Rehoming a rescue dog - thoughts please?

3v3

In the summer, it is our plan to re-home a rescue dog - we already have a pair of cats (indoor) and chickens and a lovely big garden as well as a park around the corner.

I used to have a Doberman female and she was well loved but was PTS 18yrs ago, so a little while ago since my doggy days.

I've had a tentative look at the Dogs Trust and the RSPCA sites to see what is available as in gender/ages/breeds.

Has anyone here rehomed a rescue dog? Any pointers of what to look for, procedures, what to watch out for? Should I take photo's of my home and garden to prove I have the space?

Any and all advice welcome.

TIA

Person_one

Hi, I have two little rescue dogs and its one of the best things I've ever done, they're wonderful!

The best thing to do is get on the phone to a rescue, or pop down in person if they're local and have achat with someone about what you're looking for in a dog and what kind of home you can offer.

For example, do you want to spend hours every day hiking through moors or would you prefer a brisk half hour stroll round the town. How often are you out of the house and for how long, do you need a dog that's good with children/other dogs/cats/other pets? Would you be ok with spending half an hour every day grooming your dog or would you prefer one that's relatively low maintenance coat wise?

Kinski

I've had two rescue dogs, I lost my sheltie Abby last year and I now have a Bichon who came to me from Many Tears, never ever again will I go to a breeder when there are so many poor wee souls sitting in rescues. Ellie was an ex breeding bltch and has quite a few problems not least a hatred of men. I don't for a second regret getting her especially 7 months down the line she's started to play with toys and with Arran my other sheltie. Both of my rescues have been very loving wee dogs who have given me so much pleasure.
Any rescue that you go to should do a home check, a volunteer for the rescue will want to visit and have a look at your home and to meet yourselves, have a look at dog pages for a list of rescues in your area http://www.dogpages.org.uk/forums/index.php?act=idx. Just one thing you have to stay in touch with us and you have to show pictures of your new furbaby.

Sally_A

A lot of the homes have areas for cats and livestock such as chickens and goats, as well as smaller animals such as rabbits, mice etc - so it should be fairly easy to find out how they react.

You can often walk the dogs for a few weeks too whilst they are on reserve, and the walking fields near out Cats and Dogs home have cows, sheep and horses nearby - so you can guage the interest the dog may have in these animals whilst on a lead.

With the homes permission, I've known people that have taken the dogs home with them for an hour or two during these dog walking sessions.

Just be aware, that dogs tend to be on best behaviour for the first fortnight after rehoming, after that their true personality will shine through, and they are like kids - they will push the boundaries as far as you let them.

Hope it all works out for you. :T

ariba10

The only problem I would have is. Why do they need rehoming?

If it is due to the ill health or death of the previous owner. then yes.

If it is due to is behaviour due to poor training when young. then no.

Gingham_R

We got ours from a local rescue. He was a stray. Honestly, he has been very hard work but genuinely well worth it.

You should get a home visit and will have to sign an adoption paper with some basic 'rules' on it - all straightforward stuff.

I'd advise having a look at some training stuff on youtube. A rescue dog needs gentle treatment. I won't let anyone smack or shout at our dog for example. I use kikopup's training videos and have spent time reading up on how dogs communicate so I know what he's trying to tell me (with lip licks, sniffing the ground and yawning for example.) It's helped a lot.

Gingham_R

ariba10 wrote: »

If it is due to is behaviour due to poor training when young. then no.

They can learn very quickly with clicker training. My dog had no manners and no clue how to behave when I got him and it really hasn't taken long to get the basics down and have moved on to some free-shaping with him.

If you're prepared for a dog with no training yet it's really okay. No harder than having a new puppy in my opinion. Easier in some ways because they sleep through!

chookmom

I have 2 rescue dogs and had 2 more before these.
Rehoming a dog is so rewarding and will be one of the best things you have ever done but do be prepared for it not to be all plain sailing. I kind of had the idea that I would offer them a safe and loving home and they are grateful and respond in kind but dogs don't think like that
You might be lucky and get a dream dog (like my Ella!) but all these dogs have been through some sort of stress even if it is only losing their home and spending time in kennels and that is bound to have some effect ,usually only in the short term.
Pick your Rescue Home carefully and they will have invested time in sussing out the dogs in their care and can then guide you on the right dog for you and will offer support and aftercare if needed.
Good luck. You have the best of times ahead of you.

Person_one

ariba10 wrote: »

If it is due to is behaviour due to poor training when young. then no.

It depends on your experience and the individual dog. I wouldn't feel qualified to take on a dog with serious issues but my 6 year old dog had had no training at all apart from house training, he was a nervous wreck but he's come on in leaps and bounds.

Like most dogs in rescue, mine ended up there because their owners just got fed up of them and didn't want the bother anymore.

elsien

Mutt is a rescue dog - I won't go into the full saga as I wouldn't want to put you off completely! However my next one will be a rescue as well, so here's my thoughts for what it's worth.
Different rescues have different requirements, so if one turns you down it doesn't mean they all will.
If in doubt about circumstances, talk to them in person - I got mutt while living in a flat, but another dog I was looking at they wouldn't let me have in the same flat because of its specific needs.
Make sure you get insurance (if you're getting it) before you take the dog to the vet for its first check up - mutt had a condition I was not aware of which is now excluded forever more.
Many dogs come with no past history - mutt was picked up off the streets as a stray. The smaller rescues may not have the resources to offer behavioural support if needed, and may not be aware of all the dogs quirks. So visit and take any dog for a few walks and get to know them if you can before you take them home. I thought mutt was a lovely quiet dog. I later found out that when I went to see her it was the first time she'd been out for a walk in months and was subdued because she didn't know what was happening - that lasted till we got in the car......
Remember that some dogs just don't do well in kennels, so don't appear at their best - don't necessarily rule them out because they seem in a world of their own. They might be stressed from the situation and be the ideal pet once you get them home.
Ask all the questions you want even if they seem daft - do the rescue have any idea if they are house trained, dog friendly etc etc?
And if you have a specific breed in mind, have a look at the breed specific rescues as well as dogs trust etc.

The important thing is knowing what you are getting and being prepared for it. If you want a reasonably well trained sociable dog, they're out there and waiting.
With mutt I knew I was getting a completely untrained dog so that was ok, I was ready for all the little accidents and having to start from scratch. They were less honest about her health and behaviour (this was a small rescue ten years ago, so I would not expect the same thing to happen nowadays.) It's in your interest and theirs to get things right.

Sally_A

And without wanting to upset Person One, some of the excuses people come up with to offload their dogs at the rescue centres are complete fairy tales, but put the dog in a far worse light than is fair.

Eg. My ugly old pooch - rehomed at age 12 by us - allegedly given up because he was chasing livestock and the farmer was going to shoot him, so couldn't possibly be kept by the previous owner. Reality - he couldn't give a hoot about cows and horses, but when he got stressed he had a squitty rear end - he lived to 17, he thought I was the bees knees, was brilliant with my child (aged 7 at time of rehome), the gerbils etc. the only person he ever bit was my dad when he was trying to give him a bath, but that was cos dad faffed around too much - if I had to wash him after a fox poo roll, it was buckets, soap, no messing - he wasn't happy, but he didn't dare argue.

I still miss him 10 years on, he was a right character - could fart for England :rotfl:.