Once you have made up your mind and you have found a reputable rescue, make a list of priorities of what you are looking for.
Questions To Ask Yourself BEFORE You Approach The Rescue
What do you want from your Rescue, Foster or Adopted Pooch – are you looking for a companion/family dog or a project dog – do you know the difference?
Do you want a specific breed – read up on that breed so you know what to expect. How much time have you got to commit to your new family member?
How will you deal with toilet training, lead training, separation anxiety or fearfulness?
What do you understand about rescue dogs?
Do you have children in the home – how will you introduce them to the new family member?
Most importantly – can you afford a dog?
If you rescue during lockdown – how will you prepare your dog for when you return to work?
Taking on a Foster or Rescue dog is a huge commitment and one that can be hugely rewarding, so it’s very important to find the right dog for you and your family.
What to expect at the rescue
A good Rescue Centre will do all that they can to prepare your dog for adoption. This will include initial and ongoing behavioural assessment, ensuring that fearful or reactive dogs receive as much help as possible.
The Rescue will have the dog health checked by a veterinarian who will provide an initial dental check and identify any ongoing medical issues. The vet will also neuter, microchip and provide first vaccinations.
Dogs arriving from overseas should have been given Rabies injections and have travel documents BEFORE arriving in the UK – this includes dogs travelling from Southern Ireland.
The Rescue should insist on you, your family and any other pets meeting your prospective pooch BEFORE you take them home.
You should be able to walk the dog offsite and see them interact with other dogs and people.
They should also insist on completing a full home check and should provide ongoing support after homing.
So you’ve adopted/fostered – What happens next?
Bringing your new family member home is an exciting time, but please remember that your pet may never have lived in a home before and may be very fearful, they may not be house trained or ever have walked on a lead.
Tips to help your dog settle
ALWAYS Set your new dog up for success – remove anything you don’t want damaged.
If your new dog is going to be left unsupervised for any time – consider a crate or a large pen so that they can’t get into any mischief.
Set your house rules (is the dog allowed on the furniture or beds) and stick to those rules – it’s unfair to keep changing the goalposts.
Set up a designated toilet area and take the dog there immediately on arriving home (it make take a few trips before they get the idea), ALWAYS Reward when the desired behaviour is achieved.
Don’t make commands – just use reward for good behaviours and ignore any mistakes, this will prevent your dog from becoming frustrated when they don’t understand.
NEVER shout at or hit the dog – it will not understand what has gone wrong and this will lead to aggressive behaviours developing.
ALWAYS use reward to introduce any new situation.
NEVER force your dog to do anything – this will create problems.
ALWAYS remember that your dog may never have lived in a home before – it takes time- try to put yourself in their place.
When your dog first comes home, they will need quiet times to prevent them becoming overwhelmed – provide a designated bed/crate and give them a stuffed Kong or suitable chew toys.
Think about any training or enrichment your dog will need and set out to make it a positive experience.
By rewarding your dog’s good or acceptable behaviour from the outset you are introducing positive reinforcement, and this will make all future training a happy and successful time for you both.
Rewards should also reflect your dogs achievements – so grade the treats accordingly.
You can use part of your dogs daily food allowance to prevent too much weight gain, but always enhance this with something of a higher grade depending on the dogs achievements.
Scamps and Champs have qualified and experienced staff on hand and we are here to help you and your new pet through all the stages of settling in and becoming a happy family.
We can provide Home/Pet Visits, Dog Walking, Doggie Day Care, and Dog Boarding. We also provide specialised Puppy/Kitten visits, and care for Birds, Fish, Reptiles.
Scamps and Champs also provide our very own range of Vet Approved Specialised Food and delicious High Grade Treats – with free delivery to your home.
So whether you need extra help whilst you work from home or you want someone to help whilst you are out or away, Call Us Today!
Telephone : 0333 200 5827 – WE REMAIN OPEN THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND OPERATE ALL SERVICES IN LINE WITH GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES.
