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.

I know people are (rightly) saying a rescue can be a lot of work and will take time to settle in to your home, but so will a puppy! If your husband is not 100% on board but he's the one who will primarily be at home, think carefully about getting a puppy.

Will he be ok taking them to the toilet every 30 mins? Keeping a close eye on them, stopping them chewing everything and eating things they shouldn't? Forcing them to sleep? Being bitten often and having to redirect them or walking away? Cleaning up accidents in the house? Stopping them from chasing the cat?

Then once they get out of puppy phase you have a small window where they are wonderful until the teenage phase hits and all hell breaks loose again!

That's not to say you shouldn't do it. Rescue or puppy, I love having a dog, but it is a commitment you need to seriously consider.

FWIW an owner local to me has the most lovely Romanian rescue dog, and I've met a few others on my travels who have been equally as nice.

Edited to add that just because the rescue says a dog is good at or ok with whatever, doesn't mean that will translate into your home straight away. You will likely have to retrain or at least reinforce any training for a while.

One of ours is a rescue from abroad and he's been a dream since day 1! I knew I wouldn't have another puppy as the puppy stage is really hard work.

I wouldn't be without ours now, he's actually been much easier than my previous dog I had from a puppy. My previous dog was lovely but he had zero recall and barked at everything.

I also know someone that has two Romanian rescues. One has previous injuries so who knows what happened to him out there. Both are lovely dogs and she says she had no trouble.

It's a good sign that the rescue you're looking at has them in foster. A good rescue will be honest with you about their needs and how they are in a home and offer rescue back up. It's not in their interests to lie, the dogs will just get returned if they mislead people.

I have four rescue dogs from Spain. All came to me as young adults. With a lot of patience and care (they all had difficult starts in life, and still have a few foibles, lol), all are absolutely wonderful dogs now.

I’ve got the most lovely lab in the world (official) that I rescued at 11 months from Dogs Trust. I’m so glad I did. Best dog ever (also official!)

We've only ever had rescue dogs and not one who hasn't been amazing! Our whole extended family have also always had rescues. There's pictures of me as a baby next to our first, pictures of our now tween as toddler with our last one and we've just adopted again. She's fitted in so well, no accidents, loving, funny, crate trained. For the life of me, I don't understand why there's a thing about rescue dogs. Of course, some have more issues than others, but to be honest there's so many out there now, you'd struggle not to find a good one. Go for it, and don't worry if there are teething problems, it does come together quickly. There's lots of strategies to help with leaving them etc, I can elaborate if you want.

What is her history?

All our dogs have been rescue, some perfect and some definitely not. You can’t and shouldn’t expect perfection. You MUST be patient and not shout or punish, training with fear is unacceptable and people that use this method shouldn’t have a dog or any animal.

Give the dog as long as it takes to settle in, which could be any amount of time. People get rescue dogs and just expect them to immediately adapt which is both cruel and ignorant.

Also, not all rescue dogs have issues. Some are just the result of a death or a marriage break up, change of owner circumstances.

Patience and love is the key.

We’ve adopted nearly 40 adult dogs (so far 🥰) All brilliant, every single one. Yes, some take more work than others, but all of them have “come good” in the end. All became safe family dogs, people and dog friendly and have enhanced our life immeasurably. And yes, some have been foreign and (clutch your pearls!) street dogs! And they have been 100% easier than the ex breeder dogs we’ve adopted from the UK. And no, Leishmaniasis is NOT fatal, nor transmissible (in a spayed/neutered dog)
It is an absolute privilege to take on a dog who has learned that people and the world are not safe….and show them that it is. To see them come out of themselves, to live the life they always deserved? To sleep soundly on a couch, take food from your hand, enjoy belly rubs and do zoomies? Best thing ever. They give me more than I will ever be able to give them and I’ll never stop doing it!
Also, puppies are bloody hard work! I absolutely find rescues easier.

Please please give it a chance. I get so sick of people on here talking about buying puppies. Rescuing is by far the best thing to do. Rescue dogs are so so lovely. Hard work to begin with but so worth it. They have had sad lives and are so appreciative of their new lives

all rescues here. mostly jacks or terrier mixes. husband also grew up with rescues. his homeplace is near a graveyard with a back lane that was notorious for stuff being dumped including dogs. at one stage his home had 5 dogs of all breeds. three currently two are 15 and 13 respectively and third just gone a year and a half. the 15 year old was dumped at 10 years of age and we found the 13 year old on the road during 1st lockdown - when brought to vets it was obvious she had been used for breeding over and over. the youngest was bred by a "breeder " and couldn't be sold so was dumped in the pound. the only one we had issues with was very very badley abused by a women. he would shake when he was on tilded floor and go mental when saw the swewping brush or hoover. but we worked with a trainer and we gained his trust. he was a lovely boy. After all he went through he was one of the best dogs with children adored them and was so gentle. we were devastated when he died. we got our youngest from the same rescue we used before. I love him to bits but honestly I would never ever get a puppy again. I forgot how much hard work they are. would deal with the work that we had with the abused dog again but not a puppy. the energy the training the chewing all of it is so much hard work 😪 we live on a farm so he out all the time we go on long walks to woods and beach he never left alone for long. we have dig minders and walkers when we do go away. I will always have rescues but would prefer age 3 upwards please

It's complex rescuing a Romanian rescue.
I was told mine (also some kind of terrier mix!) and around 1 when I got him was good with cats, he may have been in the foster home but isn't here with the 2 he lives with!-he has a strong prey drive. I love love love them but it's really not been straightforward. Quite severe separation anxiety/hyper attachment, luxating patella, some reactivity, obsessed with busy roads (I assume associates them with food!) Recall is a challenge. Took a long time to toilet train. Lots of these things didn't show until maybe 6 months+ into having him, he was super easy to please, desperate for acceptance and once felt safe more challenging behaviours appeared. I'm not being negative as he really is a joy in so many ways, really funny, intelligent and affectionate but it's been very hard. I'm on my own with him which makes some of the issues much more difficult to deal with, if you have a lot of support it is obviously easier.

Ours is absolutely fabulous! She took a little while to settle naturally, but nothing major. She was an ex breeding girl, a Lab.

I have a rescue. Adopted at 6 months. He is a lovely dog. He was anxious to begin with but he's now 15 months and is a lovely sociable happy friendly and well mannered dog.

I have two kids, 6 & 3 and he is fab with them both but has a really special connection with my eldest and they are very bonded.

I wouldn't change him for the world and he's my best friend and has done wonders for my mental health and brought lots of joy to the whole family.

It is hard work though. It took training, time, consistency and patience but don't be fooled, puppies are also bloody hard work and need all of the above.

If you've got the time and patience and resources for a dog then adopting a rescue is a wonderful and rewarding thing to do.

My experience is that we got the dog they told us he was and we had lots of support and advice throughout from the rescue.

Sorry I should have said mine is an abroad rescue from gran canaria.
The only thing was that they said he could like with cats as during testing he ignored them.
I'm sure he did there but in the house now he's confident he definitely wants to chase them but we have worked on that lots & he now respects their space.
They tolerate him and he respects my boundaries that he has to leave them be and not woof at them but it's not exactly as harmonious as I would've hoped but equally nobody is that upset either.

Dog is kept downstairs with stair gate on bottom of stairs so cats have run of the upstairs and if we're downstairs I'm generally around to supervise them together and ensure the dog behaves.

We adopted a 12 year old boy from our local canil 3 months ago. He’s been perfect from day 1.

Happy in the car, no accidents in the house, good with our cats, sleeps all night in bed with us - basically just happy to be with us.

He’s such a great dog

My street dog was the.most unimaginable arsehole to begin with and we nearly gave up but he's wonderful now.

I have two rescue dogs, one is the perfect pet, calm, friendly, easy going. The other is high strung and anxious, but with patience and help from a good behaviourist she’s now a much happier dog. A good rehoming centre will match you with a dog that suits your household and lifestyle, and will also provide on going support with any issues you have with her.

We had a retired greyhound. Total oddball and a bit anxious at times but the easiest, laziest, cleanest, quietest dog ever.

Yes, I’m on my third rescue Dog and she is an angel. It’s all down to the individual Dog!

We have two dogs. One from a puppy who was incredibly hard work and one at 5 months from a from a rescue who was an absolute dream. They’re both old now at 11 and 13 so very chilled and easy. I would absolutely get a rescue again.

Thanks everyone, awww im
so inspired by all these lovely rescue doggies!
an update - I had the interview, all good and she seemed keen because we had experience of dogs and also a large garden and access to countryside.
I reminded that I am away beginning of March for two weeks so couldn’t have the dog til mid March, although I could visit before I go.
tuens out dog is still in Cyprus in foster care there, and is being flown over here this Friday! She asked if I could sort out a pet sitter for when I’m away.
i said no because I would only have the dog for two weeks then leave for two weeks- it put me off.

We’ve had loads of rescues. I’d never have anything else. Three of them
have had issues when they came (one had had four previous homes before he was a year old, he was just high energy and settled with us as we have land and other dogs. One had been in a domestic abuse household and was terrified of men. One was a Romanian street dog, not house trained and also terrified of men). All of them, without exception, have turned into fabulous family dogs given time to settle. I don’t think they are any harder work than a puppy really. Three of them were pedigree, well bred labs- and they still ended up in rescue.
Just go into this with your eyes open. The fact that the dog is in foster with other dogs and animals is good. However it may feel anxious leaving a pack and becoming a lone pet. I always think one of the reasons our “damaged” rescues have settled so well is because the existing dog(s) were happy and settled, so gave them confidence.

pic of our Romanian street dog asleep in front of me. She’s now 12 and has been with us 11 years. She’s been a little poppet from the start, but she is small and doesn’t have the shepherd type breeding that occasionally seems to be difficult to adapt to domestic life.

Yes, if you work with the welfare society that rescued the dog, so they help ensure you're a good match. And going for dog training sessions is important, both for the dog's socialising, and support for you and your kids in how to help you all live together happily. Remember most rescue dogs have done nothing wrong, in most cases people have let them down, by getting them without being committed to giving them a good home forever (of course in some cases, the owner has suffered a tragedy and is unable to keep them, but that isn't the dog's fault either).

Why won’t you rescue from a UK centre OP? If anything gos wrong how do you liaise with the rescue centre?

I adopted a dog from Serbia Jun 2022. Hes our 3rd. He had been in kennels there the longest. Hes lovely. Quirky. Never 100% relaxed. Skitzy. Wouldnt come in. Didn't know what mirrors...stairs...tv were. Hates baths and nail clips. Wee'd in the house for a bit until a routine was learned. Wont lie on or in a dog bed. Only a flat pad. Took a year for him to attempt to get on the settee. Tries to be tough sometimes. But hes soft as butter. Wasn't sure how it would go...now he walks off lead and listens to commands and loves wet washing to rub his head on...and a bum scratch! Wouldnt part with him for anything. Good luck. And well done for rescuing

My darling Bella was a rescue dog. She was the only dog that stole food from me. She took half a sandwich from a coffee table.

We don't know what her life was like before she came to us, but our vet reckoned she'd been neglected as she developed a heart condition that can be caused by poor nutrition.

we only had her for three years before she died,but that dog held my heart in her little paw.

she was such a very good girl. She was a Staffy and wasn't awfully keen on other dogs, but she was fantastic with us and very obedient apart from the time she stole half my ham sandwich.

you'll never know what has happened to a rescue dog, or if you can begin to put right any of the wrong that's been done. But if you're lucky, like we were, you might get a dog like Bella who we were able to help, and who gave us so much love in return.