How Do I Find a ‘Good’ Rescue Dog?

As a dog trainer and behaviourist I am often called about dogs that have just come to a new family from an animal shelter. In this article I want you to consider some of the factors in what would make the best kind of rescue dog for you.

Whilst cruelty cases are what most people think they are going to see when they get a rescue dog, more often than not in my experience this isn’t the case. Often it’s a dog that hasn’t had the right start due to poor or ill-informed choice. Often the dog hasn’t had decent social experience. Or, they just got as big as the owners knew they would get, but couldn’t handle. It’s very sad but sometimes I have to support the rehoming decision.

So it is something I am particularly passionate about – trying to make sure that any dog, no matter what breed, gets a home that is appropriate.

If you are looking, be prepared to wait for the right dog. And wait. And wait. When you visit a shelter, all the dogs are extremely appealing but a good shelter won’t let you take a dog straightaway.

A shelter operator may tell you that a certain dog is not really suitable for you,. This may make you all the more determined to prove them wrong, but do listen to them. No doubt they have experience of dogs being returned – yes, it does happen. Try to see beyond looks. I am a mongrel fan, I don’t really care what the dog looks like as long as I can see its temperament.

Look for the dogs that appear relaxed, not frantic. Don’t mistake ‘relaxed’ with ‘shut down’ body language. Some dogs find a kennel environment stressful and you will not be seeing the true dog. If you can look for a dog that is happy to approach, tail not under but also not stuck up like a waving flag. Panting can be a sign of stress, as can lowered head, licking and yawning. Many dogs in shelters bark simply because they are joining in, so don’t let this put you off. You should bear in mind that this may of course be caused by you standing there looking at them! Something to bear in mind – could be fear – but not always. So take your time, ask if you can see the dog away from the kennel and maybe take it for a walk and a play. Try to do this more than once!

If possible, aim to foster the dog for a while. In this way you can learn about each other and it gives you the chance to see if your choice was appropriate.

A sensitive dog can be a great, and very loving companion. At the same time, sensitivity means the slightest thing can affect the dog and sometimes they hate to be left alone. A busy, lively dog will be a fantastic training opportunity and will work, and work. They will also work, and work when you are crying out for a rest. Look for balance and remember, if you are looking at an adult dog, you have a pretty reliable idea of how they will be. This can be very useful!

Be prepared with any rescue dog that you will need a great deal of patience and understanding. Give them a chance to learn that at times, you will go out and leave them. Give them a chance to learn the house rules before being too ready to correct what they are doing. Remember that some rescue dogs have been badly undersocialised and they will need you to take over that process and help them make the unusual, usual.

If you make the wrong choice? My advice is, do NOT feel guilty about going back to the shelter. Most good shelters and trainers will help with settling in and will support you no matter what you decide. One of my most successful cases was a client that was on the point of giving up and returning her newly rescued dog, only to have a major breakthrough after a weekend of mutual learning! Two years on and the dog (and owner) are doing wonderfully.

You should be prepared to invest in a good local trainer and maybe even a behaviourist (your Vet will refer you to an APBC member). Find someone that has a proper accreditation and a qualification from a recognized national education provider. Avoid anyone that calls themselves a bizarre title. I am happy to be plainly known as a dog trainer, and a behaviorist. Ask to see their code of practice, and check their credentials. Avoid any franchises and of course, anyone that talks about packs, dominance or uses harsh handing haven’t kept their skills up to date. Your new dog deserves the very best, and decent trainers usually don’t cost the most, so take heart!

Of the dogs I see, the rescue dogs are the most rewarding challenges for the owners. I have seen some amazing successes where owners are clear, kind, but most of all, prepared.

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Karen Wild BA (Hons) Dip App Psy, is a full-time U.K. dog trainer and behaviour consultant with 17 years in the field. She has a degree and diploma in Psychology from the University of Nottingham, is a full member of the APBC and is an ABIPDT. Karen’s work has ranged from class teaching, obedience, flyball, agility and working trials competition to running a popular dog display team. When she started her own family Karen realised there was a genuine need for one-to-one help in the family environment. She formed her company Pawprint for behavioural consultations and training, and Intellidogs which specialises in online advice in this area. Her passion is to create and rebuild the ‘enjoyment factor’ that can come from family dog ownership. Karen strongly believes that there is ‘always a way’ and prides herself on her commitment to uniting families with their dogs in the gentlest way possible. Karen’s work with dogs and young people includes her current programme to bring more dogs into schools in the UK. Her writing has been published in Dogs Today Magazine and she is a regular blogger for Dr Ian Dunbar’s revolutionary website, Dog Star Daily. Karen’s family focused approach to dog training can be accessed via her site or why not link up on Twitter?

How A New Family Can Give Rescue Dogs a New Life

It was nearly seventeen years ago that I spotted a little grey bundle in a rescue kennels. He was an odd looking thing, with a grizzled coat that stuck out all over the place, and a Jack Russell head with eyes that didn’t look terribly interested in me peering at him. He was only 2, but he looked ancient!

At the time I simply wanted a dog. Any dog. A dog of my own. I wanted a rescue dog. I took him for a walk and not much happened. That weekend I took him home. He was a very withdrawn little mutt.

As it turned out, he became the start of my career. After many struggles and a lot of work, he became Pepper, ‘The Flying Flea’ or his official working register Kennel Club name ‘Red Hot Chilli Pepper’. He did Agility, Obedience, Working Trials training and was the ‘small dog’ in the ‘Superdogs’ Display team.

Can every rescue dog be given a new lease of life? The success stories are many, and they are out there for everyone to see. It’s not easy, it’s not always cheap, but nothing worth having in life is a simple walk in the park.

Often in my work I get calls from owners asking if an older dog can be trained. The answer is, yes. Pepper learned to “wave” when he was 15 years old, and in the year before he died, he learned to bark to call me when he couldn’t manage to reach something.

It may be your rescue dog didn’t get the chance to learn about life and ‘normality’. It will take them a long time to adjust to what you take for granted as familiar. Often these are the dogs that need careful, long-term social experience. They need to go at their own pace – and you need to help them. You will learn about fear and stress signals and you will become your dog’s guardian.

Taking on an adult dog from a shelter is sometimes complex when that dog arrives in your home. It’s not always straightforward. Neither is getting a new puppy, so it’s not always the better choice! An adult rescue dog has probably learned an awful lot already, so part of the fun is finding out what they know – and what they never learned, and also teaching new habits that suit you.

I have seen several cases where the families called me the day they brought their rescue dog home. Perfect! This meant that any worries they had, they could ask me to assess what to do next. As months pass, they mould these dogs into good citizens. Sometimes, the dogs are just relieved to be somewhere where they can adapt and learn without fear.

Get yourself a good trainer – someone qualified, with proper credentials, with a code of practice, and no harsh methods or talk of old-fashioned dominance theory. Give your new dog the best chance you can. Keep notes of the early days so you can look back at how far you have come. You will be amazed!

With Pepper I learned a huge amount about training a terrier. About their determination, and about my own patience. About the benefit of silence and observation.

And the love, oh the fun and the feeling that I gave him a chance. I will never forget the day a lady came over after a dog display we had just completed, pulled a roast beef joint from her bicycle basket, and stuffed a wodge of it into Pepper’s mouth. He was extremely happy about that part of his career!

So folks, if you want to blame anyone for my presence on this site today (and on my own site www.karenwild.co.uk) then the fault lies with rescue dogs!

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Karen Wild BA (Hons) Dip App Psy, is a full-time U.K. dog trainer and behaviour consultant with 17 years in the field. She has a degree and diploma in Psychology from the University of Nottingham, is a full member of the APBC and is an ABIPDT. Karen’s work has ranged from class teaching, obedience, flyball, agility and working trials competition to running a popular dog display team. When she started her own family Karen realised there was a genuine need for one-to-one help in the family environment. She formed her company Pawprint for behavioural consultations and training, and Intellidogs which specialises in online advice in this area. Her passion is to create and rebuild the ‘enjoyment factor’ that can come from family dog ownership. Karen strongly believes that there is ‘always a way’ and prides herself on her commitment to uniting families with their dogs in the gentlest way possible. Karen’s work with dogs and young people includes her current programme to bring more dogs into schools in the UK. Her writing has been published in Dogs Today Magazine and she is a regular blogger for Dr Ian Dunbar’s revolutionary website, Dog Star Daily. Karen’s family focused approach to dog training can be accessed via her site or why not link up on Twitter?

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I Brought Fluffy Home This Morning, Now What?

When you bring a shelter or rescue pet home, chances are good, you’ve got an adolescent. While there are the occasional puppy and elderly dog adoptions, primarily, shelters receive dogs between 1-3 years of age.

Regardless of what kind of dog you get, where you got it, and what kind of training you have done, the adolescent phase is characterized by the first appearance of some behaviors. Although things like reduced responsiveness to commands, running away, digging, barking, destructive behavior, humping, challenging other dogs, and others are typical for the phase, these behaviors are unwanted behaviors, which explains the frequent surrender of these dogs.

On the positive side, adolescent dogs have the ability to focus on training in a much more intense way than they could as puppies. So, whether you get a shelter “teen” or have raised a puppy into a teen, adolescence is an ideal time to train dogs into stable, reliable adult companions.

Ideally, a dog adopted as an adolescent will go with his owner directly into a humane, effective group or private training class from day one. Many people feel that the dog needs to adjust, and that the dog will adjust most rapidly without their participation, which they call “interference”. Nothing could be further from the truth! Helping your dog acclimate by developing a clear communication system as the foundation of your relationship is the perfect way to start bonding from day one.

Another common misconception is that dogs will “outgrow” bad behaviors. The behaviors practiced through adolescence –whether good or bad– eventually become lifelong adult habits. Proper guidance will ensure that your dog’s lifelong habits are the ones you like.

If you are seeing troublesome behaviors, such as biting, growl, resource guarding, fighting with other dogs, etc., private training is the best place for you, then a group class specializing in “troubled dogs”, followed by a “normal” group class is the best way to ensure your and your dog’s successful resolution of behavior problems.

In selecting a professional, there are many styles of training that can be both humane AND effective. No one style of training works for all dogs. All approaches have potential side effects. However, all good training provides consistency, patience, lack of anger or frustration, no hitting, yelling, or kicking. Reward-only training is a great way to start, but it can tax the patience of both dog and owner, as you simply wait for the dog to do the right thing & reward it. Punishment-only training is a very poor way to start a trusting relationship with a new addition! There are a number of blended styles that use both active reward and humane & non-painful punishment to encourage the dog’s behavior.

To establish if your potential professional is reputable, don’t rely too heavily on stories from a few owners, who may not be able to accurately assess why their dog succeeded and how your dog compares. References from dog-savvy individuals, like other pro trainers, dog sport competitors, active members of rescue organizations, and reputable breeders.

Always look for a professional who has experience with re-homed dogs. They may pick up on potential issues that you can avoid, preventing problems before they arise.

Nicole Silvers owns Silver Sky Canine Behavior Consulting, llc, providing in-home private training. She specializes in adopted adolescent dogs, often with extreme behaviors.