ADOPTING OLDER DOGS

From time to time, we are able to match more mature boys and girls with new owners who wish to skip the puppy phase for whatever reason. We are looking for experienced pawrents who understand the importance of exercise, nutrition, routine, mental stimulation as well as affection. We’d love to hear from people who are committed to maintaining their new mate’s healthy weight and who will continue reward based/positive obedience training.

An older dog will need your help to transition in their own time from life in a pack of fun loving Labradors to a well mannered member of your family. Our girls (& boys) have lived happy though sheltered lives with their canine friends & devoted humans on a semi rural property with no passing traffic. They are predominately ‘outside dogs’ who are invited inside from time to time. When invited into the main house, our dogs are always on a leash & always tethered. They do not have the run of the house & do not sleep on the beds or furniture.

Our Labs sleep on dog beds in downstairs rooms with access to their people, furry friends and the backyard.  We feed premium dog food, worm regularly & all vaccinations are up to date. Our dogs have been ORIVET (full breed profile) tested & cleared of genetic/ hereditary diseases.

Your new furry friend will need to learn manners, rules & routines that are appropriate to your home & lifestyle. The adjustment will be very real!!  We could perhaps liken it to human culture shock. But dogs live in the present so the initial shock will pass quickly.

New owners need to be willing & able to commit 6 months to patient & consistent effort. Socializing an older dog is similar to socializing a puppy but it takes more time and requires smaller steps. Our dogs are very smart & will learn quickly if they feel safe & have adequate time to rest & decompress. We will support you through this transition!

The first 3 days will be a time of major adjustment. She will miss her canine friends, her humans, her familiar routine & environment. This can be a distressing time for new owners who worry their adopted dog is deeply unhappy & doesn’t want to be with them. Given sufficient time, she will adjust & become as devoted to you as she has been to us!

Do not introduce new experiences, people & places all at once. Stay at home & keep everything calm. Feed the same food. Provide a comfortable bed with a chew toy in a safe, warm, quiet space. Stay close but don’t get in her face. Let her come to you & explore her new environment at her own pace. After 3 days, she will stop looking for us & will begin to transition to you & her new environment.

Use the next 3 weeks to slowly venture outside the gate, so to speak. But it is still not the time for long walks!! Exposure to so many new sights, sounds  & smells will overwhelm/flood her nervous system. Try very short walks with lots of time to sniff. Researchers believe 10 minutes of sniffing can be as mentally stimulating for a dog as a 30-60 minute walk. It also helps lower cortisol- the stress hormone. Also try a few short car rides where she can observe the world from the safety of the back seat. But it is not the time to visit friends or your beach house!!

The first 3 months will see your furry friend slowly adjust to her new situation. Introduce experiences one at a time and then slowly increase the frequency & duration of those experiences. It will take 6 months for her to fully integrate into her new life & your home. Like most things, it may feel  worse before it gets better!!

Our retired mums have all navigated this transition with their amazing new owners. But it took time & required lots of patience & perseverance by a committed adult. That being said, our rehomed dogs have been trained to sit quietly in cafes, visit the homes of family & friends, participate in camping trips, take long road trips, travel in small boats, hang out in work places etc.

Because our girls have always  lived with other dogs, they will not cope for long periods on their own. So we are looking for homes with another dog or an owner who is mostly present during the day.

Don’t be tempted to welcome a retired mum into your home  to amuse your kids or grandkids. There is too much work involved and the kids will lose interest!!

Our Labs are very precious to us, so we will be asking questions to ensure a perfect match. If this sounds like you, please give us a call!! We’d love to hear from you!!