Adopting a rescue dog is a decision filled with compassion and excitement, offering both you and the dog a second chance at companionship and love. This article will guide you through the process of choosing the perfect rescue dog for your home and lifestyle, addressing key considerations such as evaluating your readiness, finding a reputable shelter, and understanding the needs of different breeds and personalities. Whether you're a first-time adopter or a seasoned pet owner, this journey is not only about saving a life but also about building a lifelong bond. Read on to learn how to make this meaningful choice with confidence and care.
A rescue dog is a dog that has been placed in a new home after being abused, neglected or abandoned by its previous owner. Rescue dogs can also be those surrendered by their owners due to a change of circumstances or bereavement.
If you wish to adopt a dog, you will need to identify a suitable dog home/shelter to rehome from.
Start by contacting your local branches of charities such as Dogs Trust or The Kennel Club. If you have a specific breed in mind, there are many breed-specific rescues and rescue centres around the country.
Unfortunately, there is a growing trend for puppy farms to pose as rescue centres. This can make it difficult to spot a legitimate rescue organisation. For consumers, there’s no easy way to determine if a dog they’re buying from a rescue group is coming straight from a puppy farm.
There are a few precautions you can take to ensure you are sourcing a dog from a genuine rescue association:
- Check they are a registered charity – This alone does not ensure they are a genuine rescue centre, but it can indicate it is less likely.
- Visit the rescue centre - Fake rescues often insist on shipping the dog to the buyer or meeting in a neutral location.
- Scrutinise adverts - Fake rescues often use careful language to avoid fraud
- Research the rescue centre – Search for the rescue centre online. This will often flag if they are subject to suspicion. Search the name of the person running the rescue. This will occasionally give information if the organisation name has been changed to cover other items.
A genuine rescue should ask you lots of questions to assess your suitability for the dog you wish to rescue. It is their job to ensure you are a good match for each other so you can have a happy life together. There is often an assessment for suitability, a home assessment and an adoption fee involved in adopting a dog.
There is no best age for a rescue dog.
Each dog rescued is individual and needs to be carefully matched to their new owner. The rescue centre will assess your requirements and your lifestyle and try to match you with the perfect dog.
Younger dogs can be better for some owners and who are able to spend time training and reassuring them. Some owners are more suited to an older dog with prior training and an established temperament.
Rehoming can be stressful and confusing for dogs. Their entire routine is disrupted, and they need to adapt to a new home, lifestyle and set of house rules. This can take a little time and it is essential that you allow your new dog time to become comfortable within their new home. Gentle positive reinforcement and training can begin once the dog is confident within its new home.
It is important to allow your new dog time to settle and gain your trust. Do not expect them to mix with lots of people and pets too soon.
Focus on calm interactions to begin with. Move calmly around your new dog. When they come to you, offer gentle praise and a treat. Do not pressure your dog into interaction if they are not ready for it. Do not cuddle the dog or hold it tight during initial interactions. This is not normal canine behaviour and can be stressful.
Create a schedule to allow your new dog to anticipate the days routine. This is calming and can help them to settle. Knowing that food will arrive, and they can rest in a comfortable bed when they need to will allow confidence to grow. It can be advisable to restrict the areas of the house your new dog has access to initially. It also allows you to ensure the area is safe and any destructive issues remain contained if they should occur.
Limit visitors initially to prevent your dog becoming overwhelmed and overstimulated. Once they have built trust and confidence with the family members others can be carefully introduced.
Begin training using positive reinforcement to allow your new dog to adapt to the rules of their new house. This can take time so be patient and consistent.
This is very dependent on the dog and their personality and circumstances. Some dogs will bond very quickly, for others this may take many months.
Do not rush this process. Consistency and patience are the key to success. If you are struggling to establish a bond discuss this with your vet or a behaviourist.
Rescue remedy is formulated for human use and should not be given to animals.
Rescue remedy pets is formulated and safe to use in animals. Rescue Remedy pets uses natural flower essences to help ease tension, nervousness and excitability. Rescue remedy for pets can be used to aid the transition from rescue shelter to new home. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully.