<p>Our beagle was from the pound. I had never crated a dog before but the people working there recommend it. So I purchased one. When we brought him home the first thing he did was go into the crate. We don’t lock him in it however if there is a thunderstorm he goes in there. Sometime during the day he will go in his crate to sleep. I think it gives him a sense of security. So I would borrow a crate and see if the dog wants to go in it. Don’t put her in it but let her make the choice herself.</p>
<p>We got our rescue at 5 months old. He is now approaching 2 years old. He is very energetic and very intense. </p>
<p>He likes his crate and will go in to sleep on his own. We cover top and back with a blanket. When there is a thunderstorm we put him in and cover most of it. It really helps him calm down. </p>
<p>He is allowed to be in the kitchen now when we are at work and at night. I still find him sleeping in the crate.</p>
<p>Highly recommend one.</p>
<p>Regarding feeding, free feeding works well for some dogs and not so well for others; ie, those that tend to overeat. I’ve had both kinds of golden. 
It is easier to work on housebreaking if you are feeding on a schedule. If she is underweight you could feed her three times a day, or twice a day with a substantial snack at midday. I think I would do that if you are not sure about her housetraining.</p>
<p>Trust your instincts. You know the Ginger you met. Her character is what you will let her become after the moment you two get together. </p>
<p>We’ve had a few fosters for a breed rescue organization, as well as a stray we found in front of our house a few weeks ago! It does take several weeks for the dog to relax and feel at home and for her personality to show up, but this is usually for the better.
I would change foods gradually, and twice a day is good for a feeding schedule. We started the stray on our food and twice a day because that’s what our dogs get, and she did fine.
If she is used to a crate, I’d continue it if you can. Dogs tend to like dens. One of mine just loves her crate. We have one downstairs and she goes in it all the time on her own. They sleep in the crates at night, even if we forget to latch the doors. We don’t crate ours during the day anymore when we aren’t home, but we do limit them to one part of the house.
Be really careful with open doors for a long time after you bring her home and make sure she has a tag. . The rescue had us keep a harness and leash on the dog at all times for a while. It’s the biggest risk time for a rescue to get lost. Also call her to you often and give her a treat every time she comes (we like Charlee Bears because they are tiny and you can give a bunch during the day without spoiling meals). This helps her want to come if she ever gets out, and gives her a positive association with her new people. When we say, “cookie!” our dogs come running!
consider getting her microchipped when she gets spayed if she isn’t already. The stray we found wasnt microchipped and had a collar but no tag. We tried but couldn’t find the owners. She went to a rescue and has a new home already, but we were sad to not find her family.
Otherwise, just lots of love, which you know already, and establish the good manners you want her to have once she’s comfortable. Call a trainer if you notice behavior problems you aren’t sure about, but I bet she’ll be fine. :-)</p>
<p>Just about the first thing I like to teach dogs, especially rescues, is to sit at the door and wait for me to go through first, going through themselves only after having been given permission. It’s a safety thing.</p>
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<p>It was not my intention to worry you, but to let you know, as someone else later pointed out, it takes a bit for their personality to come out, after they’ve warmed up to you and their new home. For instance, it took one D’s dog at least a couple of months before they ever heard him bark. Another D’s dog didn’t bark for at least the first two-three weeks. Once they start figuring out the routine around your house, you will notice they respond in certain ways that they did not when they first came home with you. For each dog, it’s a bit different. </p>
<p>You’ve said this dog was in foster care. Foster care is really not the same as at a large kennel. Usually fosters are in homes with just a few dogs and it’s a dog-oriented routine. I couldn’t worry too much about a big change in personality. You will see some changes as the estrogen levels change.</p>
<p>I am a huge proponent of using crates. If you crate the dog when you can’t supervise, you never have to worry that something is going to go wrong. My dogs are still crated if I’m not home, at ages 8 and 3. They’re good dogs, but I don’t need them to have a fit every time someone rings the doorbell or walks by the house. Or for them to decide that maybe it’s a good idea to eat the bananas on the counter and throw up the peels.</p>
<p>Our one lab was a nervous wreck when alone out of her crate (neighbors would tell us, or we’d hear it ourselves if we were in a motel and out in the hall. She probably thought she was responsible for the whole house. In her crate,she was perfectly calm.</p>
<p>We have not used a crate before but instead put our dogs in a gated laundry room. Bed and food is in there. We thought this was pretty similar to a crate, only better. Yes, she’s been in a very nice foster home with just her pups and two well behaved adult dogs. We can gate off most of the house too. Just one full day to go!!</p>
<p>Yesterday was the 10th anniversary of adopting our dog! I remember she was really sad when the foster dad left. The kids felt so bad, they wanted to give her back. But she got attached to us quickly. And she drooled a lot because she was so nervous. We did not use a crate because she seemed sensible and well-mannered and did not seem to hide in corners like she wanted it (was not in a crate in foster home.). She has never destroyed anything though has a sneaky habit of sitting on sofas when no one is home.</p>
<p>Our rescue’s personality has never changed. He is still the sweet guy we met at the Rescue Meet and Greet. We met him on a Saturday and filled out an application, had the home check the following Friday night and to our surprise got a call the next morning to pick him up that day. He was being housed in a doggy day care where he had picked up hookworm, and they wanted him out of there ASAP. We were having a dinner party that evening and he mingled with the guests and was perfectly at ease. The only issue we had with him was some digestive tract issues which we initially attributed to the hookworm treatment. When the treatment ended and the issues didn’t resolve we had him on specially prescribed food for the vet until we were gradually able to transition him over to another healthy but less expensive food. It did take about a year to hear him bark, but as he only barks once or twice a year I don’t view that as his personality changing.</p>
<p>A neighbor was getting rid of a crate so we took it and had it available to him along with a dog bed elsewhere in the house. He made it clear that he preferred the dog bed over the crate. He never entered the crate voluntarily so we got rid of it. He has chewed things about 3 times in 5 years so I don’t see the crate as necessary.</p>
<p>We did learn that what had been advertised as a nine month old dog was probably about two years old when we got him. </p>
<p>We’re home with Ginger! So far, so good - she has such a sweet nature. She’s met our nearby neighbor dogs and it went well. We were following the script from a Caesar Milan recommendation to walk her home so she would know her neighborhood and had my husband drop us off a block from home. Right before we got to our house our neighbor friends came out, knowing of her arrival. She met everyone with a wag and a sniff. The only reprimand has been to shoo her from the sofa. Something to work on!</p>
<p>Wonderful! What a lucky pooch!!</p>
<p>Sounds like a great match! Congrats on finding her and she is so lucky to have a loving, forever home.</p>
<p>It’s been just over a month now since we’ve had our dog and I thought I would update everyone. Ginger has had a few adventures and misadventures including being spayed, being skunked and being zapped by the underground fence. She’s faced everything really well, and nearly melted into the vet - boy, did she like her! She’s learned her yard boundaries and played with a few dogs. We’ve discovered that while she loves soft squeaky toys, not only does she destroy them, but she eats them. No more stuffies. She LOVES elk antlers. She does really well on the leash and loves long walks. If anyone lives in Southeast Pennsylvania and needs the name of a good rescue group, just let me know. We didn’t just rescue our Ginger, she rescued us too. </p>
<p>Oooooo @sally305! We have a Pyr!!! :x Best dogs ever</p>
<p>That’s wonderful.
Ours doesn’t like our vet or the office and the office is not great with him even though they were with our last dog who was elderly and not a rescue.
Ours destroyed animals too but it’s an outlet.
I buy either the really tough ones or the flat ones with squeakers he can fling around.</p>