He's 6 years old and abandoned by his human mum. He's got two main issues that we have to resolve. He likes to chase cars (he used to live with a Border Collie and learnt a lot of BC traits) and he also barks incessantly inside the car.

On the ride from his foster home to our place he didn't share the back seat very well at all with Millie. To the point where Millie actually snapped at Elvis a couple of times. We had to pull over and Millie spent the rest of the ride home on my lap whilst Elvis spread himself across the back seat, barking lots.

Since we've been home all Millie has wanted to do is play with Elvis. He's not having a bar of it. We've used our baby gates to separate them and leashed Millie to get them used to each other.

So far Elvis doesn't seem to like Millie. Hopefully that changes because that really determines whether or not he joins our family forever, and we really hope he does.

He loves a stuffed toy and doesn't make clouds. Just like Millie.

He doesn't know basic commands. Only "sit" and he has learnt our hand signal for that extremely quickly.

 

Really hope they get along!

 

Is this Elvis from GRR? He looks like he's mixed a lot more with people than other dogs. If his early education is as lacking as your post suggests, I think your adopting him is a wonderful move for him. Just remember, persistence usually pays off in the end. (One of my former dogs, who I adopted when she was 11, bit me four times - enough to draw blood - before she finally gave up and decided I wasn't trying to hurt her. She became my shadow and one of the best dogs I've had. Good luck, and thanks for adopting.

 

Is this Elvis from GRR? He looks like he's mixed a lot more with people than other dogs.

It is Elvis from GRR. We really need him to warm to Millie, she can't be the one to lose out in this scenario. She is the one getting in lots of trouble at the moment as she keeps on trying to entice play. Elvis just growls at her. He hasn't bitten her yet to put her in her place, he's been very patient.

 

They are both beautiful!...just image if you were Elvis (the dog, not the singer lol) and its a new house a new friend and lots of learning to do....time and being constant will really help...its early days yet...I wish you all the best and I'm sure he will learn quickly.

 

Elvis looks a lovely big boy, I really hope everything works out well for you all!.

 

We only hope the best for you and Elvis. Good looking boy

 

He looks like a sweet boy. I'm sure with some time they will grow to like each other. Separating them right now sounds like the right move. Elvis has a lot to get used to. And you know what they say... absence makes the heart grow fonder. Maybe they will learn to like each other with the baby gate between them, and be thrilled eventually when they can hang together.

 

Congratulations on Elvis, he's a handsome boy.

Give him some time to settle in and adjust, I think he and Millie will become buddies in time.

Wishing you all the best.

 

My congratulations & thanks to you for rescuing Elvis.
I'm no expert, but we've owned dogs for 30 years, & a couple for 14.
It's been my experience when someone new enters the home, there will be some "disagreements", or territorial discussions establishing who's alpha.
Sometimes our older male husky, would ignore our daughter's younger female lab trying to instigate play,
but the pup would persist then he'd make a single loud bark/bite snap at her, which sent her scurrying away tail between her legs .
He was just firmly saying "NO"! It didn't escalate, but he got the message across.
Eventually they learned the boundaries got along like the best of friends.

Mike D

 

So Elvis has arrived. So thrilled for you and thank you for giving this beautiful boy a home. Looking forward to reading about all your adventures on here. Hopefully he will fall in love with Millie (who could not!) and she with him, her new big brother.

 

How wonderful to read about Elvis! I was wondering how the rescuing process was going for you. I am sure they will warm up to each other really soon.

 

Millie is enamored of Elvis. She won't leave him alone. Even when they're chilling out she has to be within 3 feet!

Last night we had Millie in our bedroom and gave Elvis the hall and kitchen to choose where he slept. I think Millie forgot about Elvis this morning though. The alarm went off and when Millie heard the rattle of Elvis' collar she lunged up barking!! She saw him and immediately wanted to get to him. Trying to open the baby gate from the bedroom to the hallway was an ordeal!!! Lol

 

Wow. Millie's a puppy and doesn't know yet that every dog doesn't want to play with her and be friends. I'd keep them separated when not monitored and possibly even keep on her leash a bit just to be on the safe side. Give Elvis some time to settle in and get used to a bouncy friendly puppy. He's gorgeous. Good luck with training.

 

Wow. Millie's a puppy and doesn't know yet that every dog doesn't want to play with her and be friends.

To be fair though she has been socialized with lots of dogs and all but one have enjoyed/tolerated her presence. That one dog that isn't impressed with her is my sister in law's dog. And they are kept separate because of that so Millie hasn't really been schooled by another dog about boundaries. I feel that it is inevitable that Elvis will teach her a good lesson.

 

Does Elvis have bite control? Will he just bark or will he snap, growl or bite her? Too early to tell I would think.

That would be my concern since Elvis is the unknown, not Millie. He may teach her a lesson that may traumatize her which may not be what you want. I could be nervous Nellie though.

 

That would be my concern since Elvis is the unknown, not Millie. I could be nervous Nellie though.

I think it's a valid concern

 

It's a hot one today

 

Millie is still attached at the hip.

 

congratulations! I don't know how I missed this thread. Elvis is gorgeous.

 

Last night Millie started humping Elvis, something she has done to her favorite toy since we brought her home.

Tonight Elvis has turned the tables on Millie. He's trying to mount her every time she tries to initiate play.

Does this mean that he is finally warming to her??

 

Could be they're bonding!!! ha ha

 

They're probably just figuring it out...humping is one way puppies in a litter figure out who's who and what's what. As long as it seems playful instead of aggressive you're probably okay but if were me, I wouldn't leave them alone at this point?

I hope they're going to end up best friends before too long...lucky you, because that is one gorgeous pair you have there!

ETA: Although Boomer used to hump the cat...well, to be precise, he'd hump the air 10 inches above the cat. Fortunately, he picked the peaceable cat!

 

Elvis and Millie look like they are finally settling in...hope so! I agree with what everyone has said about the time it takes for a rescue to settle. The best thing I found with Bella was to have a routine (knowing what comes next is comforting in strange places) and to do a lot of training, even if it's just teaching tricks, etc. The training is great bonding with the humans and helps the dog understand who is in charge which makes them feel more secure. A re-homed dog will usually relax a bit after about two weeks and their personality will start to show more, but for some dogs it can take months for them to truly settle and believe this new home is permanent.

I was able to stop Tucker from barking and talking in the car. Basically he was talking because he was so excited about where we were going (at that time, we went to the dog park a lot). When he started up, I would stop the car. Once he stopped and was quiet, I started driving again. He got the message very quickly. Obviously, this was all dependent on there not being a car behind us! Every now and then he starts talking again, and I just repeat the process. Makes for a much nicer car ride. LOL

Good luck with Elvis. He looks like a sweet boy.

 

I was able to stop Tucker from barking and talking in the car. Basically he was talking because he was so excited about where we were going (at that time, we went to the dog park a lot). When he started up, I would stop the car. Once he stopped and was quiet, I started driving again. He got the message very quickly. Obviously, this was all dependent on there not being a car behind us! Every now and then he starts talking again, and I just repeat the process. Makes for a much nicer car ride. LOL

I used to do this with my kids when they were fighting in the car lol - worked like a charm!

 

It's been seven days since Elvis came home with us.

I've learnt a lot about him.

He's a barker. Barks when the car is moving, barks when the car's stopped. Barks at the dogs on the other sides of the fence. Barks at other dogs out on walks. Barks. We were lent a citronella bark collar when we picked him up. I forgot about taking it out of Wifey's car and the refill bottle exploded, damaging the car. I have since ordered a remote controlled citronella collar so that I can decide when the correction is given.

He loves affection. And he's very pushy about getting it. Not the worst thing in the world but still needs to be placed under control.

Since day two he has not growled at Millie. He hasn't played with her yet as such but it does seem close.

He has been showing some anxiety. After speaking to some wonderful people we are working slowly to put him at ease.

He is great with kids. We had two nieces over this weekend, aged 1 and 3 and he was wonderful with them. Except for wanting their toys.

His antics, especially around food, are rubbing off on Millie. I have taken to feeding them both their dinners by hand restore some order.

He seems just behind Millie in terms of his training, except for his solid recall, and I'm finding it hard to work out the best way to train them both. I'm open to suggestions!!

 

For training i had to go very slow. The trainer I used for Duke did not work with Charlie. I cannot use corrections with Charlie. My trainer that I got next came to house and charged by hour not dog. We would practice with Duke and Charlie is learning by copying Duke. We've had good success with clicker training and high value treats! Each week is different but better! Hang in there

 

Elvis

Elvis is just gorgeous. It take times to settle in-be patient.

I'm assuming both Millie and Elvis are fixed.

 

Elvis is just gorgeous. It take times to settle in-be patient.



I'm assuming both Millie and Elvis are fixed.

Millie will be fixed on Dec 1. She is only 23 weeks today.

Elvis is fixed. All the rescues from GRR come fixed, wormed and microchipped

 

loving this thread.. congrats on elvis.. hopefully he will be a full time addition. seems like you are making steps in the right direction!