How to adopt an adult dog

We looked for over 2 years to rehome a small older dog and despite it just being two active adults at home all day with garden and open space on the doorstep, we we got nowhere. Dogs Trust who we had approached on a few occasions and who hadn’t got back to us constantly contacted us asking fir money for all the ‘poor unwanted’ dogs they needed to rehome. What was that about?
We gave up in the end .

Rather than importing dogs who as experienced posters acknowledge, may never adapt to domestic life, money should be spent neutering dogs in the country of origin.

It isn’t ‘looking down’ on rescues from Tunisia, India, eastern / southern Europe to highlight the issues so many of them have. It also isn’t ‘just about training’. Life isn’t that simple.

Indeed. The costs of bringing one dog to this country would pay for the neutering and care of many in their country of origin.

Iam64

Rather than importing dogs who as experienced posters acknowledge, may never adapt to domestic life, money should be spent neutering dogs in the country of origin.

It isn’t ‘looking down’ on rescues from Tunisia, India, eastern / southern Europe to highlight the issues so many of them have. It also isn’t ‘just about training’. Life isn’t that simple.

Have you seen silverlining48 ‘s remark ?
As far as the remark about importing dogs from other countries that won’t adapt . Nonsense! I have had 3 imports and they all adapted with one on one training. I am not sure why the aggression about taking comes from. We don’t know in the one example cited if that person with the uncontrollable dogs ever bothered to give the dogs training.

And if they don’t adapt? Shipped off to the nearest overflowing UK rescue centre?

I don’t see any aggression - simply comments from people who are also experienced in rehabilitating and rescuing dogs.

Yes our rescues are very careful about matching and placing. They see the dogs who bounce back. They also take in dogs imported where their placement failed.
Syracute, your individual experience with 3 dogs is good. Those of us involved in rehab and rehoming see many dogs with complex long term needs.

Not all adopters have the commitment or experience needed.

Germanshepherdsmum

Indeed. The costs of bringing one dog to this country would pay for the neutering and care of many in their country of origin.

I totally get what you are saying. And the post about not adapting too.

In our case, Yata (Princesse) was found by a friend, being stoned by local people, after all the other street dogs had been shot with permission from the Governement over a period of days.

My friend could not leave her there to be stoned, and took her in. I am sure you would have done the same. And of course could not find a home for her locally. All the local expats already have many they have found on the street or beach theselves- and my friend had several and many cats too.

As for adapting- the open kennel she was in whilst waiting for a forever home, vaccinations and passporting, had assessed her as being 100% suitable for rehoming. 6 months later, she is a different dog and such a joy. But yes, the question about what happens if the dog does not adapt is very valid.

It is also very possible (I know) to adopt a dog from abroad AND support local rescues, AND support charities back in the country of origin to sterilise. We have found out since adopting Yata, that she was sterilised at some point.

Simple rules for adopting an adult/rescue dog - tear up all the dog training handbooks and commit these to memory. 🐶

love it RosiesMaw and so true

Not forgetting this! 🐶

Brilliant RosiesMaw.
I’m sharing the sofa with a huge lab who yiu guessed, was not allowed on the sofa until his 3rd birthday recently. I say sharing - guess who takes up most room

We rescued Dylan from the charity, Spanish Griffon Rescue, as our local animal rescues were very slow to offer a dog for adoption, although we’d had dogs for years. He’s been with us for nearly six years now. He’s loved by all the family and their dogs.

Why were your local rescues very slow to offer you a dog?

We registered with dogs trust and battersea and applied to rehome about 6 or 7 specific dogs over a two year period. They didn’t even respond to our initial applications and we got no response apart from requests fir £££.
On Paper we were ideal candidates but neither organisation was interested.
Why? I have no idea.

Why didn’t you cast your net wider? There are so many UK rescues. Applying to adopt six or seven specific dogs over two years isn’t a lot. We have never been turned down by a rescue centre. One of our dogs came from Battersea.

Most centres stated adopters had to live less than an hours drive which limited our search

I tried for some time to get a rescue dog and in the end came to the conclusion my age may be a factor in not finding a match. They can't actually say that of course.

I now have a retired breeding bitch from a local kennels. She's eight years old and as soppy as they come, loving the individual attention. She knows her name and a few basic commands - and is house trained. Being a country dog now living in town life now is very different so she's a bit clingy and unsure of herself, but confident. Puppies have to come from somewhere - it may be worth looking for your local breeders.

I can highly recommend re homing a retired greyhound. They are so laid back and gentle, mine doesn't even bark. They sleep most of the day and only need 2 short walks a day. I got mine after I retired and we are both enjoying our retirement together. Try the Greyhound Trust.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202311/medium-536464-206ddf72-14e1-4801-8f49-f220872a7b21.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202311/medium-430853-50297166-0731-4f54-aac1-cf364780c1db.jpeg

sf101

I can highly recommend re homing a retired greyhound. They are so laid back and gentle, mine doesn't even bark. They sleep most of the day and only need 2 short walks a day. I got mine after I retired and we are both enjoying our retirement together. Try the Greyhound Trust.

Yes, yes, yes! 👏👏👏
But I think OP wanted a small dog.
If adopting a greyhound the purchase of an extra sofa is usually necessary, but think of the money you will save by not switching on your leccy blanket at night!
(Rosie is currently my fifth ) 😍😍

We wanted to rehome a small dog though agree greyhounds are lovely dogs and there were many looking for homes when we were searching.

Try a breed rescue or Oldies Club, but be prepared that your current elderly dog may absolutely not tolerate a strange adult dog joining her home, meeting on neutral ground first is vital.

We have always had rescue dogs, always from a local rescue near us. Our last dog died, a border collie, Finn in March this year. Due to health reasons, l felt l needed an older dog.
I applied to the local rescue, we have used them for the past 30 years. They told me l was unsuitable as l didn't drive, how would l get the dog to the vet. My late DH husband had been ill for the past 2 years l had successfully managed to get Finn to the vets monthly. Another reason 8 year old visiting granddaughter.
I turned to Safe Rescue for Dogs in Norfolk. They are a fantastic charity, yes the dogs come from Romania, they go and get them themselves. However, they do take in dogs from this country too. I had to have a homecheck and visit the dog in situ, they are in foster so they can be assessed. That was after l explained in detailed what kind of dog l was looking, l don't mean looks just temperament and size. I ended up with Toby, he is the kindest, most gentle dog l have ever had. He adores everyone, why l don't know as he spent at least 8 or 9 years in that shelter in Romania. He is approximately 11 or 12 now.
I cannot express how much joy this old boy has brought into my life.

Mayal 🐶🐕💖

If you have a particular breed (or more than one) there are rescue societies for most breeds. In the past I've adopted dogs through Westie Rescue and Cairn Rescue.