Adopting An Abused Dog?

So, my family and I saw this dog http://www.lematin.ch/faits-divers/c...333?comments=1 in the newspaper where we live. It says that this un named toy poodle was put into a plastic bag and thrown onto the streets to die. :mad: A nearby bus driver saw him and saved him. They think that he's about 5-6 years old. My family and I immediately fell in love with him. My mom contacted the shelter where they're keeping him and asked them if we could possibly meet him.
Now, they say that he's obviously been abused, so he could have issues. We also own a 2 almost 3 year old toy poodle ourselves named Coco. She's very sweet, but a little bossy when it comes to new dogs. So, I was wondering, are we doing the right thing by adopting him? Do you think that he'll be happy with us even with another dog in the house? Should we keep Coco away from him while he gets used to our place?

P.S my sister and I have already named him Louis ( pronounced lewi).

Oh my goodness, stuff like that breaks my heart. I am so glad to hear you are adopting him. When I was 13 my family adopted a little dog from the pound. He was only a tiny puppy just left to die, and if we had left him in the pound another night he would have died from the cold. I think you are doing the right thing. All you can really do is try your best with him and give him the best home you can. I think you should introduce him to Coco and just keep an eye on them while they are together and if there is problems keep them apart until Louis gets a little more used to the house. That's all you can do really I think

Suguest a meet and greet woth your dog at the shelter on leads and see how they get on. The more meets they have the more they'll get used to each other. They will habe to learn to get on at some point if you get him! But i would advise if you do get him, to have little play times then give them a little time apart. It could be too much for the new doggie. Training classes with other dogs may also be useful which your shelter could provide you with a leaflet with all the local groups to train at. The more he gets used to other dogs the better and lots of praise. I've had a rescue dog who stayed with his dead owner for two weeks and was so thin and he turned out just fine even though he was very shy then came straight out of his shell. He was 12 when we got him :-) and he trained very well even at that age. He lived till he was 16 but the shelter wanted to put him down as they thougt he wouldn't get re homed but my mum said no :-) i miss bonzo very much but with love and patients i think he will be fine :-) you can even ask for a few weeks trial and see if he improves. Hope you get louis :-).

My mom just heard from the shelter. They said that they've had many emails and calls for him, but they'll still keep us in mind. They want to keep an eye on him for two to three weeks just incase somebody claims him. (He might have been stolen by someone and then abused.)

Thanks everyone!

My mom is into rescue, specifically poodles. They usually try to snatch them up as soon as they can from shelters and ads, so I guess I'm a little surprised someone hasn't picked him up already, if anything to just keep him from going kennel crazy. Poor little guy, it's so sad how people can treat animals.

If you do manage to get him, you could try giving him a couple days to adjust before messing around with him too much. I couldn't stand to do it myself, I always want to cuddle with them too soon, but my mom keeps them in their crate for most of the first week, aside from baths and walks of course. It gives them time to settle in, they figure out that the person is the source of good things like food and such, and the natives have time to adjust to the newcomer. my parents' one boy, a mini poodle ( with a toy's legs, it's hilarious) is very bossy, so usually causes trouble. It's normal though, they need to establish hierarchy, and the foster dog usually does fine. If the new guy has issues, it might be a couple weeks or longer before he starts coming out of his shell and his true personality shows. Don't get discouraged if things are rough for a little while <3

Don't forget to keep spending lots of time with your other fuzzy, you don't want him to get lonely.

I've just adopted two dogs from rescues, neither abused (although one is drastically obese which is abuse all the same). Make sure your current dog and the poodle have NO issues. If there are any, you shouldn't adopt the new dog. Research proper greeting online so it all goes very well.

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Originally Posted by seagirls626

So, my family and I saw this dog http://www.lematin.ch/faits-divers/c...333?comments=1 in the newspaper where we live. It says that this un named toy poodle was put into a plastic bag and thrown onto the streets to die. :mad: A nearby bus driver saw him and saved him. They think that he's about 5-6 years old. My family and I immediately fell in love with him. My mom contacted the shelter where they're keeping him and asked them if we could possibly meet him.
Now, they say that he's obviously been abused, so he could have issues. We also own a 2 almost 3 year old toy poodle ourselves named Coco. She's very sweet, but a little bossy when it comes to new dogs. So, I was wondering, are we doing the right thing by adopting him? Do you think that he'll be happy with us even with another dog in the house? Should we keep Coco away from him while he gets used to our place?

P.S my sister and I have already named him Louis ( pronounced lewi).

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coming from someone who works in an animal shelter and has shelter dogs of her own I suggest going for it :) you guys seem like very loving people and having a very bossy dog of my own know that it will take time. Positive feedback is the best when it comes to abused dogs. ask if you can arrange meeting for both dogs in neutral terittory. A place where either dog has "controll" over. This provides a chance for you to monitor behaviour without causing tention between the dogs :D good luck! This little guy needs a good home and lots of love <3 it will be an uphill battle but well worth it

We just adopted a little Airdale Terrier named Tali, she was left out in a field tied to a pole and they found her half starved to death, she's not too jumpy, but is the biggest sweetheart. Sometimes if you hold a spatula or something and make a fast move she jumps, but she's great with strangers, and is such a couch potato, she also has heartworms, so that's pry also part of the reason she's so chill. I say go foster her for a week or two and see how it goes, if it works great, if not, it sounds okay because others want to adopt her as well.

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Originally Posted by Mermaid Harmony

We just adopted a little Airdale Terrier named Tali, she was left out in a field tied to a pole and they found her half starved to death, she's not too jumpy, but is the biggest sweetheart. Sometimes if you hold a spatula or something and make a fast move she jumps, but she's great with strangers, and is such a couch potato, she also has heartworms, so that's pry also part of the reason she's so chill. I say go foster her for a week or two and see how it goes, if it works great, if not, it sounds okay because others want to adopt her as well.

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Wow, that's really great! Not only that, somewhat unusual seeing as how rare the Airdales are. I wonder where the previous owners obtained her? Hm. I dunno, haha. Rambling here. Congratulations! After adopting my two dogs, I probably won't go back unless there's a very rare breed I'd like (Bedlington, Airdale, Wheaten, etc.) from a reputable show breeder.

I saw this the other day but didn't say anything. My mom and I are fostering two dachshunds, one of which was left on the street, and the other was brought to Texas all the way from Colorado, and she was abused during the first six years of her life.

My roommate has a dog that was abused. He is still a lot of work, but watching him evolve from a terrified, broken creature into this adorable little guy has been so rewarding.