| Choosing a rescue dog can be a difficult | | | | rescue dog to choose is whether you have time |
| choice -all of our Spanish strays are so | | | | to spend grooming a long coat. If not stick |
| grateful and lovable, and make such wonderful | | | | to a dog with short hair as long coats need |
| pets, I wonder why anybody would ever want to | | | | regular attention to keep them healthy. |
| buy from a breeder. | | | | |
| | | | Dog or Bitch? I personally really don't have |
| If you have made up your mind to take one of | | | | a preference. |
| our strays, or indeed, any other rescued dog, | | | | |
| do think very carefully about which kind of | | | | All our dogs are neutered before arriving in |
| dog would suit your particular lifestyle. The | | | | England for rehoming, and they all have |
| last thing an unwanted dog needs is to find a | | | | distinct personalities. |
| loving home only to discover that after a | | | | |
| short while he is unloved again and | | | | If you already have one dog it is usually |
| considered a nuisance. | | | | best to choose a second one of the opposite |
| | | | sex, to avoid competion as to who is going to |
| If you are at home a good deal of the time | | | | be "top dog". |
| and are active, there is no reason not to | | | | |
| enjoy long walks with a larger active dog | | | | If your reason for taking on a rescued dog is |
| providing you have the space to accommodate | | | | to provide your existing dog with a friend, |
| him. | | | | please be sure that you have the patience and |
| | | | ability to persevere in the event that the |
| Many large dogs such as greyhounds or big | | | | first dog does not like or accept his new |
| heavy dogs do not need as much exercise as | | | | friend. |
| smaller highly strung dogs- and greyhounds in | | | | |
| particular usually make docile pets. | | | | A couple of dogs have been returned to me for |
| | | | this reason, not through any fault of their |
| If you work part-time (you really should not | | | | own, just because the owners had not thought |
| consider taking a dog if there is nobody at | | | | it through first, and all it achieve was to |
| home all day) a smaller less active dog would | | | | make an insecure little dog even more |
| not require such lengthy walks although many | | | | insecure. |
| small dogs are highly active. You should ask | | | | |
| advice to the dog's particular needs from the | | | | Young or Old? Lastly do consider an "oldie" |
| refuge where the dog has been looked after. | | | | if you can. They are usually wonderful pets |
| | | | and great characters. It is so sad that they |
| Don't expect miracles when your dog first | | | | are forgotten especially whenif like our |
| arrives. He will be very confused especially | | | | Spanish strays they have been confined to a |
| if he is one of our Spanish dogs who may well | | | | refuge for years. Some say they are |
| have spent years in the refuge or tied up | | | | institutionalised and will not settle but |
| somewhere. | | | | this simply is not true. I have rehomed |
| | | | several (whom were thought to be quite |
| With quiet love and understanding he will | | | | ancient) but am pleased to say they are still |
| settle. Just give him his own time and space | | | | going strong after five or six years! |
| to adjust. So many people want to make a big | | | | |
| fuss of the dog when he arrives, inviting | | | | Whichever dog you decide on make sure you |
| friends and family to meet him - but there | | | | have given the matter some careful thought. |
| will be plenty of time in the future for | | | | |
| this. Leave him be, just speaking in a | | | | Think carefully before taking him Do not |
| friendly tone to him as you go about the | | | | expect too much from him at first Give him |
| house. The less fuss you make- so will he. | | | | lots of love and you will receive lots in |
| | | | return! |
| Another consideration when deciding which | | | | |