Meeting a rescue dog tonight!

[ArklePig]

Hello,

We are meeting a rescue dog tonight when we get home from our trip! I'm very excited, filled in the application form last night and woke up to an email asking for more information and a list of specific questions about us and what we want from a dog.

I haven't a clue what we need to ask or be aware of. What questions should we ask to find out if we are the right fit? I will probably forget myself and not be able to come up with any questions so like everything else I do, I'm planning to make a list. I have only ever rescued guinea pigs before lol so am out of my depth!

I appreciate I might be over thinking this but I still would appreciate any help. Thank you.

 

[Clodagh]

So exciting!
Can the dog be left at all?
Is it ok with strangers/ other dogs/ cats . If you don’t have a cat that last bit doesn’t matter!
Is it housetrained?
Do they offer behavioural support and back up?
All those things can be worked on, you just need to factor them in.
Make it clear you appreciate a rescue is not an easy instant dog fix and you accept you will need to put the work in. I know you know that but they don’t.

And as I’m nosey… breed? Sex? Age? ?.

Best of luck. I’m sure others will give better questions.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Why does the dog need to be rehomed? The answer to that can be the difference between a well started youngster or even an older dog and a hooligan.

 

[ArklePig]

She's a pointer cross bitch aged 1. They're not sure what she's crossed with. Will definitely ask about why she's in a rescue that'll give me some insight. Thank you both

 

[splashgirl45]

You are very lucky to get a prompt reply so being a bit of a suspicious person I would think it may be a dog that has been hard to home, unless it is a rescue from abroad as they seem to be available to anyone who has the money. If it is a foreign rescue please, please make sure it has had all of the required tests for diseases and don’t just take their word for it. Sorry to be a party pooper but I tried for months to get a rescue, filled in applications for lots of uk rescues and couldn’t get one..the only thing I can think of is they thought I was too old at 70 ??

 

[ArklePig]

I'm sorry to hear that @splashgirl45 it really does seem to be luck of the draw.

This is a well respected local rescue who I have no qualms about, as a couple of friends have adopted from there and the dogs are exactly what they were told they were. She only went live on their site yesterday. I take your points though and will bare them in mind. Thanks

 

[MurphysMinder]

She's a pointer cross bitch aged 1. They're not sure what she's crossed with. Will definitely ask about why she's in a rescue that'll give me some insight. Thank you both

A lot of pointer crosses seem to come in from abroad . I would check this and make sure the dog has had all health tests , including leishmania and brucella.

 

[splashgirl45]

Hope all goes well, I have known people who have adopted from the foreign rescues and it’s been nothing but heartache as they were street dogs and had never been close to humans.. one of them still has her dog but even after a year it is still very nervous of people especially men. The other friend has let her dog go to the behaviourist who was helping her as it was so difficult.. my friend and her husband are still very upset and can’t face getting a rescue again…

 

[TGM]

Questions to ask include:

How much exercise required and what type (free running time plus on lead time)
Does the dog have good recall?
Any history of destructiveness in the house?
Any history of resource guarding?
Any history of aggression towards humans/other dogs?
Does it bark excessively?
Does it suffer from separation anxiety?
Any health problems?
Any special dietary requirements?
Is it reliably toilet-trained?
Does it jump up at people?
Does it chase cars, runners, squirrels, cyclists etc.?
Is it crate-trained?
Does it travel well in a car or does it get car sick?
General temperament - nervous, quiet, bolshy, boisterous? Affectionate or aloof?
How is it to walk - does it pull on the lead, get reactive towards other dogs/traffic etc?
Is it an escape artist?

Also ask the background history and why given up for rehoming, and whether the dog was born in the UK.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

You are very lucky to get a prompt reply so being a bit of a suspicious person I would think it may be a dog that has been hard to home, unless it is a rescue from abroad as they seem to be available to anyone who has the money.

It's definitely good to suss out but I wouldn't be perturbed by the speed of it, I know a lot of rescues near us are either already dealing with, or bracing themselves for, the influx when the cost of living really starts to hit everyone, so they might just be conscious of this.

 

[MrsMozartleto]

Such excitement! Fingers crossed it all works. Looking forward to all the pictures <3

 

[Clodagh]

I wouldn’t get a pointer x as a first dog. Nuts, high energy and hard to train. Sorry!
Definitely check not imported as has been said.

 

[ArklePig]

I've considered we might be mental @Clodagh, or certifiable even, but from the information they've given about this specific dog and what we've said we can offer it sounds like we could meet her needs-but I guess we won't have a better idea until we meet each other and get a sense or each other. I'm not for rushing in though so if I've any doubt about her sadly we won't be able to go ahead.

Will definitely be checking as to where she came from because I hadn't considered she'd be imported so I am glad I started this thread.

 

[Birker2020]

I've considered we might be mental @Clodagh, or certifiable even, but from the information they've given about this specific dog and what we've said we can offer it sounds like we could meet her needs-but I guess we won't have a better idea until we meet each other and get a sense or each other. I'm not for rushing in though so if I've any doubt about her sadly we won't be able to go ahead.

Will definitely be checking as to where she came from because I hadn't considered she'd be imported so I am glad I started this thread.

Good luck, I hope she's the one for you.

 

[daffy44]

Very best of luck, I have only ever had rescue dogs (although all from the UK) and I have had dogs all my life, I hope everything goes well for you, and if this dog isnt the right one for you, dont worry, the right one is out there.

 

[Bradsmum]

One that doesn't seem to have been mentioned - how is she around children. Our rescue needed rehoming at the age of 9 because a small grandchild came to live in the household and though he adored adults he couldn't cope with the toddler. We don't have children but children sometimes visit and we take care and don't allow them to fuss him too much. He's shown no aggression but would never take any chances.
ETA good luck, hope she's a good match.

 

[SilverLinings]

Good luck Arkle, and if she isn't a match then I hope it doesn't take you too long to find one who is.

Do you know what she's crossed with? That might give you a better idea of behaviour/energy levels and any more likely health problems.

 

[nagblagger]

Any news?
just read this whole thread (late to the party) and was expecting a conclusion...so now left in limbo.

 

[MrsMozartleto]

Any news?
just read this whole thread (late to the party) and was expecting a conclusion...so now left in limbo.

I've poked my nose in in hopeful fashion...

 

[ArklePig]

Sorry! Just on my way home, we went to meet her straight off the boat.

She is perfection, a bit smaller than I thought from the pictures. She's amazingly friendly, interested in everything and everyone, she was saying hello to everyone else that was hanging about and was very polite to the other dogs we saw there. She's extremely affectionate-I got licked a lot and a belly rub was demanded. They told us to go home and think about her and let them know tomorrow if we would like a second visit, so we're going to ask for that. She had a rough start in the sense that she was bought as a pup by someone who didn't really have time for her and ended up being crated for long periods of time.

She's very food and people oriented and only has the basic training. We have a really good feeling about her, so hopefully the second visit goes well.

 

[Clodagh]

Sorry! Just on my way home, we went to meet her straight off the boat.

She is perfection, a bit smaller than I thought from the pictures. She's amazingly friendly, interested in everything and everyone, she was saying hello to everyone else that was hanging about and was very polite to the other dogs we saw there. She's extremely affectionate-I got licked a lot and a belly rub was demanded. They told us to go home and think about her and let them know tomorrow if we would like a second visit, so we're going to ask for that. She had a rough start in the sense that she was bought as a pup by someone who didn't really have time for her and ended up being crated for long periods of time.

She's very food and people oriented and only has the basic training. We have a really good feeling about her, so hopefully the second visit goes well.

She sounds perfect ?

 

[Tiddlypom]

Sounds lovely. Will you be keeping your piggies well separated from her or do you need to know how she will react to them?

 

[MrsMozartleto]

Oh she sounds rather lovely indeed.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Sounds like it could be a good match

 

[splashgirl45]

You said it was a local rescue, we’re you on the boat or was she?

 

[nagblagger]

[QUOTE="splashgirl45, post]You said it was a local rescue, we’re you on the boat or was she?[/QUOTE]
Yes i was confused with that.

Brilliant update, sounds promising, however we do expect pics as soon as she's officially yours.

 

[ArklePig]

Sounds lovely. Will you be keeping your piggies well separated from her or do you need to know how she will react to them?

There will (hopefully if we get that far) be a visit to our home to see how she gets on but they're hopeful she will be okay as she doesn't blink at cats or anything else really. Our pigs live indoors and are part of the family so any dog needs to be capable of leaving them alone with training not that they'll ever be trusted alone together. They reckon she could adapt to living with them! She's hard to explain, but she's not a very pointery pointer cross. If she becomes officially mine I will show you photos etc so you can see what I mean. She's definitely crossed with something small.

@splashgirl45 I was on the boat, was in England for a break and a wedding and I just got home today. Sorry for confusion!

The dog is from Northern Ireland (which is where I live) and belonged to an ill equipped local person who surrendered her to the rescue.

 

[splashgirl45]

That sounds better, I was worrying you were getting a foreign dog as so many of the failed hunting dogs from abroad get thrown out and haven’t had vaccinations and medical checks and get dumped on well meaning people here. Hope the home check goes well and we can soon see pics

 

[ArklePig]

You can't be too cautious @splashgirl45!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Sorry! Just on my way home, we went to meet her straight off the boat.

She is perfection, a bit smaller than I thought from the pictures. She's amazingly friendly, interested in everything and everyone, she was saying hello to everyone else that was hanging about and was very polite to the other dogs we saw there. She's extremely affectionate-I got licked a lot and a belly rub was demanded. They told us to go home and think about her and let them know tomorrow if we would like a second visit, so we're going to ask for that. She had a rough start in the sense that she was bought as a pup by someone who didn't really have time for her and ended up being crated for long periods of time.

She's very food and people oriented and only has the basic training. We have a really good feeling about her, so hopefully the second visit goes well.

Fingers crossed for you - and her!