Any Gas Chat Dog owners?

Just the wife.

Be firm but rewarding. Even rescue dogs with a disability will quickly learn how to get treats and how not to. At times it can seem harsh, but they really do learn quickly, so it's quite literally a case of being 'harsh' now to be 'easy' later...

Tsk, wives and dogs eh. Here's something you could do. Next time it snows, lock your missus and the dog out of the house for an hour. Then let them both back in, and just see which one is happy to see you!

We've all done that.

Oooh - I should have posted on here as soon as I got her! I find the "tough love" thing very hard, but am doing my best to resist the charms of the one-eyed monster when she's playing up. She has a good face and a naughty face (just killed a tennis ball in that pic)

      

Thanks for all the advice - very useful.

Well done. You've now invited the host of single men on this forum to post their willy pictures 

Single men Hugo, single men !

How is the settling in going?

We had a rescue dog some years ago (clue-David Williams was in charge at Eastville) and he was given months to live. He lasted over 14 years.

Mind you, at the beginning he had such a bad start with his previous owner that we had to give him a special diet so his stomach could come round. True story, for a year he ate better than us.

Tilly in my experiance rescue dogs are amongst the most loyal loving dogs you can own, i've had several over the years most had odd issues but was not their fault, but all were fiercely loyal, i feel they end up in kennels for three reasons the main being owners that arnt fit to wipe thier own arses yet alone take on the responsibility and commitment of owning a dog, dogs with behavioral issues(but a lots of these are a result of idiot owners as well, finally owners unable to look after their pets for health reasons either theirs or the dogs.
A strange thing is a lot of the time the dog chooses its owner not the otherway around, eg. i went to look at some dogs years back and one in particular was very vocal when staff approached it didnt like people it seemed. I walked up to the kennel and the dog was silent(even the staff looked confused). i spoke to the dog then ran through a few standard commands sit .down e,wait etc. and ended coming home with that dog, he was one of the most loyal well behaved dog i've ever had the pleasure of owning.
Another was as placid as you like until she got close to anyone then she would nip so that one stayed where it was, but i heard that dog went home with someone later and was absolutely fine. It's almost as if the dog takes to someone more than others,like they can sense a persons temperament.

One thing i did discover is that 90% of rescue dogs live long healthy lives, again i believe if you have a dog deemed to much trouble to look after due to it being stubborn naughty or just plain hyperactive etc these almost sense they are on a last chance and in the main settle down well behaved. more people should take on rescue dogs.
An awful lot of people don't seem to realise that any dog is a lot of work and should view dogs that fit in with their own lifestyle by that i don't mean put a yorkie in bows and carry it, i mean look at a dog that fits in ie don't buy a boxer or alsatian(gsd) if you are physically weak, and like to laze around, but if your active of average strength and intelligence and assertive then these types are for you , a lot of people don't realise just how alert intelligent and deceptive the afore mention breeds can be, as they will always try to outwit the owners.

If your not very active do a lot of research as again little dogs like chihuahuas look tiny but need constant attention and exercise.

Im glad you are settling in with your new dog, and are experiencing the wonders of dog ownership. It's also very good to see as it reinforces the positives of looking at rescue dogs with a view to owning one