What is the hardest part of adopting a rescue dog?

We were fully aware that we weren’t in a position to have a "difficult" dog. We found the dog through a breed specific rescue and he sounded like the perfect match: no bad behavioural issue, really active with a need for exercise which we had no issue taking on. When looking at dogs 4 things were really important to us: no reactivity, no separation anxiety, crate trained and travel well in car. But after 2 weeks our chosen rescue seems to have all these issues. His SA is bad. For example if we are in the kitchen and he is in the living room, where he can see us through a glass door, he will bark, howl and scratch. We struggle to do even the most basic tasks like cooking or emptying the dishwasher. We havent been able to cut the grass, or go to our veg patch (separated by a fence where he can still see us) without him going manic. He is now really reactive to other dogs and barks and lounges at them on walks (for the past 3 days or so). We are at a lose end here. We love him and really wanted to provide a great place for him to be safe and happy but we aren’t sure that we are the best people to provide for him with those behaviours. My stress levels are through the roof, i am making myself ill as i start thinking i made a huge mistake. Maybe i am simply not prepared for a dog. I thought i was and did all the research but it wasn’t enough. I feel horrible for regretting adopting a dog that I do love and does love me.

Coming out of kennels or a foster home and going into a new home has a huge impact on dogs. They would have been used to a set routine, specific feeding times and possibly other dogs’ noises and scents. If they’re exposed to too many new things and have lots of interactions too soon, your rescue may start being reactive to other dogs and visitors to the house, barking at small noises and sometimes, they might stop and lie down on their walks. Your dog’s world has been turned upside down – they didn’t know that they were heading for a better life and we are sometimes too quick to throw them into their new world at the deep end. The best thing you can do as a rescue dog’s new owner is give them time to decompress for the first few days in their new home. Try to make everything as simple as possible. Dogs display fear in different ways with different triggers and situations. Your new dog could be fearful of men, children or other dogs to name a few examples.

One common factor contributing to unsuccessful adoptions is the rush to fulfil our desires as owners without considering the dog’s needs. While it’s natural to be excited about walks, introducing them to friends and family, or taking them on trips, we must remember that dogs require time to adjust to their new environment. Patience, understanding, and a gradual introduction to new experiences can help prevent overwhelming the dog to ensure a smoother transition and prevent the dog from returning to the Sanctuary for easily avoidable reasons. Sometimes, adoptions fail because the initial compatibility assessment didn’t fully align with the dog’s true nature. Even with careful assessments, it’s impossible to predict every nuance of a dog’s behaviour once in the home. Dogs may exhibit unexpected and unwanted behaviours as they settle into their new homes. The home environment is very different to the kennel environment the routine dogs become accustomed to at the sanctuary. Anxiety, fear, or past trauma can manifest in various ways, requiring patience, understanding, and proper training techniques to first understand the causes of these behaviours and then consider how best to address them. Rushing into activities and overwhelming the dog can exacerbate their stress, leading to dissatisfaction and potential returns. Adopting a dog involves adjusting our lifestyle to accommodate their needs. It’s essential to evaluate whether our daily routines, work schedules, and social commitments align with providing adequate time, attention, and care for our new companion.

Adopting a rescue dog can be a rewarding experience, but it also requires patience, understanding, and preparation. Adopting a rescue dog can come with challenges, but with patience and understanding, they can be overcome. Common challenges include behavioral issues, such as barking, chewing, and digging, and health problems, such as anxiety and fear. It also helps set realistic expectations and prevents common mistakes such as overloading the dog with too much too soon. At this point they may be testing the boundaries so don't get discouraged.