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The Rescue Dog

This is about my experience with my rescue dog, Bullseye, and a few things to consider before thinking about getting one.

By Helen CopleyPublished 6 years ago 3 min read
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Over a year ago now, my partner and I met and he had a beautiful Staffordshire Bull Terrier called Bullseye, Bulls for short. I found out from my partner that he was a rescue dog. Myself personally I love dogs, but Bulls was different to any other dog I'd had.

To begin with, he was rather timid and didn't really enjoy being around people... Almost as if it made him anxious. I made sure I kept my presence known in the house so I didn't startle him. I realised soon after meeting him he takes a while to warm up to new people so had to be patient with him, which of course I didn't mind it was really anything that needed doing to avoid distressing him.

After about two weeks, Bulls had warmed up to me and actually came to sit on the sofa with me and liked taking naps while being stroked. There are a few things he broke in the house, for example, he chewed the door frame up, ripped the door off the hinges and soiling in the house even though somebody was always there with him. Bulls knew when he'd done wrong because he'd hide away from everyone, But again this is where the patience comes into it, we had no idea who used to have him or how they treat him.

Now it's a year on and he's very well behaved but still can get quite excitable and jump all over people. The one thing I didn't expect was when I began taking him for walks there was a park across the road from our house and that's where we went. The first time I did he pulled on his lead so much so he dragged me across the park and tried to play with another dog but then Bulls tried to bite him (not playfully). So, that's when I decided to start shortening the route of our walks where there was minimal interaction with other dogs, if not avoiding them at all.

Bulls is now a very well-behaved dog; he walks by my side and no longer tugs on his lead and doesn't notice other dogs when we go for walks. I remember thinking to myself what could he possibly have been through to be so disconnected to start with..so shy and afraid of pretty much everything.

Coming into the house and closing the door behind me, as gently as I could manage and Bulls would run and hide, nine times out of ten it would be under the dining table. I honestly believe that rescuing Bulls was the best decision that my partner had made, I didn't know what to expect but we are now the best of friends and pretty much inseparable. When we arrive home now, Bulls is usually laid on the sofa and then jumps up on us until we give him a good fussing or sat at the door wagging his tail merrily behind him.

The key to getting a rescue dog is to make sure you have the time and room to take care of them, Have patience with your new rescue dog because they may have gone through some unimaginable things in their life. If the dog has been abused or neglected, give them the space they need to enable their full trust and confidence in you and their new home.

Once they start getting comfortable with you it makes it a whole lot easier. Remember you will be their new future and if you notice certain ''triggers'' try avoid them at all costs, for example, loud noises or banging. Other than that enjoy your new addition to the family :).

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About the Creator

Helen Copley

Most if not all of the things written on here will be based on experience If not it will be purely creative enjoy :)

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