Receiving an Adopted Schnauzer
I hope you have read our flyer about adoptees and why we do it. It is very difficult to give up an older dog but we do it as we feel each dog will love to have his or her own caretaker and friend and all the extra attention that comes with this. However, you must understand how our dogs will behave and listen to our advise. It is very disturbing to us to hear how scared, uncooperative, ignorant, etc., the dog is when she arrives to you! I would love to see you sent off to China- not having a clue why you were sent away by yourself. You wouldn’t understand a word spoken to you and would most likely be terrified- appearing scared, uncooperative and ignorant. Yet, you expect this adult schnauzer to come waltzing into your home, happily wagging her tail, responding to her name, sit, come, lie down on command, be housebroke, love your kids and other dogs, etc. The fact is that she will be terrified and if you cannot understand that basic premise you should not even think of adopting one of our schnauzers. Our dogs are raised on a big ranch, running free, never walking on leash to go to the bathroom, etc. They have LOTS and LOTS of friends, mostly dog friends- the best kind to have if you are a dog. They are happy and content with their life without having to play with toys or chase balls. They play with each other and chase each other instead. They are not pups who have been raised to play with people but rather they are dogs who love to play or should I say communicate with other dogs. People teach their dogs to play with toys- it’s not something dogs necessarily do if left to themselves. They would actually prefer a long walk (off leash) into the woods, sniffing out rabbits, birds, etc.
So you now have a depressed, scared dog that just arrived- certainly not responding to his name or your attention like the pup you raised. We advise you everywhere that we like her to sleep in a crate the first month and also be left in a crate when you must leave her alone- unless of course she can be active with the other dog. Please follow this advice. Feed her in her crate and use it when you have visitors, young children, etc. She feels very safe in her crate, can learn to distinguish voices of family members, generally relax, and not feel so threatened.
I know you are very kind and loving or we wouldn’t even consider you for an adoption. However, we also know that most of you are ignorant about real dogs and their behavior. So please follow the crate advise, especially when she is eating or she may growl or hurt someone who comes close. Again, she is more scared than you have any idea- so give her space and time to adjust. Also, do not put your face close to hers and cuddle. She is not used to it and will not like it. You can do that once she trusts you after several weeks.
After a few days, she’ll start to relax- especially if she gets along with your other dog. Sometimes they won’t like each other and it may take a month or more for each dog to adjust to each other. This is where the crate comes in handy again. One can be locked up- one free and gradually they will get used to each other. Always take both on walks as that usually works fine- outside they have the space
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Remember these dogs have not lived in a household with all the noises that comes with it. Some dogs are very sensitive to the telephone, pots & pans, as well as other high sounds (especially pepper salts), but they will get used to it if you are patient.
Remember China- remember you will eventually learn to speak Chinese and learn how the people are and why they behave so different from where you came from.
Sometimes, one of our adult dogs will become very protective of his new owner and not let anyone close to her new mother/father including the other dog(s) in the house. This is a direct result of you not establishing yourself as the pack leader from day one. Again, if you use the crate this does not happen. The slightest problem- say “crate” and let her sit there until she accepts others around you.
One of the agreements we expect before any of our dogs go to a new home is that you agree to feed our diet, which includes RAW meat + vegetables + vitamins. We do not want any of our dogs to eat dry kibble or any processed food. We also expect you not to vaccinate her again except for rabies. We did give her a booster shot just as she left so your veterinarian will agree to spay her/ neuter him, so be sure to show the date of the booster vaccination to your vet. This should be the final vaccination in her lifetime.
I hope you will respect our wishes as we like her to stay healthy and not be given toxins which leads to cancer and many other autoimmune problems. Our dogs live to 13-14 years old without any health problems if you feed correctly, give lots of exercise, and don’t fill the dog with toxins like vaccinations, heartworm medications, etc. Also, DO NOT LET THEM GET FAT!!!!!! All of our dogs love to eat- I’m sure you do too- but that is not an excuse to fatten them up. My own giants eat 2 cups of food daily. That is 1 ½ cups of RAW meat + ½ cup of vegetables + their vitamins. They get a couple of big knucklebones weekly + a couple of chicken wings daily and that’s it! No female giant should weigh more than 85lbs. 75lbs is more like it. If she is over 85lbs she will get serious problems with hips, back, arthritis, etc. A fat dog is not a happy dog!
Also, we have a ranch so there are no staircases here. She may balk and not want to go- again be patient, coax her and soon she’ll learn.
About her training- she has not learned any commands- she has never needed it and she comes as soon as we call her. So by all means sign her up in an obedience class. She will quickly learn and have fun doing it.
I am writing all of this down so you will understand a little about your new friend. She was not mistreated here or anywhere else- if she acts odd it is because she is terrified and cannot cope without all her friends around her (her dog friends at the kennel), that is why we only let our dogs get adopted where there is already a dog- that we hope will take her on and become her friend. She has NEVER been alone so if you go away for a few hours be sure she is in a crate or outside with your other dog. DO NOT leave her alone in your house as she may do serious damage and you have been warned.
I hope this introduction will guide you the first few days. I hope you will be patient- if you are you will probably have the best companion you ever had. She will be devoted to you, guard you and your property and be a great companion. The few times you will be forced to put her in a kennel or leave her, she will be all stressed out again and missing you- just like she was stressed and missed her first home (the kennel) when you got her.
Finally, if for any reason whatsoever you cannot keep her, please be kind to her and let us have her back. It would truly upset us to hear you left her in a pound or passed her onto someone else. I hope you will respect that and call us.
As we give our dogs away for free to adopt (except for shipping + crate + health certificate). We do not guarantee them, neither do we turn over the registrations. You will be given all the info on his/her age, parents, etc. but registrations stay in the possession of Skansen Kennel.
P.S. Our miniature schnauzers have never been on a leash—so be prepared to leash brake her. Best to just let her run around with a leash behind her, when you have time pick it up and she’ll quickly learn. Again, they have not been trained with formal commends, which you can teach them of course. We never have a reason to put our dogs on leashes as they always run free, follow us everywhere and if kept in a crate at night- will hold it and get housebroken. Our mini’s are even more dependant on each other so be patient and remember your visit to China. Our mini’s are very happy here but will be depressed when you take them away. In a few days or weeks they will love their new home if you are patient.
Receiving an Adopted Schnauzer
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Application to Adopt
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