Gosh...where to being....I shall start with the easiest

Poppy (Rough Collie, ex show dog)

Kennelled for all of her life (4 when she came to us) never lived in a house, terrified of the washer, hoover, telly, normal household noises. Not house trained (took ages!) Sensitive gut, snatchy with food, Hadnt been walked, so terrified of cars/vans/lorries, anything thats not meant to be there.

Rupert (spaniel x stray/poundie)
Pulled on lead (like you would not believe) hated being touched (very growly) hated being left alone (SA)

Kerrie (Dogs Trust 2008, abused stray (had numerous wounds on her, and was 6kgs underweight)

DA, Seperation Anxiety, No recall, Pulled like a train, no toilet training (that was easy tho) didnt like men, foriegn people (esp asian) people with walking sticks/spades/brooms in hands, completely bonkers, raided cupboards/fridges/freezers, chased (and killed) small furries/feathereds, bust fences/crates to get out (or to get in )

Think thats about it

Does Flighty not count????

I've just googled lab rescue in the south east. Definitely something to consider for the future. Funnily enough I didn't think of specific breed rescue. I was looking at greyhounds from the Brighton & Hove retired racers because someone had told me about it and Brighton's not too far from us. However, hubby was quite keen on a puppy. I don't think he realised what furry little devils they can be! But so much fun and very loveable.

We are first-time dog owners (well; other than the dog my husband had as a child).

I looked at various rescue websites and lots of lovely dogs before coming across Whisper. My main 'requirement' for a dog was that it would be ok with my small furries and rabbits. We didn't want to take on a dog with any 'major' issues as we are obviously inexperienced.

Whisper was a dog who we expected to have issues - she was nervous and 'head shy' at the rescue and afraid of men. Although a stray she was microchipped so the rescue was able to find out some history on her and it seemed she ended up with an alcoholic man who sadly abused and mistreated her.

We expected to be adopting a nervous dog with some issues but we felt that we had the patience to help her work through them and the rescue were obviously happy to provide as much back-up as necessary.

Well Whisper has been a dream dog tbh! She is clean, non-destructive, gentle and easy to walk. She travels well in the car and is fine with being left for a reasonable amount of time (4 hours is the most she has been left for - no mess, no destruction, no noise in our absence). She settled in with us so fast it was amazing and by the end of her first day with us she was already fine with my husband. She eats well too (though needed some reassurance whilst eating to start with). A few days in she had stopped barking at the rabbits and after only 2 1/2 weeks she ignores them or just looks at them and they ignore her lol. She's been fine with the small furries too. We've had several visitors who she's been fine with including two children. She even let the two children take in turns having her on her lead (supervised of course) quite happily and has just been brilliant all round.

Tbh I can't really say she has any 'issues' as far as I am concerned other than that she is nervous of other dogs (no aggression though), is scared of men waving sticks about, is shy with strangers and is terrified of aerosols and doesn't like the washing machine! None of these issues particularly cause any problems for us and as first-time owners we can't believe how easy she has been and how quickly she has settled into our life. xx xx

We are working on her recall but as she responds very well to a whistle we are making very good progress. She's learning to enjoy playing again (need to ask about toys as I'd like some advice on that one!) and we are thoroughly enjoying watching her character blossom.

The only 'problem' with adopting Whisper is that I think I am now officially a Rough Collie addict - - and I honestly can't imagine having any other kind of dog lol. Love her to bits and have absolutely no regrets about going to a rescue.