I will adopt a new dog.

[Lindenlea]

What a beautiful dog and a beautiful thing you have done for him. he's a lucky boy. I wish you both many happy years of that trusting unconditional love that animals give

 

[Gertrudes]

What a beauty!

One thing you may want to do though, is to ask for the shelter to give you as much information on his current behavior as possible. A traumatized dog, as this one seems to have been, may need a more particular type of care and attention, and you want to be prepared for the eventuality of dealing with a "different", or even difficult behavior.

 

[Z...]

Gertrudes has a very good point, in fact it is my experience that shelter dogs often come with serious baggage that requires very experienced handler and even then it may be impossible to resolve. Definitely something to keep in mind! Also this is a powerful breed so its an imperative that you are in control all the time.
Good luck and keep us informed.

 

[anart]

Gertrudes has a very good point, in fact it is my experience that shelter dogs often come with serious baggage that requires very experienced handler and even then it may be impossible to resolve. Definitely something to keep in mind! Also this is a powerful breed so its an imperative that you are in control all the time.

My experience has been the opposite, though I'm sure it varies by dog, just like it would vary by human. My current dog was on a euthanasia list for "aggressiveness" and in reality she's just a fur-covered bundle of hugs - she was very nervous for the first few weeks, but never aggressive and all it took was just loving her - no special effort or training required. I think animals often reflect what their humans expect, or how their humans behave, and I'm sure that an animal that has been badly abused might need some special consideration to be healed, but I don't think that should be something to discourage a person from adopting them. In fact, my previous vet, who I greatly respect, was all concerned (as in thought it was a terrible idea and that I'd have all sorts of problems with her) when I adopted Em due to the obvious past abuse and I told him to relax about it - to just let me love her and help her feel safe and it would be fine. It was - and still is - she's an amazing dog. So, while I do think it's a case by case thing, I wouldn't worry so much about it and just help the animal feel safe and loved and go from there. fwiw.

 

[loreta]

Thank you again for your wishes and your advises. Yes, it is imperative to ask questions how to deal with an animal that has been hurt. For example I know that he is very afraid of tall men surely we deduce that a tall man hurt him very much. The woman that takes care of him now say that he has improve very much his confidence. I saw a video of him and he seems normal, joyous. He is now with other dogs and cats, so he can communicate with other animals and accept the presence of them around him. I have to think about what kind of questions to ask the woman. If you think about something I will appreciate your ideas. I thought that just love was sufficient to help an hurt animal but maybe I need more than love but information. Who knows what Blacky has endured and how many years. Here is a video that she did about Blacky, you can see how the dog is.

http://www.time-foundation.de/groenendael-in-not/

 

[loreta]

Anart you have a point. I am not discouraged at all, I will ask questions to help me to understand this new member of our family. Blacky does not seem a bad dog, just a dog with fears. Belgian Shephers are extremely sensitive. Concerning shelter dogs, my first dog came from a shelter, they told me that I was the third person to adopt him and the last. He was a fabulous dog, my prince. He lived with me 12 years, a labrador-retriever.

I am a little worry just for him, more than for me. How he will be in a new surroundings? How he will react to this new family and group? Can I do something to facilitated the integration? How can I help him the best? that are my worries. Is love enough?

Every one says that this dog is very gentle, there is a team behind this adoption. Maybe they are a little fanatic, like vegetarians, concerning dogs and their adoption, but they are good people. ;)

Thanks for all your comments. I appreciate it very much.

 

[paralleloscope]

He is adorable! to me he looks a little insecure, but in a lively looking for love kind of way. I have yet to own a dog so I'll refrain from any pocket animal psychology, other than shower him with love. I'm happy you found each other.

 

[loreta]

He is adorable! to me he looks a little insecure, but in a lively looking for love kind of way. I have yet to own a dog so I'll refrain from any pocket animal psychology, other than shower him with love. I'm happy you found each other.

Yes, he is very handsome... I think also dogs, like young people, are very prone to be resilient, it is a form of survival and dogs are survivors. I think so.

 

[Oxajil]

He looks really sweet and energetic! Wish him and you all the best :)

 

[webglider]

One of my neighbors rescued a dog who is missing an eye. Another neighbor rescued a dog as a puppy. That puppy grew up to be one of the few dogs who gets along with all the other dogs in this building. I spoke with her a little last week, and she too echoed the concern that she before adopting him that she would prove difficult, but the dog is a sweetheart.

My Bella is somewhat aggressive with specific other dogs; but when the puppy Momo joined our family, Bella calmed down. The only really aggressive dog in this building was the one whom the owners acquired as a puppy.

Here's a video that's inspirational about adopting a "difficult" shelter dog:

http://www.godvine.com/Meet-the-Scared-Dog-That-Only-Wanted-a-Hug-1087.html

Bella looked all matted when I got her like the little dog in the video plus she had green slime coming out of her eyes. I don't know why, but I loved her as soon as I saw her.

The second day after we brought her home, she became very sick - she had pneumonia. We had to leave her in intensive care at the vet. However, when we came to visit her, she knew that we were her family and gave us a few weak wags of her tail.

I do agree that it might be a good idea to read up on the breed, and to choose a leash or harness that would allow you to manage him on walks if he proves to be aggressive to other dogs. But in terms of you loving each other, I have no doubt.

quote from loreta:

Every one says that this dog is very gentle, there is a team behind this adoption. Maybe they are a little fanatic, like vegetarians, concerning dogs and their adoption, but they are good people. ;)

It sounds as though they are checking you out to make sure that it's a good match though I could be wrong.
If so, that's a good thing. They seem as though they are very responsible people.

 

[loreta]

Thanks Webglider for the video! It make me cry. I am very sensitive, maybe too much, in front of the sufferance of animals. This video is really good, if you don't mind I will posted in my wall of Facebook. I think also that people who work in shelters are really good people, little angels. And yes, these people are so serious: they asked me pictures of where I live, and also told me that maybe someone will come to visit the house to see if Blacky will be ok. They always do this in Germany before giving a cat or dog for adoption. I was a little shy because we are not rich and this woman lives in a mansion but in fact dogs don't see these things. I decided to continue with their rules. Nobody came to visit my house but I send them pictures, and also pictures of the surroundings. I think this village for now is ideal for Blacky and what these people wanted for him: tranquility, silence, a family without no kids but with other animals. So finally everything is ok. :)

 

[Z...]

Gertrudes has a very good point, in fact it is my experience that shelter dogs often come with serious baggage that requires very experienced handler and even then it may be impossible to resolve. Definitely something to keep in mind! Also this is a powerful breed so its an imperative that you are in control all the time.

My experience has been the opposite, though I'm sure it varies by dog, just like it would vary by human. My current dog was on a euthanasia list for "aggressiveness" and in reality she's just a fur-covered bundle of hugs - she was very nervous for the first few weeks, but never aggressive and all it took was just loving her - no special effort or training required. I think animals often reflect what their humans expect, or how their humans behave, and I'm sure that an animal that has been badly abused might need some special consideration to be healed, but I don't think that should be something to discourage a person from adopting them. In fact, my previous vet, who I greatly respect, was all concerned (as in thought it was a terrible idea and that I'd have all sorts of problems with her) when I adopted Em due to the obvious past abuse and I told him to relax about it - to just let me love her and help her feel safe and it would be fine. It was - and still is - she's an amazing dog. So, while I do think it's a case by case thing, I wouldn't worry so much about it and just help the animal feel safe and loved and go from there. fwiw.

Sure, there are also many success stories. I myself have a dog which has gone through a lot before i adopted him and never had any problems, on the contrary. I couldn't have had better dog.
Yes love can definitely do miracles but sometimes it is not enough. I regularly encounter adopted dogs with various serious issues. One of the most frequent issues is aggression towards other dogs, abandoned puppies as a rule lack socialization skills and early imprinting and this is very difficult to correct later.

Recently I had to euthanize 2 dogs because their owner was diagnosed with cancer and given only few months to live and the dogs couldn't relate to anyone else but him. It was that bad. It took him about 2 years to gain their trust.

I definitely wouldn't want discourage anyone from adopting but I would say it is very important to go in there with clear head and not let emotion or even worse savior program cloud ones judgement.

I know Cesar Milan is old and kind of overrated but these are the essential tips when going to the shelter.
_http://www.cesarsway.com/tips/yournewdog/finding-a-dog-with-the-right-energy

 

[Z...]

If you think about something I will appreciate your ideas.

I think this is very important part of Cesar's advice, great way to test the chemistry between you and the dog:

"The dog walk is an excellent litmus test for a new dog. Find out from the shelter if you can “test drive” the dog that you're interested in. Take him out for a spin around the block and see how the two of you get along. Not only will you get an early idea of how you work together in a pack-oriented activity, but you’ll get a better understanding of his underlying temperament once you’ve drained away the frustration and pent-up energy he has from being in his cage. "

and also this:

"It’s never too early to start correcting bad behaviors, which can manifest themselves very quickly if dogs don’t get structure and leadership—from you—from the start. Practice obedience training, set rules, and enforce them calmly. Praise your puppy’s good behavior, and you’ll soon have a friend for life."

 

[loreta]

Radagast, are you a vet? And thanks for your advise. When I adopted my first dog, the labrador retriever named Firgoff, I took him in a small room and I took time to communicated with him out of his cage. It is very important this contact. He was very gentle. And I fell in love with him. And this love last 12 years and continue to be there, in my hearth. Now with Blacky it is impossible to do the same thing, he is adopted without knowing the chemistry between both of us. But I have confidence that everything will be ok, I am very patient with dogs.

 

[Gertrudes]

Loreta, I'm sorry if what I posted earlier had a discouraging tone, because if it had, that was the last thing I wanted.

I have seen people adopting dogs and cats from rescue shelters, animals who typically tend to be more nervous with new people due to what they have been through. This behavior is sometimes misinterpreted by the new owner who, lacking patience, genuine care, or simply just not really being there for him/her, then returns the dog/cat back to the shelter. To me, this is really saddening. The dog is the one that will suffer the most, and probably get tagged with some sort of anti-social behavior stamp for dogs. This makes things worse since people will expect him to behave according to the tag.
And then there is also the problem of lack of early imprinting mentioned by Radagast, something that also happens in human orphanages. This a much more complex problem, but which doesn't seem to be Blacky's case anyway.

You seem to be going about this in a very good way, clear headed and with your heart "in the right place", so to say, and I think that you two will get along very well :) It would be so great if more people cared for both older and rescue animals.

I think animals often reflect what their humans expect, or how their humans behave

As a teenager I used to think that German Shepherds (not Belgian) were aggressive, probably because one of my closer friends had a German Shepherd that was very aggressive.
Now, my husband also had a German Shepherd who died in 98, the year I met him. And even though I never actually met Chita (her name), it's as if I've known her through my husband and his family's many stories of "the kindest dog you would have ever seen", in their words.
My teenage friend had her dog on a leash pretty much all the time while at home (why having your dog in the garden if she's always constrained??), while my husband's family only had one for going out, and even then my husband tells me he would put her collar but that she would just happily walk with him without the need of a leash. So yes, dogs do have different personalities, like us, but I also think that they, like us, respond according to the way they've been treated.

Thanks Webglider for the video! It make me cry. I am very sensitive, maybe too much, in front of the sufferance of animals.

Well if you're too sensitive because you cried, so am I. Poor thing....I'm so glad she found that man.

I wish you the best with Blacky, and I'm looking forward to hear all about it once he has settled in!