After our post about bringing Tegan home from Dogs Trust In January, I thought it was about time we gave you an update on how things are going. I have to be honest; I had no idea what to expect when we chose a rescue dog over getting a puppy.

We decided on a rescue dog as there are so many dogs that need a home, and practically it would be easier to have a house trained dog, not to mention cheaper upfront. It cost us £205 to adopt Tegan from Dogs Trust Merseyside, and the whole team were and since have been fantastic since we brought her home.

Settling In

It would be dishonest of me to say there haven’t been any issues since we became dog parents. It has been a steep learning curve for all of us, but I think we have weathered the settling-in period well, and fingers crossed, it is all going well.

Tegan is a very anxious dog, and while we don’t know much about her history, at 12, it is safe to say she has had some experiences. Whether or not this has contributed to her anxiety or if she has always been nervous is something we will never know.

We are currently working with Dogs Trust to help her become more comfortable around dogs when out on walks and reduce her reactivity.

We have noticed that Tegan likes to be around people at all times. Not so much a cuddly dog, but she doesn’t want to be left alone, which is ideal for her as I am home most of the time.

Despite not being one for toys or playing, she seems happy enough just sleeping or watching the world go by with the occasional arroo-ing at passers-by and those pesky buses that can cause trouble!

Learning Her Cues and Signs

Initially, we were totally oblivious to telltale signs she was happy or stressed, but we quickly picked them up, and we have learnt to notice what she is trying to tell us so we can adapt our behaviour to help her feel more settled.

Gradually she has started coming out of her shell a bit more, and we’re all feeling a lot more confident with each other; hopefully, she knows we are paying attention to her.

Tegan isn’t a fan of loud noises and sudden movements, so we’re very conscious of limiting both to make sure she is relaxed.

Our Daily Routine

I have to admit, it hasn’t changed all that much, Tegan has slotted in really well, and we take her on frequent walks. Despite being 12 years old, she seems to have plenty of energy and enjoys being out and about. She is a total beach babe and loves being on the sand. When she’s not out, she can typically be found sleeping on one of her two beds, the sofas or my bed.

After initially sleeping in her bed, she now sleeps with me and seems to enjoy the comfort of being close to us.

Our mornings involve me getting up early to finish some work, get a head start on some tidying up, and then I get Tegan and Olivia up. Tegan then gets into Olivia’s bed, where they both promptly fall back asleep, and belly rubs are dished out. Then we head off to school before our first walk of the day. It’s then time for sleep for Tegan and work for me, and we head out again around lunchtime and for an evening walk.

So far, we have been able to ride out any issues we have had concerning Tegan and her anxiety which affects how she sleeps, eats and behaves around others. Working closely with Dogs Trust has helped us become better at helping her relax and at three months in, I think we have cracked it! However, we do have some ways to go but we’re making progress in the right direction.

Bringing A Rescue Dog Home

While it hasn’t been entirely smooth sailing, I would highly recommend this experience to anyone wanting a dog. Especially a senior rescue dog.

Tegan is such a character. We are loving having her here, and it has been worth it, including all of the vet’s visits!

I thought I would add a few tips for those looking at rescue dogs and what to expect when you bring one home. Not that I am an expert, mind you!

• Make sure the dog is a good fit for your lifestyle.

Like people, all dogs are different and require different circumstances and environments to thrive. Being honest about what you can take on and offering a rescue dog will help you get the right fit. Don’t fall for the first pair of puppy dog eyes you see without first checking the criteria set by the adoption agency.

• Research the breed

We didn’t research beagles before we brought Tegan home. While she is a pretty calm dog due to her age, knowing what to expect from your breed beforehand can help you fully prepare and identify any characteristics and behavioural traits they may have. For example, beagles are sniffers and will sniff everything.

• Settling in takes time

It’s not an instant bond in all cases. This can become an instant thing for some, and you are already besotted with each other. But chances are many rescue dogs will have been through some stuff before arriving with you – Tegan was breeding beagle. Have patience and don’t rush things. Introduce new experiences and people slowly, and give your new dog space to get to know you, your home, and your lifestyle. This can increase the chances of a successful transition and happy adoption for everyone.

• Ask for help

Dogs Trust has been amazing with us and has been on hand to help with every single ussie I have had. Far from taking the dog off you, they too want to make sure you and your new dog get on well and live a happy life together. So lean on your adoption agency for support and guidance to quickly help you get through this transition period.

• Dogs won’t starve themselves

This is pretty important as Tegan barely ate for the first few weeks for us. We did panic but I was informed that dogs won’t starve themselves or go longer than three days without eating. So if your dog doesn’t eat at first, don’t worry. Just have food available for them when they do want to eat.

Adopting A Rescue Dog From Dogs Trust

I have no qualms about recommending Dogs Trust to people wanting to adopt a dog. While there are some (rightly) strict requirements to meet, it is worth applying until you are deemed a right fit for the dog you want to bring home.

The questions and stipulations are there to protect everyone, and pairing the right humans to the dog can be a sensitive topic to broach, especially when you apply online as we did.

Be honest about your life and circumstances and what you can offer the dog once you adopt it. It is a huge commitment, and the last thing you want to do is to bring home a dog you are incompatible with.