HOW TO ADOPT A PUPPY FROM US

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 Check out our 'Dogs for Foster and Adoption' page and make a note of the dog/s you love's NAME AND NUMBER then email  us lorasqueries@outlook.com

We start the process with the rescue and help get the house check up and running.​​

Effective from 01.01.2021, due to Brexit. ​

Prices will have to rise because of Brexit and the necessity for two new blood tests to ensure we comply with all the new laws coming into place.​​

For a look at how much it actually costs to rescue a dog please check out our blog​ also available in large print pdf format here. 

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PUPPIES and DOGS To adopt. 'Adoption fee' is £400*. ​

Adopters pay for: 

• the pup's travel (which has increased by 10% due to Brexit and new Eurotunnel rules) 
• the titre test 
• the UK legal necessities. 

​​The rescue pays for/covers: 

• Distemper/parvo tests prior to vaccination internal deworming and external spot on against fleas and ticks Passport, microchip, puppy/dog vaccines and booster 
• Rabies vaccine and rabies blood test 3 months after the vaccine at an approved EU lab 2 Brucellosis tests (8-15 tickets once on arrival at rescue and one latest 14 days before they leave) 
• Leishmaniasis test 4 DX Snap Test Spay or neuter their full passport IPAFFS documents custom legal ID tag THREE MONTHS MINIMUM extra fostering costs (food, insurance and so on) so bear in mind three months is the now the MINIMUM you will legally, because of Brexit, have to wait to get a pup from when they first arrive with us in rescue. 

​Our costs alone would set you back £825 in the UK (not including food, or anything to walk, feed, entertain and care for the dog with), and costs over 50% of this in Romania. 

FOR THIS WE NEED DONATIONS and without our Aunties and Uncles (donors) all these dogs would be dead. You can become an Auntie or Uncle by using the ‘donate' button at the top of the page (laptops and PCs) or by clicking the three lines and scrolling down the options (phones etc.) 

*NOTE: For dogs already in the UK before 01/01/2021 available to foster the adoption fee is reduced- £325 but you MUST check their location map and you MUST be in area.

 For more on recent and accurate spaying costs check out:https://www.nimblefins.co.uk/how-much-cost-spay-neuter-dog 

The dogs now WILL NOT leave for their new homes until they are six months old and neutered (this is a Brexit legal requirement). You are, as an adopter, involved in his every step of the way and get added to the Happy Bus live Skype chat (The Happy Bus is what the dogs travel in to get to their forever homes) while you wait for your house check.

 If successful, you stay on the chat to watch your baby come home. 

IMPORTANT For the first TWO days the dog must be in ‘DEFRA quarantine’ and NOT be taken for a walk or let off a lead in the garden when going to the toilet. This is a legal requirement and MUST be done by all adopters else the dog has to be removed from the residence.

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TYPICAL QUESTIONS WE/THE HOUSE CHECKER WILL ASK YOU:​

Are there kids and if so what age? 

How long might the dog be left when at work etc? 

How high is the fencing/gate round your garden/yard? 

Were you looking for a small or medium dog (we do focus on some large)? 

Have you ever had a dog before? 

Are there any other pet(s) in your home?

IF YOU RENT, do you have proof your landlord allows dogs? 

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​​What is decompression and how can I help my new dog through it? ​THE FIRST TWO WEEKS​

The most important phase that dogs go through when getting out of the shelter and when first in their foster or adoptive home is the “Decompression Phase.” 

Any change in a dog’s environment or routine will cause some level of stress and it’s our job as their guardian to be patient and guide them through this time; however long it takes.

​Decompression is exactly that- unwinding or unfolding after a period of high stimulus (travelling to a new place.) And some dogs do it faster than others so there are no hard and fast rules. ​Imagine a squeaky toy. Now stand on it. 

Then quickly take your foot off. See how long, and how noisily, it goes back to ‘normal’. Multiply that by at least one hundred for a living creature! 

Your foster will have helped your new dog through a lot of this, but as all dogs get back into their normal shape at different rates, s/he could be anywhere on that progress when he comes to you.​​

“People want the dog to fit in and often make the biggest mistakes during this period. They will give the dog too much love, too much training, too much attention...everything that’s too much is TOO MUCH! 

After the experience of living at the shelter the best thing a dog can get upon getting out is space. Space that will allow the dog to decompress from the emotional stress that dogs incur at a shelter. During that phase they should NOT be bothered too much, NOT be engaged too much and NOT too much should be expected of them. 

Especially for the first few days...allow the dog to SEE what his new life will be without expecting him to Live this LIFE” Robert Cabral- The Decompression Phase- Bound Angels​

All dogs need structure/ rules/ boundaries for them to feel safe. They thrive on predictable routines. The greatest form of affection we can show our new dog is to fulfil their needs:

• to eat, 

• to have clean water,

 • to go the toilet outside,

• need to roam in the house and garden/walk and

• to have a safe cosy/soft/warm area (their den) to rest in.

 This can be a basket, igloo, blanket fort, pile of cushions or toys... whatever your dog feels safe with.​NOTE we at Lora’s Luck DO NOT CAGE or crate, and use soft baskets with high sides; wet pads for ‘accidents’; and blankets, but if one is needed for a ‘den’ for the dog, then that’s ok provided they are not locked in all day and/or all night; or outside all the time unsupervised. Leave the gate open as much as possible and be close by as much as possible.​

Of course you can pet your new dog; you can give her/him treats and a toy to chew. BUT it’s important to keep all of these things to a minimum for at least the first few days.​Lora’s Luck when they foster get this process started in the first (up to) two weeks so it is easier as a new owner to continue the same comforting routine so the transition from foster dog to forever dog is as smooth as possible. However, any/all of the following can be used to get your dog used to your forever home. Check with your individual foster which one(s) they’ve used as they tend to use very neutral methods, and not all dogs are ready to be on a lead yet. If he doesn’t like a collar and lead, a slip lead will work as well.

• When your dog first arrives, see if they are hungry or thirsty. This is unlikely if they have come from our foster. 

• Then before they even go inside your home, take them for a 20-40 min. as walk nearby as possible, (10 mins for pups under 6 months) depending on their health. This will help them get used to the new smells and smell other dogs have been there and are happy and safe. Let someone else take the dog stuff in the house and arrange the safe space if necessary!

• When you get back to your home, keep your dog leashed and walk them calmly through the front door and while keeping her/him leashed, walk around the areas of your home you are allowing them to be (e.g. lounge, kitchen, snug, conservatory etc). NO FREE ROAM (off lead) yet. If they’re not ready to be lead led, pick them up and take them round slowly, talking in soft tones and only one person do it each time, don’t all follow the dog.

• Once you have done a quick tour with the dog, take her/him to his safe area, see if s/he wants a drink (have a water bowl by the bed) and BACK AWAY slowly. The safe space should be in an area of the house that is neither isolated (in another room to where you are) nor in the middle of everything. You want your new dog to observe you and your family without feeling stressed and overwhelmed.

• With the dog still leashed, walk her/him to the door that you will be using to take her/him out to the toilet and take her/him out. Tell her/him the words ‘toilet’, ‘outside’, ‘wee’, ‘good boy/girl’ ‘come’ in soft low tones to reassure her/him. Bring him back in and put him in her/his safe space. Let her/him rest. It’s important to establish the routine and structure of the safe space straight away.

• After some time, leash the dog and remove her/him from his safe space if lead happy; if not, put the bowl just outside of their safe space; and ​DO​ 

• hand feed him her/his meal (great bonding/engagement exercise, use all the right words ‘hungry’ ‘dinner’, ‘food’ etc in soft tones) and then go outside for a loo break. If s/he wants to sleep right away, let her/him, but make sure to pop to the loo with her/him when s/he wakes.• Then back to by the safe space for some “out of the space time” (still leashed).​The more you repeat these (in whatever order best works), the sooner s/he will have a comforting routine and the faster the dog under all that fear and stress will come out and shine!​TOP TIPS (yes, it’s hard but you won’t regret it!)For the first few days (unless he comes to you, and even then, have some consistent rules ready) if he is in his bed, don’t just pick him up and get him out of it for/ DON’T try:

1. rough play,
2. being on the couch (unless you want them to be there for good!),
3. beds,(as above)
4. laps,(as above)
5. kissyface,(as above)
6. free roam through the entire house just the rooms you want him to go in, (as above)
7. interactions with any other pets, (usually it works itself out, but that’s a pet by pet basis)
8. visits from your friends and family, or all crowd into the room at once, staring at him
9. trips in the car( unless it’s to the vet of course).

10. approaching with your hands above your waist, always palm down and by your knee.

​DO:

1. have toys s/he likes in her/his space and if s/he offers them, accept.
2. fuss her/him, especially if s/he comes to you for some. Keep the nose UP when you fuss and keep your hand under her/his jaw slowly moving. Fuss the ears and across the head slowly, make sure s/he can see your hands.
3. Listen to her/his ‘noises’. S/He may quickly ‘cry’ or go to the door (but not always the 'right' door) to go to the toilet. If s/he knows you know his signal, s/he’ll use it and be less likely to wee in the house.
4. Have small treats on standby, see if you can encourage her/him to not stay in her/his safe space all the time as the hours/days go on. This will also help with her/his recall.
5. Take off the (collar and) lead as soon as you feel s/he’s over the worst of the decompression, usually by the evening of the first day. Have it close by though when taking her/him out for the toilet as try catching a black puppy in the garden without one in the dark!
6. If s/he makes signs of wanting to play, (using a paw, coming to you etc) use soft encouraging words and play back.

​​The goal for these first few days to a week (as the foster will have had them for up to two weeks and eased them through the worst of their nerves and fear) is to help your dog learn the structure/rules/boundaries of your home.

• After free time, its back outside (still leashed) for loo time and then back in for some safe space rest.
• Once you put your new dog in his safe space ignore him. Let her/him rest.
• If s/he comes out, engage. This can become more robust as you get used to how he (and you!) like to play or fuss.
• The first few days and weeks for any new dog should be very simple. Walks/hand feeding (doesn’t have to be every meal of course, just at first)/access to water/loo breaks/limited free time in the house/safe space time...repeat.

​Imagine you just started a new job. You walk through the huge entrance to the building and you’re standing in the lobby trying to figure out which way to go. 

You don’t know where your office is. You don’t know where the staff room is. You don’t know where the loo is. And you don’t know any of your co- workers. 

This is not going well and you’re already starting to feel worried and anxious.​

Now imagine that same new job but as you walk into the building, a co-worker walks up you and calmly says “Hi, welcome to XYZ Enterprise, follow me and I will show you around.” They give you the tour, they give you a welcome packet and they show you to your office.​

How much more relaxed and comfortable would you be in the second scenario? 

Your co-worker made you feel comfortable by guiding you and giving you information. Not by hugging or showering you with affection. 

Or telling you three different and contradictory company policies. That’s exactly the relaxed comfortable feeling you need to create for your new dog. Dogs want to please you but they can’t if they don’t know the rules!

You may get your bearings in hours and feel right at home. It may take a day or two, as you keep forgetting where the toilets are. 

Or a bit longer; as you’re worried about getting stuff wrong. You can’t ask for help as you can’t speak English. This is your new dog. 

During decompression, they’re worried about all this all the time. So give her/him time but encourage his overtures, and it should all be fine!​S/He will hopefully know some command words (ask your foster which one(s)!) that you can use right away, and add your own for your circumstances. 

New commands need to be clear and consistent, and can be rewarded with treats (but not every time.)​The best of luck with your new dog!