I’d like to introduce you to Sandie who’s a rescue dog that’s recently come home to me in December 2022 after I saw her mentioned in a Facebook rescue group page.
The rescue people arranged for a home visit to check out the perimeters of the property were safe and secure for dogs, not only so a dog could not escape, but also to ascertain whether there were any risks of potential harm. The assessor spoke with me about my neighbours on either side of the fences, as well as if there’s ever been any disruption from the people who’s homes are at the back end.
These all all important factors when considering homing a dog, particularly dogs who have been homed multiple times and require careful consideration not to disrupt them in the immediate, and ongoing future for them. Introducing a rescue dog into an environment which is set up for the dog to thrive is always a great start of course. Once the assessor had given feedback to the other people in the rescue group we had a conversation about the positive reflections of my home environment, and how I had come across as a potential to take on the dog I enquired about.
The next step forward was to agree on homing the dog permanently, which given the information they had provided I was more than happy to do. It’s often the case that rescue dogs will be gently introduced to suitable potential people, and see how the dog responds to them, and how they respond to the dog. This gives all involved an idea of whether the dog will be going to the correct home for them, as well as the people.
I went to meet with Sandie (which was not her name at the time), and the rescue people as well as her foster family at the vets they work with, we took it very patiently and asked questions of each other so we knew all was as well as it could be given the trust in what I do in my work with dogs, and the rescue people knowing of how Luna was looked after.
Sandie would not look at me, nor my family on the day she came home with me so I allowed her to take things at her own pace. She decided to trust me after sleeping in her bed in my room as sleeping in the lounge was not for her at the time. She woke at 6am, I called her up and she jumped on my bed, snuggled up to me and went back to sleep. I felt honoured that she showed such ease and trust after just one night, I didn’t expect anything of her other than giving her the space and time to make her own decisions to feel at ease.
Sandie had previously been walked on on lead only whilst with her foster family for safety reasons incase she ran from them and they couldn’t get her back, I took it slowly and walked her daily on her collar and lead before using a long-line lead to do some recall training. This went very well as Sandie remained within close proximity to me whilst connected to her long-line, I then decided to let the long-line go and she behaved consistently close although having a run around now & then enjoying her freedom whilst knowing I am still there for her.
After we worked together in this manner over the week, I then detached her from her lead and allowed her more trust and Sandie showed me the same behaviours by running free, checking in with me now & then by returning of her choice as well as on my vocal & physical gesturing.
As you can see in the photo Sandie is very affectionate and loves a hug on the sofa at night, she’s very good with other dogs and who knows she may follow in Luna’s pawsteps and become an amazing stooge dog helping other dogs to feel better about life 🙂
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