Many of our dogs have never lived in a home environment and have had very basic, if any, training. We as rescuer, but als the rescuers with who we colaborate put every ounce of energy and care into saving these dogs, and it’s up to us to find them a home that understands that everything may be new to them and they will need a long time to adjust and adapt.

Some of our dogs come to the pound as strays, meaning we have no history whatsoever on them. They may have always lived outdoors, have been used for hunting, have been given no socialization or no training. Others may have had a family, and then suddenly find themselves in a situation that’s totally different to what they knew, with all the anxiety that this can cause.

Once they arrive at the pound, they are stressed and on high alert at all times. Their survival responses will kick in, and many dogs will shut down. This, in reality may make them seem calmer, more tolerant of other dogs, or less afraid than they actually are- because their body is doing everything to help them cope.

In the case that they are handed in by owners, we may know a little more of their history, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that they will behave the same way once with us. They have lost their point of reference and the person they trusted, and this can dramatically alter a dog’s behaviour, leading them to need many, many months to settle and trust again.

Even with our puppies, they may have come to us very young having been taken from their mother and abandoned, they may have been born to a feral dog who imparts a certain nervousness to them, or they may have spent months in a crowded boarding kennel or foster home with very little one to one training. People often feel a puppy is easier, but please consider how the above scenarios may affect a very young dog. Puppies who don’t spend enough time around their mother and siblings can have a lack of bite inhibition, which can make them more prone to nipping when young, and you will need to teach them how to regulate this. They may toilet indoors, chew things, try to escape a confined environment or take months to fully trust you. They may need total lead training, housetraining and basic manners taught to them. Are you ready for all that?

To apply, you must have experience of dogs and understand of rescue. We recommend that you do your research – do not expect a perfect dog and do expect the unexpected! It is a joy to see a dog settle and trust again, but it comes with endless training and a lot of effort. Many behaviours become apparent only once the dog is in the UK and has had time to feel confident... will you be ready to work on behaviours you didn’t expect?

Whilst we believe that every dog deserves a loving home, we are also aware that adopting from abroad is not for everyone. Please carry out your research and ask if you have questions. If you do not have the time and commitment to support a dog for the months (and sometimes years) it may take to integrate them into your home and lifestyle, then please do not apply.

The Teluma’s Team consists of three volunteers, who give up their free time to do this. We will make our assessments based on what we know of each dog and what we feel is suitable. Please understand every decision is made with the individual dog’s best interests at heart.

• You must be over 20 years to adopt from us. The maximum age is 74. We also look at the age of the applicant and their suitability for the dog depending on its age, which we will assess on a case by case basis. The very maximum age for adopting a puppy is 66 years old.

• Children in the household must be over 14 years old, unless stated otherwise. In particular cases we may rehome to families with children younger, if they are dog safty, but this will all depend on the dog in question.

• Your garden must be fully secure with absolutely no gaps that a dog can escape from. Fencing as standard should be 6ft, although we can look at lower fencing for some smaller dogs, and assess this on a case by case basis. Please bear in mind the height we ask about also includes gates.

• We can accept applications from people living in a flat depending on the dog we feel may be suitable. The choice of suitable dogs depend on the need of each dog we ask you to be respectful of this.

• All dogs in the home must be spayed or neutered, unless there is a medical reason that they are not.

• If you have a cat, then we can help find a cat tested dog, but always bear in mind they are individuals and we cannot guarantee they will get on. Please bear in mind these relationships need time. 

• We cannot accept applications from full time workers (not including home-workers), unless you have a support system and regular company for the dog already in place. Please note that this is due to the amount of training and socialisation our dogs require. The number of dogs we have who will be suited to a dog walker can be limited, due to lead training, nervousness and other behaviours, so please bear this in mind before applying

• Our dogs are absolutely not to be used for breeding under any circumstance– we require all puppies to be spayed and neutered when they reach the appropriate age and will ask for proof this has been done, following on from the spay/neuter agreement that must be signed in advance of the adoption of puppies.
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• We have restrictions on age gaps between dogs, for example if you have a senior dog in the house, our recommended age gap is no more than 6-8 years, to avoid frustration and mismatched energy levels between the two dogs. We will assess this on an individual basis, and may ask you to send us videos of your dog interacting with dogs of a similar age to the one you are applying for. This is for the well-being of your resident dog as much as our own.
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• If you haven’t owned your own dog before, we will ask that you have made contact with a qualified behaviourist in your area, in advance of applying. They must have confirmed they will have availability to support and work with you. This is a requirement, to ensure you have the right guidance on issues that may arise. Friends with dogs may have recommendations, or you may find reviews of trainers in your local area. In the event you’re unsure of who to contact, please see some links below:
• https://apdt.co.uk/find-a-trainer/
• https://www.imdt.uk.com/find-a-qualified-imdt-trainer
• https://abtc.org.uk/practitioners
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• If you have visiting children and your dog were nervous and unsettled around children, do you have a way to separate them without causing friction or trauma to the children or dog?

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• Will you be able to cover the dog’s needs?
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• Will you have the time to help the dog settle and adjust, training on a regular basis?
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• And what about if the dog develops an illness and needs long term treatment?

Do you have the option of separating your cat and new dog, and providing adequate space and company in the event they don’t get on?