Nelson is a bright and bouncy young lad who is just at the beginning of his journey. Under a year old, full of energy, and with a huge heart, he is looking for a home that can offer him gentle guidance, structure, and lots of encouragement as he builds confidence in the world around him. He would suit a home with children aged 11 and over who are calm and understanding, especially as Nelson can sometimes be unsure and needs reassurance. He may also enjoy living with another dog, depending on a successful introduction—he has shown playful interest in other dogs here at the centre. A private, secure garden would give him a quiet place to explore while he gets used to life at home, and a calm neighbourhood would help him feel settled on walks as he builds up his lead-walking skills.

Is Nelson right for you?

There is something really special about watching Nelson come out of his shell. While new situations can make him pause for a moment, it is not long before his inquisitive nature kicks in. He loves to sniff around and take in his surroundings and has shown no concerns with traffic or walking in the rain. Stairs are still a bit of a mystery, but he is figuring them out in his own time. At heart, Nelson is affectionate and sweet. He enjoys a fuss and will lean in for attention, then politely take himself off when he has had enough. He can be jumpy and excitable at times, particularly during greetings or play, but he is still very much a youngster and is learning quickly. He has started to engage with toys—his favourite is a plushie octopus that he likes to fetch and show off! He enjoys gentle grooming, can be handled calmly and even managed well at the vet, despite being full of beans. Nelson has never lived in a home before, so everything will be new for him, and he may need time to adjust. Leaving hours should be built up gradually, as he has shown some frustration when left in kennels, but with the right set-up and lots of positive reinforcement, this lovely boy has all the makings of a brilliant companion.

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How our rehoming process works

Create an account and fill out our application form

In our form you can tell us all about your home, your lifestyle and the kind of dogs you’re interested in. You won’t be applying for a specific dog, but you can add favourites to give us an idea of the dogs you like. We’ll use this information to find a great match for …

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Choose a rehoming centre

We’ll also ask you to select a rehoming centre. The team at this centre will look after your application and assess you against all suitable dogs in their care. This doesn’t have to be your nearest centre, but you will need to travel there within a few days once we’ve found …

We’ll contact you within seven days

We’ll be in touch by phone or email within seven days of receiving your application to have a chat about your dog search. Then we'll start looking for a great match for you.

We will make two attempts to contact you. If after the second attempt we don’t hear back from …

We’ll keep your application open for three months and keep looking for a match

You won't need to do anything else or apply again for three months. We’ll keep reviewing your application against all the dogs at your chosen centre. Not all available dogs are featured on our website; dogs of all shapes and sizes regularly come into our care, and your application will be considered for any dogs that match your requirements. We’ll contact you as soon as we find a good match.

If for some reason we don’t find the right dog in that time, you can reapply, and we’ll keep looking.

When we find a match, we’ll invite you to meet them

If we’ve found a dog who seems right for you, we’ll invite you to come and meet them at the rehoming centre.

Some of the dogs in our care will need to meet potential owners several times to get to know one another. This lets us see you’re compatible and gives you …

If we’ve found a dog who seems right for you, we’ll invite you to come and meet them at the rehoming centre.

Some of the dogs in our care will need to meet potential owners several times to get to know one another. This lets us see you’re compatible and gives you the chance to build a bond before making a commitment to give them a new home. By taking some time at the beginning to make sure everyone’s comfortable, an adoption is more likely to be successful.

We may also arrange a home visit with you, to see how your house will be set up and check that the garden (if you have one) is secure. This may not be necessary, though, especially if you’ve adopted from us before. Where you already have dogs, we may accept a reference from your vet as an alternative.

If we haven’t found the right match, we’ll continue the search together

If we haven’t found the right dog for you within three months, we’ll let you know your application is closed. We’ll invite you to apply again so we have up-to-date information about you, and we’ll keep looking.

We’ll support you to embark on a new life with your dog

When we’ve matched you with a dog, we’ll help you welcome them to your home. After adoption we’ll keep in touch to see how you and the dog are doing. If you need any advice or support, we’re just a phone call away.

With our free behaviour support, our Canine Care …

Key information

Location

Dogs Trust Salisbury (Wiltshire)
45 Amesbury Road
Newton Tony
Wiltshire
SP4 0HW
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Opening hours

We’re open for general browsing on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 12–4pm. Wednesday and Friday mornings are by pre-arranged appointment only.