next six months of our journey.

Sincere thanks to all our supporters that were there for us when the puppies were born. Also, heart felt thanks to Lisa Hird for her continued support.

Dickie's Diary - The Best Toy Ever

Hi everypawdy - Dickie Hill here with news about the Greatest Toy Ever. You can't believe how truly amazing it is. Mum took me to a shop filled with lots of colourful smells, and more toys than I could count. But none of them were right.  I didn't know what I wanted, but I knew that it wasn't here. 

I searched, sniffing the toys on offer until we left. We arrived home and there it was! I grabbed it immediately before another dog spotted it, or mum told me not to. I grabbed it, I dropped it, I threw it. I chased it. It's the best toy ever. 

Got to go everypawdy - Dickie signing out until next time 🐾🐾🐾

Dickie's Diary - And then mum said...

 

Elda's Updates Return

After a temporary pause in posting updates while some other work was being completed, we're pleased to resume them. This update dates from a few weeks ago, and we're going to catch up with the next few updates,  and then we're back to normal.

-

The lovely Elda is coming on in leaps and bounds. This is from my perspective and they might not seem overly dramatic they are all positive steps for her well-being. After four weeks I’m still not attempting to touch her. It's important that I remain mindful of my behaviour around her so as not to frighten her. It's all too easy to lose progress by pushing a dog too hard.

Sometimes people consider basic command training a way of measuring progress with rehabilitation work. I’ve not even attempted to put a lead on her. So why do I think she has come on in leaps and bounds? Elda's body language is much softer. She's now asking to interact with me. She is playing with toys, and communicating in ways other than barking - which has also lessened. Her emotional state is changing. Does she trust me? Not yet, and it would be surprising if she did. Four weeks of care does not wipe away the trauma she's experienced.

Of course I want to cuddle her and tell her it will be all be alright. I'd love to take her for long walks, and to allow her to catch up on what she missed these past two years. But that’s what I want. Not what Elda wants - yet.

Debbie Hill

Meet Kosmo

This is the lovely Kosmo. He is 16 months old and bred from working lines. He was a real challenge when he came to Welfare but we are pleased to say he is making progress.

He won’t be up for adoption for some time yet as he is following a rehabilitation plan. Here he demonstrates how clever he is. He knows where the treats are kept and had no problem opening doors. 💗

Visit our website to discover more dogs in our care: http://www.gsdwelfarefund.co.uk/dogslist/

Meet Hollie

This beautiful girl is Hollie. She has come so far since coming to us. She was one of four dogs that we rescued - mother and her three daughters. They lived in a run down kennel without any stimulation, and human contact was almost non-existent.

Not surprisingly the owner couldn’t even get near them, so you can imagine the challenge we faced when collecting them. They had never been on lead.

That was Christmas 2020.

Although Hollie has come so far during her time with us, because of her previous life she will always bear emotional scars. We are looking for an understanding human companion for Hollie who can help her cope with those scars.

If you can provide a loving home for any of our dogs the please visit here to learn more: http://www.gsdwelfarefund.co.uk/adopting-a-german-shepherd/

Post Adoption Guide

 Adopting a rescued dog is an amazing commitment, and one that not only benefits the dog by you providing them with a loving home, but also you with a new loyal companion - it must be true, I've seen the ad! (https://youtu.be/a3kuQrLUl0M)

Taking your dog home is a crucial step in the process, and we advise prior planning and consideration to help the event go smoothly. We do provide a guide to help with those early days, and also assign a liaison who can be contacted if you need advice or guidance at any time. For those first days, time and space are important considerations = you can learn more in the guide below:

Congratulations on making the decision to adopt a rescue dog from us

Adopting a rescue dog can be a hugely rewarding experience, and with the increasing numbers of homeless dogs, you are not only gaining a devoted new furry family member - you are also saving a life.

You are embarking on a new and special relationship that is likely to change both of your lives for the better. This guide is to help you settle your new dog into your home and set them up for success.

Caring for your new dog and building up the routines needed to take care of their emotional, physical, and psychological needs are beneficial for both the human and the dog as it promotes the wellbeing and health for both parties.

Dogs are sentient beings, and we need to ensure their needs are being met, including emotional needs such as being able to feel safe.  

There are a number of factors that tend to cause a dog stress:

• A person bending over them
• Prolonged hard eye contact
• A person’s face being in theirs
• A person’s angry voice and behaviours
• Directly walking towards a dog (dogs will walk in curves around each other rather than direct)
• Emotional conflict (e.g. being asked to ‘sit’ for a treat on a cold hard floor)
• Long training sessions
• Mixed messages in training
• Too close contact e.g. hugging
• Feeling restrained or restricted

Before choosing to adopt, it is a good idea to have all the family present to discuss where the dog will sleep, what he is allowed to do and where he can go. Making these decisions prior to bringing him home will ensure he doesn’t get confused by one person allowing something and another not.

Consider using stair gates to manage your new dog and prevent him accidentally escaping when the front door is open for example, especially in the first week.

Remember, your new dog does not know you well and has arrived at an unfamiliar house. It will take some time for his stress levels to drop. The first week should be calm and quiet. Please ask interested visitors to stay away for the first week, to avoid overwhelming him.

Dogs need time to decompress and some may be quiet and shutdown when they first arrive.

Give them time to adjust and get used to their new home. Avoid putting too much pressure on them with lots of verbal cues and instructions.

Calm – calm dogs can concentrate and are able to learn and feel good.  We can help create calm within a dog’s life by reducing exercise and stimulation and adding in enrichment such as brain games, Kongs, snuffle mats and sprinkles. Keep interactions positive and calm. If a dog is over excited or over stimulated, it can easily tip over into other things.

Connection – dogs who are connected to their handler are able to trust them to guide and protect them from difficult situations.  Connection is also the basis of many training needs such as walking nicely on a lead.

Choices – dogs who can choose behaviours, where to sleep, where to walk, when to sniff and so on often become more confident.

Confidence – leads to a well-rounded dog who is resilient to changes.

The first day/night

Allow your new dog to explore the house and garden. If you have decided he is not to enter one room, keep the door closed to avoid needing to call him away.

If possible, provide him with several choices to sleep and rest.

Sleep

Sleep is essential for dogs, along with exercise, play and mental stimulation. An average dog, depending on breed, needs around 12 – 14 hours’ sleep per day. Dogs need to have a place they can rest, undisturbed if they wish.

Play

Playing together with our dogs strengthens the bond between us. Researchers believe that playfulness in dogs was a trait that was selected during domestication, and that it is an important factor for forming emotionally based bonds with our dogs. Play is also important for dogs as it provides mental exercise as well as physical. Play with toys allows dogs to use and practice physical skills such as chasing and catching prey. Play with other dogs allows them to practice social skills. Do not be tempted to play rough with your new dog. This can lead to accidental injuries with seniors or young children.

An important factor when playing with our dogs is to keep it short but exciting. We need to stop before the dog starts to get tired or loses interest. Play can be a powerful reinforcer (reward) for our dogs and can be used to teach them new skills.

For many years, it was thought that we should not let dogs “win” games such as tug. We now know that dogs do not seem to regard competitive games played with a human partner as "dominance" contests. The simple act of “winning” possession of objects during games appears to be simply rewarding.

Walks

For the first couple of days, do not be tempted to take your dog to lots of new locations. Give him time to settle, time to learn the routines of the house so that he can build confidence. While whisking him off to the beach on his first day may seem like a nice thing to do, it can overwhelm him, leaving him stressed and anxious.

It is so important to keep their world small to avoid flooding them with too many new things. Now is not the time for visitors to come and meet the new dog or lots of long walks to new places.

It is often suggested NOT to walk a new dog for the first couple of days or even the first week. This allows stress hormone levels to drop and avoids flooding them.

First walks should be short and positive. If you see any signs of stress or anxiety, return home. Walks can be replaced with lots of enrichment and mental stimulation. Dogs do need physical exercise each day, and if we do not provide this and met their needs, problems may develop.

It has long been believed that dogs must have at least one walk, if not two each day. This is true for some breeds, but we must also consider the individual dog.

Taking a dog for long brisk walks two or three times per day may actually cause behaviour problems if they are over stimulated. Daily exercise is necessary for mental and physical well-being. 

We should also consider the type of walks we provide.  A walk round the local streets, using the same route every single walk may be insufficient for some breeds.  For other dogs who are a little anxious or worried about new places, using the same route each walk is ideal.  We must always consider dogs as an individual and consider their individual needs.

Enrichment/mental stimulation

It is important to remember that any enrichment should always be supervised and make the dog's life more interesting and enjoyable, not more difficult, or frustrating. Enrichment is not about tiring a dog out – it is about enriching his environment and lifestyle.

While each mealtime offers an opportunity for enrichment, it does not always have to be about food. There are many ways we can enrich a dog’s life without having to use food.

Avoid overstimulation and over excitement. While stimulating dogs mentally and physically is the goal of enrichment, overstimulation can increase stress levels (i.e. playing music at too loud of a volume or for the entire day).

It is important to spend time identifying things that the individual dog seems to truly find motivating or reinforcing. What one dog finds motivating may be uninteresting to another.

If fun training is used as an enrichment tool, all training methods used must be based in positive reinforcement, and reward-based training.

Dogs experience emotions and we must be mindful of this.  Expecting a dog to perform a behaviour “just because we say so” is unfair and unrealistic.  Forcing a dog is unkind and damaging.

The RSPCA says

“All training should be reward based. Giving a dog something they really like such as food, toys or praise when they show a particular behaviour means that they are more likely to do it again.”

All dogs should be treated as individuals.  Each dog will have a preference for rewards. We should take time to find out what the dog really enjoys – what motivates him.

We can build a wonderful, trusting relationship with dogs by providing rewards (nice consequences) for desired behaviours.

Things to consider:

• Give the dog lots of praise, especially for things you like him doing
• Ensure the dog has sufficient undisturbed rest
• Avoid stressful encounters where possible
• Set the dog up to succeed
• Avoid giving the dog verbal cues all of the time – allow choices
• Advocate for your dog – if your dog doesn’t enjoy meeting strangers – tell them to stay away when out on a walk
• Manage your own stress around the dog
• Provide lots of mentally stimulating toys and enrichment opportunities
• Reward calm behaviour
• Avoid over stimulating the dog

If you are looking to adopt one of our dogs then visit our website to learn about the process (http://www.gsdwelfarefund.co.uk/adopting-a-german-shepherd/). We also have a new Facebook group to help you find your new companion (https://www.facebook.com/groups/gsdwfadoptions).