Meet the stars
Dory is just one of many dogs who've found their perfect match at Woodgreen. Why not get to know some of the other pooches who've found a fresh start during filming of The Dog House.
Get to know more pups
Meet Dory
When shy stray Dory was found tied up in an alleyway, she needed our help to build confidence and find a fresh start.
Because Dory was found tied up, we didn’t know her history. Luckily our vets found that she was in great physical health but sadly, anxiety was holding this pup back.
Wary of her new surroundings and new people, Dory struggled to settle into life at Woodgreen and found walks and vet visits particularly stressful.
Slowly but surely, Dory began to find comfort in the dog handlers she’d grown familiar with. To help Dory keep building her confidence, her regular handlers arranged social visits with other, less familiar, people. These visits focused on introducing Dory to new people in a calm, pressure-free environment so she could start to see people as positive rather than scary.
A rocky start
Thanks to Dory’s improving confidence, our team felt she was ready for an exciting meeting. In The Dog House Meeting Pen, Dory got acquainted with Claire, Brett and new best pal, Willis the Pomeranian. Before long, it was time to head home and settle in with her new family.
But, now renamed Goldie, this pup had a tough time settling in – just as she had after arriving at our rehoming centre.
The first few days in a new home can be overwhelming for any dog, but Goldie found change particularly stressful. This meant that she spent the first few days hiding under a chair in a quiet spot where she felt safe.
A helping hand
We’re on hand to give free lifelong support after a pet is rehomed so, when Claire and Brett reached out for help, our team team was on hand with plenty of practical tips and advice.
Behaviour specialist, Connie started by reassuring the family and explaining that “it’s not uncommon for stray dogs to take weeks, or even months, to settle. Patience, understanding and giving the dog time to feel safe is key to helping them deal with any trauma they may have arrived with.”
Connie encouraged Claire and Brett to take things slowly, keep a predictable routine and focus on positive reinforcement, to celebrate Goldie’s small steps towards progress. Willis the Pomeranian also played a key role in Goldie’s journey because seeing that he trusted Claire and Brett really helped her to feel more secure.
Rewarding the moments when Goldie came out to see them with tasty treats made a huge difference and it wasn’t long before she started to settle in and come out of her shell.
She is amazing. She hangs out with Willis; she comes trail running with me. She isn’t the nervous doggy she used to be and it’s been amazing seeing her grow into the dog she is now. She loves the outdoors, we go to the park or forest daily and she'll even chill out at the pub (as long as they have good dog biscuits)!
More from Woodgreen...
Meet the team
Fresh starts wouldn't be possible without the expert knowledge and time of our dedicated dog care team. Meet the people who support dogs on their road to a second chance at happiness.
Meet the handlers