Rescue at the Heart of what we Do
Everyone has a rescue story.
We want to help pet parents and their families to understand the small changes that they can make which make a huge difference - which is why we believe simple, sensible training is key to success. We want you to know how to teach calmly, to be able disagree gently but effectively, and the simple structures and methods to follow that will have the biggest impact in a way that is easy for everyone to understand.
We know how it feels to take on a dog that is significantly more challenging than you expected. We know how it feels to be out of your depth, and stuck between the stress of feeling like you can’t handle the dog you’ve taken on, and the guilt that is often laid on you at the thought of returning them to a centre.
The Lockdown Puppy One
One of the biggest new challenges in the rescue world is the Lockdown puppy - that now is an adult dog in desperate need of re-socialisation. You may be struggling with hostility and fear towards people, overstimulation or aggression towards other dogs, or other issues like Separation Anxiety.
Getting a dog back on track thats had a hard start can feel like a real challenge - and having the right strategy makes all the difference when it comes to helping your dog succeed.
The “Our rescue centre said it was friendly” One
Tell us if this sounds familiar. You visited your local centre, explained your capabilities and requirements, and were paired with a dog that ‘just needed a little bit of training’, but was supposedly friendly with people and other dogs. But within a week of your new family member arriving, it becomes clear that your dog has serious issues - perhaps with strangers or unknown males, resource guarding food or objects from people in then house, incredibly reactive to other dogs, or prey animals - all issues that were not disclosed prior to adoption.
You now find yourself in way over your head, and the rescue centre is pretending they had no idea and doing nothing to help. They may even be blaming you for this ‘sudden change’. You don’t want to give up on your new dog, but you need to turn things around quickly, because the cards you have been dealt currently represent a bigger problem than you expected.
The “Just ignore the bad behaviour” One.
Another favourite of ours - when you’ve been advised to ignore the bad behaviours and reward the good, when ‘bad’ is a dog that is leaving bite marks and bruises all over you arms, or knocking over your elderly parents, or is ripping the skirting boards of the walls because of separation Anxiety. Maybe you have young children who are becoming scared of your new rescue dog, and its very clear that this isn’t just a project - its a health risk.
For adolescent dogs that are boisterous, over excited and strong - learning to de-escalate their frustration and make them safe quickly is essential to long term success.
The European Rescue One.
Were you turned down by a UK rescue because your fence wasn’t high enough or your garden not big enough, or because you actually have to leave the house once in a while? So you decided to take on a rescue from an organisation in Europe - a 4 month old street rescue that just need a home as soon as possible. What could be easier than a young puppy in need of a loving home?
Except it turns out that your new companion has an incredibly high prey drive and cant be let off a lead, or strong livestock guardian genetics, and won’t let anyone come in the house. It doesn’t make sense - you’ve had it since it was almost a puppy. Why are things going so badly wrong? Why is your dog so hostile?
