Preparing To Adopt a Rescue Dog

If you want to adopt a rescue dog instead of buying a puppy you will need to spend around 10-12 years, depending on his current age and the breed, of commitment to your dog. There are also the essentials of looking after any dog like food, training, exercise, shelter, veterinary treatments, vaccinations, companionship and keeping him away from danger. However, there may be extra work involved depending on the different backgrounds of each rescue dog.

There are many reasons why a dog needs rehoming, none of which are the dog's fault. It could be anything from lack of money for veterinary care, owners moving house or because a small, cute puppy that was a Christmas present has turned into a large dog. This is why it's important to prepare for the amount of work that having a dog is going to be.

You should always adopt a rescue dog that is suited to your lifestyle. For example if you are out of the house for long periods of time throughout the day, you should get a low energy dog but still give him two walks a day. If you get a high energy dog yet haven't got the time to give it regular long walks, it will lead to the dog being bored and frustrated leading to being destructive and possibly aggressive.

When you adopt a rescue dog, he will be unsettled and frightened at first in his new home because of the unfamiliar surroundings. This is why most of us would want to fill his first days in his new life with lots of treats and affection. However, this is one of the worst things you can do. If you don't set limits and boundaries for your dog in the first few days, it will cause more confusion for your dog when you are suddenly throwing him off the sofa. If you gently ease him into a routine, your new rescue dog will be a happy new addition into your family.