Thinking about adopting a rescue dog?
Having adopted 8 dogs myself from rescue and as an experienced dog trainer, I can tell you it can be an incredibly rewarding experience. But it’s not always smooth sailing and it can also be incredibly hard, especially in the beginning.
People often only find the realities out the hard way when it’s too late… So I hope that by sharing my insights and experiences, I can help you avoid the pitfalls and find a dog that’s appropriate and well matched for your home and lifestyle – minus the regret and tearful hair pulling moments!
In this blog, we’ll cover the different types of rescues you might consider, what their adoption profiles really mean, and the questions to ask to set you and your dog up for a happy, supported journey together.
Let’s start with types of dog rescues to consider
There are lots of different types of dog rescue organisations, from the big ones like Dog Trust and SSPCA to smaller local shelters, breed specific rescues, and organisations that focus on dogs from overseas.
Often people end up exploring alternative rescue organisations after struggling to adopt from the more familiar rescue centres, but let’s look at some of your options before explaining some of the adoption restrictions.
1. Big Dog Rescue Organisations (AKA Dogs Trust, SSPCA, Blue Cross)
Many of these rescues are household names and so are often the first port of call for people looking to adopt a rescue dog.
They typically have stringent adoption processes and what can be interpreted as strict rules on who they will and won’t consider for applications (more on that in a moment).
2. Smaller local or specialist rescues
There are a lot of smaller UK rescues that may have different policies, specialisms or focuses than the larger rescue centres. Some specialise in specific breeds which can be a good route if you’re intent on adopting a particular breed and want a rescue who understands them thoroughly.
Others specialise in dogs and puppies who’ve been part of the puppy farming industry – these dogs can have experienced a lot of trauma and may need specialised care and support.
3. Senior dog rescues
There are also rescues who focus on senior or older dogs who can often be overlooked but are sometimes the most rewarding dogs to give a home to. These dogs are sometimes rehomed because of the owner’s health or their passing away, which can mean there are less behavioural challenges to contend with.
4. Overseas rescues
These rescues typically import dogs from abroad to the UK. While some are street dogs, some are domestic pets, and some are victims of overseas puppy farming. These dogs can need a lot of patience and support, since their lives up until being adopted are often very different to that of a domestic/pet dog in the UK.
Despite these expected challenges, a study found that only 19% of owners who adopted an overseas rescue sort help from a professional dog trainer. Yet of those who did, 71% said this help had resolved the behavioural issues.
If you decide to adopt a rescue dog, I’d highly recommend seeking professional dog training support from the outset to set you both up for success from the start.
Red flags when adopting a dog: What adoption profiles really mean
When you look at profiles for dogs awaiting adoption, it can help to have a bit of a translation between the high level descriptions and what they might really mean!
- Needs a bit of training = aka need a lot of training, be prepared to put some work in!
- Needs a secure garden = possible escape artist, probably fearful and will need time to decompress. Unlikely to cope well on walks (at least initially)
- Need experience of the breed = dog likely has quirks that only someone who has experience of the breed will understand and be equipped/prepared to handle.
- Needs to be solo dog in the household = likely a reactive dog or a dog doesn’t play or cope well with other dogs
- Needs a quiet home = Dog needs a calm environment and may not cope well with visitors or lots of coming and goings
- Needs a rural environment/away from city = Dog likely needs a lot of space, gets overstimulated and may struggle with reactivity
- Needs an active owner = This dog has energy to burn and will need a lot of exercise, mental stimulation and training
- Kids over 12+ = dog probably very exuberant and overexcitable and likely to knock little kids over!
- Takes their time to get to know you = probably fearful, will need to time and patience to win the dog’s trust
- Bubbly, energetic = bouncy and probably a bit of a handful!
- Loves human attention = May struggle with being left alone
In this episode from our podcast, Ruff Realities and Revelations, Deb and I discuss expectations versus realities when thinking about welcoming a new dog into the family.
🎧 Listen to this in podcast form here 🎧
Why is it so hard to adopt a rescue dog?
Many people choose to rescue a dog over getting a puppy because they want to give a loving home to a dog who’s not had the best start in life. And some just really don’t want a puppy but are looking to love and share their lives with an older dog!
But many people experience frustration once they begin searching for a dog to adopt, because sometimes the policies can feel incredibly prohibitive – you’re just trying to do something nice, why is it so hard?!
The reality is, many dogs in rescue will have their challenges. Aside from dogs being surrendered due to the owner’s health, financial or circumstantial changes, many dogs in rescue are there due to behavioural challenges that their previous owners couldn’t manage.
Adopting a dog is a huge commitment and rescue centres that take the needs of the dogs seriously will have stringent criteria for adoption applications.
This generally isn’t to deter or prevent people from adopting a dog. It’s an assessment of the dog’s behaviour, risk factors, and environmental needs that’s focused on matching the dog with the best possible home for them.
Dogs who aren’t matched with appropriate homes can quickly end up returned to rescue, which further adds to their traumatic experiences and can make it even harder for them to find a happy forever home.
Adopting a dog when you have children
UK rescues typically won’t accept applications from families with young children for many of the dogs in their care. This can lead to people turning to overseas rescues who can have a looser criteria for adoptees – however this can present a big problem! For the most part, those overseas rescues haven’t been exposed to children at all, which means we have no idea how they’re going to behave.
If you have children and want to adopt a dog, I’d recommend registering with rescues who foster dogs in home environments. This means the dog will have been assessed in an environment which more closely mimics that of real life and provides opportunities for the rescue to see how the dog reacts to things like children, visitors, and other dogs.
Similar to buying a puppy, if you want a good breeder they will often have waiting lists – it’s worth waiting for a rescue dog who’s the right match for your family.
Questions to ask when adopting a dog
When you apply to a rescue, it’s important to take the time to find out as much as you can about the dog’s history and the ongoing support should you proceed with adoption.
Here are some questions to ask:
- Where did the dog come from?
- Why were they given to rescue?
- How much do you know about this dog’s history?
- How many homes has this dog had?
- Has the dog been assessed with other dogs?
- Is there anything that makes the dog nervous, afraid or skittish?
- What does the dog like?
- What doesn’t the dog like?
- Does the dog have any health issues or conditions?
Rescues won’t always have a full picture of the dog’s previous experiences but try to find out as much as you can using open questions which prompt a conversation. Bear in mind, if the dog is in kennels, there will be a limit to how much can be understood about how the dog may react and feel when out in the real world.
Try and visit the dog a few times before you bring them home. Take the opportunity to spend time with them and begin building a bond with them, so they’re more at ease when they come home with you for the first time.
Rescue Back Up
Ask what support and processes the rescue has in place for after you bring your new dog home. This is a vitally important part of adopting a rescue dog. We don’t know exactly how things will play out – the dog may quickly settle in or you may have teething problems and need further support.
As you can see from the table below, people who’ve rescued dogs have had wildly different experiences. This is often down to the amount of support they have from the rescue beyond rehoming the dog.
Meet Finn!
I adopted Finn at 4 months old and I had no idea what I’d let myself in for! He had a lot of issues that we didn’t realise he was going to have, they only came to light after bringing him home.
I’d been a dog trainer for over 15 years at this point and had raised LOTS of dogs, but I found myself struggling to bond with him and I found it A LOT harder than I expected.
It was a difficult journey, but to encourage you, here’s Finn now! We got through the struggles and we’re now having an absolute blast together.
You can read more about Finn’s story and not bonding with your dog here.
Expectations vs reality
The reality is, it’s a wonderful thing to give a home to a dog – but it’s often not smooth sailing. That said, life with a puppy isn’t either – and a teenage dog can be even trickier!
Whether adopting a dog or getting a puppy, the biggest thing that can prepare you for happy outcomes is realistic expectations and plenty of support.
Curious what other owners wish they’d known before getting a dog? Read the 11 things dog owners in my community wish someone had told them sooner here.
Dogs don’t *know* they’ve been adopted… They don’t think of themselves as ‘saved’ or ‘rescued’… They do their best to adapt to their current situation and the more you learn to understand your dog, the better you’ll be able to support them.
For more help understanding and training your dog, check out my online dog training here and my dog training classes in East Lothian here.
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