Dogs Trust

UPDATE: Our rehoming centres are closed until further notice, however we are now able to rehome a small number of our amazing dogs. Each dog’s profile will let you know if they are looking for a new home. For the time-being, we are unable to register your interest for dogs who are not yet available for rehoming.

Find out more Advice for dog owners

Are you dog ready?

Dog ownership is a wonderful thing, but it is also a huge responsibility. As our saying goes, 'a dog is for life' and, in this case, not just for lockdown!

We're here to help! Take a look at our advice on getting dog ready, what do if you’ve just brought a pooch home, and how to help prepare them for life after lockdown.

If you’re thinking about getting a dog, it’s important to think about what life will look on the other side of lockdown, when we are hopefully back to our usual routines and commitments. Consider what your usual daily and weekly life looks like and whether you can give a dog everything they need once things return to normal. And lockdown or not, whenever you decide to get a dog, you need to know you can afford food, bedding, vet treatment and insurance for the duration of the dogs’ life, too.

Take our quiz to see if you're ready for some of the basics of dog ownership!

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Are you ready?

To completely change your schedule (& give up lie ins!)?

For more time spent at home or the expense of a dog sitter/walker?

For walks in all weathers?

To devote time to training, games and fun with your furry friend?

To spend £££s every month on food, treats, insurance & other doggy essentials?

For furniture covered in fur?

To think for two? A night out, a holiday or a weekend away all mean planning for your pooch too!

To be chief pooper scooper?

To learn the language of your dog so you can give them everything they need?

Congratulations, it sounds like you’re ready to become a dog parent! Here are some things to consider before you pick a pooch:

  • Life lessons - lockdown could make it difficult to teach your dog valuable lessons for life, especially learning how to be left alone comfortably and how to meet new people and other dogs in a relaxed way, without getting either too excited or worried. It may be difficult to give dogs the wide variety of experiences that will help teach them all about the world, when they are only allowed within their own gardens, or out for a walk just once a day. So make sure you plan ahead for how to give your new dog the best possible start, here’s how.
  • Exercise - think about how you can give a new dog with the amount of physical and mental exercise they need. Some dogs thrive on being able to run around and play, so might find this difficult in smaller spaces. Current advice is that dogs should be kept 2 metres from other people and dogs, so walks may need to be on a lead depending on the outdoor space near you. Here’s how to enrich your a dog’s time indoors.
  • Back to reality - another thing to consider is how well a new dog will be able to cope with sudden changes to their day when we are all able to return to school and work. Dogs generally enjoy routine so some might struggle when suddenly their days change very dramatically and their human families are much busier than they have learned to expect, possibly having less time to spend with them. Structuring your dog’s day now will help them cope later on - think about all the things that your dog would experience on a normal day when the lockdown is over and try and gradually introduce these now - read our simple tips.
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It sounds like you might not be quite ready to welcome a furry friend into your family at the moment. Being a responsible dog parent is a big commitment! If you’ve got your heart set on a dog, have a think about what changes you could make to your life, do lots of research and speak to other dog owners you know. We’ve got lots more advice on our website, and we’ll be here to help you adopt when you’re ready! In the meantime how about the next best thing - Sponsoring one of our dogs!

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More info & advice

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Preventing separation anxiety

Prepare your dog for post-lockdown life with our advice for preventing separation anxiety

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Puppy advice

Worried about raising a puppy during a pandemic? Read our advice

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Rehome a dog

If you’re ready, take a look at dogs available for rehoming!

See more advice