Do rescue dogs know they have been saved

The Coffee Shop
1

I was reading the post by Crikey and the unfortunate loss of his dog Wilbur, a rescue, and their close bond and it made me think about how special rescue dogs are and how they take up such a large part of our hearts. I have had dogs all my life, mostly labs, and my wife and I now have two labs, one we have raised since she was a pup and the other we got from a lab rescue organization when she was 2(?). The rescue came to us in terrible shape, underweight, terribly shy and very easily scared. She was obviously abused and had suffered some trauma as evidenced by a healing fracture in a non-weight bearing bone on her leg. Over the past three years she has made remarkable progress. Throughout she has always been very affectionate to us as if to say, “thanks”. She is also very protective of us and our son. Although our other lab is very sweet she also has an attitude, as if she is spoiled. “Okay, dinner was fine now where’s my treat?” Both are great dogs but with very different personalities.

I am curious what others have experienced.

2

I think they do. Our male lab we rescued after 4 stops along the way. He never found a home who loved him and had time for him. He is VERY clingy, moves from room to room with you if we are home, does not like to be seperated from us. Every morning I get a big wet kiss if I’m sleeping on my side. I think it’s his way of waking up and saying he’s really happy we adopted him. Or that his belly is empty and in case I forgot where it is he will gladly escort me to the food bucket. I like to think it’s the former. Sometimes when we are out showshoeing together you can see he’s got a huge smile on his face. That’s payback enough for me.

Dave

3

I think they eventually realize that they are safe, and loved, and healthy. I don’t think they know that there are “bad” people and “good” people, per se…just that some person hurt them, and they don’t know why–but you won’t.

All of our animals are rescues, although some came from more dire straits than others. Sam (the big dog) was in an unwanted litter from two unaltered repeat offenders. Frank (orange cat) was also an “unwanted” cat. Neither were really abused, however. Max (bown tabby) was found wandering along I94 as a kitten.

The other two, however, had worse starts in life. Momo (the black cat) was starved, abused, and found eating out of dumpsters on an Indian reservation. He’s had enough health problems that had he been a shelter cat or someone else’s…well, he probably would not be the fat, black, uncoordinated goofball he is now.

Sadie, our younger dog, was slated to die in a KY pound. She had been beaten, abused, starved, neglected, and then left with a litter of puppies (when she was still a puppy herself) chained to a post. When the puppies found homes, she was going to be gassed. A group here brought her up to MN, and I brought her home. Her ear was ripped, she only weighed 20lbs, her coat was thin, ragged, and falling out. She was COVERED in fleas and flea allergy dermatitis, and she just looked like she wanted to be left alone to die. EVERYTHING and everyone scared her. For weeks, all she did was stand in a corner and shake (and pee on the foor).

now? Now she’s 40 lbs, with a beautiful coat of fur. She’s rambunctions, pugnacious, and a little bit bitchy. She’s a lover, very personalable, and is active in agility courses. Her physical scars have healed, and although the emotional and behavioral ones will always be there, to a degree, i think…she is 180 degrees a different dog.

Do THEY all know they were rescued? I don’t know. I know, though, that they were, and know that they are loved and safe…and that’s enough for me :slight_smile:

4

Here’s one story of mine from the Pit thread. I’ve got two boxers, one from a breeder and one from a rescue.

I just get so pissed at all the dogs that weren’t given a chance because thier owners were retards. They give up on that dog and drop him off wherever, on the way to buying another dog just to fuck that one up too. My fawn Boxer was given to rescue because the owner said he was “useless”. The owner bitched because Camden was a year old and didn’t protect his property, and was still not housebroken. He also said the dog wasn’t loyal. When we got him a month later, he was not housebroken, leary of people, had calouses on his elbows and just dingy.

Within a month, he was housebroken, passed a basic obedience class, was taken to triathlons and LOVED by everyone he passed. We actually have to pull him away from people now. When our friends come over we sometimes wish he would go back to that shy puppy that just wanted to sit in the same room, but not be talked to. :slight_smile: Now you can’t get fat boy off the couch. He plays well with the neighbors dogs and followed my 16 month old daughter around until she could walk on her own(seriously he helped her start walking). We’ve had him for almost 3 years now and he does nothing but compliment our family and other Boxer Cooper.
We have a tight knit community and a man knocked on the door one day while my wife was cooking. My naive wife opened the door, baby in hand, figuring it was one of the neighbors or kids. The guy kept trying to sell his product(shipping magazines over to the military, which my wife has a soft spot for). She politely kept saying “no thanks, not right now”. He then asked if he could come in for some water, again she said “no”. At this point, the dogs were looking out the windows beside the door, but he obviously didn’t see them. He put his hand on the door and started to come forward. She says not really threatening per say, but he also didn’t take no for an answer. At that point her adrenaline kicked in and she said she got goosebumps. Camden first, then Cooper came between my wife and the man and started barking. The guy turned and jogged down the driveway after turning pale. :slight_smile: They ran him to the end of the driveway and turned to come back to the house. The ENTIRE rest of the night they stood at the front window, waiting. I got home the next morning(24 hour shift) and they kept running from me, back to the window, like, “Hey, look what we did!”.

Camden must just like us better than that other family. :slight_smile: (man how did I start rambling?)

5

I agree that they probably don’t know they are “saved” but our dog sure knows that he is in a good place. At what point he understood that this was a life-long deal for him, I am not sure. Seemed like it happened pretty quickly.

6

Good stuff!! We are just starting through the adoption process now for a rescue Lab. We have not had a dog for 7 years. The whole family is excited and are looking forward to bringing him home.

7

That is why I love dogs so much. A great majority of the time they return the love that is given to them. Take a dog who is suffering and give him what he needs and the odds are high you earn a friendship that beats out most human friendships.

Cats too for cat lovers.

Fish don’t give a fuck either way.

8

Hi mate. It is just my opinion but I think rescues do appreciate what you have done for them. I really like to think that Wilbur did. I also have a mutt rescue and him and Wilbur both seem like they are more appreciative of life and loving than my other dog who was not a rescue. Maloney, who I love just as much as my rescues and is the boy I have had the longest, just expects things. He is snooty in an enduring way but you can tell he expects things. Like attention, all the time. He does stay by my side every moment I am home though and I know he adores me. Wilbur and Seymour both tend to be very appreciatve of everything they get and you can def. tell it in their eyes.

Rescues are the way to go. You will get a friend for life no matter how short that life is.

9

I had a boxer that I rescued, She was in horrible shape when I first brought her home and was some what of a jerk especially around her food. After a couple months of love, respect and good nutrition she became a great dog. Very sweet, loving, very good with kids and also a great watch dog.
I now have a lab and schnauzer that I have raised since pups, both very very good excellent dogs but I can definately tell that they are spoiled rather than appreciative.

10

We have two rescued Daschunds, one was homeless the other was given up.

They are both great dogs but you can tell the difference in upbringing.
Jackson, the homeless one is more needy and wants you to love him which is easy since he is such a fun dog.
Baxter is quite content to hang by himself for periods of time but he gets super excited when you come home.

I think there is something to it, that all dogs need affection so when they finally get it they want it all the time.
Andrew

11

I truly believe dogs know the difference and show it with their behavior…that is seems they thrive physically and psychology when in the right home and given lots of love and attention. I own cats and all are rescue and I believe this applies to cats as well. Seems they come to understand rather quickly when they are in a home and love and accepted. My most recent rescue cat was afraid of people, thunder, ceiling fans, belts to name a few and after over a year with me has become relaxed, very mischevious, and unafraid of anything even new people. He loves to hang with dogs even large dogs now…

12

as my sis loves to say, my cat is “fearless”

I got him as a youngster (a few weeks) and have spoiled him ever since. The first night we had him, he hid under one of my dressers. He’s been a complete extrovert ever since. From the beginning I could not figure out how to punish him. He likes water, doesn’t seem to mind the nose tap thing and doesn’t mind being locked up in his carrier/in a room. Sometimes if I get rough with him after he bites or swats me in the face after some play, he waits until I turn around, then attacks me from behind. He knows when’s he bad, he’ll sometimes go into the carrier/punishment room himself… I can’t imagine if we raised a puppy…

13

My wife found a 5-6 week old kitten (or more likely my wife was found) living near a dumpster at the school where she taught. After a few days of the kitten running to her in the mornings, she brought it home to our two mature cats and Weimeraner. “Stella” held her own even against the other cats that were 4x her size. Since she brought us all kinds of “presents”, from worms to mice to moles to crows, we nicknamed her the “huntress”. Two years later, she is bigger than than the rest, very sweet, and sleeps with us most nights.

We think she knows that she was saved.

14

Related to the thread - I often wonder what dogs memories are like. What can and do they remember? We have a Lab he’s almost 12 now. He’s lived a pretty interesting and diverse life for a dog. Been well taken care of, but what does he remember from his past. I know I remember the epic runs that the two of us used to do - the both of us showing up at the back door wet and muddy all over. I remember many other things in his life, but what does he remember?

15

Great thread!! I’ve repeatedly thought about how my rescue Golden seems to show that she loves being in a loving home. She snuggles up to everybody, and follows me all over the place, unlike the 11 year old Golden I bought as a pup. I always tell friends who visit that her affection is her way of showing that she doesn’t want to go back to doggie prison!

I am amazed to hear about such similar behavior by rescue dogs from the other awesome dog owners on this forum. Maybe ST should have a pet forum too with all the pet posts we have here :slight_smile:

16

No. They’re dogs.

But you know, and that’s what’s important after all. :slight_smile:

17

You Lab sounds exactly like my boy! My rescue Lab is far more affectionate and clingy than any of my friends “raised from puppy”. I could not have written a better reply.

18

So are you saying that a dog who is at the pund does not know he is at the pound? I think they do know they have been saved. Dogs have a great memory and can remember who did what to them and can distungish between plesent and unplesent suitations. I have read stories where a dog is reunited with their owners YEARS later and remember them…tail wagging, etc. If they can remember a suitation from years before, why can they not know they came from the pund or a resuce group and be appreciative of that.

Whenever one of my dogs goes to the vet, they know its the vet and they act different then if they are going to the dogpark. I respect what your saying but think your a bit off base in terms of what a dog can and cannot remember.

19

I think they totally know.

My youngest boy who was found on the street on the south side of Chicago, doesn’t even like to leave his fenced in yard. I could keep the gate open and he’ll poke his head out, but that’s it. I couldn’t lose that dog if I tried! Not that I’d try, but I’m just sayin!

20

I don’t think they know that they are saved. They do know that you are their new family and that they like thi snew family much better than the situations they’ve been in before. However, I don’t think they can figure out that you “saved” them.

Ironically, I took my dog to the vet once. She didn’t want to go but I dragged her in anyway. She was anxious to leave and so very happy when we did. What’s ironic was that I was the one who made her go, yet when we left she reacted like the only role I played was saving her from that awful vet’s office and taking her home.

So, in a sense, I think they do identify you as their “saviour/protector,” but I don’t think they can process that as you being the one who specifically “saved” them from their previous situation.