I was recently in a discussion about rescuing dogs. It made me think about Bear’s journey with us and my other rescue dog Bella ( although we took shamus at an older age, I consider him gifted to us rather than rescued) I also considered our previous rescue dogs Zeus and Cindy and the change they had on our lives.
Rescue is not an easy option. There is a lot of trauma that comes from taking a dog from everything it knows, good or bad, putting them in a new environment. If those previous homes also did not have the knowledge to support them properly and they have gaps in their development then it can be really hard.
We changed a lot about our lifestyle and expectations of what owning a dog meant when we took on Zeus. It was not all long walks and pub trips in the sunshine. His reactivity we accepted, adapting our life to accommodate while looking for ways to help him. We went down many paths that never quite got us where we wanted to be. We were lucky to be in a position to buy a house with land so he could have freedom. Cindy had her unique ways and we accepted them and worked within both their limits.
Bella was the same, she has problems with reactivity with unknow dogs and struggled with a lot of things, we adapted and worked hard at helping her. Her repair only really started during my journey with The Wolf and Dog Development Centre after Zeus and Cindy had passed.
When Jack came along a lot of people said we should rehome Zeus. That it would be too risky to have a dog who bites with a young baby and I would regret keeping him. I didn’t listen, I knew Zeus. I knew and understood when he was triggered and how gentle he was with us as his family. The dog that people saw out was not the reality of the dog we had at home. Did he bite yes, once when we were not with him he bite a family member. Me, he bite twice in his life when he was out and he redirected on to me, this was when we lived in another house and he was regularly walked in places he couldn’t handle and I forgot his muzzle. The only time he ever growled at me in the house was when he knew he had to go in the car and he felt cornered. He got terrible car sickness but even then he would never bite me just make it know he didn’t want to go. All situations I would never have a baby nearby in. We took great care to keep them both safe. Zeus was amazing with Jack. He only ever growled at him once in his life when he started walking and fell on him, he vocalised, Jack stopped as he knew a growl meant “stop it, I don’t like it” and they were both fine. Then Zeus got up and chose to lay somewhere else. I supported jack in understanding why and being more careful. Jack grew up with the dogs and they are all very good with him. Bella particularly was very motherly to him and tolerated anything he did when he was learning to move his body but we always made sure we kept them safe and Jack knew even if Bella tolerated it wasn’t something he was allowed to repeat but learning comes with mistakes. He has always been gentle with them.
On paper Bear was only 5 months and puppy mouthing had got a bit out of hand. We knew he wasn’t being supported in the way he needed, I can handle that, how bad can he be, he is a baby. We think some harsh treatment was also present through the story he has since told to us but at the time it didn’t seem like it would be difficult. I knew we would need to put in a lot of emotional energy with him but even with the knowledge I have, I don’t really think I fully realised how hard and exhausting his repair would be. How much his trauma was already deep rooted at such a young age. We speak about children being shaped in their first 5 years and how crucial that start is and it really is the same for dogs, Bear being a prime example of how such a short time can have such a profound effect.
It has been hard keeping Jack and Bear safe while also allowing them enough freedom to build a bond. Jack has a safe space the dogs can’t go into and is always supported by us when he is playing with them, something we didn’t need with Bella and Shamus. It’s important that they build trust in each other through play, something that can take Bear past his abilities. But if they can’t build this bond with each other then they cant grow and flourish together. It’s a balancing act that can be hard to navigate, my need to keep Jack safe by stopping them has to be balanced with the learning he gets from their social interactions and the joy it brings them both. I cant wrap him in cotton wool or he won’t leant his limits.
Is rescue rewarding – yes
Is it an honour to get trust and connection with a dog so worried by humans – yes .
Is it hard, emotionally draining and sometimes overwhelming at the damage that can be done – yes.
Rescue is amazing and every dog has taught me so much and working hard to repair the damage is a journey for both me and the dog. But it is very rarely a case of the dog just slotting in to a new life and everything is easy from day one. It takes hard work and dedication but the rewards are immense. I think if our expectations of what rescue means were realistic then maybe less dogs would find themselves rehomed over and over when it doesn’t “work out”. Anyone who takes on a rescue, embraces their trauma and accepts how that has shaped the dog in front of them is a hero in my book.