Has anyone had a good experience with a rescue dog?

[Twoshoesnewshoes]

I’m having an interview today to discuss adopting a rescue dog.

she is 2, apparently house trained, okay to leave (although she won’t be left often, and then only for 2-3 hours), and good with cats.
Ive spoken to a few people who have ended up with unsociable, needy and anxious dogs and I’m a bit worried.

we have had dogs before and I was brought up with having dogs.

My rescue dog has been the most perfect addition to my life. She was 18 months when I got her, house trained, lead trained, recall trained, car trained - I can only assume her owners had a catastrophic change in circumstance that led her to end up at the Dogs Trust.
She goes everywhere with me including work but I do leave her for 2-3 hours at the weekend if I go somewhere she can't ie haircut, place with an unsociable dog, shopping etc. Yes she's a bit clingy but she's an only dog in a single person house so gets all my attention

I have two. They are both perfect.

Awww that’s so good to hear, thank you!

I’ve got two and they are really easy 99% of the time, one is quite anxious so I do need to factor that into their walks but otherwise super easy. Two 30 min walks a day and happy to snooze, don’t mind being left.

I did have an awful experience before getting them where I had to return the dog but his behaviour with me was nothing like he’d shown in rescue or foster and he needed to be in a far more experienced home. I’m in touch with the lady who has him now and hes absolutely thriving in that environment so that’s great.

It depends what you're looking for really. I have a friend who's worked in kennels and has always opted for a puppy from a breeder as she wants to be able to train from an early age and hopefully minimise any behavioural issues. I'm not sure it always works that way though as MIL got a very young puppy from a rescue, so effectively a blank slate and she ended up being the clingiest dog I've ever met! At the end of the day, there's no such thing as the 'perfect dog'.

I've always gone for rescues as I like the idea of giving a dog a second chance. They'll likely be rough around the edges and may take longer to settle in to home life than a puppy, but I've never regretted it. I think you should go into the process with an open mind and try to find out as much as you can about the dog before agreeing to the adoption. My most recent rescue dog is most definitely not for the faint hearted (very reactive to everything) and I'm sure many would have returned her by now. The rescue were very open about her issues though. I wouldn't have coped with her as my first dog. She has a more extreme versions of the reactivity issues my first dog had, so she's a good fit in the sense I know techniques to help calm her and we're (very slowly) making progress.

Offhand I can think of 7 dogs I have known who have been rescue dogs and the most perfect pets. My friend's little dog was a terrified scrap at first and now he's a happy little chap who revels in all the attention he gets.

I have, but I would say that proper assessment from the rescue and their ongoing support is very important. The rescue I support works from foster homes, not kennels, so they are in a better position to judge how a dog will be in a family home. I currently have two who have been with me for 6 weeks and although they were and still are the sweetest, calmest souls they were very scared when they first came to me and this manifested itself in some undesirable behaviour. It's resolving now as they're gaining confidence but it's taken a lot of careful management. On the other hand my previous rescue was a sweetie from day 1. I would say be prepared for the first weeks to be challenging and don't be shy of asking for support. Once they settle it's lovely and it's enormously rewarding seeing their confidence develop.

It can take up to 3 months for a rescue to overcome some issues & settle; nervous, anxious, reactive. Take advice, keep training. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Be patient & then some.
Good luck. 🤞😊

My dads owned two rescue dogs, both have needed training and time but are lovely dogs.

Actually I have found that it can take more like a year for a badly damaged dog to settle. A reputable rescue centre will be honest with you but some are not, so my advice would be to research the centre carefully.

I have a guardian breed who barks a lot!

He came with quite a few issues, but we have trained him well and now his recall and socialisation with other dogs is brilliant.

He does, however, still bark a lot!

I woukd not be without him, he is an absolute star, but it wasn't an easy road.

Thank you, this is all really helpful.
ill google the rescue place - the dogs all seem to be in foster homes.

Okay, so they seem to be importing from Romania- not sure. Then dogs are fostered here in the UK, so ‘my’ dog is not kenneled in Romania as some I have seen.
i will of course go and meet her before committing- she f they don’t allow this then I won’t proceed- but should I be wary?

Also - yes I have looked for a uk rescue, that would be my preference, but they are mainly larger dog and not cat friendly.

Out of 11 dogs over the years, only 2 were chosen/bought as pedigree puppies all my others have been adopted either thru one rescue or privately ( 3 from the same lady )
3 from the rescue I fostered first, they fitted in so well with the current dogs I had at the time that I adopted each of them ( not all at once but one by one )

Some of the rescues have been x breeders from puppy farms, so my home was the 1st home they had ever been in, they took great comfort from being with other dogs.

My rescues have varied in age from 1 year old up to 7 years old. One of the 7 year olds recently passed at the good age of 18.5.

Every single one became cat friendly despite not having lived with cats before, I have and always have had cats, had the cats first.

The rescues/adopted ones have been a variety: labradors / beagle / bichons / shih tzu / pug / pug x shih tzu.

Lead walking / toilet training was not difficult as each would copy / learn from the resident dogs, they are grass / sand trained i.e. very very very rare will any of them ever go toilet on concrete / gravel they wait until they reach grass / sand ( we live near beaches so they see a lot of the beach. )

Health wise 2 from the rescue had little issues, one had had cataracts removed and was on eye drops for life, and another had dry eye so was also on eye drops for life.

Neediness - two of the private rescues are kind of needy / clingy, I am very loved :) I always have a dog on my knee. I am never cold.

How they will cope when there is only one of them left one day will remain to be seen, but I expect to be retired by then ( 2 years to go ) and I hope they live until double figures, they are 7 & 8 right now.

Just read your update re Romanian dogs.
I would only consider a dog from overseas if it was in a UK rescue first before going into foster care.

Personally I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.

1. The dogs may have been ' street dogs '
2. Yes they may now be in foster, but how long have they been there
3. Will the rescue accept the dog back
4. Will the fosterer have the dog back ?!!! What if the fosterer has another foster dog and then does not have the space...

My rescue dog was one of the best joys of my life.
She came to us at three terrified of the world and would sit silently in her basket all day at first poor darling. We showered her with love, warmth, good food, regular short walks around the garden and quiet times at home.

Then a few days in she started to explore, to come to us and sit beside us, to have a look at the toys we'd bought her. Then, one brilliant day she leapt up onto the sofa and snuggled down beside my husband.

We had to help her get used to everything from men with beards, to people with glasses, bin bags, streams, hi viz, skateboards - you get the picture.

Within a year she was the love of all our lives. Fun, funny, brave, loving, gentle, clever and was besides us for over a decade. She's gone now and my heart still yearns for her.

Looking after her, loving her and giving her confidence to enjoy her life was the best thing. Enjoy all your days with your new pupper.

I’ll ask today if she was a street dog - assume so- she is in a foster home with three other dogs and two residents cats.
ill ask how long she’s been in the foster home- anything else I should ask?
there’s a hilarious video of her leaping above her fellow dogs to get treats, she is described as lively and playful, but she’s not quite 2 yet so that’s not unexpected.

My aunt rescued a dog. Very very friendly dog. Good on the lead and is easy to leave. Very well behaved. My aunt suspects that the owner moved or something similar rather than it being due to the dog's behavior. The dog has added greatly to her retirement.

Awwww that’s lovely

Yes we have a rescue. Nearly 5 years old. The sweetest dog you’ve ever met. Doesn’t whine, doesn’t have any bad behaviours, doesn’t even bark. Just wanted love and she sure has it now 🩷

Disease !

So at the back of my mind there is a nasty disease that the dog should have been tested for / vaccinated against.

This is a quick look on Google and it's long !

Dogs imported from abroad, particularly from warmer Mediterranean climates or Eastern Europe, can carry several serious, sometimes fatal, diseases. Many of these are parasitic or bacterial infections that are uncommon in the UK.
Here are the primary diseases to be aware of:
Top "Mediterranean" and Exotic Diseases
Leishmaniasis: A serious, often fatal, disease transmitted by sandflies. It causes skin lesions, hair loss, weight loss, and chronic kidney failure. It is considered a lifelong infection.
Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis): Carried by mosquitoes, these worms can grow up to 30cm long and live in the heart and pulmonary arteries, causing severe lung disease, heart failure, and death.
Babesiosis ("Canine Malaria"): A tick-borne disease that destroys red blood cells, causing severe anemia.
Ehrlichiosis: A bacterial infection transmitted by ticks that can cause fever, joint pain, and bleeding disorders.
Hepatozoonosis: Contracted by swallowing infected ticks, this disease is particularly dangerous for young or already compromised dogs.
Other Serious Infections
Brucella Canis: A bacterial infection that causes infertility, miscarriages, and chronic illness. It can be spread to humans.
Rabies: While rare in the UK due to strict vaccination rules for imports, it is a fatal viral disease found globally.
Echinococcus multilocularis: A tapeworm found in parts of Europe that can cause fatal conditions in humans.
Leptospirosis: A bacterial infection spread through contaminated water or soil, which can cause kidney and liver failure.
Symptoms to Look For
Many of these diseases have long incubation periods, meaning symptoms might not appear until months after the dog has arrived. Symptoms include:
Weight loss and lack of appetite.
Skin problems and lesions, especially around the face.
Unexplained lethargy or fatigue.
Enlarged lymph nodes.
Chronic diarrhea or vomiting.
Preventative Measures
Vet Screening: Immediately register your dog with a local vet and inform them of the dog's origin.
Blood Tests: Request tests for Mediterranean diseases.
Parasite Control: Use high-quality, vet-recommended flea and tick prevention to stop the spread of ticks.
Quarantine: Keep the dog separated from other pets for at least 10 days to 2 weeks to monitor for symptoms.

So may positive stories!
has anyone adopted a street dog?
im open to getting a puppy instead but would like a slightly older dog if possible.

more:

A Romanian rescue dog must be vaccinated against
Rabies (legally required for travel), and core diseases including Parvovirus, Distemper, Leptospirosis, and Canine Hepatitis. It is highly recommended to also cover Kennel Cough and test for diseases like Brucella Canis and heartworm due to their prevalence.
Essential Vaccinations & Health Protocols:
Rabies: Legally mandatory for traveling from Romania, with a 21-day waiting period after the first vaccine.
Core Vaccines (DHPP/DHLP): Distemper, Hepatitis (Adenovirus), Parvovirus, and Leptospirosis. These are often given as a combined vaccine.
Kennel Cough (Bordetella): Highly recommended as rescue dogs often live in high-density environments.
Parasite Treatment: Ensure the dog has been treated for ticks, fleas, and worms (including heartworm).
Testing: It is crucial to have your dog tested for Mediterranean diseases like Brucella canis, Leishmaniasis, Ehrlichia, and Heartworm upon arrival.
Important Considerations:
Vaccination Passport: Ensure your dog's EU Pet Passport is up-to-date with all vaccinations.
Annual Boosters: While rabies in some cases lasts longer, it is recommended to keep up with annual boosters for polyvalent vaccines (parvo, distemper, lepto).
Veterinary Check: Consult a UK vet immediately to review the Romanian health records and set up a vaccination schedule

Yes she’s had all the vaccinations, there is a rather odd video of her at the vets!
she has a passport too