Adopting a Rescue Dog

Ever wondered what it’s like to adopt one of our dogs? Depending on the dog, their previous life, past experiences and their personality, it could be a very different experience for everyone. That’s why we are very careful to match the dog to the home, to ensure we do as much as we can to set the adoption up to succeed.

Diesel has been in his home for just under two years, and here his lovely mum and dad explain what it was like introducing him into their lives, and how our Post Homing Support Team have been invaluable in helping him settle in.

Everybody who adopts one of our dogs is entitled to free behavioural support for the lifetime of that dog. This helps dogs like Diesel stay in homes, and become a very much loved member of the family!

The honesty about adopting Diesel is that it hasn’t been plain sailing. He is an incredibly sensitive soul but one with so much love. It became apparent within a few weeks that Diesel’s previous life was limited, I don’t think he understood what dogs, traffic, guests in a house, or anything particularly was. The post homing behaviourist support team were fantastic, simple as that, fantastic, and even through a lockdown provided all the guidance we needed. There was never any thought in our mind we were going to give up on Diesel.

We devoted ourselves to him, to give him the life he deserves. And with that his fears and worries have improved ten-fold. His previous severe reactivity has come on leaps and bounds, his severe separation distress has even improved.

We did a DNA test on Diesel and his main mix as a lurcher is greyhound and collie, he has fantastic stamina and is a wonderful walking and canicross buddy. As much as we love the outdoors with Diesel, the curling up next to us on the sofa is just as precious.

Sighthounds are so misunderstood, they are such a wonderful breed. Those dogs with the quirks, they deserve everything just as much as those that don’t, they deserve people to persist with the struggles. No dog is ‘perfect’.

The loyalty and love he shows us, is honestly hand on heart worth all of it. I truly believe he is so happy now. The long off road walks, pub lunches, watching him making dog friends. Our hearts are very full because of him. ❤️

Harriet