Our Top Tips For Adopting A Rescue dog

Staying smart with money

There’s no doubt about it, dogs can be expensive. Start by taking the time to work through costs and decide if you can realistically afford a dog. Dogs are a long-term financial commitment, so it’s worth thinking about both now and the future. This will help you feel more confident about providing a safe and comfortable home for your new family member.

Whilst every dog is different, Woodgreen estimates that it can cost around £100 per dog, per month, in addition to the up-front expenses.

Here are the main costs to think about:

• Pet insurance and/or vet costs
• Leads, collars and identity tags
• Beds, bowls and toys
• Initial vaccinations and the subsequent boosters
• Microchipping
• Nourishing dog food
• Neutering
• Kennel or dog-sitting fees for holidays
• Car restraints
• Regular worming and flea treatments

One thing money can’t buy is time, so you should also consider whether you have the time to give the love, care and attention that your rescue dog deserves.

Thinking about food

Good food = good mood!

The charity you’re adopting your dog from will share specific advice and information related to your dog’s food needs.

If you’re planning on changing your dog’s diet, make sure they’re settled into their forever home first and then change their food gradually to help prevent an upset stomach. Try mixing a small amount of their new food in with their old food, increasing the amount of their new food over a week to 10 days.

A tasty complete and balanced food will get your dog’s tail wagging and give you the reassurance that they’re getting all the nutrients they need to stay happy and healthy.

All of our nourishing food for dogs is 100% complete and balanced and made with natural ingredients and British & Irish produce. Wet dog food has many benefits, including that it’s easier to eat and provides natural nutrition and hydration. Remember to ensure that fresh, room-temperature drinking water is always available too.

The amount of food needed is different for every dog as calorie requirements can be influenced by age, breed, sex, neuter status and activity level. Use the guide on the back of your dog’s food as a starting point, but regularly check their body condition to ensure you’re not over or under-feeding. Our Nutritionist, Sara, has plenty of other tips on managing your dog’s weight here.

Keeping your four-legged friend happy

Exercise and playtime are really important and ideally, your rescue dog will enjoy two good walks a day.

Some time off the lead on your walkies will give your dog the chance to explore. However, it’s worth finding a local, secure training field to test their recall and practice their training first. If your rescue centre advises that your dog can’t have off-lead walks, try using a longline instead so they can still explore without the risk of them running off.

If their background and personality allow, it’s good for them to be social with other dogs and people. This should be done calmly and gradually. Habituation is just as important too, which means getting your dog used to things as part of their environment – like livestock and traffic. It’s a good idea to habituate them to other dogs and people too, so they check in with you for a treat rather than excitedly chasing off after everyone and everything!

Don’t forget about mental stimulation either. It keeps their brain busy and helps with training and confidence during alone time. Whether through training classes, food-based activity toys or fun agility games, keep your dog sharp and engaged through play and enrichment. And remember, different breeds will have different activity levels and needs.

Phew! After all that busyness and fun, make sure your pup has somewhere quiet at home so they can rest and relax too.