Frequently asked questions
If you are interested in adopting a Dog Trouble Foundation rescue dog the process will be:
1. Enquiry Form
3. Home Check
4. Adoption Agreement
Tell us a little about yourself by filling in the online Enquiry Form. Alternatively, if you know which dog you would like to adopt you can go straight to the Application Form.
After filling in the Application Form this will be reviewed and a Home Check arranged. The Home Check must be passed.
The final step is to sign the Adoption Agreement. It is important that you read, understand, and agree to the Terms and Conditions in the Agreement before signing.
In common with other rescues, when you adopt a Foundation dog you will become the registered adopter – the keeper; Dog Trouble Foundation retains ownership of the dog. This ensures that, in the unlikely event of a problem necessitating the removal of the dog, we can do this. This is covered in the Adoption Agreement which all prospective adopters must sign before an adoption can take place. It is important that you understand and agree this before signing an Adoption Agreement.
Yes. The Foundation has resident dogs, chickens, goats, a donkey, and a Cob horse. Our rescued dogs are tested with all these other dogs and animals.
Yes you can. This will be discussed with you during the home check to make sure the dog aligns with your lifestyle and environment, and any children in the family understand the responsibilities involved.
Rescue dogs often carry emotional trauma, which can be triggered by loud children, heat, or pain, leading to a fight or flight response. Dogs communicate stress through warning signs like growling, bared teeth, and avoidance behaviors.
It's essential to teach children to respect dogs as relatives of wild animals, avoid provoking them, stay clear during mealtime, and to let sleeping dogs lie. Whether children live with a dog or they are visiting households with a dog, following these guidelines can help prevent accidents.
The following are key points to bear in mind if you have children:
Make sure children understand that a dog is related to animals with sharp teeth and powerful jaws.
Instill in children the importance of respecting the dog rather than fearing it.
Encourage children to avoid provoking, scaring, or bothering the dog.
Keep a safe distance from the dog when it is eating.
Ensure the dog is kept away from children during mealtimes, including snacks.
Remind children to let sleeping dogs rest undisturbed.
Yes. The Foundation provides a health check including Flea/Tick/Worm treatment and blood tests, where required, prior to adoption. Dogs will only be vaccinated if a Titre Test indicates that antibodies are not detected. It is a condition of the adoption that the dog is Titre Tested every 3 years.
Yes. Our dogs are tested for tick borne diseases including Brucellosis and Leishmaniasis. Dogs rescued by the Foundation from overseas are tested for Leishmaniasis before traveling to the UK.
In the majority of cases our rescued dogs will have been neutered / castrated. If the dog is ‘entire’, the adopter will take the responsibility to have him or her neutered or spayed at their own cost, and at the earliest opportunity depending on the dog’s age and medical condition, and with the agreement of a registered veterinary surgeon.
Very occasionally an elderly dog may be deemed too vulnerable to undergo the surgery. In these circumstances the Foundation will assess the situation and advise whether any neutering / castration should go ahead. As the legal owner of the rescued dog, the Foundation retains responsibility for decisions regarding neutering / castration surgery.
The Foundation registers the rescue dog's microchip with PETtrac and will help with the transfer of the registration to the new keeper. Keeping the registration details up to date is a legal requirement. All dogs since 2015 (and cats in 2023) must be microchipped and have their details up to date on a compliant database, or face a fine of up to £500. It is important to note that The ‘keeper’ has legal responsibility for their pet, but it does not prove legal ownership.
Dogs brought into the UK from overseas will have Pet Passport and will only be allowed entry if it has been filled in correctly and the dog meets the entry requirements. These requirements include:
details of ownership - in all cases this will be Dog Trouble Foundation;
description of the dog;
markings or identifications;
vaccination against rabies; DHP vaccine, flea/tick/worm treatment;
details of the vet issuing the passport.
In order to help with the first few weeks with the new dog, the Foundation requires that the adopter and the dog complete the Dog Trouble Training programme, plus any additional training sessions that the Foundation identifies as being needed. Ongoing support is available from the Dog Trouble dog behaviourists who will help with any behaviour issues that arise that cause concerns.
If circumstances change and you are unable or unwilling to continue as keeper of the dog you should notify the Foundation immediately to make arrangements to return the dog to us. Under no circumstances should you seek to rehome the dog elsewhere. Unless agreed with the Foundation, there will be no right to a reimbursement of the adoption donation. If no new home can be found the dog will stay at the Foundation for the rest of their lives, along with the resident pack.