Fawn's Small Dog Rescue | Adoptable Dogs | Jacksonville (2024)

FAQs

How did adopting a rescue dog get so difficult? ›

Rescue groups are picky — and for a good reason. This helps ensure a good match from the start, making it easier for you and your new dog to adjust. In some cases, the rescue you're adopting may have been previously rehomed due to a traumatic or stressful situation.

There are various things to consider when adopting a rescue dog, such as size, temperament, and living situation. By taking the time to research which breed or breeds of dog would be the best fit for your lifestyle and personality, you will set yourself up for success in finding the perfect four-legged friend!

Both you and your new dog need to get used to each other: the dog needs to get used to a new environment, you need to get used to a new schedule, and other adjustments may be required. Some behaviors your new pup might exhibit during the adjustment period include: Shyness, hiding, or timidity.

The 3-3-3 rule is a guideline for transitioning a rescue dog into its new home and helping it to settle in. It suggests that the first three days should be used for adjusting to its new surroundings, the next three weeks for training and bonding, and the first three months for continued socialization and training.

Black dogs and cats wait four times longer to get adopted from shelters and rescues as their lighter coated and more colorful counterparts. This phenomenon even has a name: Black Dog and Cat Syndrome.

You should be able to meet the parents or at least the mother. If the person says a third party must deliver the dog to you, it's a red flag. If you aren't allowed to meet the pup in person before you agree to adopt them, it's a red flag!

If your dog seems relaxed in their posture and not tense or stiff, this is a good indication they are feeling good. Loose shoulders, soft eyes without a fixed gaze, and a dose of 'wiggliness' or pure 'flopped-outness' are all clues that your dog's feeling super chill. They're playful.

Your new rescue dog may benefit from you sleeping nearby on the sofa or a camp bed for the first night or two. This is so you're close to hand should they need letting out for the loo or require some reassurance.

Although a rescued dog may take longer to recognize their new owner if they have experienced trauma in the past, with patience and love, it can still form a strong bond with you, their new owner, and begin to recognize you as a source of safety and security.

What is the hardest part of adopting a rescue dog? ›

So, dealing with bad behavior is one of the biggest challenges of adopting a rescue dog. You have to remember that these dogs have never been in this kind of environment before. So, you and your family must be patient and teach the rescue dog how to behave.

By the end of the first three months, your new dog should be fully adjusted to their new home and routines. They may exhibit more confident and affectionate behaviors as they bond with their new family. It's important to remember that every dog is unique, and some may take longer to adjust than others.

Puppies can also suffer from fear, anxiety and other lasting behavioral problems. Sometimes these issues don't show up until people bring the puppy home, only to be confronted with unpredictable, expensive and oftentimes chronic medical issues.

So what is the ideal age for a puppy to be when you welcome him into your home? There are different opinions, as well as a variety of factors, that influence the answer to this question. However, most veterinarians and breeders would put the optimum age to bring home a puppy somewhere between 8-to-10 weeks old.