What to think about before getting a dog
Whether you’re a first-time owner or you’ve had dogs before, getting a dog is exciting. But it’s a long-term commitment. So, if you’re thinking of getting a dog, here’s what you need to ask yourself.
How we find a dog their new owner
We’re committed to finding every pet in our care the right new home. If you’re considering whether to rehome a dog from Woodgreen, you will be under the expert guidance of our rehoming team.
Looking for the right home for every dog
Adopting or buying a pet is a big decision, and we know everyone who comes to us has already taken a lot of time to feel confident they’re ready for a rescue.
Some of the dogs in our care have encountered significant challenges before they arrive at Woodgreen and as a result may have medical or behavioural problems. So as much as our dogs need care and companionship, many will require specialist ongoing support.
Our experienced team ensures they know exactly what kind of home our dogs are best suited to and we take the following steps to ensure that we match each dog to the right person.
Our rehoming process
When a dog is ready to go to a new home, our team will match them against people who have applied to rehome them. They'll call potential owners to discuss the dog in more detail, to see whether they are a good match for each other.
Our vets will discuss any medical concerns with new potential owners, to ensure they’re informed about the dog’s ongoing care needs and any possible financial considerations.
We do everything we can to help the new owners feel prepared. At this time, we invite applicants by appointment only to meet the dog in person.
What we’ll discuss with you as a new owner
The discussion will involve much more than just who else lives in the home or how long the dog is going to be left home alone for. It’s important to us to ensure that the new owners are also going to get what they need from a dog as we know this is key to forming a successful bond.
We take care not to place dogs in environments where they’re not able to flourish. For example, if we have a dog who chases cars, an area with high traffic levels could put both the owner and the dog at risk of an accident.
Training and support
Many of our dogs will require ongoing training which could impact on a new owner’s lifestyle, so we want to ensure that we can find the right match for the dog, and avoid potential triggers for problematic behaviour. We’re committed to providing our owners and dogs with ongoing reassurance, helpful advice and support if you or they need us. We want to ensure that you both have the most fulfilling relationship possible.
Rehome a dog from Woodgreen
We work hard to find the perfect match, starting with our dogs’ needs, and it might be that we are unable to match you straight away. We don’t exclude anyone from adopting a pet based on blanket policies. For example, we don’t automatically turn away families with certain aged children, people who live in flats or don’t have a garden.
If you’re ready to bring a four-legged friend into your life, then we’re here to help.
More from Woodgreen and The Dog House
Read more about 'What to think about before getting a dog'
Help us care for more pets in need
More and more of the pets who arrive at Woodgreen have complex needs - they might need life-saving surgery, or a lot of support and training to be ready for their next home. And we can only help them thanks to your generosity.
Find out more about adopting a pet
We rehome many different pets, from dogs and cats, to guinea pigs, rabbits and rats. If you're thinking of adopting a pet, you can find out more about the process and get started here.
Dog rehoming myths
We’re no strangers to the opinions surrounding pet rehoming - and we get it, there are a lot of misconceptions out there. But we’re passionate about pairing pups with their perfect people so we want to put you at ease by busting some of the most common rehoming myths.