Dog Training & Health

[dobrinka]

Hi,

I am writing from Istanbul, Turkey where stray dogs are a fact of life. I was asked four days ago by the neighborhood volunteer group to adopt a dog who lives in a near-by (half a mile away) park with a bunch of homeless people. The doggy (a two year old neutered, very sweet, wonderfully well behaving a border collie girl), per the volunteers, is said to have been in the area for a few months and has been in a shelter before that (typically miserable places for animals here).

In the four days she has spent with us, she is mostly spending her time sitting in front of the door in order to get out. I have had many dogs before and I am very good very them. We try to spend a lot of time with her, offer her a varity of interesting dog food and she does seem to like us. She even sleeps with us. We are taking her out four times a day for a good hour walk yet she always has issues with getting back home. Her eating is sparodic; she did not eat a thing for a a day and a half and only last night started muching some. She clearly is not thrilled to be in a house. This morning I let her loose to play with some friend's dogs in the neighborhood field and after half an hour of play she ran away (she did not lose her way: i called her name, she stopped and looked back and then carried on running). We found her back in the park. She was happy to see me (wagged her tail) but got all depressed when I took her back home.

My question is what to do with her. Am i doing her a disfavor taking her away from the park and her homeless friends? Being a stray dog here is a precarious existence to say the least: finding food, having a warm place in the winter, danger of being taken in back to the shelter... But she seems to have liked it thus far; otherwise she wouldnt have gone back.

Can you pls help??

Thank you...

[meezermom]

Hello Dobrinka and welcome to SeeFido......

Thank you for trying to help this little girl...It is going to take time and effort. She is missing her old life and friends and being inside a house is probably very scary for her. She doesn't understand you are helping her yet and it is pretty hard to explain it all to her when you don't speak the same language.

First of all, under no circumstances should you let her off leash. As you discovered, she will try to run back to her old life. Was she surrendered by the homeless people or was she taken from them? She may have had a loving family there who is down on their luck and may love her too. If she was given up by them, then they want what is best for her and it is in her best interest to see this through. If she was taken from them forcibly, then the matter is different. Are these people truly homeless or are they travelers? Do they stay in the area or move on? Is this an attempt by the police or such to get the people out of the area?

If you are committed to this little girl and making things work, it is going to take time and work. You have not had her nearly long enough for her to forget... So, she needs to get a bath and grooming to help remove old scents. Don't overwhelm her with toys and such. Just a nice bone to chew, if you can get a sterilized bone, that is great. If not, see if a butcher or such can get you a marrow bone that is long enough not to worry about or a knuckle bone. Talk to her a lot. She needs to get used to the sound of your voice.You may even want to leash her in the house to keep her with you... Don't force the food issue but as she has started eating some, be sure it is a food that is appealing. Most likely she is used to eating scrapes more than dog food. As she is a border collie, she may want something to keep her mind busy. Once she gets a good appetite, see if you can get a food ball and feed her with that. It will help keep her mind active.....but for now; time, love and patience is needed..

[uptowndogs]

I don't think it's necessarily that she liked being in the park and homeless, but that is what is familiar to her and it felt safe to her. It's simply the way her doggy mind works. For example a dog that is severely abused and beaten by it's owner will still be loyal to that owner. In only four days she hasn't had enough time to learn that you are now her master and she needs more opportunity to bond with you. Keep working with her in training and keep up the walks, these two things alone will create a wonderful bond. In time she will become more accustomed to her new lifestyle. Good luck with her and good blessings to you for helping this dog!

[dobrinka]

Thank you for your answer. I dont the people at the park (homeless, drunkards, regular visitors etc) were asked their permission for the adoption process. The volunteers have been feeding her for some months (since she first appeared on the scene there per their account) and decided that she needs to have a house. Thats how i ended up adopting her. Yesterday during our stroll we met one of the park inhabitants and they had quite e renuion. Obviously she was motsly loved there..

It seems the more we take her out, the more she wants to go out. Today is her first week anniversary with us and she only got worse. Now she sits in front of the door and scratches it non-stop

By the way, what is food ball? I will get her a marrow bone today..

Thanks again

Hello Dobrinka and welcome to SeeFido......

Thank you for trying to help this little girl...It is going to take time and effort. She is missing her old life and friends and being inside a house is probably very scary for her. She doesn't understand you are helping her yet and it is pretty hard to explain it all to her when you don't speak the same language.

First of all, under no circumstances should you let her off leash. As you discovered, she will try to run back to her old life. Was she surrendered by the homeless people or was she taken from them? She may have had a loving family there who is down on their luck and may love her too. If she was given up by them, then they want what is best for her and it is in her best interest to see this through. If she was taken from them forcibly, then the matter is different. Are these people truly homeless or are they travelers? Do they stay in the area or move on? Is this an attempt by the police or such to get the people out of the area?

If you are committed to this little girl and making things work, it is going to take time and work. You have not had her nearly long enough for her to forget... So, she needs to get a bath and grooming to help remove old scents. Don't overwhelm her with toys and such. Just a nice bone to chew, if you can get a sterilized bone, that is great. If not, see if a butcher or such can get you a marrow bone that is long enough not to worry about or a knuckle bone. Talk to her a lot. She needs to get used to the sound of your voice.You may even want to leash her in the house to keep her with you... Don't force the food issue but as she has started eating some, be sure it is a food that is appealing. Most likely she is used to eating scrapes more than dog food. As she is a border collie, she may want something to keep her mind busy. Once she gets a good appetite, see if you can get a food ball and feed her with that. It will help keep her mind active.....but for now; time, love and patience is needed..

[meezermom]

A food ball is something you should be able to find at a good petstore. They have holes in them and when she rolls it with her nose, pieces of her food will fall out...

It does sound like she was well thought of where she was. The people there must have cared for her a great deal and it makes me wonder just a bit if she was taken from people who cared a great deal for her... She should adjust but I would not go to that park. As long as they are there, it will remind her of a former home and no matter how poor it was, there were people there who cared for her or about her. It will take a good year for her to forget them and that is without her seeing or smelling them.

[dobrinka]

I think so too; thats why I am so hesitant whether she is happy with us: she was well liked in the park and had her freedom to wander around. Of course, this is for now.. With stray dogs here the next day is always a big question mark. Her previous cohorts apperantly are garbage collectors; in the way of a background here recycling is effectively done by people who go around looking through garbage containers taking anything worthwhile and selling them. Only today, we bumped into one during our strolls. The doggy and him had quite a reunion..He did say that she was their dog and i tried to explain to him that its better for her to be adopted. He seem to agree.. But it was heartbreaking to see how much the doggy loved him. Yet she is a wonderful girl, she seem to love us too. Confusing, isnt it??

Anyway, we are now taking her out five times a day and tiring her to sleep. But she still scratches the door and the carpets occasionally..

thank you so much for your support.. I do appreciate it.

A food ball is something you should be able to find at a good petstore. They have holes in them and when she rolls it with her nose, pieces of her food will fall out...

It does sound like she was well thought of where she was. The people there must have cared for her a great deal and it makes me wonder just a bit if she was taken from people who cared a great deal for her... She should adjust but I would not go to that park. As long as they are there, it will remind her of a former home and no matter how poor it was, there were people there who cared for her or about her. It will take a good year for her to forget them and that is without her seeing or smelling them.

[meezermom]

She may find living inside a home quite restrictive considering she was able to do as she liked before. She was outside running around and with people who cared about her..It does make you wonder if whoever took her from the park really had her best interest. Yes, she will certainly live a healthier and longer life with you...Do your best to get her to understand she is better where she is and well loved. If she is eating and relaxing, she is adjusting. It will just take time and patience. When you talked to the man though, did he seem to feel as if "his" dog was taken from him and he was unwilling? I would truly hate to feel that his feelings were not considered. Is he grieving and missing her?? Man, this is a really tough one isn't it? Two different families loving her! Keep working at it!

[dobrinka]

Well, there is a new twist in the story. Lots of people seem to know our girl, as her park is really close by. People whom I bump into walking her tell me that they have seen her here and there (within a mile radius) either on her own or with a guy whose description does not quite fit the man i saw yesterday. The man yesterday said she was their dog yet went his way when I said she was given to us and it was better for her to be with us.. It seems she does have more than one admirer. My husband on his own saw the 'supposed' owner (based on the description) in the park this morning but he was reluctant to introduce himself for the fear of this guy asking her back. It is a difficult situation as you put it, not only for her but for the poor fellow too whose dog was taken from without being asked (although the volunteer ladies said that one person in the park agreed with her being taken away). Anyway, thank you once again. Will keep you updated. I have a few pictures of her will try to post it here if I can manage.

She may find living inside a home quite restrictive considering she was able to do as she liked before. She was outside running around and with people who cared about her..It does make you wonder if whoever took her from the park really had her best interest. Yes, she will certainly live a healthier and longer life with you...Do your best to get her to understand she is better where she is and well loved. If she is eating and relaxing, she is adjusting. It will just take time and patience. When you talked to the man though, did he seem to feel as if "his" dog was taken from him and he was unwilling? I would truly hate to feel that his feelings were not considered. Is he grieving and missing her?? Man, this is a really tough one isn't it? Two different families loving her! Keep working at it!

[meezermom]

That is a weird situation isn't it?? It does make you wonder what in heck is going on! Can you get in contact with those volunteers and discuss this with them and tell them you have some concerns that she was acquired legally? That might help set things to rest. If she was, then I would put it all behind you and just let time heal her memory. They will forget. However, is there anyway at all to avoid that park or area? It will not help her to keep returning there as she may think she is being taken back.

[Guest]

Hello long time no talk! i just wanted to inform you that the little stray dog has been doing well with us (her name is Sofi by the way). She seems to have got used to us, enjoying her life at home with plenty of exerice daily. We even got her a trainer recently so that she can get learn basic commands like coming back to us when she is freely running around (which is something I have started doing for the past month). Thank you very much for your support along the way and do let us know if you ever come to Turkey! All the best, Dobrinka and Sofi

[meezermom]

Dobrinka, thanks for the update and really thrilled that Sofi has decided she would rather be happy with you and live a secure life.... Sounds like the two of you are doing very well together and with time and effort, you will have the training down perfect....