Twelve days of Christmas-rescue dogs - Day 3

Day 3

Environment

Where did the rescue dog come from?

Often they are from the UK but many rescues arrive from other countries and are totally unprepared for the environment they find themselves in. Even if the dog has always lived here they are often unprepared for the environments they are expected to live in

We often have inappropriate surfaces underfoot in our homes which cause immediate problems, but also store problems up for later life -please see canine Arthritis Management for details. There there are large windows and large plain glass patio doors, they can create anxiety and problems for many dogs that are apprehensive of people or dogs as they walk past.

The simple fix is to buy some adhesive film for the windows which can be removed at a later date if necessary.

At the very least invest in some decals and make sure they are visible.

Large patio doors need thought too-and once again adhesive film , large decals, curtains or netting are well worth investing in, to make clear the doors are not open

Certainly ex racing greyhounds have sustained injuries and even died after running into closed patio doors believing that the doors are open -this can lead to very sad circumstances once they have built up speed having seen a squirrel or cat outside.

This kind of illusion can also cause problems in outdoor areas-in particular if areas are fenced with sheep wire -from a distance there doesn’t appear to be a fence and if sighthounds catch sight of a rabbit on the other side of the fence they are often unable to stop once they see the barrier -I lost a lurcher to this kind of fencing many in an area she did know. If you have this kind of fencing in your garden shred lots of plastic and tie it to the fence in as many places as possible so it helps form a very visible barrier

These simple inexpensive things can be used to to make a dogs first days so much easier and should include putting rugs on slippery floors and making stairs and steps extra visible and all help a dog adjust to their new environment and stay safe. Slipping , sliding and losing balance will make a dog feel very vulnerable

As Christmas is coming up we also have to talk about indoor trees and the other things that accompany this season

Trees often mean only one thing to a dog that has never lived inside and sparkly decorations can be worrying

Fragranced candles should not be used when there are animals in the house and if unscented versions are used do be aware that they can still give off toxins once lit. Many different options are available including beeswax or soy and are more human friendly too

Safe areas are essential, this was discussed briefly on Day 1 but apply equally to environment. Do not expect a dog to settle in busy areas like kitchens where they are constantly disturbed -it’s true that some dogs do prefer to be in these areas rather than isolated – so do supply resting places in different areas so choice is available

While discussing environments do allow your dog to explore the areas around the home.

Gardens should be accessible as many dogs can be wary of going too far from home during the first few months-so get used to supporting a dog if they feel too vulnerable when they venture away from home.

If a dog freezes this means they are fearful -head home and learn to take the dogs lead. (I have a story about meeting a newly rehomed greyhound on Dartford Heath a few years ago, she was frozen to the spot. I was walking with Sprite so I went over and introduced ourselves. I knew that she would follow another friendly grey so we accompanied her and her dad. We walked miles that day as each time I dropped back to see if she would continue walking she stopped and waited for us to catch up---Sprite was a star that day. Eventually the greyhound recognised the road she lived on and went ahead on her own.

She was not being stubborn just overwhelmed by her new environment. I often still see her and she is now happy to walk on her own, the motto being - don’t overface a new dog as early experiences are vitally important to building confidence

PS I had the pleasure of listening to Jane Goodall delivering a talk a few years ago and she said how important it was to use stories to illustrate points-so I feel vindicated by using my stories about the dogs I have lived with.

Pennie Clayton 2025

#speakingdogs