Did I rescue my dogs, or did they rescue me? (Rescued Dogs)

Member Name: depurple2

Product:	Rescued Dogs
Date:	27/09/06 (289 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots to choose from, behaviour analysed, cheaper, rescue back up

Disadvantages: Can have problems you don't know about

7 years ago I was quite ill and very depressed. I decided that I would get a dog to give me a reason to get out of bed each day. I chose to get a rescue dog, as I wanted to help a dog who had had a bad start in life. I went to Battersea at Old Windsor, with the intention of getting a small terrier. Instead I met Max, who had been in Battersea for 8 months, and is nothing like a terrier. Still, I decided she was the dog for me.

There are some advantages to adopting a rescue dog instead of buying a dog from a breeder:
The rescue will try to match you with a dog that is suitable for your circumstances.
The rescue will do a homecheck to check that your home is suitable for a dog.
The rescue will have details of how the dog behaves (even though they might not know its full background), and some rescues test their dogs with other dogs, cats and children so you don't get any nasty surprises.
Most reputable rescues will neuter, vaccinate, worm and de-flea all their dogs, saving you a lot of money in the first year.
You will have the back up of the rescue for the rest of the dogs life - if for any reason you cannot keep the dog, they will take it back. They are also just at the end of the phone if you want advice.

The information that Battersea gave me about Max's behaviour turned out to be spot on. She is very friendly, exciteable, obsessed with food and pulled on the lead. We have done a lot of training and she now walks a lot better.

When Max was 7, I decided to get a second dog. Again, I wanted a rescue dog. I found Bella on the internet. I put a list up on several forums (which can be kind of like doggie matchmaking agencies), and a rescue in a different county suggested Bella. Bella had been very cruelly treated in the past, and had just been rejected from a home again. I arranged to go and meet Bella with Max. They had a lovely walk and got on well, and Bella now lives with us. Yes, Bella is slightly nuts, but I was happy to take on a dog that needed a lot of work.

The rescue did match me up with my ideal dog, and because she is older, they were able to tell me a lot of her history before I got her so I knew what to expect.

That's my story of how getting rescue dogs worked for me. But what if you're thinking of getting a dog?

The advantages of getting a rescue dog are listed above. But what about the disadvantages?
You often don't know the dog's history. This means that they can do unpredictable things when faced with certain situations (e.g. barking at people in uniform). There could also be underlying medical problems, although the rescue will usually spot thes.
Sometimes you don't know the dog's age or breed, although rescues can make good guesses at these.
If the dog has been badly treated in the past, it can be a bit more highly strung than other dogs.

I have had 2 dogs from breeders in the past, and my rescue dogs have both been much friendlier and more sensible.

What if you decide you want a rescue dog? Here are my tips.
It is worth looking round several rescues instead of just one. Be prepared to travel a bit - your perfect dog may be an hours drive away.
Make use of the internet - there are lots of forums and websites listing dogs looking for homes.
If you are going to visit a dog, take any existing dogs and all members of the household with you. Many rescues insist on this, and it is important to check the new dog will get on with everyone.
Spend time with the new dog before you decide to take it home - take it for a walk, see if you can put it in different situations to see how it reacts.
Ask lots of questions - if you can find someone who has worked with the dog on a day to day basis you can get a lot of information about its behaviour.
If you are looking for a particular breed, try a breed rescue. There are breed rescues for just about every type of dog. You may have more luck getting an unusual or pedigree dog through a breed rescue than through a general rescue.

Tips for if you get a rescue dog...
Make sure you insure your dog as soon as you get it.
Ensure you have food, a bed, a lead, a collar, bowls and treats ready before you get home.
Find a good training class near you (one that uses positive methods, like clicker training). This will help your dog to socialise with other dogs as well as learn to behave better.
Don't suddenly put the dog into new situations until you have got to know it and are sure it will handle them.

Summary: If you want a new best friend, try rescuing a dog.