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Dear Airedale Lover,
Please accept our apologies for not having responded to your application to adopt an Airedale. Our volunteers would normally respond to a new application within 2 weeks of receipt. However, we have been inundated with applications in the last quarter of 2020, and we find ourselves behind. We have enlisted additional volunteers and will do our best to contact you as soon as possible.
Please let me know if your situation has changed since you applied to adopt. And thank you for considering a rescued Airedale.
Jackie
01-05-21:
Dear Airedale Lover,Please accept our apologies for not having responded to your application to adopt an Airedale. Our volunteers would normally respond to a new application within 2 weeks of receipt. However, we have been inundated with applications in the last quarter of 2020, and we find ourselves behind. We have enlisted additional volunteers and will do our best to contact you as soon as possible.
Please let me know if your situation has changed since you applied to adopt. And thank you for considering a rescued Airedale.
Jackie
01-06-21 I should have looked at his post before sending the email that we’ve been too busy to contact him! Kelly had already interviewed and put him in Cold Day inHell!
Thank you for your response, Jason. Congratulations on your new dog. We wish you the best for the new year and let us know if you ever decide to pursue adoption of an Airedale.
Jackie Cash | 901-438-5782
http://www.airedalerescuegroup.com
Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/airedalerescuegroup/On 01/05/2021 7:09 PM Jason DeMarco
Thank you for the message. Please remove me from consideration, we found our next dog (rescue).
Kind regards
I should have looked at his post before sending the “I’m sorry we haven’t contacted you” letter.
From: Joshua Toepper
To: Jackie Cash
Cc: Pat Nowak Hairston
Date: 01/05/2021 10:39 AM
Subject: Re: Airedale Rescue Group – Application to AdoptHi Jackie,
I am still very much interested in an airedale rescue. I had spoken to Julie and had given her the number of my roommate for her to contact, but I have not heard anything since. That was early December. As far as I understood it, I was ready for a home visit. Thank you for all you do and I am patiently waiting. I know it will be worth it.
Joshua+
On Jan 5, 2021, at 11:33 AM, Jackie Cash
Dear Airedale Lover,Please accept our apologies for not having responded to your application to adopt an Airedale. Our volunteers would normally respond to a new application within 2 weeks of receipt. However, we have been inundated with applications in the last quarter of 2020, and we find ourselves behind. We have enlisted additional volunteers and will do our best to contact you as soon as possible.
Please let me know if your situation has changed since you applied to adopt. And thank you for considering a rescued Airedale.
Jackie
01-05-21: Email apology sent (blind copy email) re us being behind on apps. Hers was returned as bad address.
01-02-2021: Sharon Potusky will do the home visit on Wed., January 6, 2021. I’ve connected them via email.
01-02-2021 Virginia & Cindy have spoken and Virginia does want to adopt Teddy. Virginia is ordered supplied for him – crate, beds, food, etc., and will let us know when she’s able to take him. It will be a difficult transport. Florence, SC to Canton, MS is 10+ hours.
01-01-2021: Virginia Anderson of Jackson, MS wanted to adopt Teddy. Her daughter is a friend of Cindy Green and Cindy recommended her.
We should be able to move him in the next week or so.
01-02-2021: Beau is being fostered-to-adopt by Casey Griswold. If by January 14, 2021, no one has claimed Beau, Casey will adopt him.
From Jenny Snipes about Beau:
Things We Know About Beau
We called him Beau because our neighborhood is named Beaumont and it was a neighborhood effort to take him in and make him comfortable on the night he was found (Thursday December 17th, 2020).
He was found with a bandage and splint on his back left foot which was pretty ragged and looked like he had been chewing on it.
We took him to our vet the next day. The vet said the bandage and metal splint (to protect his injured pad) appeared to have been professionally applied by another vet. He had a nasty cut on the inner pad of his back left foot.
The cut on his pad is healing nicely (you can see the white granulated scar). However, the bandage itself caused an abrasion wound on his leg. He tends to want to lick it which makes it worse. The vet prescribed an ecollar, antibiotics and pain meds. I have included those in his bag. He has two more doses of meds (Saturday night and Sunday morning). He needs to wear the collar when you can’t supervise him to keep him from licking it. The vet said to keep it clean with a damp cloth. You can apply Neosporin when he is wearing the collar.
I also gave him a dose of flea and tick medication the weekend after we found him.
He is leash trained and knows basic obedience commands. He is also crate trained. When we set up the crate we had that belonged to our English Bulldog, he went right in it and laid down. He has a funny tendency to gently close the door to the crate when he’s not in it.
He tends to spook easily at sudden and unfamiliar noises and will run.
He is protective of his food around other animals (but not so towards people).
Oh, and he has not had a solid bowel movement since we got him. That’s why we bought him Science Diet food that aids in digestion.
I made every effort to find his family. He was posted on Facebook and shared multiple times. I posted him on Jefferson/Shelby County lost and found pets on FB. He was posted on Pawboost, Next Door and PetFBI as well as Lost My Doggy. I also called around 20 local vets and dog groomers. None of the vets had recently treated an Airedale for a back foot injury and no one reported anyone looking for him. We also put up posters in multiple neighbors in the area where we live.
He is a sweet boy. We will miss him.
Please keep us updated on him. We would love to see pictures every now and then.
Jenny and John Snipes
Jenny.snipes@pacelabs.com
jsnipes@invacare.comHold off on contract.
01-01-2021: Jackson adopted by Julie Schrecker. He escaped their fence the first evening and they didn’t find him till the next morning.
He is very skittish and timid with them.
——— Forwarded message ———
From: Airedale Rescue Group
Date: Fri, Jan 1, 2021 at 11:02 AM
Subject: Adoption Application Form submitted on Airedale Rescue Group
To: < mcprange@aol.com>, < airedalemail@comcast.net>, < bayager@comporium.net>, < hairstonpat@gmail.com>Please indicate your interest by checking one(1) box: Adopt
Name: Sydney Atkinson
Preferred email address: 1sydney.atkinson@gmail.com
Alternate email address: 1sydney.atkinson@gmail.com
Preferred phone number: 9199236254
Best time to contact: Anytime
Street: 10 Sunset Smt
City: Asheville
State: NC
ZIP: 28804
HOME LIFE: A. HOME LIFE
A 1. Residence: a. House
A 2. Duration: c. Less than 1 year
A 3. If you rent, do you have permission from your landlord to have a dog?: a. N/A
A 5. Please list the names and ages of household residents including yourself: Sydney, 60
David, 69
A 6. Please list the names and ages of frequent visitors, including children: N/A #COVID
SAFETY: B. SAFETY
B 1. What type of material is your fence made of?: e. No fencing
B 3. Please indicate length and width in feet or acres. e.g. 200 ft x 100 ft.: N//A
B 4. What is the foot surface for the dog? : f. Other (please describe below)
B 4. f. If “Other” please describe: We are on a very sloped lot and don’t have a fence, but have a small patch of grass and would walk our new pup frequently.
B 5. Do you have a dog door? : b. No
B 6. Do you have a door which opens directly to the dog’s area?: a. Yes
B 7. Do you have a swimming pool?: B. No
B 8. Is the swimming pool accessible to the dog? : a. N/A
B 9. Is there a leash law in your community?: a. Yes
B 10. Is there a dog license law in your community?: c. Don’t know
Awareness: C. AWARENESS
C 1. Why do you want to adopt an Airedale?: We loved our Callie girl, who we got from ARG back in 2008. and kept her happy and safe until she declined to the point of perceived pain in 2019. We have enjoyed the freedom of not having an Airegirl, but now that we are settled in our new home we are ready to open up to a new dog.
C 2. What do you know about Airedales? What qualities appeal to you?: While Callie was clearly not a purebred Airedale, the qualities we loved about her that I think are Dale-ish were her goofiness, inquisitiveness, smarts, low-shed coat, size, friendliness and even stubbornness.
C 3. Is this your first Airedale Terrier?: b. No
C 4. Are you aware that Airedales need to be clipped at least 3 times a year?: a. Yes
C 5. Is anyone in your household, including frequent visitors, allergic to dogs?: b. No
C 6. Are you aware that Airedales often pose a clean house challenge with muddy footprints and sloppy wet beards?: a. Yes
C 7. What kind of temperament would best suit your household? Check all that apply.: b. Sweet and cuddly , d. Loves to walk, run or hike, h. Able to be one of several animals in our home or in our friend’s homes
Care: D. CARE
D 1. What is the name of the person who will be the primary caregiver?: David and Sydney
D 2. Do you or do other caregivers have any physical limitations that would make it difficult or impossible to run after a loose dog or pick up a 50-70 pound dog? Explain.: No
D 3. How many hours will the dog be alone daily?: We are both retired and Asheville is a very dog-friendly city, so she wouldn’t be alone much at all.
D 4. Describe how the dog would spend a typical workday or weekend at your home. Where will the dog stay when you are at work or out of the house? : If the dog is accustomed to crates, we would crate her. If she is well house trained and settled, we would let her roam the house when we are gone. I would envision her hanging around us while we are home, which is a lot!
D 5. What areas of your home or yard are off limits for your dog? : None
D 6. What activities would you like to share with your dog?: Walking, hiking, traveling
D 7. What will you do if your dog gets lost? : We had Callie microchipped at her vet and would do the same. We NEVER let Callie out of the house off leash so would do the same for another dog. If she is microchipped and gets lost, we would go through normal activities like posting lost dog signs in the hood, post notices on social media, etc.
D 8. What dollar amount will it cost annually to take care of your dog? : No doubt $1500 or more. It won’t be a problem.
D 9. Will you obedience train your dog? : b. At a group obedience class like PetSmart
D 10. Will you use a dog crate?: a. Yes (please describe below)
D 10. a. If yes, describe the times or reasons you would use a crate. : Again, we would use one if the dog is already accustomed to it. Bedtime and when we are away from the house would be the primary times.
D 11. Will household members support and care for the dog?: a. Yes (please describe how below)
D 11. a. Describe their support for the dog: David and I are a team and do many things together. We share the household responsibilities, including caring for our pets. This includes feeding, walking, cleaning and cleaning up after the pup.
D 12. How will your dog be taken care of when you are away for business or vacation?: b. Pet-sitting service
D 13. Is there a spot already reserved in your home for an Airedale?: b. Bedroom
Pets: E. PETS
E 1. Do you currently own or live with any other animals?: b. No
E 2. Please describe your pets, including the type of animal(s), are they spayed/neutered, and their ages, and your previous pets, including the type of animal and breed, how long you had them, and what happened to them.: N/A
E 3. b. Explain how your pets do not get along with other dogs.: N/A
E 4. i. Please provide details of your animals’ shots and vaccines and any medical conditions they may have.: N/A
E 5. Name, address and phone number of your current vet. : N/A Just moved to town, but will get recommendations from neighbors.
I give my consent to Airedale Rescue Group to contact my Veterinarian to verify the care of my household animals, past and present.: Yes
E 6. Name and phone number of your current groomer. : N/A, but will find one!
I give my consent to Airedale Rescue Group to contact my groomer to verify the care of my household animals, past and present: Yes
E 7. What brand of dog food do you feed? : N/A but will use high quality food
E 8. What brand of heartworm preventative do you use; how often do you use it?: N/A Forgot what we did use, but a monthly chewable that we got from vet
E 9. What brand of flea and tick preventative do you use; how often do you use it?: N/A Same as E9
E 10. Do you give your dog(s) any vitamins or supplements? If yes, please explain. : N/A
E 11. Have you ever had a dog that ran away or escaped from your home or car? Please explain.: N/A
E 12. Have you ever had a dog hit by a car? Explain. : No
E 13. Under what circumstances would you give up a dog?: The only thing I can think of is if we died or became infirm.
E 14. Have you ever had to give up a dog? Please explain your experience. : Never
Preferences: F. PREFERENCES
F 1. Interested in specific Airedales available for adoption on our site? Please list their names.: N/A
F 2. Which sex are you interested in?: c. Female
F 3. Are you interested in a puppy, young adult, or older animal? Select as many as apply. : a. Puppy, b. Young adult
Questions or comments: G. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
Terms and Conditions: H. TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Home Visits: I. Home Visits
I 1. Do you consent to home visits before and after the adoption at a time convenient to your schedule?: a. Yes
References: J. REFERENCES
J 1. Enter the name and number of a personal reference who does not live with you and is not a relative.: Tricia Parish 919.614.0563
J 2. Have you ever adopted an Airedale from any rescue group before?: a. Yes (please provide details below)
J 2. a. Please tell us from where or whom you adopted the Airedale.: We got our sweet Callie through ARG in 2008 when we lived in Raleigh. Christina did our home visit and we enjoyed that crazy dog for 11 wonderful years.
Return Guarantee: K. RETURN GUARANTEE
K 1. Do you agree, if in the event you CANNOT keep the Airedale you adopt that it will be returned to the Airedale Rescue Group? : a. Yes, I agree to return to the Airedale Rescue Group
Adoption Fee : L. ADOPTION FEE
L 1. Do you agree to the $400 adoption fee? The adoption fee is due on the day of transfer of the dog to you. Failure to pay the fee will result in ARG submitting claim through the legal system to obtain the adoption, veterinary, grooming and transport fees. : a. Yes, I agree to pay the $400 adoption fee
Consent: M. CONSENT
By submitting this form, I certify that the information I have provided is true and accurate. I am physically, emotionally, and financially able to care for an Airedale. I understand that Airedales require both physical and mental stimulation to thrive and I will provide both. I understand that Airedales that come into rescue may not have been trained or socialized properly and may need extra time, patience, and care to adjust to a new environment. This may include the need to attend pet obedience classes to help build a better bond with the new dog in the home. I understand that proper food and veterinarian care can be costly, and I am able to meet these needs. I agree that Airedale Rescue Group may check my veterinarian, groomer and personal references, as well as, my landlord, if applicable. Home visits will be conducted prior to and following an adoption to ensure the safe-keeping of the Airedale. ARG reserves the right to decline adoptions. ARG reserves the right to reclaim any dog who, in our judgment, appears neglected, abused, unkempt, or unsafe. ARG reserves the right to reclaim any dog for non-payment of the adoption fee at any time.: I hereby agree, and consent
Signed:: Sydney. AtkinsonAnother version.
Bringing Home Your Rescue Dog
The Rescue Maxim: It takes at least 3 days for the dog to become familiar with his new family, and about 3 weeks for him to feel completely comfortable and, if they will work consistently with him, after 3 months he should be thoroughly acclimated to his new family and really feel at home.
Dogs need order and are extremely routine oriented. We recommend that you duplicate what you can from his previous routine before you start to re-orient him to the rhythms and schedules of your home. Work out your house rules and dog-care regimen in advance among the human members of your household. Who will walk the dog first thing in the morning? Who will feed him at night? Will he be allowed on the couch or bed? Where will he sleep at night? Will he be crated? Everyone in the household should be consistent. You can have different rules, i.e., Mom may allow him to sit on the couch with her, but Dad doesn’t. But, Dad can’t punish the dog for sitting on the couch with Mom.
To ensure a smooth transition, have supplies (collar, ID tag, leash, food, bowls, crate and toys) ready. Try and arrange the arrival of your new dog for a weekend – or when you can be home for a few days – for quality, hands-on time.
If you have resident pets, make sure they are up-to-date on their shots and in general good health before bringing home your new dog. Despite the best efforts of the rescue organization, previous owner or foster family, viruses can be spread and occasionally go home with adopted rescue dogs. You may wish to set up an appointment with your own vet to check out your new dog and set up an inoculation schedule, depending on the veterinary care your rescue dog has received.
Register for an obedience class. Don’t ignore this very important step in setting yourself and your rescued dog up for success! Be dogged about finding an obedience class or trainer. There are many positive reinforcement-based dog obedience classes that teach dog manners, canine good citizenship and discipline. Try to register for a class starting about 3 to 4 weeks after your dog has come home with you. It is important that your new dog has some time to adjust to you and your home before putting him into the stimulating environment of an obedience class. Even the shortest “dog manners” course offered at your vet’s will reinforce the new bond between you and your new dog, will give you a valuable face-to-face resource for questions about your dog’s behavior, and will provide a powerful tool for moderating your rescue dog’s less attractive behavior traits!
Remember, Airedales need work – this is a really easy way to provide him with active, mental work that you’ll approve of! The rewards are obvious – what a joy it is to have a well-mannered, Airedale companion! New families often ask about changing the adopted dog’s name. If you desire to, it is fine. Many times, the dogs are given names at random by a shelter. The dog will learn his new name if it’s overused in the beginning. It is in no way traumatic to the dog to change his name.
Things to Expect When You Arrive Home
You should expect your new dog to act differently than how he did when you met him at the foster/owner’s home. He will be excited, nervous and maybe tired after the trip to your house. Being routine-oriented, your Airedale may have just gotten comfortable at his foster home and now recognizes that the routine is changing yet again. He doesn’t know the smells, the sounds, and importantly, the routines and rules of your house. This is very confusing for your dog. Dogs display anxiety and nervousness by: panting, pacing, lack of eye contact, “not listening,” housebreaking accidents, excessive chewing, gastric upset (vomiting, diarrhea, loose stools), crying, whining, jumpiness and barking. This is a litany of behaviors any and every dog owner dreads! As long as you understand where these behaviors originate, you can perhaps address them before they appear and deal effectively when they do! Your goal in the next weeks is to reduce the “noise & confusion in his head” and get him to relax, to be calm and show him how to be good. Despite your joy at adopting this Airedale (and after a few enthusiastic hugs and kisses), you should be calm and gentle and firm. Talk to him in a calm, low voice as you travel home – avoid playing the car radio and having too many people with you when you pick him up.
All rescue dogs go through a “honeymoon period.” After the first day or so, the dog may be very quiet and extraordinarily controlled and “good.” The “real” dog appears two to four weeks later – after he’s mostly figured out the house rules, the schedule of the days, and the characters of his new family. At this time, he’ll start testing out his position in the pack, and may “regress” to puppyhood behaviors and “bad” behavior. Be patient with him, firm in your expectations, praise him for appropriate behavior – especially when he is lying quietly and behaving himself. Don’t praise for nothing constantly – the dog will learn to tune out your praise over time!
Leash Your Dog to Introduce Him to Your Home
When you first bring your new dog home, make sure you have him on a leash! Spend the first 15-30 minutes walking him outside around the perimeter of your yard or the area that you will be with him most on your property. Walk slowly – let him “lead” mostly – and let him sniff and pause if he wants to. He is getting used to the “lay of the land” and all the smells associated with his new home. He will undoubtedly relieve himself – this is his way of making himself at home by adding his mark to the smells of your home, and now his new home. Obviously you want this to happen outside! If you have a place you wish this to happen, encourage him to “get busy” in that area and praise him warmly when he does. The excitement of the move and new family will cause him to have to relieve himself more often than normal. You must be prepared to give him plenty of opportunities to do this in the beginning! Whenever the rescue dog is not confined, supervise him – set this dog up to win!
You might want to consider isolating the new dog from your resident dogs during the first entry to your home – he will appreciate safe and quiet at first as he explores your home. Crate your resident dog or have someone take him for a walk while your new dog explores. Let the new dog explore the house – leave him on leash and make sure he’s supervised AT ALL TIMES! We recommend leaving your new dog on leash in the house for the first day. Don’t even leave the dog unsupervised while you answer the phone!
Once inside your house, a male may still accidentally mark a door, plant or chair when he first walks inside your home. This is out of nervousness (or he may smell another dog), so it is best to leave him on the leash indoors the first day. If he starts to lift his leg, give him a short jerk on the leash and tell him “No.” That should stop him immediately and remind him of his housebreaking manners. Follow up this correction by taking him outside in case he’s not just marking! Bear in mind that if your Airedale has a few accidents, it does not necessarily mean that he is not housebroken. We can’t emphasize enough how much nerves and excitement can cause uncharacteristic accidents. Watch for typical pre-urinating behavior – circling, sniffing, etc. Do not scold or hit a dog for having an accident – rather, verbally get his attention, grab the leash, and take him right outside to his spot to do his business. If he does it, praise him! Once he relaxes and learns the rhythms and routines of your home, all his manners will return!
Even in a fenced yard, you’ll want to leave your rescued Airedale on leash for the first week or so. This way, you can reinforce a recall command and help monitor pack behavior if you have other dogs. Until your new dog bonds to you and makes good eye contact, we recommend leaving him on leash.
Provide Quiet Time
Quiet time will be important for your new Airedale in the first week. Because of his nervousness and anxiety, he will get worn out fast. His recent past may include a shelter stay, which has worn him out with worry. Despite your excitement, try and resist inviting friends and relatives over to visit him. Give him time to get used to your immediate family and resident pets only. If the dog does not solicit play or attention from you, let him alone to sleep or establish himself. Believe it or not, we don’t want you to force him to play at first! It is imperative to avoid smothering new dogs with attention their first few days home. It is understandable that owners are fascinated by their new pets and want to make the new addition feel welcome and happy, however constant togetherness sets the dog up for a fall when normal life is finally resumed. It is far better to avoid high contrasts in home and away time, the rule of thumb being many absences, beginning with extremely brief (>1 minute) ones and gradually progressing to longer over the first few days.
Feed Your New Dog
Feed your new dog twice a day; half in the morning, half at night. Ask and encourage the dog to sit before putting the bowl down. Put the food bowl down for 15 minutes. If the dog does not eat his food, pick up the bowl until the next mealtime. After a couple of days of this routine, even the most finicky of eaters will change their minds. Feeding this way you can monitor exactly how much he is eating. If you have other dogs, feed your rescue dog away from them but at the same time. You can feed in the same room, but use opposite corners, putting the dominant dog’s bowl down first. This is usually the resident dog on the first few nights – but that situation may change over time! You may want to arrange having another adult in the room for the first week of feedings to monitor the “pack behavior.” Watch that each dog sticks to his own bowl. Keep vigilant over feeding time for a couple of months until the pack positions are worked out.
Consider Crating Your Dog
Many of the Airedales that pass through rescue have been crate trained at one time or another. Every dog needs a place to escape to, a place to call his own, and a crate provides an answer to these needs! Your new Airedale will have some degree of separation anxiety when you leave him for work or alone at home. Crating the dog in the beginning will eliminate accidents, chewing destruction, and other mischievous activity that is rooted in nervousness and insecurity. Your dog is safest in the crate when you are not home until you can totally trust him loose in the house. This is especially true if you have resident pets because you can’t supervise their interactions when you’re away or asleep! Children should be taught to leave the dog alone if he retreats to his crate. You should never use the crate for disciplining. The crate must be a dog’s sanctuary for crate training to be effective. Crates are great for traveling with your dog later – the dog will always have a familiar den to retreat to and feel comfortable and reassured. Each time your dog is confined, make sure the dog knows he’s a good boy. If the Airedale is particularly emotional or anxious, try making goodbyes and hellos as unemotional & nonchalant as possible. While crating a dog helps make everybody safe, crating should NOT be abused by locking the dog in the crate all the time. Airedales need to be with you and should be with you unless they cannot be supervised or trusted alone in the house. For instance, if you are going to shower and the dog still sometimes chews, crate him for those 15 minutes for safety, but then let him out to be with you. If the dog is crated while you are work all day – you MUST make an extra effort to let the dog “hang” with you in the house until he is reliable loose in the house. If you prefer not to crate, make sure to set aside a safe, indestructible space in your home for your rescue dog. You may want to try using baby gates in the kitchen, laundry room or hallway. Remember, you may really want to keep your dog on easy cleanup flooring at first! If the area of confinement is too large, you may begin to have housebreaking accidents. We do not recommend the basement or garage, since your dog will not feel “part of the family” isolated away from them. If he can see and hear you, so much the better. This is why wire style crates are so effective in the house.
Be Patient During the Honeymoon Period
It is not unusual for him to whine or cry or bark if confined away from you at night – lights out at a new strange place is a stressful thing for him. If you put the crate close to your bedroom or somewhere he can see you, the problems are usually minimized. Safe chew toys in the crate at night will give him something to do if he’s awake. Remember, during the first couple of weeks, the dog will probably get quite tired and worn out by the day’s activities, so establishing a sleep schedule is usually not a big deal. As you wean him from the crating at night, make sure he has been well exercised – a tired Airedale is usually a really good Airedale indoors!
Establish a Routine
Try to develop and use a consistent daily routine for feeding, exercising, and bathroom duties. Dogs are creatures of habit and routine translates into security for them. If you do the same things in the same way and in the same order, he will settle in more quickly and learn what is expected of him and when. Let your new Airedale outside to take care of business as soon as you rise in the morning. Feed him after a short walk or romp in the yard. Give him another chance to relieve himself before you go to work. Upon return from work, immediately let the dog out for exercise and a bathroom break (this is NOT the time to read the mail, make a phone call or flop yourself on the sofa!!!). If he’s exercised heavily, wait 30 minutes or so before the evening feeding. He’ll need another bathroom break anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours after the evening meal, depending on his age – it’ll be your job to figure this out. He should go out again right before you go to bed.
Socialize Your Rescued Airedale
Rescue dogs come from a variety of backgrounds, but all dogs can do with more socialization. After your dog has time to settle in your home and is starting to look to you with confidence (2-3 weeks), start providing new socialization opportunities. Now you can start inviting your friends and relatives over. Do introductions to new people gradually. Introductions can take the form of petting, playing fetch, even going for a walk. Do not force the dog to accept new people – do it positively, with lots of praise, allowing the dog to approach people rather than new people approaching your dog!!! Be sure to tell your visitors that your dog is new from rescue so they need to be more sensitive. Tell them not to reach for the dog right away – let him come to them. If he does not go to the new person, that visitor should completely ignore the dog. Suggest after the dog has met/sniffed the new person that they pat the side of the dog’s neck or side of the shoulder instead of on the head. Patting a dog on the top of the head is interpreted by dogs as a powerful dominance attempt and can be a challenge to some dogs, and a frightening thing to others. Start taking your dog new places – nearby parks – and, especially to obedience classes! The opportunity will allow you to determine how your dog responds to strange people, dogs and places.
Love and Enjoy Your New Dog
Authority without domination.
Love without subservience.
Respect without fear.
This is an adage used by rescue workers that is appropriate for rescued Airedales too, and we’d like people to think about it as they live with and train their rescue dogs. You do not need to frighten your dog into complying with household obedience commands, or prove to him that you are the toughest creature around by using brute force. You DO need to show your dog that you are the leader in the household, a leader he should put his trust in following. You can do this by “telling” your dog this in a language he understands – body language and daily habits. Respect is not something that you can force a creature into giving you. Above all, be patient, firm and consistent with your new Airedale. Use positive reinforcement and lots of praise when he’s good. When mistakes are made, correct him when it’s happening, and praise him when he modifies his behavior. Undoubtedly you will get lots of advice – good and bad – from other dog owners! Read and research as much as you can to prepare yourself. Understand that sometimes you may need to try more than one approach to a problem because every Airedale is different.
