Tam & co the great winter escape

[Zoobec]

Oh food is definitely not the problem .... she is eating plenty . She's just wary of jumping in the van . She doesn't like feeling crowded we had to move the vans yesterday so she didn't feel boxed in ...she seems more relaxed if she senses she can back away unhindered. Its slow process but amazing the difference in her since the first day we were here. She comes when i call her etc ...loves to play and be petted ...loves chasing with jade and milo ...will follow on a walk , when she goes towards others and i call her back she comes . Its only getting a collar around her neck and getting her to jump in the van that we are struggling with ....i think if there wasn't such a high step she'd have been further in by now

I knew you would be feeding her well I was just wondering if something extra tasty might help entice her in. It’s great she is so comfortable with you and Jade and Milo too

 

[Northernraider]

I knew you would be feeding her well I was just wondering if something extra tasty might help entice her in. It’s great she is so comfortable with you and Jade and Milo too

Well jackie has been giving her all sorts of stuff ...some very expensive looking ham yesterday and she cooks lentils and some other stuff for the other big dogs lol .

If this rain would bugger off i would just leave the door open and im sure she'd venture in eventually . Problem with leaving anything tasty in sight is the two little buggers i have would snaffle it first

 

[Scotch mist]

I live on an old farm , 8 years ago a stray cat came by occasionally but kept well away ( i’m not a cat lover) , our daughter started feeding it , took about 10 days before she could pet it , another week to come into the house , few days later to stay the night , after That she wasn’t leaving, after 2 weeks of living with us we found out she was pregnant
she likes her new life with our daughter & I think she is great full, part of the family now

it’s not impossible she is with pup & you don’t know ( just a thought )

 

[gpat]

Ok fair enough that explains it


Me on the other hand ....my dogs are like my children

Do children really get treated that well these days.

 

[chaser]

We have had loads of cats over the years but only farm cats catching mice and living outside, but they have all gone now except one that has decided it's going to live in the house, we Chuck him out at night but he is here as soon as we open the door in the morning and stays all day, everyone pets him including me and he is the boss now.

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[chaser]

We have had loads of cats over the years but only farm cats catching mice and living outside, but they have all gone now except one that has decided it' going to live in the house, we Chuck him out at night but he is here as soon as we open the door in the morning and stays all day, everyone pets him including me and he is the boss now.

Here he is in his usual daily position.

 

[Littlewheels]

We have had loads of cats over the years but only farm cats catching mice and living outside, but they have all gone now except one that has decided it's going to live in the house, we Chuck him out at night but he is here as soon as we open the door in the morning and stays all day, everyone pets him including me and he is the boss now.

I new you were a big softie under that steel exterior

 

[Northernraider]

I live on an old farm , 8 years ago a stray cat came by occasionally but kept well away ( i’m not a cat lover) , our daughter started feeding it , took about 10 days before she could pet it , another week to come into the house , few days later to stay the night , after That she wasn’t leaving, after 2 weeks of living with us we found out she was pregnant
she likes her new life with our daughter & I think she is great full, part of the family now

it’s not impossible she is with pup & you don’t know ( just a thought )

I honestly don't think she is old enough to have had her first heat yet. I think shes less than 6 months old

 

[Northernraider]

You gotta love this old fella though ..... he's spent the whole night by my back wheel ....and most of this morning. He's had some food but he seems happy to just amble about . I think the German guy in the blue sprinter feeds him a lot . I Found out the german stays here from October to April every year ...has done over 5 years now .

 

[monzer]

Those steps can be daunting for some dogs. When I was looking after mums GS she hated the steps. Even when I made a wooden ramp for her she had to build up a bit of courage before coming in for the night.

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[zedman]

many years ago I was leaving the house for work one morning and there was a young cat at the back door......DO NOT FEED THAT CAT..were my last words to the wife as I left.
a week later it was sleeping at the bottom of the bed.......twenty one years the bloody thing lived for

 

[reckless]

You gotta love this old fella though ..... he's spent the whole night by my back wheel ....and most of this morning. He's had some food but he seems happy to just amble about .

How can you bear to leave him I would want to bring them all away with me
Karen

 

[Lenny HB]

Now that’s a bit too far…. The vans not big enough for a bloody Donkey…

Had a horse in my last van.

 

[Minxy]

Tam, if you can get others to stop feeding her so the she can only get food from you it will 'concentrate' her mind on you being the best of the bestest and top dog.

As for the steps, she's likely never used any before so that's gonna be difficult for her and you might not be able to get her to come in under her own steam so I'd concentrate on getting her to let you stroke, cuddle etc her then once she's happy with that lift her into the van so she can have a good look round. She then might try to get in/out by herself or it could have the opposite effect and make her not want to come near you again, alternatively is once she's in to close the door and keep her there. I'd do the latter to be on the safe side - she'll be wary but that will soon change when she realises she's safe.

 

[Northernraider]

How can you bear to leave him I would want to bring them all away with me
Karen

I came to rhe realisation a while back i can't save them all. The 3 others are males she's the only female .

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[Northernraider]

Tam, if you can get others to stop feeding her so the she can only get food from you it will 'concentrate' her mind on you being the best of the bestest and top dog.

As for the steps, she's likely never used any before so that's gonna be difficult for her and you might not be able to get her to come in under her own steam so I'd concentrate on getting her to let you stroke, cuddle etc her then once she's happy with that lift her into the van so she can have a good look round. She then might try to get in/out by herself or it could have the opposite effect and make her not want to come near you again, alternatively is once she's in to close the door and keep her there. I'd do the latter to be on the safe side - she'll be wary but that will soon change when she realises she's safe.

Yes that will be the route i take by sunday evening at the latest i think . Ill just pick her up and take her inside.

 

[Janine]

Just thinking like your mother but have you checked her for fleas?

 

[Mikey RV]

Can you find a bit of driftwood and make a ramp up into the van so she can get in easier just so she gets used to it.

 

[Northernraider]

Just thinking like your mother but have you checked her for fleas?

Not thoroughly as while she does let your pet her and she comes eagerly for back scratches etc . I've not had the chance to get a proper poke about ...but unlike many ive seen theres no obvious signs ...no obvious bites or lots of scratching etc . Haven't really seen any of them doing that. But ill get flea treatment at vets anyway for all 3 of them .

 

[Northernraider]

Can you find a bit of driftwood and make a ramp up into the van so she can get in easier just so she gets used to it.

I think she could manage it fine if she tried ...milo manages it .

The one on the vario will be worse

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[Minxy]

Tam, ref the door and the weather ... have you got an umbrella you can put over it? We've done this in the past to give some protection.

 

[Jamesh]

Our 10wk lab puppy goes mad for liver treats just a thought?!

 

[Val 3 dogs]

The collar is only part of the answer Tam. Chances are the first time she feels any pressure on it, she will panic, fight like a demon and slip it, tben you are ten steps back and trust gone.
I believe you need a safe place to secure her, within the van (a crate/cage), as it won't be safe to drive with her loose or fastened by the neck either.
Could you perhaps buy one from the nearest vet, a cage will 'flat pack' when not required and if covered be a bath towel could then be her 'den' or safe place if strangers came in tbe van (customs) etc.
Do your best Tam, I know that of course you will. Her name is great! My fingers and toes are all crossed for you both.

If it stops raining I would be inclined to sleep under the van (without Milo and Jade) in the hope that she comes and snuggles up with you, then pick her up and carry her inside.

 

[Minxy]

A harness would be much better than a collar but check it's one that can't be slipped as some are easy to get out of. I wouldn't use a cage as that is likely to totally terrify her as she's not used to any restrictions at all, she'll observe what the other dogs are doing and settle down in her own 'space' in the camper soon enough.

 

[Phill D]

You already know that Whatever you choose to do to encourage and help her Tam is not going to be easy.
To state the obvious, you know how to help her, the question is will she understand and how will she respond.
Then once you are motoring again what happens the first chance she gets to get away.
Good luck I really hope it works out.

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[The Dudess]

Weather overnight wasn't as bad as i was expecting but i think it will get worse as the day goes on ....looking on the weather radar theres a big storm swirling out there ... Been raining pretty much all morning but ive been out with dogs for a good long walk to the end of the parking areas. ..... our friend came bounding over this morning when called and she came with us for the entire walk.... she's now had some food and shes gone off to wherever she usually shelters ...i did try to call her in but still not got there yet . She will come back later no doubt . I decided after reading a fair bit online last night and this morning about domestic pack heirarchy that im going to stop making a fuss of her ....let her make the effort to join our pack ...and she will ...i can see that she is displaying all the signals that she wants to ...even to how she acts with jade and milo . All 3 were eating out my hands at the same time this morning aswell as her backing off and letting my two eat first .

I would feel more comfortable if she came in the van but she obviously isnt ready for that yet but we are very close.

The weather doesn't help of course as leaving door open is not an option ... I really miss having a wind out awning right now

Siga, siga Tam. Fingers crossed for you and her.

 

[Val 3 dogs]

A harness would be much better than a collar but check it's one that can't be slipped as some are easy to get out of. I wouldn't use a cage as that is likely to totally terrify her as she's not used to any restrictions at all, she'll observe what the other dogs are doing and settle down in her own 'space' in the camper soon enough.

Personally I would use a harness that was also attached to the collar, but we are talking about a wild dog that has never known any form of restraint, so one has to be realistic. Dog wardens, wild life experts, zoo keepers would use a simple, running slip lead but handling and timing is crucial and as neither Tam or any of us fit into any of those categories a simple collar is probably his best bet.
Hungry dogs are frequently lured into cages with a tasty snack.

 

[monzer]

The one on the vario will be worse

All that payload I presumed you'd be going for something like this...

 

[Figaro]

I wish you well with integrating her into your pack and I think the name is brilliant

 

[Northernraider]

The collar is only part of the answer Tam. Chances are the first time she feels any pressure on it, she will panic, fight like a demon and slip it, tben you are ten steps back and trust gone.
I believe you need a safe place to secure her, within the van (a crate/cage), as it won't be safe to drive with her loose or fastened by the neck either.
Could you perhaps buy one from the nearest vet, a cage will 'flat pack' when not required and if covered be a bath towel could then be her 'den' or safe place if strangers came in tbe van (customs) etc.
Do your best Tam, I know that of course you will. Her name is great! My fingers and toes are all crossed for you both.

If it stops raining I would be inclined to sleep under the van (without Milo and Jade) in the hope that she comes and snuggles up with you, then pick her up and carry her inside.

A harness would be much better than a collar but check it's one that can't be slipped as some are easy to get out of. I wouldn't use a cage as that is likely to totally terrify her as she's not used to any restrictions at all, she'll observe what the other dogs are doing and settle down in her own 'space' in the camper soon enough.

You already know that Whatever you choose to do to encourage and help her Tam is not going to be easy.
To state the obvious, you know how to help her, the question is will she understand and how will she respond.
Then once you are motoring again what happens the first chance she gets to get away.
Good luck I really hope it works out.

Ok dokey ....right theres a saying in Scotland ye kin only piss wi the yeve got.

I dont have a harness , a cage, liver or chicken . I have a collar and a comfy sofa . I think for the minute those will do . I tried the cage with jade and she hated it. My first attempt will simply be to lift her in to the van and have jackie close door behind me . Then ill just let her have a sniff around and hopefully then settle down somewhere . Once shes been in and calm for an hour or two ill put the collar on her ...that should be easier when she has nowhere to run to ....then she will only get out with a lead attached for at least the next few days ....well past after we have visited a vet etc .

Ive met countless folk on the road now that have adopted dogs in many smaller vans than mine and they have just managed and its worked. Ive no reason to think it wont be the same for me ... She likes us ...she follows my dogs already so ive no doubt she will follow their lead .

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