📣 This article assumes that you have already read our collection of articles entitled, "ROMANIAN / OVERSEAS RESCUE DOGS", which are blog articles 1 - 10 (excluding number 7.) This article is intended as a continuation of that series. If you haven’t already done so, we would recommend you read those articles before continuing to read this article. Please also read our last blog article, which forms part 1, this is part 2! 📣 Here we look at how us as humans & doggy "pawrents" need to adjust our mindset & expectations for a new Romanian or overseas rescue dog. 📣
Wouldn't it be perfect & ideal if a new dog (whether it be a puppy or a rescue dog) could come along & instantly fit in with us, our family & our lifestyle? Wouldn't it be brilliant if the new dog quickly & effortlessly adapted to their new home environment without needing any time to adjust at all & without needing any training? Crikey, all of this would be amazing but... it's rare! Plus it's unrealistic to expect any of this, even if a dog has previously lived in a home environment. This is where adjusting your mindset, approach & expectations for a new Romanian or overseas rescue dog are so important! (Well, any new rescue dog, really!)
We would suggest that for any new dog, you should EXPECT NOTHING of them at all, then you just might be pleasantly surprised!
Realistically, you can expect that your new dog might pee on your favourite rug, at least initially, either through anxiety or because they need some house training. Your new dog is bound to feel anxious, scared, confused & overwhelmed at first, needing time & space to settle. We've already talked about placing yourself in your new dog's shoes in previous blog articles. Just remember how you felt when you started a new job & how you felt whilst trying to learn the new job, surrounded by new people & in a new & different working environment. It's no different for them!
Your new dog is as unique as you, you will need to take the time to get to know them & their unique personality, building their trust & always moving at THEIR pace.
Remember, just like in human relationships, trust is earnt & not given!
Your new dog may well have had some bad experiences with humans so, for some dogs, trust might be harder to achieve & take a bit more time... But, you get out what you put in!
For Romanian & overseas originating rescue dogs, this couldn’t be anymore true. As we already covered in part 1 (please read part 1 before you continue with this article, which is part 2) these dogs may have lived very different lives to their U.K. counterparts. These dogs have often lived as strays, they have had the opportunity to develop street smarts in reaction to their difficulties & environment, & they have somehow managed to survive under the harshest of circumstances. Some of these dogs have been abused or subjected to the worst treatment imaginable. We have already looked at some of our dogs' backstories. I think you will agree that these dogs are nothing short of amazing, little miracles in fact, where it really is a case of survival of the fittest!
So, this is where you come in. If you seriously want to adopt a Romanian or overseas originating rescue dog, you need to be PREPARED FOR ANYTHING, WILLING TO ACCEPT ANYTHING & WELCOME THEM WITH AN OPEN MIND & OPEN HEART. As a part of all of this, you must be willing to TEAR UP YOUR OWN RULE BOOK & ANY EXPECTATIONS OR PRECONCEIVED IDEAS & IDEALS that you might hold, even if you've previously owned any rescue dog or dog before!
We don't mean to shout but these points are so invaluable to your journey! The sooner you realise that a rescue dog, or any dog really, ISN'T PERFECT & will need to be viewed & accepted as such, the easier your journey will be!
This holds true moreso for Romanian & overseas originating rescue dogs, for all of the reasons already discussed in part 1! And, as we said before, recognising, too, that EVERY DOG IS DIFFERENT, they are as unique as us humans, will also serve you well on this journey!
It is worth mentioning again at this point that there is currently a U.K. rescue crisis here. U.K. rescues are full & bursting at this time due to so many people taking on pets during the Covid lockdowns & then feeling like they couldn't keep them once their life went back to normal. This has been made worse by the later cost of living crisis, where people have felt like they couldn't afford to keep their pets any longer. I mention this again deliberately because an unfortunate consequence of this is that dogs are being put to sleep as a result. If there's no rescue space & a dog might not be easily rehomable, we can all see how this might happen. I'm sorry this is a bit upsetting but it is a reality & one that you should consider very carefully before you choose to adopt any dog, particularly one from Romania or overseas. This is why we implore you to take your time in deciding whether to adopt a new dog or not, be very sure of the lifelong commitment & financial commitment, & be prepared & able to accept & manage anything that is thrown your way. We hope that our articles (taken together) will help you on this rescue journey. 🙏
We have previously talked about how to choose a good & reputable Romanian or overseas rescue, during our earlier articles in this series, "ROMANIAN / OVERSEAS RESCUE DOGS". It is good to establish what rescue back up (R.B.U.) a rescue offers. (Please remember, R.B.U. isn't just about the rescue's willingness to take the dog back, if needed, it's also about the aftercare & support they can offer, if you need support & advice after your new dog arrives.)
If you are at all unsure about a rescue or any elements of their policies or contract, or if you're unsure about a dog or adopting generally, or you feel there might be a chance that you might consider returning the dog to rescue - either soon after arrival or in a few years time, then please DO NOT adopt a dog if you're unsure about fulfilling the lifelong & financial commitments they bring!
If, after reading our articles, you're still feeling unsure for any reason at all, or you might be anticipating a significant change in your circumstances over the next few years, it would be very unfair on your new dog to adopt them because it should be viewed as a lifelong commitment! Just remember that your new rescue dog has already been through so much in their short life!
We don't say this to make you feel guilty, but just remember that your new dog has feelings, too, & they may have already experienced abandonment & trauma in their short lives! Would it be fair to, potentially, add more?! 😔
So, let's consider how you might receive a Romanian or overseas rescue dog & why this is important in this discussion. Your new dog might come straight from Romania or another country on the "bus" (which is usually a temperature controlled van with separate kennel cubicles) - either arriving at your home directly or you will be given a set location to meet the bus. (Your dog might also arrive on a plane from countries like Thailand.) The dog might already be in the country in a U.K. foster home or in a U.K. kennel. You might even find a Romanian or overseas originating rescue dog in U.K. rescue shelters/charities (perhaps surrendered there as the original rescue is no longer operating or the original rescue couldn’t provide R.B.U.).
If your new dog comes to you straight off the bus from Romania or another country, then it is most likely that they will come from an outdoor rescue shelter or "foster" (where the dogs are normally housed in outdoor kennels). Or they might have come from one of the few indoor rescue shelters, from kennels, however, this is less likely.
Either way, shelter/kennel living doesn't always really allow for a fair assessment of the dog. This is because your new dog is living in a completely different environment to your home. For instance: it would be hard to gauge if a dog is housetrained or not because of their current living situation. Unfortunately, a dog will be forced to toilet in their kennel space after long periods in there. The shelter/kennel might not have the staffing or facilities to let them out of the kennels as often as they would like. Similarly, these shelters/kennels often have around 50 plus dogs or even hundreds of dogs at any one time, so spending time with the dogs on a one-to-one basis might prove difficult (depending on the shelter capacity & staffing levels). Undeniably, a shelter/kennel environment is so very different to a home environment! What the staff see there may not necessarily be what you'll see either initially, during the settling in period or after the dog has settled with you.
📣 Another valuable point to remind ourselves of here, from earlier discussions during this series, is, your new dog may appear very different during different points of their settling in period. This is why it's so important to give your new dog the time & space to settle, at THEIR own pace, BEFORE you make any major decisions on your dog's future! But, we do hope that by reading our articles you will only decide to adopt if you're 100% sure about the commitment involved! It is hoped that our articles will aid you in making your best informed decisions & will prepare you well. 📣
So, what we're trying to say here is that, a dog fresh off the bus will likely be a bit of pot luck.
Of course, the rescue will be able to tell you a bit about the dog's personality & temperament in that environment (staff, supervision & interaction levels permitting) but how they'll be in a home environment may be a different matter entirely.
But one thing is for sure, your new Romanian or overseas originating rescue dog WILL require time, love, support, patience, understanding, empathy & compassion & WILL require some training. Just remember most of these dogs were living as strays, they were outdoors working dogs or they were owned & lived outdoors, sometimes on chains. Your dog might also have survived the horrific ordeal of being in a public shelter & we don't need to discuss that again (once was enough)! 😔🙏
For such dogs coming from U.K. kennels, most of the above may still apply. Some U.K. kennels will be better staffed when compared to their Romanian or overseas counterparts. Plus some U.K. kennels, nonprofits & charities may have the opportunity to involve behaviourists & trainers. This means they may have a better understanding of your new dog & this is obviously a huge plus for you.
If your new dog is already living in a U.K. foster home, within a home environment, then you will be able to get a much better sense of your new dog's personality & temperament & their training needs from their fosterers. (For instance: your new dog might already be house trained as a result.) You should also be able to get an idea of how well your new dog has adapted to a home environment & what their unique likes & dislikes are, etc. You will be able to get a much better picture of what your new dog is likely to be like in your home.
📣 In the context of a dog moving from a U.K. foster home, just remember that your new dog will be moving to a completely new home environment, which is likely to be stressful for them. Even a housetrained dog might have accidents indoors initially. Your new dog will need to settle in again & might be overwhelmed by new sights, smells & noises that they haven't encountered in their last foster home. In some ways, they might go back to square one at the beginning but you will have the best chance of getting a fuller insight into the dogs personality & temperament, etc. if they have lived in a U.K. foster home first. Here they would have received one-to-one attention & training with the same people involved.
This isn't intended to put anyone off from adopting a dog that will arrive straight off the bus!
This is solely about what you want, what you hope, & what you expect!
Although, as we already discussed, it's best to expect nothing from your new dog at all, as the reality is that there might be other variables to consider. For instance: you might already have pets & are unsure how your new dog will be with them. We've covered this before but, in this case, we'd recommend that a dog already in the U.K. might be worth considering. That way, you can take your current pets for meet & greets to find a dog who will most likely get on with them in your home. Sadly, a dog straight off the bus may or may not get on with your current pets, even if they seemed amenable in Romania or their country of origin. Again, it's potluck!
Now, let's get back to the point... can you see how your choice here might determine the outcome? For example: if you are strongly hoping for a housetrained dog or one that will definitely get on with your current pets, then a Romanian or overseas rescue dog straight off the bus might not be for you & might prove to be more of a gamble than a dog already in the U.K.
We know that returning your dog to the rescue might prove difficult, due to the current rescue crisis here & their R.B.U. policies, & it wouldn't be very fair for your new dog, would it?!
If you're willing & prepared to accept anything, come what may, & willing to accept a dog completely as they are, warts & all, which means working with them, making compromises & adjustments for them, then a dog straight off the bus might just be for you.
If, however, you're after a more "easy" dog, who has maybe had some degree of training, we would recommend that you look at a dog already in the U.K.
You might still be left wondering how you & your family fit here? It's very easy to think that we will accept anything that comes our way after seeing all those cute little faces online! However, reality often doesn't match our actual thinking or expectations!
Think about this...
Are you & your family capable of adapting to a dog & are you happy & willing to do so?
Will you keep your new dog if they growl, snap at you or bite you IN FEAR because you've pushed them too hard & not moved at their pace?
Will you keep your new dog if they ruin your carpets & furnishings whilst you house train them & get them acclimatised to your home?
Will you keep your new dog if they don't like visitors, or are you willing to work with them?
Will you keep your new dog if they're afraid of the outside world & need your help to feel safe?
Will you keep your new dog if they have training & behavioural needs that will require some expert help (which will cost you some money & time)?
How high or low is your tolerance level?
How patient are you as a person? Think about your family, too.
There are so many questions & considerations!
This is why we have written this new part-work & we hope you now appreciate that you will need to dig deeply within yourself to explore which dog would be right for you & what you're willing to accept. We will do this in part 3...
Please remember to pop back for part 3...
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These reasonably priced courses & webinars start from just £25 (& some are even FREE, no catch 😱🥰) & are specifically tailored towards Romanian & Overseas rescue dogs, however some of these courses might also prove useful & relevant for U.K. rescue dogs too, so well worth a look.
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Some topics covered include:
🐶 fearfulness & social shyness,
🐶 prey drive,
🐶 building calmness & confidence,
🐶 techniques to rebalance & calm,
🐶 reactivity on walks,
🐶 reactivity with visitors,
🐶 the quirky nature of Romanian dogs,
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The course & webinar content has been carefully constructed by Meesh Masters, who is an Holistic Canine Behaviour Consultant specialising in working with Romanian & Overseas rescue dogs. 'The Dogs Point of View' is committed to following the latest scientifically proven fear free methods.
Thank you so much for being here & for supporting Patchwork Paws U.K. 🐶
We always welcome your feedback, so please feel free to leave us a comment or email us. 🥰
📣 Please remember to always choose no harm, fear free, force free & non-aversive training methods based on mutual respect, trust & positive reinforcement. Please always consider that a behaviour that YOU might find undesirable might be quite normal behaviour to your dog, the behaviour might be motivated by a past trauma/fear, or it might be motivated by your dog's emotional response to something. Always treat your dog with love, patience, empathy, understanding & kindness - even if they do have toileting accidents or if they chew your favourite slippers. 📣🙏
📍 The dog behaviour & training world is largely unregulated here in the U.K. & not all are equal. Please do your homework & always choose a behaviourist or trainer carefully. Look at the methods of training they use & the stance they choose to adopt. Always check their qualifications, accreditations & references/feedback carefully. 📍
🐶 Pictured is our Hot Rod 🔥 (a.k.a. Rodney) showing how well an ex-public shelter rescue dog from Romania, with excellent street smarts, can adapt to wonderful home comforts! 🥰
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