Is there a Rescue that will adopt to Northern Nevada?

[shepherdmom]

Originally Posted by Holmeshx2

The part about your last trainer is just PATHETIC (sorry best word I could say on the forum lol)I can understand that training leaving a bad taste in your mouth, and its things like that, that give a type of training a bad name same with the "rescues" you seem to be finding.

I don't think the rescues I'm finding are bad. Just overworked and understaffed and don't have time for someone out of the area. Unfortunately there are no rescues in my area. That trainer on the other hand was.... well lets just say didn't make a very good impression on me. I had heard good recommendations about her though so IDK.

Personally I'm not big on being purely positive. I believe when they are learning its strictly positive after all how can you correct them for something they dont know. Once they know it then you proof it once its proofed and they just ignore the command then yeah you get corrected plain and simple (and forced to comply) I had a trainer here that refused anything that wasn't straight positive (I wanted to use a prong on my girl to work on leash control) and she fought me constantly (even after I was no longer in her class) so one day she decided she would take the leash and do some leash work with her however she kept stomping on my girls saying "she wont get it if she moves out of the way so its all her fault" sorry but thats not strictly positive thats a form of correction and that is a good way to seriously hurt the dog so I immediately took my dog from her and we had some words.

I think for the most part I've been a positive with my dogs training... but when positive training isn't working where do you go from there? In Arizona I had my trainer and my breader who both did SAR and had years of experience. Unfortuantely here I don't have that kind of support here and methods have changed so much.... back when I was did obedience it was choke collars. I haven't had to use one on my big babies in years. They have rolled leather colars that never come off and I just snap a leather lead onto that and off we go but my guys or I guess I should say my guy now ( Shadow) is so easy that I don't have to worry.
This is why i'm so big into telling people to get the right trainer. They are supposed to be professionals and people just trust them because they are the professionals but there are bad trainers out there and listening to them can really hurt your dog so yes question them.. ask them WHY they are doing something, speak up for your dog and if your not comfortable with something you dont do it just because a pro said to.

As for the rescue I'm not sure how far your willing to travel but maybe contact a REPUTABLE rescue thats out that way have someone else do your home visit and then drive or fly to where the rescue is and meet the foster dog that they feel fits your family. Just another option.

I traveled all the way to Phoenix for Grizz, I'm willing to go anywhere with-in driving distance. That being said the resources that are I need to make a successful experience are not available here. The rescues trainers, the rescue people who would match a dog to our family... etc. I think I need to do some more research and see if there are any trainers that I do like in this area. Who knew adding another dog would be this hard? It's always been so easy before.

[shepherdmom]

ok maybe we are not as done as I thought with the rescue idea. I missed a call from one of the rescues today. I plan to call her back in the morning, but if someone could give me some info that would be great. They have a sweet "energetic" female about 2 years old, about a level 3. I'm not sure exactly what the levels mean I know 1 is the easiest but how much energy is a level 3? I was looking on their website and they have a sweet older girl who's owner died who is looking for a calm home and who lived in a house with a dog door a smaller dog and some cats. What would be a "calm" home? We have a dog door and no small kids but I wonder what exactly that translates to. They seem to use the word sweet a lot... Does sweet mean good with people in rescue speak? If anyone who is involved with rescue could maybe let me know what would be some good questions to ask. I am cautiously dipping my toe in. LOL

[Holmeshx2]

Hi again lol

First theres no reason positive training shouldn't work as a young pup after all they are a baby and you don't go around spanking a 6 month old baby they don't know any better.. however a toddler (even a young one (18 months) knows the basics of whats expected and not allowed) if hes older and acting like a fool or refusing a command he knows then you correct him (I dont just mean a simple no)... I DO NOT like choke collars.. I used to use them because thats all I knew and thats what we always used with our dogs growing up however after getting older and learning more on my own I realized how much trachea damage they do and its just not something I prefer to use. I do however have absolutely zero problem using a pinch/prong collar. Learn how to fit it properly and use it properly and after that I have no problem with it. Of course there are people that will abuse any tool out there so of course I don't mean keep a pinch on him all day long and a drag line popping him anytime he does something however using it to proof an exercise or learning to not pull or some other things.. all for it. I'm at a loss for good training here so know how frustrating it is. However, there are other things you can do. There are tons of videos on training that are GREAT or there is something (believe its called bow wow flix) that is like netflix for dog training videos so you don't have to buy them all.

As far as the rescues go they all can use different terms. I would ask specifically WHY they call her energetic and what in the world a 3 is (never had them use a scale) Same as what a calm home would be. I think just being honest of what you're home is and what you can handle it the biggest thing. If you need help there are plenty of very experienced rescuers here that would be happy to help you so you're never alone

Also if the rescue is willing maybe even ask for some random videos of the dogs so you can see just how energetic this 2 yr old is or a video of the older girl just for a better idea then a picture. Personally I have about 80+ pictures of this foster girl and take videos of her entertaining herself (Not often) take videos of her running like crazy playing with Jinx and she has her own photobucket page so I can post them all there and share the link with potential homes so they can get a better feel for her ahead of time. Check if the older ones calm is lays around all day and just be left alone or if she will socialize with your current dog go out for a casual walk etc.. whatever you do in your general day.

[Jax08]

Originally Posted by shepherdmom

ok maybe we are not as done as I thought with the rescue idea. I missed a call from one of the rescues today. I plan to call her back in the morning, but if someone could give me some info that would be great. They have a sweet "energetic" female about 2 years old, about a level 3. I'm not sure exactly what the levels mean I know 1 is the easiest but how much energy is a level 3? I was looking on their website and they have a sweet older girl who's owner died who is looking for a calm home and who lived in a house with a dog door a smaller dog and some cats. What would be a "calm" home? We have a dog door and no small kids but I wonder what exactly that translates to. They seem to use the word sweet a lot... Does sweet mean good with people in rescue speak? If anyone who is involved with rescue could maybe let me know what would be some good questions to ask. I am cautiously dipping my toe in. LOL

A calm home to me would be no children, well behaved children, or older children. Dogs living there would be not rambunctious, possibly older. Not alot of traffic in and out with alot of commotion. Seriously...older dogs are harder to adopt so they would probably be thrilled that you are interested in her. I would call and talk to someone in person regarding her.

Sweet...means...Sweet.

Ask if she is reactive to noises, dogs, other people as in do they make her nervous or scared. What is her activity level? Any health issues that you need to know up front. Just talk to them. They'll ask you questions also. Describe your home life, activity level, other animals, children, experience with dogs.

[shepherdmom]

Originally Posted by Holmeshx2

Hi again lol

First theres no reason positive training shouldn't work as a young pup after all they are a baby and you don't go around spanking a 6 month old baby they don't know any better.. however a toddler (even a young one (18 months) knows the basics of whats expected and not allowed) if hes older and acting like a fool or refusing a command he knows then you correct him (I dont just mean a simple no)... I DO NOT like choke collars.. I used to use them because thats all I knew and thats what we always used with our dogs growing up however after getting older and learning more on my own I realized how much trachea damage they do and its just not something I prefer to use. I do however have absolutely zero problem using a pinch/prong collar. Learn how to fit it properly and use it properly and after that I have no problem with it. Of course there are people that will abuse any tool out there so of course I don't mean keep a pinch on him all day long and a drag line popping him anytime he does something however using it to proof an exercise or learning to not pull or some other things.. all for it. I'm at a loss for good training here so know how frustrating it is. However, there are other things you can do. There are tons of videos on training that are GREAT or there is something (believe its called bow wow flix) that is like netflix for dog training videos so you don't have to buy them all.

As far as the rescues go they all can use different terms. I would ask specifically WHY they call her energetic and what in the world a 3 is (never had them use a scale) Same as what a calm home would be. I think just being honest of what you're home is and what you can handle it the biggest thing. If you need help there are plenty of very experienced rescuers here that would be happy to help you so you're never alone

Also if the rescue is willing maybe even ask for some random videos of the dogs so you can see just how energetic this 2 yr old is or a video of the older girl just for a better idea then a picture. Personally I have about 80+ pictures of this foster girl and take videos of her entertaining herself (Not often) take videos of her running like crazy playing with Jinx and she has her own photobucket page so I can post them all there and share the link with potential homes so they can get a better feel for her ahead of time. Check if the older ones calm is lays around all day and just be left alone or if she will socialize with your current dog go out for a casual walk etc.. whatever you do in your general day.

Thanks for the info.

Spoke with one of the lady's from the rescue at length today 45 min at least on the phone. 2 year old sounds like a sweetheart. I'm concerned about the height of our fence with her level of energy. We may try to go meet her. The little girl is fostered to the lady I spoke with on the phone and is not to far away. The older girl is all the way in Modesto. They are having an adoption event there this weekend if we want to go meet her and talk with the people she is with down there. Not sure yet what we are going to do. It's our 25th aniversary this weekend and there are some plans so I'm not sure we could fit in a trip all the way to Modesto.

[shepherdmom]

Originally Posted by Jax08

A calm home to me would be no children, well behaved children, or older children. Dogs living there would be not rambunctious, possibly older. Not alot of traffic in and out with alot of commotion. Seriously...older dogs are harder to adopt so they would probably be thrilled that you are interested in her. I would call and talk to someone in person regarding her.

Sweet...means...Sweet.

Ask if she is reactive to noises, dogs, other people as in do they make her nervous or scared. What is her activity level? Any health issues that you need to know up front. Just talk to them. They'll ask you questions also. Describe your home life, activity level, other animals, children, experience with dogs.

Thanks for the info. I appreciate the suggestions.