Rehoming a rescue? Paws for thought first
With more and more people looking to rehome unwanted pandemic puppies, it’s time to think about what owning a dog really means. By Flic Everett
During the pandemic, demand for dogs shot up. Crazy prices were demanded – and paid – for puppies, and thousands of households added barking from home to working from home.
But now lockdown is – we hope – over, and the UK gradually returns to work, many overwhelmed owners are admitting defeat and simply giving up on their pandemic pups.
Because while Britain is supposedly a nation of dog lovers – as demonstrated by the national obsession with the recent scenes of animal rescuer Pen Farthing getting 150 cats and dogs out of Kabul – it’s also the case that as life changes again, not every owner can cope. That is particularly the case when it comes to rescue animals, who may have severe difficulties adjusting.
Cheltenham Animal Shelter has recently seen a dramatic increase in rescue animals coming in, with 60 per cent more dogs arriving than pre-pandemic levels. More than 19 per cent are under two years old – pandemic purchases who are now demoted to rescue mutts.
Calls about unwanted pets have more than doubled in the past year according to the Scottish SPCA, so it’s vital that anyone hoping to rehome a rescue dog does meticulous research.
“A lot of the people who took on dogs during the pandemic have no experience,” says Carolyn Menteith, training and behaviour advisor for Agria Pet Insurance. “We have over 210 breeds of dog in the UK and every single one was originally developed to do a certain job,” she goes on. “Its breed informs behaviour, but people don’t always take that into account.”
And if you fall in love with a dog, without fully understanding its needs, says Menteith, it can be a disaster. A bounding young lurcher will be far less happy in a small garden than an ageing terrier. “Don’t ask yourself, ‘Do I want this dog?’ but ‘Would this dog want me?’”
Taking on a rescue isn’t a simple matter of offering love to a grateful mutt. It changes everything. “Every single day will revolve around walks, pee breaks, feeding, grooming, training,” says Menteith. “A dog is a joy but it’s hard work – they don’t have an ‘off ’ switch.”
If you are determined to give a rescue dog a happy life, remember that, at first, your welcoming home is just another bewildering place full of strangers.
“Many owners make the mistake of expecting too much too soon,” says Menteith. “The dog needs to be given the space to explore without any pressure. A rescue dog can take up to six months to feel at home.”
If there are children around, it’s natural they’ll want to smother the new addition with affection – but this can overwhelm a nervous animal.
“Dogs only have limited ways to respond if they feel really scared – and this can involve teeth!” says Menteith. “Allow the dog to lead all interactions until they feel more confident.”
And while a puppy will learn as it grows, the challenge with some rescue dogs can be that they have already developed certain behaviours in response to stressful situations.
“We take in a lot of dogs that haven’t received the right level of training or socialisation,” says Linda Cantle of Wood Green, The Animals Charity. “This often results in nervous dogs that might bark incessantly, can’t cope with being left alone, or don’t know how to act appropriately,” she explains. “There’s no rule, either – some dogs can be treated very badly but still have trust in people, whereas some can have great lives but be difficult to manage.”
When you are embarking on training your rescue “use positive, rewardbased methods involving food and toys to build trust and enjoyment,” Cantle advises. “Never use punishment or leave dogs alone to cry, as it will damage the relationship.”
With any dog, owners should not assume that it will slot seamlessly into their lives – so it’s really important to think ahead before committing, says dog trainer and behaviourist Chantal Karyta (ck9training.co.uk).
“Will you want children in the near future? If you’re in an apartment with a high-energy dog, it will need a lot of walking – do you have access to nearby parks?” She also points out that dogs that have been bred to hunt may find living with another animal, such as a cat, challenging.
The other thing that’s important to consider is cost – and it’s not just a matter of food. “You’ll need pet insurance, dog walkers when you’re back at work, professional training, grooming and dog boarding if you go on holiday,” she says. “Then there’s the beds, collars, leads, chews, toys, vet bills…” As any dog owner will tell you, it all adds up.
The main requirement, however, is time. “Dogs need companionship and they love to be with humans. If you’re out at work for 12 hours a day post-lockdown, it will be unhappy.”
But if you’re confident the basics are in place, the key to a happy transition is “slow and steady”. Have a quiet place – crate or bed – where they can hide, and don’t let children follow them around. “Don’t overwhelm your dog by inviting all your friends and family round to meet him,” says Karyta. “Make sure he’s comfortable with your household first.”
If he’s scared, she adds: “Give him positive associations to everything – hand-feed him ‘high value’ food such as chicken so he learns to feel safe and confident around you, and don’t try to teach him too much too soon.”
Most importantly, learn to speak dog. “Dogs communicate through body language,” she says. “A dog may refuse to eat if they are stressed, or may choose to hide away. They may refuse to go out, and toilet indoors.”
Under extreme stress, she adds, “The ears may be flat on the head, their tail tucked under, and they will move cautiously and slowly. The dog may also vocalise if they are not happy.”
Owners don’t always notice the smaller signs of stress but “they can be anything from turning away, lip licking, yawning or showing the whites of their eyes,” explains Karyta. “These can escalate to growling, hackles up.” All of this can presage a bite – and if you aren’t able to train your rescue out of fearful aggression, experts agree it’s essential to call in the pros.
A dog behaviourist can assess problems such as these objectively, and work on a tailored programme of training and support for you and your dog. And when it begins to work out, says experienced rescue owner Sarah Calcut, it’s magical.
“I’ve had several rescue dogs and though there have been difficult times, I’ve never given up – though I came close once when I realised I didn’t have a whole pair of shoes left,” she laughs.
“Odie, a labrador, has been our most challenging dog,” she adds. “We are his third owners. He is hyper-vigilant and hyper-active – when he arrived he couldn’t look at anyone; it took over three months for him to come anywhere near me.”
Sadly, Odie’s past mistreatment means he may never fully relax. “It’s taken a lot of careful training. But the day he chose to come and sit next to me and allowed me to touch him made it all worth it,” she says. “It was a really brave thing for him to do.”
‘A dog is a joy but it’s hard work – they don’t have an “off” switch’