Look, let’s get this straight — adopting the adorable rescue pup is not always going to be a walk in the park. In fact, it might be more pulling, running, cleaning up and coaxing at first. A guy I know once picked up a cute 4-month old puppy at a shelter on a Friday afternoon and took it home. By Monday the confused little guy was back in the rescue pen. Yes, he said, the puppy didn’t want to walk on his leash, was scared of the big dogs in the park, cried all night and pooped on his new rug. Uhm, well, duh, I wanted to say, what were you expecting?
The reality is this: adopting an often traumatised rescue dog might be more challenging than buying a well-socialised puppy from an experienced breeder. However, offering a safe and loving home to an animal soul in need can be extremely rewarding and often the ensuing bond between owner and dog are everlasting.
To get some insight into the do’s and don’ts of adopting a rescue dog, we wanted to speak to a real expert on the subject. We managed to get 10 minutes with Scraps, a handsome three-year old adopted Labricanis Rottriever and called in the help of a reliable animal communication specialist to translate.
Q:
Scraps, there’s a good boy! Firstly, thanks for making time in your busy schedule for us.
A:
Licks hand. Wags tail.
[Translation: No problem, mate.]
Q:
Can you tell a bit about your roots?
A:
Covers ears with paws. Tenses up. Puts his tail between his legs.
[Translation:
Yes, look, it was rough. I was born onto a cold, dirty concrete floor in a backyard crammed with about 13 other hungry pups. At some point our ‘owner’ disappeared, so mommy got ill and escaped through the fence in order to try and get some food so she could continue to feed us… the older dogs in the yard killed two of my sisters. Luckily, someone heard our constant crying and reported us to a rescue dog charity.]
Q:
Geez, that sounds terrible. So you were basically deeply traumatised when your owner adopted you?
A:
Licks his coat, sits up straight, with tongue hanging out. Gradually starts wagging tail more and more.
[Translation:
Yes, when Melissa took me home, I was very scared. I didn’t know who to trust. Also, I think Melissa felt sorry for me at first, which meant that I saw her as weak. What I was looking for was a pack leader to follow. Gradually, by being consistent, calm, strong and confident, she gained my trust and respect.]
Q:
I’ve heard some people say that purebred dogs make better pets and are genetically more healthy…
A:
Growls softly, then licks my hand and puts his head in my lap.
[Translation:
Tell them to say that to my face! No, seriously, while Melissa was surfing the net the other day, I actually saw an article about a study that was done by scientists in 2013. They studied over 27 000 dogs with inherited genetic disorders and found that for 10 of those disorders, the incidence was far greater in purebred dogs. Mixed breeds were more likely to get one disorder, while for the rest of the disorders, there was no difference in incidence between mixed and purebred dogs. So, yes, actually mongrels like me tend to be a little healthier if anything…]
Q:
Wow, interesting, that’s a mouthful. Speaking of which, here’s a little treat.
A:
Nom-nom-nom.
[Translation: thanks, man]
Q:
Last question, can you give any other advice to people wanting to adopt a rescue dog?
A:
Sits, licks his lip, wags his tail.
[Translation: How about another snack?!]
Here you go…
Nom-nom-nom, rolls onto back, rubs his back on the grass. Barks playfully.
[Translation:
Socialising your rescue dog as much as possible is very important. Going for walks and runs will strengthen your bond as a pack. It will also prevent unwanted behaviour like incessant barking. If your dog shows aggressive behaviour, you can start by taking your dog for walks with other dogs instead of them meeting face to face. Most importantly, always reinforce good behaviour by rewarding your dog and praising him or her. Positive reinforcement works much, much better than punishment — especially when house-training a puppy.
Q:
One last question…
A:
Bark, bark, bark, runs in a circle.
[Translation:
No, you already had your last question. Play time! Play time! Play time!]
Okay, off you go Scraps. Good boy, enjoy the park!
Well, there you have it. Straight from the rescue dog’s mouth. Always remember that a puppy should never be given as a gift to someone if the responsibility of ownership has not been discussed in depth. If you are serious about adopting a dog, there are many animal shelters and organisations with wonderful dogs looking for homes.
Support your local shelter and save a life by adopting a dog.
Good luck and have fun sharing the love!
