What a start to Saffy's new life — coming from such a difficult situation at 6 and walking into a home with someone who clearly cares so much. And what a loss you had before her; losing two dogs so close together is genuinely devastating.
A few things that tend to help poodles (and any dog) coming out of a hoarding or overcrowded situation:
**Nutrition first** — dogs from overcrowded situations are often on suboptimal food and may have nutritional deficiencies that aren't obvious at first. Coat condition, energy levels, and gut health are the first signals. A higher quality food with good protein and added omega-3s often shows visible results within 6-8 weeks. Probiotics are also worth starting — gut flora is often disrupted in dogs that have been stressed or on poor diets for years.
**Anxiety takes time** — she may seem settled quickly but often the underlying anxiety surfaces after the initial "honeymoon" period of 2-4 weeks when she starts feeling safe enough to show her true state. <a href="
https://puppadogs.com/calming-supplements-for-dogs/" target="_blank">Calming supplements for dogs</a> (particularly L-theanine and adaptil/DAP products) can take the edge off during this adjustment window without sedating her.
**Routine is everything** — consistent mealtimes, walk times, bed times. For a dog used to chaos, predictability is profoundly reassuring.
She looks absolutely gorgeous. Wishing you both a long and happy chapter together.
Been very bitter sweet, lovely to Saffy but so hard for us when we have lost the others, and also the regret that half of her life is gone and she lived in such squalor. And her poor mum, i wonder if they got her out or not. She has been out of the hoarding for 3 weeks before we got her as the rescue had her in foster and she was neutered by them - they brought her up to us and they said she was exceptionally friend but with zero spatial awareness which is true. Bt she is getting better, less of a trip hazard...
She is on good quality food Millies Wolfheart wet and dry. She also gets fresh chicken twice a day and has ad lib food so she can snack. She also has their treats which she likes.
She is now house trained which is really good, she has been consistent now for 3 days going out and toileting happily which is brilliant.
She has started to do zoomies at bed time round the bedroom on and off the bed and then landing on you and going to sleep.....she loves to be cuddled.
She wakes up at 6am when the alarm goes off and we get up and put the hens out - she puts them to bed at night, including picking up one broodie and helping carrying her into the stable. She has to negotiate 2 gates and close hen houses and 2 doors and is good practice for when she goes out walking. Have taken her down to the stables and walked her in the small field just to see how she does steps and gates and doors and she has met the equines over fence.
Just ordered her a made to measure harness as the ones we have here from Harrison and Millie don't fit her as well as they did them despite adjustment and afraid they would pull over her head if she panicked. Adjusted Millie's ortho harness which also goes round her bum as an option short term.
She is taken out in the garden every 2 hours for a sniff and option to toilet - she wont leave the premises for a while until we are more sure of her,
She is off to the vets in 2 weeks time for her vaccinations and first check up, left it a while as it is a 1 1/2 hour car ride as it is an independent vet who cared for the other 2 and you have continuity of care. Also has an entrance right from the car park behind so she doesn't have to walk in public can go in.
She is learning come when she plants, and is considering sit, and has got stay pretty well though I pop her in the crate to be sure if i am going out the door in case she rushes after me.
She will still panic and rush off if she gets scared i.e. rustling of the newspaper when she heard it for the first time, but she calms down quickly and is getting more confident each day.
She likes to climb all over you sit in your lap - well front half only - and is an excellent screen if you want to watch tv
I am sure she will have her challenges and am getting long leads and the new harness to keep her safe if she does, her first outing will be to a dog park where she can let off steam but i would not consider walking her outside on the lane as she is likely to spook - just like Harrison was when we got him. I will probably do what i did with him which is take her to the old railway where there is no traffic and very few people and can park safely so very quiet.
They have just taken the last lot of poodles out and they are in appalling condition and totally terrified - they said that she was the best of all of them and she is amazing. Harrison was as bad as her at first as he was on a farm and never been anywhere, spooked at bikes, prams, noise took 18 months for him to be a 'normal' dog.
