[NicandChic]

Personally I'd just keep on one of the two rescues and do the best you can. Sounds like youve got two very needy dogs with very different requirements I imagine it would be very hard to give them both the time, socialisation, training they need independently. They must be very very unsettled and clueless as to what's happened to them. Your also dealing with your current dogs and the effect it will have on them so for me I'd decide on which one suits your current situation the best, the one you think you can work with the best.

[Kitchen Cottage]

Well Yellow is a very easy dog, except for her fear of the outside which I am working on.

Luca (the blind dog) is in the utility room,  I have walked him and taken him out for cuddles.

So the big question is, How do i introduce him?  Do I let him out a bit at a time?  If its only when he is outside he will be in the utility room a long.

Would someone have some guidance on how I socialise them all together gradually.

There is nowhere for Yellow to go at the moment and she isn't really the problem.  She has been clean for 2 days and came outside last night for wee's and poo's by herself

[shygirl]

try here
www.apdt.co.uk

pet dog trainers association seems a safe bet for what you need. try asking them for a contact near you. in my experience they are into positive training etc.

ref introducing the blind one. use a lead - or tie him to your belt - and let him follow you. you are his boss, where you go - he must follow.
you can progress to leaving a long lead (long line) on him trailing against the ground for a long while(weeks or months if need be), so you can grab it if he is going to wee or fight or needs removing quickly from a situation. its much easier to pull his lead than to grab his body, especially as he cant see you. if you get a flat long web lead it trails easily, easily stood on too. parachute cord style ropes tend to tangle so avoid them.
start off with 5 mins then gradually increase the time he is allowed to socialise with the other dogs/or come into the house.

[Old Shep]

I integrate with my dogs individually starting with the most social of my dogs and lastly the grumpy old bitch! (usually after a couple of weeks).  Its best to do it outside offlead if you like or on a lead walk if you think you need control.  Usual times for a scrap to break out is over food or toys, going through narrow passages / doorways, so avoid these things at first.


Do you have a dog who might mentor Luca? One that Luca could trust and could lead him around the garden etc?  You might try introducing them first.


Don't worry that Luca is spending lots of time in the utility room if he's calm and secure in there, its better than being insecure in the pack.


The rescue really are bad that they are not supporting you on this - but sadly it happens esp with the ones importing dogs.  They can raise lots of money with those appeals for transport help .

[Kitchen Cottage]

Please don't in any way believe that the rescue are misusing any funds. It is run by veterinary nurses and is tiny.  It raises money per dog, no one gets a wage, no one drinks champagne, its people spending their own time to help.  Because of that there are a lot of calls on their free time. 

Separating Luca has been so good, I take him out but give him quality time and if it gets stressful move him back.  That has got to be better for him.  I now feel guilty about saying I didn't like him.... I expected too much, the other blind dogs have been blinded and socialised, he was born blind and put in a shelter in Bulgaria.  He was rescued from there because their policy is to release neutered at 6 months, starvation, cars, and people provide an attrition rate that is staggering   He has only been in a house/kennel for less than 3 months and has done wonderfully.  We are going to spend more quality time together and get to know each other more slowly.

Which leads to another issues, which relates to Luca and his marking and Freddie, with his 19 year old incontinence.  Any views on belly bands, bands that wrap around the stomach and penis and you put a tena in them.  I do 4 washes a day for fred, which is 2 soft dog beds, and Luca's marking means the sofa cover and throw has been off 3 times.  They would certainly help me, is there anything against them.  For Luca I am only thinking about when he is out in the living room, for Fred, all the time when I am at work.

 :bouquet:You have helped me so much,  I cannot thank you enough

[shygirl]

my gsd is incontinent sometimes due to spaying at 5 yrs old. that's why she sleeps in the conservatory. she drips while she walks and leaks whilst asleep. she doesnt realise - before that she was in the house 24/7.
iv never heard of belly bands but seem a great idea for the boys

[doganjo]

You can certainly get pads for bitches when they are in season (probably in America if not here  ) so I can see that the belly band would work.  My boy just gets yelled at if he even looks like he's thinking of lifting his leg in the house  but I can see that isn't feasible with a dog that has just come into your household.  But any dog that knows what he is doing i e marking, can and should be reprimanded!

[Ladygrey]

Sounds hectic! its great what you are doing though

We use to foster a few dogs when I was young 14-16 yrs old

On one dog "bob" he lifted his leg everywhere in the house and although Belly bands dont solve the problem of the dog lifting his leg in the house, it definatly sloves the problem of washing the sofa covers 4 times a day (as we were doing with Bob!)

We bought 4 of them off ebay, put a pad in them and placed the belly band around his belly, so instead of concentrating on cleaning the house we could concentrate on the dog and he improved greatly

They do stay in place, however the velcro isnt very strong so we used a couple of large safety pins (giant ones) or I suppose you could add buttons to them! 

We had Bob for a year I think before he was homed in a house with no children

I also used the belly bands for a foster jack russel we had, it just helps with the house training as it makes people less angry with the dog and less time on washing

[doganjo]

I wonder if that would stop me having to wash the cushions that Allez makes love to?  (He hasn't had a wife for a while and his resident one was 'done' a couple of years ago) 

Have you a link to a website for them? I'm kind of scared to google that   

[Old Shep]

something like http://www.equafleece.co.uk/store/dog_shorts.html  or are those just for bitches?  I think that would be good for old Freddie - if only to save you the washing!  As Doganjo says tackle the marking with a verbal distraction. I wouldn't wait though, start as you mean to go on.

[NicandChic]

Jocobs den on Facebook make mats & blankets for incontinent dogs here's a link for anyone wanting a look https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jacobs-Den/124539527722974?ref=ts&fref=ts 

[Kitchen Cottage]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SET-6pcs-Diapers-Dog-Male-Boy-BELLY-BAND-For-Small-Dogs-sz-XXS-XS-S-M-L-/321267684948?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item4acd0bd654
These are what I mean

[shygirl]

they look really handy. easily made too.

[Ladygrey]

They are best from www.bellybands.net

I think these are the original 

[doganjo]

Hmmm, don't look too difficult to make!