Choosing the right rescue dog for you

In essence, you’re selecting a new, permanent member of your human-animal family, and the dog needs to be right on lots of levels.

Your rescue dog needs to be suitable for you, your family, your home, any other pets you might have, and your lifestyle. It’s certainly not an easy task!

If you’re going to be the main owner’ i.e. the person responsible for feeding, walks and so on, then you need to be honest with yourself over the amount of time and effort you can spend on this dog.

If you can only fit in a couple of short walks a day, for example, your choice of dog will be limited, since many dogs need plenty of exercise and stimulation to be happy pets.

If you’re a committed hiker, on the other hand, some dogs will be perfect for days spent in the open air, while others would simply rather give the hills and dales a miss.

Crucially, you need to decide whether you’re willing to spend any time on basic training, re-training or helping build your rescue dog’s confidence, which can take time.

Some rescue dogs lack basic training or manners through a previous owner’s neglect, so in these cases we look for owners who are happy to put the hours in.

This can be a most rewarding exercise, as it helps these dogs really become the great companions they’re meant to be, but it can take many hours and lots of patience.

Many rescue dogs are mongrels, but there are also certain breeds whose traits mean that we would only want to re-home with an owner who is very carefully vetted or experienced with that breed.

Breed aside, size and energy levels are also a significant factor; many larger dogs are unsuitable for homes with small children or elderly people due to their sheer size, and this also applies to dogs with very boisterous temperaments or excitable natures.

Equally, some breeds are not appropriate for sharing a home with other pets such as cats or rodents.

At Cheshire Dogs’ Home, many of our dogs are fostered out with experienced dog owners before being put up for re-homing, so we can get a good idea of the dog’s personality, quirks, energy levels and suitability for homes with other pets or children.

Staff at rescue centres should always be able to point you in the right direction with all of this, but you can help yourself by having a good think first.

In all cases, having a frank family discussion before even visiting a rescue centre is advised so that you can have an advance idea of your main criteria.

It’s fiIt's fine to come along looking for a smaller dog with a placid temperament who likes a lot of fuss from younger children, for example.

In addition, it’s such an important decision so two or more visits to the rescue centre may well be necessary.

Having an idea of your parameters will also prevent you from making a purely emotional decision based on which dog looks the cutest, saddest or most in need of your love!

Taking in a rescue dog is one of the most rewarding things you can do, but, make sure you choose the right dog by bearing all of the above in mind. Have a tick list, and stick to it. Good luck!

For more information about Cheshire Dogs’ Home near Grappenhall visit www.dogshome.net or follow us on Twitter @manchdogs

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