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If you’re looking to bring an animal into your life, a rescue animal is a great choice, as they’re often very in need of a home! However, there are a few things you should know about. Taking in a rescue animal is very different than adopting a dog as a puppy, as there are often circumstances that may affect their behavior.
When you arrive at the rescue center, you might find yourself overwhelmed with choices, but it’s important that you’re not picking based on appearances alone. You need to know a little about them first.
Previous living situation
Of course, rescue dogs are rescued for a reason, and it’s because their previous living situation wasn’t great for them. Some rescue dogs have been raised with poor care, some have been abandoned by their families, it’s difficult to know until you ask or read about them.
Of course, their previous living situation might play a role in how they behave with you when you take them home, so it’s essential that you fully understand what kind of dog you’re rescuing.
There are some dogs that have a very difficult time being around other animals, being around children, or even being around certain adults. You’re not just learning about their prior living situation for your sake but for theirs, too.
Their health
Adopting a dog that has been rescued isn’t always going to be the perfect and smooth experience. Some of these dogs will have health issues and may have injuries, which are things that you’re going to need to work with. You might think that just because you’re rescuing them that it’s going to be cheaper, but that’s not always the case.
Before you bring your dog home, make sure you have an in-depth discussion with the carers at the shelter about the needs of your dog and what you should be doing to take care of any current health concerns.
Personality
If you’re here looking for a family dog, learning about how the dog behaves around others and in different settings should tell you a lot. Some rescue dogs have lived difficult lives, and it may stop them from being able to easily adjust and integrate into a family. If you’re looking for a social dog, then you should be sure to ask about things like this on the day that you visit the rescue center.
Some dogs are quiet and prefer isolation, some dogs are sociable and need lots of company. In any case, you’re sure to find a great match for you at a rescue center but understand that they would have already grown up and developed a personality based on their upbringing. That’s the main difference between bringing home a puppy and adopting an older dog.
Knowing how to care for a dog
Just as you would with any animal you bring home, you should make sure you’re ready to provide the right amount of care for it. Some rescue dogs might need more care than others, and it’s important that you know what’s expected of you.
Things like taking care of hygiene, taking your dog for walks, and providing enough space for them to be happy and comfortable. Of course, that’s not specific to rescues, but it’s something that everyone should know if they’re planning to bring home a dog of any age.
Training
It’s a commonly held belief that dogs are easier to train when they’re puppies, which means that you might have difficulty training your older dog when you bring them home. With that said, old dogs can learn and can be trained to behave differently.
If your dog has behavioral issues, it’s important that you’re considerate of their condition when providing training, and maybe even consider professional help. It’s important that you’re patient with the training, and understanding that their new life might be entirely different than from before they were rescued.
Their diet
Your rescue will likely already have an established diet from the shelter, and it would be a good idea to know what to feed them. Speak with the carers, find out their diet, why they’re being fed what they’re fed, and try to continue that.
Your rescue might beg for your food, but being strict with diet isn’t only better for their health, but it’s important to consider for when you have guests later on. Enabling them to beg for food puts their health at risk, as they cannot eat foods that they might eat on a daily basis.