How To Enrich Your Dogs Life When You Aren’t Home

While we know dogs thrive off human interaction, it is inevitable that we cannot be with our best mate all the time. So, as a responsible owner it’s important to ensure your pooch’s life is enriched, even when you aren’t with them. 

Let’s dig our way into how we can enrich our dogs environment and surroundings. 

Dog Training Newcastle covers the basic necessities: 

• Plentiful supply of fresh water. 

• Ensure your pooch always has shelter. 

• Toys or long lasting chews for boredom.

• Safety is paramount, lock your gates securely.  

• Have two dog beds, each bed can offer an alternative view, one placed in a shady area and the other near the house. If you have a see though fence, place a bed close by so your dog can observe the outside world.

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REMEMBER - Environmental Enrichment is for those times when your dog is left home alone. There are many techniques you can do before you leave your dog alone, such as walk him in the morning before you go, or once you get home. This can become a healthy habit for both you and your doggo. 

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Techniques to Enrich Your Dogs Environment - 

Toys:

Leave a range of toys for your dog to play with, some squeakies, a ball and maybe a rope. If your dog is destructive, then investing in a ‘tough toy’ could be a good idea. 

The most effective way to keep your pooch invested in his toys is to rotate them! Have an abundance of toys, though only give him a few at a time. Once you get home take them away, use a key word like “finished” and spend quality social time with him. Then when it’s times to leave again, give him the other set of toys.

Shell Pools Have multiple Pros:

A clam shell pool is not only perfect for a hot day to cool down. It can be used in many forms which can enrich your dogs life, use the clam pool shell as a versatile playground. These are a great affordable option to add to your backyard which can occupy your pooch while you aren’t home. 

What you can use your calm shell pool for: 

• Fill it with water, 

• Load it up with sand for a dig spot,

• Shredded paper with hidden treats for him to rustle through,

• Fill with lots of balls which he can play with,

• Keep it empty and put blankets in it for a new snuggle bed,

• You can also add fruit and vegetables to the pool with water, which your pooch can discover while you're out. 

However, it is important that your dog is comfortable to get out of the clam shell and if using water ensure the depth is a safe. 

food Dispensing puzzle toys:

Toys, food and enrichment make a dogs world go round. So add that all in one and you have yourself a happy doggo! 

Turn a negative situation, such as you leaving for work into a positive one with a wobble toy or treat ball. Kong is a wildly recognised brand which has been entertaining dogs for years. 

Fill these toys with yummy treats or food and coat the outside with peanut butter to hold them in place. Your dog then uses their nose and paws to interact with the toy to hustle out his treats! 

You can increase the difficultly of the puzzle toy as your dogs starts to get the hang of it. Or you can have a few different options of dispensing toys and then rotate so your dog has a different obstacle each time. 

Woof WooF, Happy Playing!

Little things throughout the day can set your dog up for a great time while you're out. If you involve your dog into your life before you head out, or after you return, your dog’s cup will be full because he knows he’ll be doing something with you. Take him on short drives, run errands together or let him visit family with you. The more your dog is included, equals one happy doggie! 

Your pooch will be loving his alone time with all these fun things to do while you’re out! But remember, dogs are social animals and it is vitally important that you spend quality time with your dog each day. These ideas should be used in addition to your normal family interaction and a physical exercise routine appropriate for your dog.

Let’s Talk: Overactive Barking

WOOF WOOF .. How To Stop My Dog From Overactive Barking!

Well wouldn’t we all like to know exactly what our doggo’s are saying when they start barking over and over. You know, not just one or two woofs, but that loud barking that echos though us humans. 

It’s important to understand that barking is a dogs form of communication. In order to reduce overactive barking an owner first must figure out why the dog is barking.

Teaching your dog how to stop barking is the same as learning any obedience skill, practice, repetition and consistency is key. Redirection is the most effective way to enforce this skill, once your dog is distracted from the cause, he’ll start to focus on learning how to stop barking. 

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Common Reasons For Barking: 

• Being territorial

• Bordom

• Excitement

• fear

• Lack of exercise

• lack of socialisation

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Techniques To Train Your Dog:

First off, interrupt your pooch’s overactive barking immediately, because if he continues this behaviour he is creating a habit. You should become a ‘positive interrupter’, which means you intercept his barking and redirect his response. 

It is important to take your dogs fixation off the stimulant and make him focus on you. You can do this by standing in the way of your dog and using a key word to regain his attention. Once he settles you can continue to praise him for looking, but not barking at the cause. This teaches the pooch that calm behaviour will be rewarded. 

As soon as your dog shows signs of interest in something and you feel he may start barking, become a positive interrupter before he starts. Happily say his name, shake your keys, click your fingers, or say a cue word. Praise your dog for giving you focus and distract him from what could have caused him to bark. 

It is highly important that you are consistent every time your dog overactivity barks, the more he understands what behaviour is rewardable the more he will swiftly learn to not bark. 

Eventually, you won’t need treats every time. However, while training treats are the best way to instil good behaviour into your pooch. Once he is comfortable in his new trained habit, you can reward him with praise and surprise him with treats. Don’t cut out treats all together, but give him enough treats in the week to know that he may be expecting one, this will continue good responses, as the dog may think he’ll get a treat. 

What Not To Do: 

The most important thing to NOT DO when your dog is overactive barking is to contribute. Do not start raising your voice, as the dog will only think that you are joining in. 

Don’t use gadgets such as electric shock collars or spray bottles, as these forms of punishment may be misled by the dog. When a dog starts barking, he is often looking at something, if he receives a punishment while looking at the stimulant, he could associate fearful or anxious tiggers when seeing it again. Which could result in the the same outcome, barking. 

About A Boy

Here’s the story of a lonely dog that is transformed because he met a human named Susan.

With our one-year anniversary approaching I’d like to share my journey with Clifford The Wonder Dog.

I fell in love with Clifford the moment I saw his photos on the Dog Rescue Newcastle website. There he was, looking longingly through the glass of a sliding door, eyes begging to be allowed inside. With one look I knew he was meant to become my ‘new’ dog. 

Clifford was being surrendered by his current owner who just could not include him in her life anymore. His profile stated that he was currently an outdoor dog, 24/7 – that made me so angry. I am not sure of his story prior to the two or so years he spent with this person, but I suspect he has had multiple homes in his lifetime. His age is up for debate too – is he 10, 11 or 12? But that’s irrelevant to me.

I was looking for a dog in their senior years, so I could make their golden years full of love and comfort. I work at home, which was a major factor in my decision to adopt. My entire life has been filled with rescue animals so Clifford looked like the ideal choice.

Once all my checks came back approved, it was time to arrange a suitable time to meet, as there was some distance involved between our locations. The date was set for Saturday 17 Sept 2022. I was so excited, actually talking to his photos, telling him that I loved him already and was creating a nice home for him. He was an older fellow that needed an orthopaedic Barney bed – check. Some blankets, toys, quality food and harness for the car – check, check, check and check. I was so certain that I would not give him up after the trial period, I ordered a new collar and leash with his name and my phone number embroidered on them. 48 hours before the big day I received a call from Jenn at DRN – followed up with a call from his then owner to say that he’d injured his hind leg and it was likely nothing but he would be limping. Unperturbed, I wanted to proceed. 

Upon meeting Clifford he was nervous – of course he would be. He was skinny, at least 2-3 kgs lighter than the profile indicated. He was limping, unable to put any weight on his right hind leg. I’d stuffed lots of treats into my pockets, I got down to his level and started chatting very quietly to him, not forcing myself into his space at all, but just trying to let him know that everything would be fine. Jen from DRN informed me that I shouldn’t feel obligated to take Clifford given huis injury. The truth is, it only made me more determined to adopt him! I wanted to get him back on all four paws and into a truly loving environment. 

I seemed to notice poor Clifford was also scratching and gnawing at himself which Clifford’s owner at the time said “he always does when he’s nervous.” I highly doubted that - you could smell he had a yeast infection. Poor bugger. I asked the lady if she’d brought his favourite toys, to which she responded, “he doesn’t really like toys, not into them.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. By that point all I wanted to get him home and start helping him to heal and rebuild his life. 

Clifford made it apparent from the outset that did not like being handled and trust was going to be a major issue to work on. His nails were extremely long indicating that he was rarely, if ever, walked. He couldn’t stop scratching and chewing at himself, so it became a priority to fix this. First step, a bath. Not something he enjoyed the first time, he was a bit snappy and I suspect he was just not used to being handled. He made it clear blow drying was definitely not going to happen!

I organised a vet visit and got him a cytopoint injection. The vet said Clifford must’ve had this allergy/yeast infection for a very long time because he had worn down his front upper teeth to the gums from all the gnawing at himself. The cytopoint had an amazing result and within 32 hours the irritation that drove him to distraction was a thing of the past. 

DRN helped me arrange an appointment with Motto Farm vet where the lovely Dr Martin was able to examine his injured right hind leg. It took Martin all of 1 minute to advise me Cliffy had torn his ACL. DRN were amazing and told me not to worry they would help with all of this. In fact, they took care of the surgery costs because Clifford ‘came with the injury’.  Dr Martin and I coined Cliffy the Wonder Dog on that first visit, based on  the fact he will not succumb to sedatives. Clifford was given a dose that should have knocked two dogs out, but he refused to let go.

We set the date for his surgery, but I thought it would be best to push it out to give me and Clifford time to get to know one another, mostly to build trust as we had experienced a few growling and snapping episodes. However, I have experience with three previous rescues and knew that it takes patience and love to get though to them. I’d tell Clifford, “You do you mate and we will figure this all out.” Knowing full well he didn’t understand a word I was saying, but at least he’d get the feeling that he was safe. 

Clifford was getting about fine on his three legs and seemed quite content. He’d discovered that ‘netflix and chill’ on the sofa involved cuddles which he enjoyed – on his terms. Would you believe he was crazy excited with all his toys, enjoying home cooked meals and was so happy to not be relegated to outside. We couldn’t walk too much because of Cliffords leg, but he sure was enjoying life and the garden, and barking at the birds to go away.One day while chasing a bird,  Cliffy the Wonder Dog decided he could fly, but discovered he couldn’t: he didn’t get the bird, but he did manage to tear his left ACL.  With the second ACL now damaged, surgery was moved up to the first available date to have both hind legs done at once.  

My lovely boy had no idea what was in store…neither did I.

When I brought him home from the vet the day after his surgery he was extremely sore. My poor little soldier with two bandaged hind legs and a satellite dish around his head was very upset because he was in pain and so confused.  When we arrived home, I was all alone trying to figure out how to get Clifford out of the car without him biting me or injuring himself. Eventually we managed it, and while supporting his hind quarters I helped him to hop about in the front garden to do his business. I carried him inside and helped him into his luxuriously appointed bed within a very large crate. 

So began the worst five days possible for him and me. 

Despite giving him painkillers, trying to hand feed him and bringing him water he just didn’t want to know me. He cried and whimpered nonstop. I was trying to be strong and calm but I was crying too because of his distress and my inability to make anything better for him. I had read Banjo’s owner whose story on DRN’s website a while back, so I decided to grab a doona and my pillows to sleep on the hard floorboards alongside the crate, holding onto one of his front paws through the crate’s door and also stroking his head when he cried. On Saturday I could not coax him out of the crate to help him outside to relieve himself. He just snarled and snapped at me when I approached him. I didn’t take it personally, I knew his reaction was from a place of pain and fear. 

On Sunday morning I contacted my dog whisperer friend to help me because I was really worried Clifford would get a bladder infection from not peeing. Thank goodness – within three minutes of her arrival, Clifford was on the front lawn having a mega pee. We stayed outside for about 20 minutes, taking in the sunshine and getting Cliffy to use his legs. My friend showed me how to manage getting him in and out of the crate on my own without getting bitten.

It seemed from that moment things started to improve. He was still in pain and whimpering so I continued to sleep on the floor next to him. But, something must have clicked in his brain because he would put his paw out for my hand!

 After just two months our bond was starting to build.

We had our first Christmas together, his stocking was filled and under the tree loaded with more toys and treats. We also did our first road trip driving up to Armidale and back just after Christmas to meet up with some friends – he was an absolute angel. We’ve visited been visiting friends in Sydney where Clifford discovered the big smoke and ‘uppity city dogs with attitude’ (his words not mine)! He wants to say hello to everyone whose path we crossed on our morning walks around Crows Nest. It reminded me of the scene in Crocodile Dundee, when Dundee walks along the streets of Manhattan saying ‘G’day’ to everyone. Clifford was just like that.

In early April 2023 we had another surgery this time for an infection/abscess on his front right paw .. Clifford wasn’t not too happy about it. I told him that his toy budget for the next two years had just been used up after that bill. Another week or so of a satellite dish and no walkies for two weeks. Cliffy was not amused.

Fast forward to today. Early September and almost 12 months of bonding. 

Each day I think I couldn’t love him more if I tried -  only to be proved wrong the next. His one ear straight up, the other folded down, head cocked to one side look cracks me up every time. The absolute pure joy he has when searching for a specific toy in his bucket, dragging all his toys out and throwing them in the air, or in my lap or just sucking on them makes me laugh out loud. He loves snuggles and not only curls up next to me on the sofa, but also now insists that my bed is actually his. Every morning I tickle him, he wiggles and squiggles like mad, kicking his legs in the air with a big smile on his face, it’s become our daily ritual. If I’m in the garden he insists on keeping me company but does not offer to help with any digging (a good thing). 

Daily walkies are just the best thing ever for him (and me), I suspect these weren’t a very regular occurrence for him. He actually loves baths now, although he still hates the blow dryer.  Clifford will get a worried look if he thinks I’m going to shut him outside on the deck (as if!), which only happens when I step away from my desk to do pilates or yoga because if I don’t he insists on lying on top of me. 

Since April he appears to have had a couple of mini strokes which we are monitoring. 

To see his trust in me increase with each passing day fills me with happiness. While I have not forgotten nor stopped loving all the rescue dogs, cats and the horse that came before Clifford, he is now my focus and the center of my world.

Everyone at DRN, particularly Jenn, has been so supportive on my Clifford journey. I thank you all for allowing this amazing dog to become a part of my life. I have no idea how long we will have together but my mission every day is to help him live his best life and see him as happy and healthy as possible. 

The Inaugural Furball Gala Dinner

Join us for a heartwarming event where you can help rescue dogs and have a great time!

Grab your dog loving friends and get your ticket for our first ever gala night at the Furball 2023 event at Newcastle Town Hall Concert Hall on Saturday 25th November.

We are kicking off at 5pm and flowing late into the night.

Our goal is to raise over $50,000 to go towards our new animal shelter campaign to build the major housing unit to be able to save thousands of lives.

We will be also celebrating the past 15 years of Dog Rescue Newcastle along with the people who made it happen.

On the night

The Furball Ticket includes:

• 2 Course Meal + Dessert Bar

• 3 Hour Drink Package - Alcoholic and Non

The Furball Event includes:

- Live Music

- VIP Artist Performance

- Silent Auction

- Rescue Dog Art Auction

- Celebration of Rescue Dogs

It's a great way to spend your work Christmas party with tables of 10 available for groups.

Corporate sponsorship is available please email Jesse at info@dogrescuenewcastle.com.au

This event is 18+ and spots are limited, so get in quick to help support our work and celebrate rescue dogs of the hunter.

For more information about the venue or transport please visit the link HERE

A rescue dog with a broken heart and body healed by a foster carer.

From the diary of Banjo’s foster dad.

I’ve always wanted to get a dog but having lived most of my adult life in units, I didn’t think it was fair on the dog especially with me working 40+ hours a week. So this was always something left on the ’to do’ list. Then life throws you a curve ball and completely by surprise I find myself living on the Central Coast of NSW. And in a house. And since Covid, working from home has become a reality.

I knew that when the time came I’d probably get a rescue dog – I believe that on some level they ‘know’ and are grateful to you for saving them.

My friends asked me what type of dog I wanted and all I could say was that when I was ready, I’d go to the pound and the right dog would come to me. Then late one night I’m trawling through Facebook and come across a post from Dog Rescue Newcastle calling on foster carers for dogs in urgent need.

And that’s when I saw this poor boy’s face and reading about his neglect and being abandoned and dumped in a skip bin, just broke my heart.

His body was covered in large callouses from having lived most of his six years tethered on a concrete slab. It would have been easy to just keep scrolling by – I’d done it so many times before – but what if this one time, I actually put my hand up and helped this guy out. What if this time, I’m the one that can make a difference.

So I bit the bullet and filled in the form.

I hadn’t previously considered fostering but when I read that DRN pays for all vet work, food and supplies – all I needed to provide was shelter and care. I thought this would be a good way to ’suck it and see’ – it had been many years since I’d had a dog and what if I no longer had the patience.

What if it turned out to be a bigger commitment than I was prepared for. I didn’t want to be one of those people that go ahead and adopt a dog or worse still, buy a designer breed, only to then give it up and surrender it to the pound because things just didn’t pan out as expected.

Fostering was only a short term commitment – up to six months – so I thought this was the right option for me at the time.

Early the next day I got a call from Jillian at DRN who interviewed me over the phone, as a possible foster carer. At the end of the interview she asked me that if I was approved, did I have a specific dog in mind that I wanted to foster and I said YES – dog number 3 on your Facebook post. Jillian was pleased and told me she was glad to hear this.

When I asked why, she said that so far no one had wanted him. He was at a rural pound and needed to be transported down to Newcastle, so I wouldn’t be collecting him until the next day. I shared the post on Facebook saying, “It looks like I’ll be fostering this guy tomorrow. I think he looks like a Hugo.

What does everyone think?” Most of my friends agreed that he looked like a Hugo and one even said that only if was short for Hugo Boss!

That night I had a dream and this dream I had a dog and this dog had the same face as Hugo, only in my dream I was calling him Banjo. Surely this was a sign. Because DRN is completely run by volunteers, transport from Tamworth couldn’t be arranged until later in the day which meant I wouldn’t be picking up this dog until about 8pm. I had no idea of what breed he was or even how big he was – all I knew of him was the photo I had seen and his short gut wrenching story. 

I didn’t know what temperament he had so that afternoon I googled “How to approach aggressive dogs.” Keeping in mind that I wasn’t collecting him from a pound or shelter, I was picking him up from a volunteer’s house. I couldn’t just hand him back and say sorry, not what I was expecting. In preparation, I cleared out my dining room and made space for my new boarder. This was the closest room to the backdoor and access to the backyard. I also moved the cushions off the sofa and created a makeshift bed on the floor for myself, so I could sleep in the same room as him just in case he fretted during the night.

So eight o’clock came and I arrived at the pickup point just minutes before a storm rolled in. As they brought the dog out I was surprised by how skinny he was. He had his head lowered and he just looked ‘broken.’ He was also bigger than I expected. Much, much bigger. He’d been travelling for close to four hours already and we still had another hour before we got home.

The volunteer told me he hadn’t eaten yet, so to feed him once we got home. We drove home in the storm, with thunder and lightning. Once we hit the motorway, it started to hail. I was worried as the dog was on the backseat and as I was concentrating on the road due to poor visibility, I couldn’t really check on how he was doing.

As the cars ahead of me started to pull over to the shoulder as the hail got heavier, I decided I should do the same. As I stopped the car and turned my hazard lights on I turned around to check on the boy. I didn’t know what I’d find. I know dogs don’t like thunder and loud noises and the sound of hail falling on a car’s roof just amplifies the racket.

To my surprise, he was just lying there staring at me. When I asked him if he was okay, his tail started to wag just a little bit. I thought this bodes well.

We got home, he explored, he ate, he drank, he went outside and went potty. It was close to 10 o’clock by the time I had gotten us both sorted and so decided it was time to hit the sack. He fell asleep almost straight away – I took a bit longer – sleeping on the floor isn’t the most comfortable experience. I positioned us at opposite sides of the room so as not to crowd him. 

But I left the hall light on so that if he woke, he could see I wasn’t far away. Around 2am I was gently woken by this sweet boy licking my face. I pulled him closer and there he slept next to me until morning. The next day this special (not so) little guy proved to be the gentlest, sweetest boy I’ve ever known.

It wasn’t enough for him to be sitting on the sofa next to me, he had to be on top of me.

Although he had been neglected, this boy had beautiful manners. He walked well on the lead, he was friendly with all people of all sizes and didn’t jump up on them, he even liked other dogs and cats and even a chicken that he met. He showed absolutely no aggression whatsoever. I could literally take food out of his mouth while he was eating and he wouldn’t even growl.

When I first got him he weighed 37kg and the vet advised me that the ideal weight for a Bull Arab x is 45-50kg. I would need to fatten him up before he could get desexed. Over the next couple of months we got his weight up to 49kg and he’d had all his necessary vet work done in preparation for his adoption.

During this time I joined a Facebook group for DRN foster carers where I got all the help and support I needed – this is an especially good resource for first time foster carers like myself. I posted regular updates of Banjo’s progress and a few of the members even commented that they smelled a foster fail brewing.

I found this amusing as I knew Banjo wasn’t the ideal dog for me. My ideal dog would be small to medium in size like an English staffy or a designer breed, like a cavoodle or a Boston terrier – not a 50kg Bull Arab! Also as Covid lockdowns were being lifted there was talk that I’d have to start coming into the office again and no longer working from home. Again, this wouldn’t really be fair on Banjo, or any other dog.

I was glad that I only committed to fostering as already my work situation was changing. Although a few in the group told me to be prepared that I may have Banjo for up to a year or more as six year old large dogs aren’t a popular adoption choice. People tend to go for the cute smaller puppies.

It was inevitable, but the time came around too quickly and Banjo was now ready to be adopted. The timing was perfect as I was also moving house and my new place didn’t have secure fencing in the yard.

I wrote his profile and tried to capture the sweet, gentle, loveable goofball that he is. With so many dogs up for adoption, there was tough competition looking for their forever homes. To my surprise, I received six applications after just two days of his profile going live. A couple of the applicants were also very impressive and I had a feeling that one of these would end up adopting my foster dog.

And that’s when it hit me. These applicants look good on paper – they say they work from home – but no one knows what lies ahead in the future. I had fallen in love with this boy but it was for his sake that I chose not to adopt him. I doubted that I could give him the best home possible – and that’s what he deserved! But were any of the other applicants better abled to give him his best life?

Again I turned to the DRN family and sought their advice. One of the members hit a raw nerve with me when he said, imagine how you’ll feel in a year’s time when you start getting Facebook memories of Banjo. How will you feel? Because if you think you’ll feel regret in letting him go, then do something about it now.

This was now weighing heavily on me. I had two applicants who were very keen to meet Banjo and I had to make a decision quickly. The next day I had a delayed Christmas celebration in Sydney with my closest friends (it was now April but our Christmas had to be postponed due to Covid). I told them that I was bringing Banjo with me and we’d be staying overnight.

I also told them of the decision I had to make and that I needed their help in reaching it. I really was at a loss and said that by the time I leave the following day, I wanted them to tell me what I should do. They are my closest friends and are my voices of reason. So we arrive and everyone is surprised by how big Banjo is. They’d seen photos, but it’s still not the same as seeing all 50kg of him sniffing your neck. At one stage we were all gathered in the kitchen and one of the kids alerts us to the fact that Banjo was out on the terrace and had just eaten a whole platter full of finger food – a variety of different cheeses, crackers, smoked oysters and even some home made pate made by a friend’s French mother. He ate it all. This did not bode well.

 Later that afternoon the party was over, the kids and their partners had left and it was just my friends and me and Banjo. And they said “We don’t have to wait until tomorrow, we can tell you what we think now. You’ve got to keep him!”

So it was decided.

The next day we drove home and I called Jillian to tell her that after much consideration, I had decided to adopt Banjo myself. And what she said next blew me away. She congratulated me and said she was happy to hear my news. She always felt that I was the right person to adopt Banjo.

She said that when a dog bonds that strongly with a foster carer, it’s hard for them to them adjust to another family and another home. I then asked, if that’s how you felt, why didn’t you say something sooner – it certainly would have helped me make my decision. Jillian just said “I couldn’t tell you that because it may have guilted you into adopting him. You had to arrive at that decision yourself and I’m just so glad that you did.”

It’s now been seven months and life with my sidekick is sweet. I was able to negotiate working from home part time and only going into the office two days a week. My new house is situated on the lakefront and on the days that I’m home, we go on long walks along the lake’s edge.

If there’s a rotting fish anywhere, he’ll find it. A big plus of walking (it’s actually more like hiking) along the lake’s edge instead of on the footpath is that he can roam off lead. He will sniff EVERYTHING he comes across but never strays too far from me. If he does, he just turns around and waits for me to catch up. He’s also very popular with my neighbours. Everyone knows me – not as me – but as Banjo’s dad.

One of my neighbour's kids waits for us to walk by and she feeds him banana bread – it’s his favourite thing. Her mum told me that she asked her to buy some at the shop so she could give it to Banjo. This boy steals hearts wherever he goes, and he’s certainly stolen mine. He’s not the dog I thought I’d end up with… he’s sooo much better!

Zeus The King of Retirement

At Dog Rescue Newcastle many animals especially dogs are surrendered through no fault of their own. These dogs then find themselves in temporary foster care, patiently waiting for their new family to see them and completely fall in love with them. 

This was the case for Zeus, a loveable, affectionate Labrador cross who wanted more than anything to be a paw-fect family member in his new home. Zeus was in foster care for six months and his overall experience was quite a journey. 

Zeus came to DRN exhibiting behaviours which revealed he was an anxious dog. Carers identified that Zeus required extra attention and a specific home which could accommodate to his needs. Zeus would become overwhelmed and nervous when left alone and would seek to find those that left, in which he became a "high jumping champion," Zeus's carer Amelia said. 

 Zeus’s time in foster care helped his sense of safety and security, as he was able to adapt, learn and become comfortable. This was an enormous achievement for Zeus, which assisted his transition into a new home. 

Everyone who came in contact with Zeus knew his sweet temperament was unique. Amelia, Zeus’s carer explains “he is the most special dog who just wants to love people and be loved”. 

After a while waiting for the perfect home, Amelia felt all Zeus needed is a home full of people. Then along came an opportunity that couldn’t be more suitable for Zeus and his needs. Zeus was recruited to be a full-time best friend and shining star to the residents of a valued retirement centre.

Zeus will now live in a home with 24/7 attention, care and love. He has also acquired a new role in his home as the resident snuggle buddy, with a very busy schedule consisting of naps, snacks, pats. 

“There is a daily debate between his favourite residents about who he gets to sleep with that night,” Amelia said. 

Zeus’s presence in the retirement home has shifted the dynamics of the residents, he has uplifted their spirits and brought pure joy to each new friend he’s makes. 

“Zeus has honestly made such a difference in our residents lives,” Lauren, a worker at the centre said.  

 “We had a resident who was struggling, Zeus walked in and the resident began smiling and laughing again,” she said. 

Zeus’s impact on the village is a testament to all dogs looking for a place to call home. All dogs have so much love and loyally to share with those who will give them a chance. 

“He is such a beautiful and happy puppy thank you for giving us the opportunity to love and be loved by Zeus,” Lauren said.

Zeus will now live happily in his new home, going door to door everyday sharing his joy for life and teaching his new family members that a wagging tail is the best medicine. 

Video Courtesy of Opal Health Care.

Buy a Brick for the Newcastle Animal Shelter

You can make a direct impact on the lives of abandoned & neglected dogs throughout the hunter region.

When you buy a brick 100% of all proceeds will go towards the new housing unit at the Newcastle Animal Shelter.

This housing unit will save up to 40 at-risk dogs at any one time before moving to foster carer or being adopted directly.

Ultimately saving an additional 500 lives per year.

You can either have your name/s, message or in memory of permanently displayed on site in our gardens for all who visit.

You will also get progress updates, special content and an invite to the grand opening event.

How Do Dogs Learn Quickly? Try Positive Reinforcement Training

DO THIS REX, DO THAT! .. COME ON REX…. WHY AREN’T YOU LISTENING TO ME?

Have you witnessed this training approach before? The one where someone shouts, intimidates, and forcibly makes a dog do a task. 

Have you noticed that a lot of the time the dog unwillingly does the order requested of them? They aren’t excited or joyfully completing the task, they seem pressured and distressed.  

Dog’s LOVE training, listening, and obeying their owner. Positively training your pooch will build your relationship with him, encourages your dog to repeat behaviours that you like, increases appropriate response to verbal cues, builds your dog's confidence and importantly, your pooch will be happier, less anxious and more social. 

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How A Dog Learns:

Dog’s typically learn things in two ways – 

1.  The A – B Approach

This technique is known as Classical Condition, in which a dog comprehends a sequence of events. The dog then reacts to his observations which have become a frequent ongoing pattern. 

Example:

• Owner picks up lead -> walk.

• Rustling of dog food -> dinner. 

• Owner picks up keys -> hours of loneliness and boredom. 

Note, we can use this principle to change an established association. To change

a bad or frightened reaction into a good reaction, follow it by something good!

 Examples:

• Owner picks up keys -> Dog gets a stuffed kong or favourite toys.

• A big scary dog appears while walking on lead -> Dog get lots of treats.

  This is also why we say the verbal cue before the hand signal.

2.  Dogs learn they can make something happen

This way of learning is known as Operant Conditioning, evidently a dog thinks, when I do something, something else happens. 

• I sit when my guardian comes in the door -> she gives me back scratches.

• I keep the lead loose when we're walking -> we continue walking.

• I pull on the lead -> my guardian stops walking.

• I scratch on someone's knee while they're eating -> they feed me.

By understanding the way, a dog learns we can intern discover ourselves how to appropriately communicate to our pooch (while training). If your dog is anxious, punishment will make the anxiety worse. Punishment also fails to teach your dog how you want it to behave and can ruin your dog’s trust in you and other people. 

Therefore, understanding your dog and positively communicating with your pooch can develop a healthy bond between dog and owner, reduce anxiety and makes training FUN!

Dog Training Newcastle states:

Behaviour which is rewarded will be repeated.(so be sure to reward the behaviours you like)

Behaviour which is not rewarded will fade away.(ignore, manage or replace the behaviours you don't like)

Be careful what you reward and what you ignore. Too often we ignore desired behaviour (dog resting calmly) and reward undesired behaviour with attention (dog jumping around).

Bringing Your Rescue Dog Home!

Woohoo, you’ve found a pooch that completes your family, congrats!

It can be one of the most rewarding things, bringing your new dog home. However, it is important to remember, while you are overly excited to share your lifestyle with your dog, he might be feeling overwhelmed, anxious and confused. 

Rescuing requires commitment, time and effort, especially if your pooch needs extra support while adjusting. 

It’s highly important to take your time with new activities, once your dog has learnt to trust his new family you can gradually begin to introduce him to unfamiliar activities, eg. cafes, inviting visitors over. Allow your dog to slowly experience new things, because too much, too quickly can be very overwhelming for your adjusting dog. 

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Your New Dog's First Days, Weeks and Months

• It takes approximately three days for a new dog to simply get over the shock of moving homes. 

• It takes approximately three weeks for a new dog to get used to his new location, people, other pets, routine and rules. 

• It takes approximately three months for a dog to fully and truly settle into his new life.

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Activities to avoid during the first 3 days minimum, up to 3 weeks for more anxious dogs:

• Ask friends and family to wait a week before visiting. Take it slow, it’s best to have only one or two visitors at a time. 

• Only introduce your new dog to pets that live with you, don't try to introduce him to non-resident dogs yet. 

• Trips in the car.

• You don’t know what might frighten your dog on walks, therefore, no trips to the park or walking. Try to keep your dog on your property unless medically necessary.  

• Any other activity that might be scary or unfamiliar could trigger your dog, try to remain in routine until your dog settles in. 

Some dogs will want to stay close to you, but some will need more personal space until they feel safe. Provide two comfortable places for your pooch to sleep, one where you spend your time with your dog and one which is a private place where your dog can get away from family activities. 

Establish a predictable routine for daily meals, sleep, walks and snuggle time. When your dog knows when and where events in his day will take place, he will feel less anxious.

If your dog makes a mistake or acts out, remember why you chose him and how he made you feel when you first met him. Give him a chance, it is often that you as his owner will learn how to incorporate his needs into your lifestyle, rather than making him suit your life prior to bringing him home. It’s important to maintain healthy boundaries between you and your dog, so he begins to develop what is classified as right and wrong. 

Practise and repetition make’s perfect! 

Resources: 

Retrieved from: www.DogTrainingNewcastle.com.au 

Buddy’s Grant 2021!

We got a call this week from the team at SavourLife to let us know that we were the lucky recipients of this years Buddy Grant of $50,000!

To receive such an amazing and generous grant is beyond words.

The grant was created by Savourlife to honour their dog Buddy who changed their life and now has the legacy of changing others.

The aim of the grant is to fund initiatives that will have a long term impact on dogs in death row pounds and to reduce the euthanasia rate to 0.

We will put every dollar will into creating the Savourlife "Safe house" at our new Newcastle Animal Shelter.

The grant funding will allow us to build a special "Safe House" away from the main kennel block to give these dogs space and quiet to decompress, be properly assessed, and receive the extra time and rehabilitation.  

From there once they are ready to move into foster care or to be adopted from the shelter.

Dogs in the Safe House will receive personalised training plans to address any specific behaviours and allow them to socialise with humans and other dogs in their own time.

The Safe House will be created from 2 x 20ft containers which will be converted into 6 dog houses with their own runs for exercise.

We expect it to see well over 100 dogs pass through on their way to their happy new beginnings over the next 2 years!

We want all our community to know that Australian businesses like Savourlife not only make amazing & healthy food and treats for dogs but they are heavily invested in making a difference to rescue in this country.

We Have a Shelter!

Over 12 months ago we launched a campaign to purchase and build the first no-kill animal sanctuary in the Hunter (NSW). 

Since the launch of this initial fundraising campaign, we were able to raise over $70,000 to go towards the deposit in undertaking a sizeable mortgage in the middle of a pandemic, thanks to the amazing support of our animal-loving community.

We have been looking for a suitable property for the last 7 months all over the Hunter, where we could build the sanctuary we had been dreaming of. 

After much research, consultation and planning we realised that our grand vision for a sanctuary was going to be years and hundreds of thousands of dollars away with no guarantee and we needed to act sooner.

Last month, a suitable property appeared on the market that ticked all the boxes but required a significant amount of work however it was doable!

On 1st August 2021 we acquired a 2-acre property in Fullerton Cove, which is located 25 minutes north of Newcastle.

This property will allow us to have up to 40 dogs on-site and provide ongoing training and rehabilitation until the dogs are moved into foster care or adopted.

We have named this property simply "Newcastle Animal Shelter".

The Shelter will include multiple exercise yards, indoor & outdoor training yards, long-term accommodation for special cases, a community pet pantry, event space, memorial garden, retail store and adoption office.

The goal of the shelter will be to give death row dogs in pounds and at-risk situations in the Hunter a second chance to find a forever home.

We will have a number of community and outreach programs focusing on key areas in the community to improve pet ownership and help keep people and pets together.

Our programs will help and include:

• Community Training Days & Puppy Pre-School
• Domestic Violence
• Social inclusion - Physical & Mental Disabilities
• At-risk Youth - Training Programs
• Extensive Mental Health Program

This is not the sanctuary we had dreamed of but it's the shelter we need right now.

Our goal is to not only make Newcastle and the Hunter no-kill but to also work with the community and educate and reduce overall animal surrenders and abandonment.

We are still fundraising to cover the costs of the total renovations which are well over $400,0000 as a 100 % volunteer-run organisation every penny counts.