Patrick

**rpcrowe** · 21st February 2016, 07:58 PM

Patrick is a 6-month old poodle-mix (possibly a poodle + cocker spaniel) whom we are going to list on our Internet rescue sites today. We expect to be deluged with adoption applications as soon as this little guy is listed. He is a great size for a family dog and we expect him to be about 15-20 pounds (~ 7-9 kilograms) when fully grown. His personality is as darling as his looks...
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**Shadowman** · 21st February 2016, 08:42 PM

Nice captures, I was viewing a program about rescue dogs and how their behavior sometimes needs to be modified if they are going to be adopted. Do any of the dogs your group rescues go through any special training?

**rpcrowe** · 22nd February 2016, 01:23 AM

Some have problems while others do not. Our Rescue Groups insurance precludes accepting dogs with a history of vicious behavior so we seldom have biting problems - except for moms with newly born puppies who are sometimes quite ferocious in defending them.

Since we are often the first people who have offered these dogs love, they will often bond to us and not want to share us with other dogs. We just are kind to them but, do not let them get way with growling at dogs who come near us.

With some dogs, it takes a while before they become relaxed in our home. Our goldendoodle, Holly, acts like a therapy dog for scared rescues. It usually takes Holly just a day or two before the rescues are sleeping with her.

House training is another problem with some rescue dogs but, all our floors are tile and we have a large back yard that the dogs make use of. The other dogs seem like they help train the dogs who have not quite mastered where to go potty. However, we don't think that you can house train a dog unless that dog is living in the house. So we don't keep the dogs in kennels and definitely don't keep them in the yard for long periods. We are fortunate in that we have a very large home.

Some rescue dogs are very frightened of people but, we can usually get around that type of behavior with low key love and affection.

I really give a lot of credit to our own four dogs who are confident enough of our love that they don't need to compete with the rescues.

It often takes two weeks or more for a rescue to begin to feel comfortable in a new home. We can see the changes as they begin to play with toys and otherwise act as normal dogs.

Occasionally, we need to make use of professional training as we did with Pepsi and Cola who were rescued from beneath 14 lanes of Los Angeles Freeway traffic in a storm drain which they were living. Pepsi was the defender of his sister, Cola and Cola was the shrinking violet, scared of everything and everybody. On the advice of a professional trainer, we adopted these two dogs into different homes where they are living happy and normal lives.

When we get dogs who are very frightened of people, we have a foster family who specializes in caring for dogs like this and turning them into well adjusted dogs and puppies. Our foster has two precocious young daughters who don't let the feet of a puppy hit the ground. They carry them around almost 24/7 and sleep with them. This does wonders for shy dogs.

All in all, we treat each dog individually and I am happy to say that we have had no failures. There is a home for every dog. We just need to help them find that home and help them get ready for it.

Lots of work but really worthwhile...

**NorthernFocus** · 22nd February 2016, 01:40 AM

You guys really specialize in cute dogs, don't you?

**rpcrowe** · 22nd February 2016, 03:08 AM

Originally Posted by NorthernFocus

You guys really specialize in cute dogs, don't you?

We started off as a Maltese Breed rescue but, have expanded to other small breeds along with Goldendoodles and Labradoodles (because we own a Goldendoodle which we dearly love). Most small dogs are cute and all puppies are (IMO) cute. However, when we get the dogs, they are often not very cute.

And some dogs are in really poor physical condition

The sad thing about long haired dogs like Maltese is that without proper care they tend to look ratty and are not adopted from shelters because of those ratty looks.

They usually stink pretty bad also!

This mom really needed TLC

Even some of our Doodle rescues are not really cute when they come to us

However with some TLC, they spruce up well and are now cherished members of their families like Coco the Labradoodle

This dog was mauled by a large dog and her family never provided vet care. We provided extensive surgery

Here she is with her face and jaw repaired

Here is, Jasper, our first tripod dog. He had been hit by a car and we provided surgery and extensive rehab at our home...

Here he is when he was greeted by his new mom. The look on her face tells everything...

Here is a poem I wrote about him...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCFM3gWyjkw

Here's one of my favorite transitions - Patsy and her puppy

We also have helped many dogs with other extensive health care problems. We are presently rehabilitating a dog for whom we provided surgery for a seriously fractured pelvis and another of our dogs has recently had heart surgery. We have had blind dogs, deaf dogs, three legged dogs, dogs with no control of their hind legs and even one dog who is blind and deaf.

Here are some of the dogs who have passed through our home in the last few years. Granted, these images are usually after TLC....

https://rpcrowe.smugmug.com/Pets/MAL...RNIA/i-ZcPXqgd

**Marie Hass** · 22nd February 2016, 11:16 AM

Dear Richard,

I am in awe of your mission. It has been fun to be a passenger on your journey.

Blessings to you and your wife,

Marie

**Shadowman** · 22nd February 2016, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by rpcrowe

Some have problems while others do not. Our Rescue Groups insurance precludes accepting dogs with a history of vicious behavior so we seldom have biting problems - except for moms with newly born puppies who are sometimes quite ferocious in defending them.

Since we are often the first people who have offered these dogs love, they will often bond to us and not want to share us with other dogs. We just are kind to them but, do not let them get way with growling at dogs who come near us.

With some dogs, it takes a while before they become relaxed in our home. Our goldendoodle, Holly, acts like a therapy dog for scared rescues. It usually takes Holly just a day or two before the rescues are sleeping with her.

House training is another problem with some rescue dogs but, all our floors are tile and we have a large back yard that the dogs make use of. The other dogs seem like they help train the dogs who have not quite mastered where to go potty. However, we don't think that you can house train a dog unless that dog is living in the house. So we don't keep the dogs in kennels and definitely don't keep them in the yard for long periods. We are fortunate in that we have a very large home.

Some rescue dogs are very frightened of people but, we can usually get around that type of behavior with low key love and affection.

I really give a lot of credit to our own four dogs who are confident enough of our love that they don't need to compete with the rescues.

It often takes two weeks or more for a rescue to begin to feel comfortable in a new home. We can see the changes as they begin to play with toys and otherwise act as normal dogs.

Occasionally, we need to make use of professional training as we did with Pepsi and Cola who were rescued from beneath 14 lanes of Los Angeles Freeway traffic in a storm drain which they were living. Pepsi was the defender of his sister, Cola and Cola was the shrinking violet, scared of everything and everybody. On the advice of a professional trainer, we adopted these two dogs into different homes where they are living happy and normal lives.

When we get dogs who are very frightened of people, we have a foster family who specializes in caring for dogs like this and turning them into well adjusted dogs and puppies. Our foster has two precocious young daughters who don't let the feet of a puppy hit the ground. They carry them around almost 24/7 and sleep with them. This does wonders for shy dogs.

All in all, we treat each dog individually and I am happy to say that we have had no failures. There is a home for every dog. We just need to help them find that home and help them get ready for it.

Lots of work but really worthwhile...

The pups do seem to develop a personality like no other animal I'm familiar with. Good to hear that training is done so naturally.