🐕 Please note: this blog, part 2, assumes that you have read part 1. 🐕 If you haven’t already done so, we would recommend that you read part 1 first. 🐕 This series is tailored towards UK, Romanian & overseas originating rescue dogs. 🐕
Welcome to part 2 in our newest blog series entitled: "Honest Self Assessments Prior to Adoption".
In this new series, we're going to explore your personal suitability for a rescue dog, as well as your family/home circumstances, together with the suitability of your home & garden environments.
In part 1, we explored some possible reasons for a dog being surrendered back to rescue & how we can become more understanding of our new dog.
In this part, part 2, we're going to build upon what we discussed in part 1 & focus upon our own personal suitability for one of these special dogs.
We would like to start this discussion by saying that some of these special rescue dogs might require adjustment from us, too.
As we have previously discussed, your new dog will require time to acclimatise, decompress, unpack their baggage, & settle in - all in THEIR own time & at THEIR own pace. Remember the 3, 3, 3 rule that we previously discussed in part 1 - where a dog needs the time, all in stages, to settle in, typically over the course of 3 months. However, the timescale does vary & you should allow the individual dog all the time THEY need; even if it takes several months or more. Remember where they've come from & what they have potentially experienced. Always cut them some slack & remain patient, kind & understanding.
So... going back to the topic of our own adjustment now & considering the 3, 3, 3 rule together, we believe there is indeed a degree of adjustment required by the new owner AND their family. Your new dog may have been subjected to very traumatic experiences &, in the case of Romanian & overseas rescue dogs & UK ex-strays in general, has most likely had to adapt to survive in the harshest & most difficult of circumstances. These sorts of experiences may have made your new dog more independent & worldly. They've been to the university of life & have been taught many hard life lessons. Survival is the harshest teacher!
Understanding their potential background & potential life experiences will aid you well when considering how to integrate them into your family. If anything is known about their past, then all the better. Understanding & patience are key to successful integration.
To successfully integrate them, we also need to be mindful of what adjustments WE need to make. For example: after a period of acclimatisation, decompression & settling in, your new dog might be fearful of strangers &/or guests in your home. Obviously, there is a reason why your dog feels this way. For instance, in the case of Romanian or overseas originating rescue dogs, they may have had some bad experiences with people or dog catchers. These feelings may or may not ease over time, & they may or may not ease with training or behavioural work. Would you be willing to put your dog first & make the necessary adjustments to avoid this trigger, whether it be a temporary thing or more permanent? Be honest - realising that your commitment to the dog could last up to 20 years.
One of these special dogs might also become your greatest teacher. Are you prepared to learn some lessons yourself along the way? Lessons which are unique to the individual dog. Are you willing to adjust your sails accordingly? Again, be honest - realising that your commitment to the dog could last up to 20 years.
If you're not willing or able to adjust (you &/or your family) then you will need to choose a new dog very carefully & wisely.
If you are considering a Romanian or overseas originating rescue dog for instance, you might prefer to consider a dog already in UK kennels &/or in UK rescue or UK foster who has been properly assessed. This will allow you to meet the dog before adopting, possibly a few times. You might also be able to arrange a home trial. This is something you will not be able to do if the dog comes to you straight from Romania or another country. So, you should give this some serious thought.
Given this extra piece of information, if applicable, why do you want to adopt a Romanian or overseas rescue dog specifically?
If you are looking to adopt a UK dog, why do you want to adopt a dog generally?
On a general level, maybe you've recently lost a canine companion & now feel it's time to open your heart & home to another. Maybe you already have a dog who has also recently lost their best friend & seems lonely. Perhaps you're looking for a walking or adventure buddy just for fun or to help boost your general fitness. Maybe you want to join a local dog walking group or other local group, but haven't yet gotten a dog. Perhaps you feel nervous at home & would like the security of having a dog there for company & support.
With regards to Romanian & overseas rescue dogs specifically, maybe you've seen or read about the horrors they may have been subjected to & want to help one of them. Maybe you already acknowledge the specialness & uniqueness of these dogs & actively want to give one of these special dogs a chance - aware that they might require rehabilitation & training etc., for which you are willing to put the time, energy & effort into doing.
So, what are your personal reasons for wanting to adopt a dog - whether they be a U.K, Romanian, or overseas rescue dog?
Think about how much you're willing to do as an adopter & as a 'pawrent'.
Here at Patchwork Paws H.Q we want to see these incredible & special dogs go to the right forever homes, the first time around. We want to see less of these dogs being surrendered back to rescue. It is so very sad for the adopters, the rescue &, of course, the poor dog when they are surrendered back to rescue. Our only motive here is to help YOU make the best informed decision on whether one of these special dogs is right for you & your circumstances. So, please bear with us as we help you to assess your current circumstances & lifestyle...
The first thing to understand is that, you may not receive a perfect pet who will slip into your family & homelife with ease; they will most likely require some level of training, understanding, support & patience over time. (This may include toilet training & training to help your new dog live in your home & family environment. As previously discussed, some of these dogs may never have lived in a house with a family before).
When a new Romanian, overseas or UK ex-stray dog enters our lives, we take away all of their previous choices. Most of these dogs in particular, were once, most likely roaming free, in complete control of the structure of their days - making their own choices freely (albeit under the most difficult circumstances which most learnt to navigate successfully). This is why we say most of these dogs are independent, worldly & have 'street smarts'.
Some of these dogs might have previously been kept on a chain, with no real choice at all. In Romania, some were captured by dog catchers & taken to live in a public shelter, some living in the most crammed & inhumane conditions imaginable in a life of suffering (most likely after a period of free roaming). So little choice there, too. Some of these dogs have been lucky enough to live in a home before. But it is very much a lucky dip with rescue dogs, a lottery, & a rescue will most likely know little to nothing about the dog's past, particularly if the dog is from Romania or another country.
You might be wondering where we're going with this?...
We hope to encourage prospective adopters to view all rescue dog adoptions through realistic eyes & to be aware of a potentially significant difference between Romanian & overseas rescue dogs & their UK counterparts.
Some rescue dogs might very well need up to 3 months or indeed more, in order to decompress, unpack their baggage, acclimatise, & settle in - as we have discussed before - all in THEIR own time & at THEIR own pace - as determined by the individual dog! Then there's the training side of things to consider, once your new dog has settled in. Your new dog will most likely be a work in progress for the first few to several months, up to a year or maybe more - it depends on the individual dog. You might however, also be lucky enough to receive a dog who settles in quickly & trains up well. But, as we have said already, it really is a lucky dip!
Don't forget, most of these dogs will arrive with baggage that they will need time to unpack. Many might have been subjected to trauma & abuse.
When you adopt one of these special dogs it's very important to consider all of this because your new dog might not arrive as, or indeed become, the dog you want them to be. Please re-read that!... Your new dog might not arrive as, or indeed become, the dog YOU want them to be.
Some of these dogs might, for instance, find it difficult to be on a lead & being led by us. Maybe they are petrified of the outside world, or in the case of Romanian dogs, perhaps the dog catcher's catch pole & rough handling has caused trauma. If they have been used to free roaming as strays, perhaps the new lack of control will cause issues because they can't take themselves away from situations that cause worry or anxiety, like vehicles & other dogs, thus causing a reaction. Being off lead might not be the solution either & will of course require time & long lead & recall training first.
This example demonstrates a potential issue if you are looking for an instant walking buddy, adventure buddy, or a dog to join a club with. If you have images of a perfect dog who can be walked straight away (after a period of settling in) & who instantly socialises well with other dogs &/or other people, then you might want to reflect on whether one of these special dogs is right for you - particularly if you are considering one coming straight from Romania or overseas. If however you are open minded & willing to accept them as they are, with the willingness to put time & effort into training, then a rescue dog could very well be for you.
There are of course exceptions! Your new dog might arrive & be close to perfect, particularly if you opt to adopt one that has been in UK foster or UK kennels &/or UK rescue, where someone has had the opportunity to work with them, assess them &/or train them.
I guess what we're trying to say is, the lower your expectations to start with, the better, or better still, have no expectations at all.
So, with all of this in mind, are you willing & able to lower your expectations for a new dog?
Are you willing & prepared to work around your new dog (at least initially, for the first few to several months, to a year or so) which will potentially mean having to change your plans & lifestyle to suit THEIR needs?
Are you willing & prepared to work with a new dog, no matter what it takes or how long it takes?
Our mindset & approach is so important... lt is also important to remember that all rescue dogs are different & one size does not fit all!
Now we have considered mindset & approach, let's quickly touch upon courses.
As we have previously discussed, Meesh Masters offers a variety of courses online. Some of her courses are FREE & others are paid for. We would recommend that any prospective adopter of a Romanian or overseas rescue dog, look at taking her free courses in the very least: "set yourself up for a successful adoption webinar" & "living with Romanian & overseas rescue dogs - video podcasts". You can find all of her courses here... (Please note: whilst she specialises in Romanian & overseas rescue dogs, some of the information might also be useful preparation for those looking to adopt a UK rescue dog)...
If you would like some general guidance on learning how to understand your new dog, their communication & body language, how to build a good relationship with them, basic training, common issues & how to resolve them, & many more things besides, you might want to consider taking the "responsible dog owner certificate" for just £9.99. (Please note: this certificate is aimed at ALL dogs). See:
A number of UK dog charities also offer some free & paid for courses & subscriptions that may help you with your new dog. It is worth having a little internet search to see what is on offer at the time.
So, without further ado, let's now move on to focus on you & your circumstances...
Please have a pen & paper handy...
Questions for the primary caregiver (adult) - the person looking to adopt:
🐕 Personal/Home Circumstances:
Are you married &/or cohabiting or single?
Are you happily married/cohabiting & do you have a good & strong relationship?
What would happen to a dog if you were to split up?
Do you have children?
Are you a caregiver to another adult or child at home or outside of the home (but not as a part of your job)?
Are you currently thinking about moving house?
Are you a homeowner or living in rented accommodation?
Do you live in a house/bungalow or a flat? If you live in a flat, do you have access to a garden? Is the garden secure?
🐕 Work Circumstances:
How many jobs do you have?
For each job, please answer the following:
Do you work part-time or full-time? If so, how many hours on average per week?
Are you a shift worker? What is your shift pattern?
How far do you have to travel to get to work? If so, how long does it take each way?
Does your work require any overnight stopovers? If so, how often?
Do you work from home or is there scope for you to work from home? Can you work from home whenever you like or is this determined by your employer?
If you can work from home, how many hours per week are allowed to be worked from home on average?
Do you regularly work overtime? If so, how many hours on average do you work per week?
Can overtime be worked from home?
How long is your contract for? (E.g: a fixed term for a year, temporary or permanent.)
How long have you worked there?
Is the company doing well financially?
Have you heard any rumours about potential job losses or redundancies?
How many staff does your company employ locally & in total nationwide & globally (if applicable)?
Whilst out at work, what arrangements will be made for the dog's care?
Are you likely or looking to change jobs within the next year or so?
🐕 Earnings & 🐕 Average cost of a dog:
How much do you take home per year (before overtime)? (Overtime will not be factored in here as it will most likely vary & will most likely not be reliable. It is best to base your calculations on your actual take home wage.)
Do you realise the costs involved in caring for a dog, & that it's a commitment which could potentially last up to 20 years (depending on the breed & actual age at time of rescue)?
According to 'The Dog People' at: https://www.rover.com/uk/blog/cost-of-pet-parenthood/#:~:text=The%20Cost%20of%20Dog%20Ownership%3A%20Annual%20Essentials,48%2D%C2%A3252%20per%20month.
"... After covering the initial expenses to make your home dog-ready, keep the on-going, annual costs in mind. Our research shows that the average dog owner may spend anywhere from £575 to £3,030 per year on their dog: that averages to £48 - £252 per month..." Ongoing costs include: food, flea & tick prevention treatments, poo bags, treats, toys, routine vet check ups including vaccinations (most are administered on a three yearly cycle) &/or vaccine check tests (titre tests) when needed, & insurance. Of course, as an additional cost, you need to consider the wide ranging emergency care & vet costs, too - through accident or illness. There may also be kennelling costs, doggie day care, or dog walking costs.
Do you feel you could afford all of this, together with the initial costs to get your home dog-ready? (To get your home dog-ready, you will need to buy such things as dog beds, grooming & cleaning products, food & water bowls, dog gates, collars, leads, &/or harnesses, make repairs to garden fences or install new fences, to name just a few things).
What are you willing to cut back on should pennies get tight in order to keep the dog?
Do you have any savings? Are you willing to spend some of your savings on your new dog if need be?
🐕 Health Circumstances:
Please note: Your state of health is a very important consideration as adopting any new dog may prove quite an exhausting & challenging experience at least initially - for the first few to several months or longer.
Are you in good general health?
Do you have any diagnosed health conditions?
If so...
Are your condition/s chronic or long term?
Are your condition/s well managed?
How long have you been ill?
Is there any chance or indication of recovery?
Is the effect of your condition/s variable on a day-to-day level?
How do your condition/s generally affect you on a day-to-day basis? (For example, low energy levels & low levels of patience through tiredness).
Are you taking any prescribed medications or are you having any treatment for your condition/s? How do your medications & treatments make you feel? (For example, drowsy).
🐕 Leisure Circumstances:
Do you like to regularly go out, outside of your working hours?
How many hours per week do you go out on average (for leisure)?
What leisure pursuits do you like to do outside of work? I.e: meals, shopping, time with friends, day trips, festivals, hobbies/social groups/clubs, gym, walking, & pubs/nightclubs.
How many holidays do you take away from the home per year?
Do you go abroad or stay within the UK?
If you holiday in the UK, would you consider taking your dog with you?
If you won't or can't take your dog, how will you accommodate the dog when you go away on holiday?
🐕 Additional Focus on Mindset:
Would you mind if a dog had an 'accident' anywhere in your house, & also on a regular &/or continuous basis? (Here 'accident' means toileting &/or being sick).
Would you mind if a dog chewed your personal items, such as shoes & slippers & this continued on a regular &/or continuous basis?
Would you mind if a dog chewed furniture, fixtures, &/or fittings around your home & this continued on a regular &/or continuous basis?
Are you willing to walk a dog on THEIR terms with an open mind? (Your dog might be scared or anxious, for example, or they might not like to be walked at all).
How would you feel if your new dog growled at you or bit you? Would you be willing to view their response in context of YOUR own actions & the circumstances? Would you be willing to learn from it & carry on? (Always bearing in mind the 3, 3, 3 rule).
🐕 Future
Where do you see yourself in one years time? Five years? Ten years?
Are you intending to have a baby or foster/adopt a baby or young child within the next year to ten years or so?
Are you intending to move house within the next year to ten years or so?
Are you considering a move abroad?
What will happen to your dog if you have a new baby or child or if you move house?
What preparations have you made for your dog in the event of severe illness or bereavement in the family? Will they appear in your will?
🐕 Potential reasons for surrender:
Building upon our discussions in part 1 of this blog, would you ever return a dog to rescue under any of the following circumstances?...
Personal/Family Circumstances:
🐶 Partner/family split up,
🐶 House move,
🐶 A new baby or child joining the family,
🐶 Job/s change,
🐶 A decrease in household earnings,
🐶 In the case of severe or worsening illness,
🐶 In the unfortunate event of bereavement,
🐶 The dog isn't getting on well with someone in the household &/or with guests,
🐶 You no longer feel like you have time for the dog,
🐶 You or your family member/s might have lost interest in the dog.
New Dog Circumstances (remember the 3, 3, 3 rule):
🐶 The dog barks too much,
🐶 The dog has growled at another pet or person,
🐶 The dog has bitten another pet or person,
🐶 The dog requires too much toilet training,
🐶 The dog keeps chewing items around the house,
🐶 The dog seems too 'damaged' & needs more training & rehabilitation than you're willing to give,
🐶 The dog is very reactive to other dogs, other animals &/or vehicles,
🐶 The dog doesn't want or like to be walked as much as you'd like,
🐶 The dog is costing more than anticipated or more than you're willing to pay,
🐶 The dog seems to require expensive training &/or behavioural work,
🐶 The dog's vet &/or insurance bills are too high,
🐶 The dog is bigger &/or stronger than anticipated.
🐶 The dog isn't generally as anticipated or as led to believe.
Surrender Back to Rescue:
🐶 If you were to surrender your new dog back to the rescue that they came from, for ANY reason, would you be willing & able to keep them & continue with their care until kennel space or a new home can be found - even if it takes a few weeks to a few months?
Please note: there is currently little kennel space & few foster homes available in the UK owing to a large influx of dogs into rescue, due to Covid & the cost of living crisis. Alarmingly, some new owners are choosing to have their new dog put to sleep, rather than allow the rescue the time to find rescue space. Patience & understanding needs to be extended to the rescue & the dog in this case, regardless of the circumstances of surrender.
Whilst we're on this topic, when choosing a new dog, firstly choose a rescue wisely. Consider if they offer rescue back up (R.B.U.) & if they are willing to offer support & advice during the dogs settling in stage. This is a very important consideration! Whilst nobody likes to consider the prospect of surrender back to rescue, for the dog's sake, please make sure the rescue offers R.B.U. & a good support package. 🙏
Please reflect very carefully on how you have answered all of these personal suitability questions, together with the reasons for surrender.
All of these questions & surrender scenarios should now also be answered & considered by any other adults in the home who will take some responsibility for the dog's care.
It would be interesting to see how your answers match up & for you to discuss any differences in your answers/opinions to see if you can find any common ground or compromises. After all, you do rather have to be on the "same page" when it comes to your new dog & your general approach to them.
We hope these questions & answers have proved both thought-provoking & useful in your considerations. We also hope that this blog article has helped you to decide whether YOU are personally suitable & ready to rehome a rescue dog.
In order to become a successful adopter of ANY dog, you should make sure that they are part of your 1 year, 5 year, 10 year & 20 year plans - come what may. This means that they should be considered like any other family member & all the necessary allowances & plans should be made for them ahead of time, for all possible scenarios. This also means ensuring that you have enough money to keep them & having "rainy day" plans for them under all sorts of circumstances. You must go into this venture with realistic eyes & an open minded approach because you will need to devote time to their needs & training, etc. & adjustments to your lifestyle might very well be necessary along the way.
Here at Patchwork Paws H.Q, we view all of the animals living in our home with us as valued & very treasured family members. We don't really view our dogs as "just dogs", they are so much more! The daily rewards are immense & we have a deep love for each & every one of them as the individuals they are. We wouldn't try to rehome human children & we feel the same way about our dogs. Bless them, their lives are so relatively short compared to ours & our dogs have already been through so much. 🙏
We don't expect everyone to think like us but with some forward thinking & provision planning, realistic expectations, the willingness to learn & adapt, & an open minded approach, you can become a successful adopter & 'pawrent'.
*** On a final note, with regards to Romanian & overseas originating rescue dogs, it cannot be stated enough that; it might seem easier to adopt one of these special dogs compared to their UK counterparts, however, in reality & in most cases, these dogs are by no means the easier option! ***
Next time we will move on to discussing your family & family commitments, which will include children & other pets, which ties directly into this discussion & must be considered alongside this discussion.
Then, in later blogs, we will move on to focus on the readiness of your home & garden environments & how you can prepare them for the arrival of a new dog.
So, please keep checking back...
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We endeavour to produce a new blog article every month. As you can tell, we like to be as thorough as possible. 😉
🐶 We hope you are finding our website both informative & useful, & we hope you are enjoying reading 📚 our blog articles as much as we enjoy writing ✍️ them.
Our website is completely free for anyone to view & access. 🥰 However, it is not free for us to run, unfortunately.
Should you like to send us a little gift to express your gratitude, then we would gratefully receive it towards the costs associated with running our website. 🤩
You can send us £1, a few pounds, or however much you would like to give, to our PayPal account here:
If you see us as 'friends & family,' please do feel free to select this option.
📣 Another way to support us is via our affiliate link to the following online courses & webinars (which you can study anytime, at your own pace)...
Here is our unique link to 'The Dogs Point of View' website:
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.
You can even join the training & support group where you will be able to access ALL online courses & webinars for FREE, 100's of step-by-step teaching guides, progressive training plans, optional weekly zoom calls, & get qualified trainer support & advice whenever you need it for as little as £27 per month! 😃
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,
🐶 how to set yourself up for a successful adoption.
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 🔥 (aka Pocket Rocket Rodney) having a sweet moment with a Butterfly. 🥰 He was rescued from a public shelter in Romania.
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