mackiemad

The main walk is in the morning so we go out every day. Rain, hail or scorching heat.

We have an afternoon potter that is at any time between 3:30 in winter to 8-9pm on the super hot days. It's more of a toilet and sniff experience as we don't have a backyard so he needs to be toileted before being locked in for the night. In winter we might have two potters in the arvo/evening.

I know! She came up so beautifully after a pamper!

Another photo, showing her body (and the lovely little black bits coming off her ears) and near her tail the black area is where she's had flea allergy dermatitis :

Should've put a photo in!

So little Betty is a superstar :)

She's settled into the night routine really well and since she's gotten confidence with the doggy doors she hasn't had an accident (we have been taking her out, rewarding her etc). I had already put masking tape around the clear dog door, she just needed repetition to gain some confidence with it - she is now using it without coaxing :)

She had a groom and is looking great, she loves the motorised scooter and doesn't freak out with the wheelchair. I think she just needed some rules and since then has settled in really well.

I had suggested a crate (soft or wire) but my aunt really worried about her own manoeuvrability around one (she mostly walks in her own home but is very unstable)

Thank you to everyone, I think Betty has really settled in to her new home and routine and I think my aunt has stopped freaking out about a new dog that doesn't behave exactly the same as the previous one - which was a part of the problem I think.

My aunt goes to the main street and has a couple of coffees every morning at her regular cafe. Sitting outside chatting to everyone - I went with her for a couple of mornings and Betty enjoys the whole thing and the walk there and back is enough for her (but she's just as happy to sit on the scooter with my aunt and have a good vantage point!)

Edit: Forgot to say that she was from Geelong animal welfare society and was never fostered, so there wasn't a carer to ask unfortunately

Ok, so an update.

Dog is fine. I did some toilet training this arvo and this evening which she picked up like a pro. I also did some training with both of the doggy doors, the one in the laundry she is confident with, the one in the kitchen not so much. The one in the kitchen is in a window panel rather than a wooden door so that puts her off I think.

Given she originally had full run of the house and toileted inside, last night and tonight she's been put in the laundry - it has the access to outdoors she's confident with and has two beds sitting on a nice mat on the tiles. Given she still has a bit of coat I think she's warm enough (I think she tends to rub warm temperature wise anyway).

She is whining and barking quite a bit, which we are ignoring (hopefully the neighbours will too!) but she won't ever be a bedroom dog again as she snores a lot and my aunt is a light sleeper. I think ideally she'll sleep in the lounge/kitchen area. Currently the door to the lounge and bedrooms are shut, but if she goes outside the laundry dog door she can come in the kitchen one. Am I setting her up to fail?

I'm tired so probably overthinking it. She's just gone quiet now (12am), I think she just needs a bit more time and consistency. (she has whined gently a couple of times since I said she's stopped. But she's definitely stopped scratching, moving and barking)

Dogmad your technique is already working! Took her out for a little walk on lead with treats and did it your way and by the end of a short walk she was really responsive and looking for the reward for the behaviour. We did a little more in her backyard later so I think she will get the hang of it super quick, she really seems to want to do the right thing.

I'll let you guys know how we go tomorrow. The not settling is concerning but totally understandable hopefully she doesn't carry on for two + hrs tomorrow night as well. When she understands the routine I think she'll settle into it fine. (I'm such a worry wart!)

Edit: no touting inside overnight. Took her out this morning and she went straight away :)

Also did a bit of dog door training before her brekky and she was great. Super smart little dog! Still not 100% with the kitchen dog door but already better with it.

I imagine you may have to get an adult dog and then train it and get it certified yourself. There are various programs that helps with the certifying.

I agree with megan, my first port of call would be to ask the state schnauzer club.

Fwiw my mini would make a terrible assistance dog. He's a lovely dog and quite smart but he needs direction or he looses his nerve a bit.

Excellent! Thanks so much dogmad! I'm really hoping with a couple of really consistent days and lots of rewards we can start to establish a routine that my aunt can follow.

Thanks for the support :) I've printed out your method and will be off soon to get as much Betty time in as possible.

Hey Hazy, I've sent a PM to Dogmad. I did a search but I could only really find posts where Dogmad had emailed it to someone.

It's clear she has no idea outside is good and inside is bad. I can definitely teach her outside is good but I'm worried a little on the inside is bad bit!

So Betty (despite her surrender form saying she was house-trained) is definitely not toilet trained. Not the biggest issue in the world but my aunt can't toilet train her as she's mostly wheelchair bound. So I'm going to stay at her place tomorrow for a night and get some positive training done with her.

Taking down my light long lead and some training treats, so she'll be attached to me. There are no crates, which I'm used to, so any super quick tips on toilet training an adult dog without one would be great. I'm just going to treat her like a puppy at the moment. My worry is I've only got two days (she's not tested with cats and being a terrier I imagine she'll chase mine if I bring her here)

Lemonade is a lovely citrus that will give you a bit of shade.

But kiwi sounds lovely ;)

I found my breeder at an agility event as she was there with her dogs and I was there with my old dog. I approached her to talk about the breed as I already knew they were on the short-list for my next dog. So definitely head to a show and ask if it is ok to contact them, don't try to talk too much on the day as they're usually too busy. Then in an email tell them about yourself, ask some questions about health tests etc and mention you saw them and briefly spoke at the show. I think of it as laying good groundwork.

I paid under $1000 for my boy but that was almost a decade ago now. He's still super healthy and fit and I'm still really happy in my choice of breeder and breed :) they're really fun little dogs!

We have a large offlead park behind us which we use almost everyday. It isn't fenced, has multiple sport ovals and is frequented by regulars and most of the dogs know each other. Most dogs aren't playing with each other, just walking or running with their owners. Any place where owners just stand around is a recipe for trouble IMHO.

Sorry, I'd forgotten to update with a photo!

Here she is in her new home and bed :)

Yeah, I think with some good food and a hard clip back her coat will grow through beautifully :)

Really lovely outcome for everyone and I'm looking forward to picking her up next week and taking her to her new home! I'll get some photos then because she's quite a cutie and has great facial expressions!

Well Coco (now Betty) was absolutely lovely. Spunky but not too energetic :) my aunt could pick her up, have her on her lap etc and she wasn't too much. Her coat has clearly been clipped previously, though is a bit matted and sparse (looks like a previous flea problem) so she's already booked in for a groom/clip etc. As she isn't desexed she will be desexed and get a teeth clean before we pick her up.

Yay! A very sweet little girl (surrendered as the family moved into a rental that didn't allow dogs) has got a very loving home, and a disabled kind human has got a new companion to adore!

I totally forgot to take photos, but I'll get some when we pick her up :)

Hopefully we can just keep her clipped short. It is our worry with her to, but thought she was worth meeting. One of Sue's good friends is a groomer so any dog gets clipped about once a month, so we're hoping that will keep on top of it.

I didn't even look at her originally as she is classed as a terrier so I just thought she'd need too much exercise, however it sounds like she doesn't, which is great!

Going and looking at this little gal today:

https://www.petrescue.com.au/listings/390658

Brilliant kirty! Yay for pudding :)

Just saw this. Omg kirty you poor thing.

Please don't hate on yourself, it's something all of us could have/ would have done.

Sending every positive vibe and prayer pudding's way. Thank goodness the others are ok.

In terms of laziness yes! And I think she'd quite enjoy dressing it up in hawthorn football club gear :) but we really need something around the 5kg mark tbh, she can lift heavier but she would be concerned about her leg strength for anything up to 10kg. She has had falls before

Hey Hazy,

Enquired about him today and he does tick a lot of the boxes but unfortunately he is too big for a disabled person to easily pick up. So he's out of the running for us, but I'm sure he'll get a great home, he's a very sweet little dog :)

He's beautiful hazy :) will get in contact with them tomorrow - thanks!

Thanks nyssel :) a cavvy is probably a bit big though for someone who uses a motorised scooter and has sticks/walking frame for around the house. Just a big heavy for just in case things. But a smaller non shedding dog with the personality if a cavvy would be fab!

Thanks rural pug

I'm keeping my eye on rescue as we go and chatting with a couple of small groups but always good to get reminders to be proactive and chat with bigger groups too :)

I accidentally trained my dog that if he licks me he gets scratches/cuddles. I hate being licked so if he was sleepy as a pup and we were cuddling or my hand was near/on him, he'd lick me and to get away from the licking I'd start scratching him or massaging him. Whoops!

But otherwise I'd never intentionally train a dog to lick. Yuck.