Owning a Dog
A dog is a wonderful friend and companion; BUT - you will have to make some adjustments to your life, to accommodate him and make him comfortable and look after him properly.
2) A dog should never be left in a car - even light sunshine can heat a car very quickly. A dog should not be confined to the rear of a hatchback for this reason.
3) A dog likes a routine - it will help him settle to know meals and walks and bed all come at the same time. They have their own clocks that are much more reliable than ours! Rain or shine or snow even a small dog needs to be walked daily - preferably twice, morning and evening. On a cold and wet winter morning are you going to feel like walking the dog? To be exercised properly a dog needs to be off the lead (in the right place of course) so that it can have a good run. Do not rush this though; if he was a stray he may have got lost in exactly these circumstances. A dog must be well trained in recall. Why should he come back to you just because you shout?
4) You are unlikely to get a dog that is already trained. A dog which does not do what its told and is unruly when its being exercised, is a menace and makes life very difficult for its owner.
5) If you have not had a dog before please consider the expenses you will have to incur very carefully. The cheapest food will not be the best for them. All dogs should have their own bed (or armchair) toys, collars, leads, etc. And then there are the vet bills. Injections and worming every year are about £40 and each visit to the vet is a minimum of £20. You must be able to afford the eventuality of vets bills if you take a dog from us. We have special rates with our vets. Long haired and scruffy dogs will need regular grooming - about £25.
6) Before he/she arrives, decide where they are going to sleep and settle them there as quickly as possible. A dog that has been rescued and rehomed will take a little while to adjust to new surroundings and learn to accept his new life and new family. Once in bed he should be left alone; this should always be the rule if there are children around. His bed should be a quiet peaceful zone.
7) Your new pet will need brushing regularly, teeth cleaning, treatment for fleas and checking ears for mites and the rest of him for ticks. Are you happy to do all this? It is a good idea to get a first aid for dogs book to keep handy.
8) For all the happiness a dog will bring into your life it can be a terrible tie. What arrangements will you make when you want to go out for the evening, away for the day, off for the weekend, or on holiday? Boarding kennels need to be checked out thoroughly. We may be able to look after your dog if you go away.
9) Dogs are personalities just like us. And just like us they will have good and bad traits and you may have some problems with a rescued dog. Each case requires patience and calm, gentle handling for as long as it takes to settle the dog and gain his trust. Your dog will not come with a good behaviour certificate or an "I will sleep all night" promise and the first few days/week will need you to be around him all the time to reassure him. You must be patient, never ever shout, gentle and loving if you are to make him into a friend.
Finally, insurance is highly recommended for the emergency sickness, at a weekend, or accident that you never think will happen to you. Vets' fees outside normal working hours are extremely high and if your dog is ill or injured you must get veterinary attention for it immediately. It's no good waiting until Monday. If you adopt a dog from Waggy Tails Rescue you automatically get 6 weeks free insurance and we recommend you renew this before it expires.
We do not home with families during the month of December. There is too much excitement in a family home in the run up to Christmas for the dog to get the attention it needs initially and for it to be able to settle easily.
