Rescue Home Visit - What to expect?

[MavisGrind]

Had an interview at my local rescue place today, lovely people, lovely dogs! I'm booked in for a home visit in the next couple of weeks and am wondering what they might be looking for.

It's taken me literally years to get to a place where we're ready to have a dog and I've thoroughly researched loads (as well as being a resident lurker on this board!) so I think I've got everything covered.

Any tips?

When I had mine, the woman looked around all the rooms and the garden. She asked questions like where would the dog sleep. We chatted about walks and food. She noticed that dd had a toy dog with its own bed, which she liked as it showed dd was interested.

I think they just want to make sure a) the dog will be safe and b) you don't have unreasonable expectations.

Good luck!

Thanks MrsSquirrel!

I regularly do homechecks for a number of charities. We are NOT interested in your dusting but it is about making sure your home and garden are suitable for the dog you are interested in. For instance, I did one homecheck for a fantastic couple but they lived in a townhouse with masses of stairs - the dog they were interested in had poorly hips and would have struggled with the property. In that case, I was very happy to recommend them as suitable adopters but another dog was matched to them. The other thing that 's worth bearing in mind is that the homechecker will usually be very local, so will be a mine of information on things like good local vets, walking spots, places to buy food etc - feel free to ask lots of questions. Good luck!

Ours spent the morning with us and I am still in contact with her now, she even sent me a card when my other dog died. She is a lovely woman.

They are nit there to judge you as such, just make sure garden safe, you know up to date training methods, you have the time and that you will provide the loving environment and commitment having a dog means.

Do let us know how you get on

Thanks Scuttle and Owllady - I will let you know how I get on!

I also do home visits. I would advise you to provide copious amounts of tea and cake.

But, seriously, what Scuttle said

I do home visits too - and often take my dog along if its suitable (I check this out first!). Having a list of questions that you want to know about would be good - could be anything from boundary height to best sort of dog that might suit and whether a dog can get up the stairs safely etc.

Oh, just a thought. I home check for a rescue that works on a foster network so the people I visit have not had a prior face to face meeting, just a telephone one. If you've interviewed already the home visit is usually a bit shorter, just to verify that your circumstances really are as described and you haven't, for example, exaggerated the height of your fencing. Good luck!

Thanks for the advice. I had a fairly thorough interview at the centre so am just waiting to hear about a date for the home visit.

So excited - I've been seriously planning to do this for about four years so it's not something I'm doing on impulse.

Update - Had my home visit today. All went well and we've been approved! So excited, will no doubt be back here asking for advice once DoggyGrind has come to join us!