Adopted dog success stories?

@ead, I loved your story! It is a wonderful joy to have a companion who loves the family. Most of these unwanted dogs just want a forever home. I hope you enjoy your amazing dog for many years to come. With all good wishes, @joybringer.

I love sweet, happy ending stories for rescue pups. They just need a chance,..I have two (one small and one large) very loving and very spoiled rescues. They are a comfort for my hubby and myself on his dementia journey.

We've had many dogs over the years, all of them rescues. Separation anxiety can be a problem when the dog first come home with you - everything is all new to him. When you leave him, even for a short time, he doesn't know if you'll ever be back again. Try leaving him alone for a very short time - both you and your husband drive around the block and come home. Let him cry (I know, it's hard) while you're gone. Do this over and over until he gets the idea that you'll always come home. Don't make a big deal about leaving and coming back home. It has to become a very casual thing. Keep working with him and loving him. It's a great thing you're doing!

We've adopted Mutts for over 40 years and nearly always have one that we consider crazy. I hesitate to go here, BUT - Dogs are pack animals. This guy of yours has had a history you'll have to accept. You are his pack. When you leave, he's likely terrified. A possible solution is another dog! We never have only one except due to the death of one. And after a sufficient mourning period, (It hurts us terribly. Far more than one would think it would) we replace it for the benefit of the survivor. By the way, I'm 82 and SWMBO is 80. And the 2 we have now have been with us for 5 years and four years respectively. They are of the same age and great buddies. We can leave for supper out or an appointment. But as usual, one of them is nuts. He really likes me and tells me what to do in the middle of the night when he wants out, and during the day when he wants a treat or some other need. And yet, as I sit here in the family room, he is unable to join me, whether i'm alone or with my wife. If I leave the room, he jumps on the couch with my wife. And if I reenter, he takes off like i'm gonna turn them into lunch. In the bedroom, he jumps up there and wants his belly scratched by me. But if my wife leaves the bedroom, he follows her out, or wants to get outside and away from me. It aint gonna get any better because, just like me, he's too old to fix. You're great people to give a dog love.

Kathy, you’re definitely not insane for adopting at your age. Honestly, your pup is lucky to have found you both. Separation anxiety can be so tough — I’ve been through it with a rescue myself. In the beginning, I couldn’t even step outside without the crying and barking, and it felt hopeless. But over time, with meds, patience, and lots of tiny steps (literally starting with leaving for a few seconds at a time), things slowly got better.

It takes months sometimes, but many dogs do come out the other side. A neighbor of mine had the same issue with their poodle mix, and now she’s totally fine being left alone.

Matt Mahgerfteh

Here I go, repeating myself again...

I recently read _The Other End of the Leash_ by Patricia McConnell.
This book is information dense, and not an easy read.
McConnell is an animal behaviorist with lots and lots of experience of dogs with very serious behavioral problems.

Two points from the book.
1.)We humans are primates. We feel with primate emotions and communicate with primate body language. Dogs are very different. There's a lot of mutual misunderstanding.
2.)Early life experience is very powerful in shaping a dog's personality and behavior. It cannot be entirely remediated in difficult dogs.
Sometimes remarkable behavior changes can be achieved.
Sometimes significant but imperfect changes can be achieved.
And sometimes behaviors have been so built in and reinforced that they can't be changed. Dogs can be dangerous, and this can be tragic.

Here's a good example of how the book helped us:
When Hazel would bolt after a deer on our walks (and there are a lot of deer in our neighborhood!) I would yell
"No! No! No!" What Hazel heard was "Arf! Arf! Arf!," which to her meant "Let's go get 'em!" So she would bolt and tug like crazy to go for the deer. She was doing what I unknowingly told her to do!
I changed this to one "Whoa!" (sweeping down voice) followed by calm, low pitched "Good girl. Let's walk. Good walk. Good Hazel." (as slow and low pitched sing-song voice as I can do). Hazel pays attention to me and waits for a treat that will come after a few steps together.

(McConnell has a website < https://www.patriciamcconnell.com/the-other-end-of-the-leash/&;. It's very information dense, perhaps best for dog trainers.)

Pets are a good reason for being around for tomorrow. The same for gardening.

I don’t remember if I posted this hint for separation anxiety so I’ll mention it again. Dress up a dummy in your old smelly clothes and leave it out when the dog is alone. Just don’t let the dog see you and the dummy together.

Put the TV on for him when you’re gone.
He doesn’t need to watch it but will take comfort from the voices.

We have had a little rescue dog for 7 years with separation anxiety. We used to try to put him in his crate if we left the house but that just made it worse. We did the whole acclimation to the crate, but it was just too triggering for his anxiety. He even damaged his claw trying to get out. That was the last time, no more.
These dogs are often dealing with ptsd, but not knowing their history can make it more challenging for them.
We have decided this is just who he is, and try not to be away for long periods, leave the tv on, give him a lickey mat with some peanut butter or a snuffle puzzle with some hidden treats.
When we travel he stays with a sitter who watches little dogs at her home, where he gets socialization.
I think sometimes we just have to relax and accept our rescue animal with all their issues and stop trying to change them or rehab them.
Please don’t surrender your precious dog. You are their kahu now.

The World would be a better place if people understood ptsd and now complex ptsd in children and adults. Until we understand the Worldwide dilemma, healthy parenting healthy kids will not happen. We need teachers or counselors to teach us, parents, caregivers and grandparents, everyone to learn skills like your acceptance and compassion you give your dog.