We want to give you a little update on the dogs currently in our care but first we want to explain why so many of them have additional behavioural needs and why some of them are having to wait such a long time to find their forever homes.
The majority of the Whippets coming into our care require understanding, patience, consistency and the right training. As always, we’re here to support our adopters every step of the way, including access to professional behavioural support from Becca at Behaviour by Becca.
What we do ask is that anyone considering adoption is willing to put the work in. Rescue dogs don’t arrive as the “perfect pet”. They need time to decompress, settle into their new home and work through any gremlins they may have picked up along throughout their lives. With patience and the right support, the vast majority make incredible progress.
Reactivity continues to be the most common behavioural challenge we see. Sadly, very few people applying to adopt feel able to take on a dog with these difficulties, even though many of them are otherwise wonderful companions. We completely understand that reactivity can feel daunting, especially if you’re a sociable person who wants your dog to accompany you everywhere, but these dogs are incredibly loving, affectionate and loyal. They simply need the right environment and adopters who are prepared to help them build confidence, learn that the world isn’t such a scary place, and not expect too much too soon.
No newly adopted rescue dog wants to be overwhelmed by visitors, taken to busy cafés, introduced to lots of unfamiliar places or whisked away on holiday within the first few months of adoption. Yet so many people seem to expect a dog to instantly slot into their lives with very little effort. Sadly, that isn’t the reality of rescue, or indeed dog ownership in general. Dogs need the time, patience and understanding they deserve.
From the dog’s point of view, their whole life has been turned upside down. They’ve found themselves in a completely unfamiliar environment, surrounded by people they don’t know, with no idea whether they’re staying for a day, a week or forever. That takes time to process and adjust to. Imagine being dropped into a foreign country on your own, with no family or friends, unable to speak the language and having no idea what was expected of you. You’d probably feel a little unsettled and anxious too.
It’s also important to remember that Whippets are not naturally aggressive dogs. In the vast majority of cases, the behaviours we see are rooted in fear, anxiety or previous negative experiences. Many are simply trying to create distance between themselves and something they perceive as frightening or overwhelming. Given time, understanding and positive, reward-based training, these dogs can go on to become happy, relaxed and much-loved family members, but this doesn’t happen overnight.
Whippets are known for their wonderful temperaments and their ability to fit into many different families and lifestyles. However, Whippets in rescue have generally found themselves here for a reason, and that reason is often behavioural challenges that have become established over many months or even years, and which now require commitment from their adopters to help them thrive.
We also have Whippets who arrive with ongoing medical conditions that require lifelong treatment or additional support. Again, these dogs can take longer to find their forever homes, as potential adopters don’t always feel able to meet their needs. However, with the right home, they too can enjoy happy, fulfilled lives and we are always here to support in any way we can.
On our Facebook page, we’ll introduce the wonderful Whippets currently looking for their forever homes. Each one has their own personality, their own story and, most importantly, the potential to become an incredible companion in the right home. They simply need patient, committed adopters who are willing to give them the chance they deserve.
