Dogs Trust home check

[LastTango]

Has anyone had a Dogs Trust home check? How long did it take and what was it like?

Have chosen 2 dogs yesterday and should be having a home check this week. Am really nervous as our garden is large but unconventional i.e. stones instead of grass, small pond, polytunnel, etc.

Ours lasted about ten minutes, just a look round both flat and the garden, which I had ensured was secure, then a quick chat.

They don't sound like things that will concern them at all, gardens really just have to be secure and that's it.

Good luck with your new additions :)

Thank you - the dogs are a black and tan rough haired JRT and a beautiful Yorkie!

They were more concerned with our garden being secure than anything else. The man doing it said people always fret about it but it's not that big a deal. He said that if there's something that isn't right they just ask you to fix it and the adoption still goes ahead. I think they just want to double check that you don't have 20 other dogs or are running a secret puppy farm from your kitchen. I don't think he was even here for five minutes.

Thanks Babe - we are out in the sticks so it will be loooooong drive for just five minutes !!

Like everyone else said, more to see if property secure etc. If you're having a puppy, they may talk about additional safety around the pond. I've been homechecked for foster and adoption and that's what they're most concerned with. Apart from that, I think it's generally to see your house is in a fair state and you're not a complete (enter word of your choice).

Good luck. Sure they'd like to be offered a tea/cup/cold drink if you're at the end of a long journey, but I'm sure you'd already thought of that!

Ours was pretty basic - just checking we lived where we said we did, house is as described and garden is secure.

Nothing to worry about (unlike a SpicyPear home check )

She's coming at 5.15 tomorrow - I'll let you know what she says.

Have all spent the day clearing up our big garden. Fingers crossed!

Ours wasn't through dogs trust but the lady spent the whole morning with us and found out we had a filthy sense of humour and a love of wine
They are just normal people who want dogs to have a loving home. Don't worry

Can't comment on Dogs Trust but I used to Homecheck for Cats Protection League , the main thing I was looking for was commitment and the understanding of what owning a cat actually meant and whether the people were willing to change their lifestyle to accommodate a pet.

Another thing I remember is that I had all pups stuff (food bowl, crate, bed etc) all set up which he seemed to like. I think because it showed we'd thought ahead about how we were going to fit pup into our home and life. I really fretted about it too, sure you'll be fine though that's easier said than done!

Thanks for all your support. She was here for about 4 minutes.........didn't even look inside the door at my clean and tidy house (for once, ahem!). I was worried because we have a large garden, but no grass. She just said that as long as they could potter and had somewhere to poo it wasn't a problem.

So...........on Saturday we get our 2 lovely doggies

Congratulations , how old are the dogs and did they go to Dogs Trust together or have they matched them?

Wahey! And at least you can relax in your nice clean house now.

Flora boy and girl, both approx 4 1/2, matched up by Dogs Trust. One went in because owner couldn't cope because of illness, other went in because abused by owner's next door neighbour's teenagers (kicked and shot with a bb gun) so it bit one of them.

flummox - yep, house clean and lovely.........nearly killed me though

I am soooooo nervous about having them and getting the training right (although both pretty house clean, just basic training to do).

That's great news! Congratulations! I hardly slept the night before we got our pup and bet you're the same!