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Hali
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05-02-2009, 03:06 PM

Should Rescues allow Trial Periods?

We've been hijacking another thread with this debate so thought it better to start a new thread.

My take on this is yes, for the right home.

IMO an adult or young adult dog in rescue is a very different commitment to taking on a puppy.

Both require work at the start, but a puppy is mostly about 'bog standard training and socialising' whereas taking on a rescue dog could involve having to deal with various, already established behaviour problems which the new owner may feel unqualified/unable to deal with.

In addition, introducing a pup to existing dogs in the home is usually much more straight forward than an older dog.

There is no doubt in my mind that dogs behave differently in a home than they do in kennels (though I do acknowledge that it can take a couple of weeks or more after being rehomed for them to really start showing their character).

So, whilst I acknoweldge that trial periods could have their problems, I think there are advantages because Not having a trial period:
  • Will not stop people wanting to take the dog back to rescue if there is a problem. But it should reduce the lies that people make up in their desperate attempts to say whatever they think is needed for the rescue to take the dog back (so giving the dog a false reputation)
  • is more likely to lead to the dog being handed on to anyone else who will have it, or being abandoned or worse (where the rescue will not take the rescue dog back).
  • Could cause the dogs to miss out on a loving home because the new home has no experience of rescue dogs and doesn't know what to expect or how the dog will behave and decides to opt for the safer puppy option.

I can see that there would be concern about dogs being in and out of different homes and agree that done frequently, it would not be in the best interest of the dog.

However, at the centre I know that does this, if and when dogs are returned, they get a good idea of the reasons, which helps in finding a better suited home. I have not seen the system abused with a dog in and out of a few homes to the dog's detriment.
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Fudgeley
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05-02-2009, 03:27 PM
I personally can't see the problem. A lot of rescues use foster homes and there is no difference to a short term foster placement to a trail period for a rescue.It is far better IMO to make sure there is an introductory period with support from the rescue to ensure a smooth transition to a permanent home.
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ClaireandDaisy
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05-02-2009, 03:30 PM
No, because
1. it takes time for a dog to settle, and relax, and to show their true nature, and also for the new owner to make friends with the dog. It takes time to establish a relationship and putting a time limit on a decision would add stress.
2. When you have a child or take on a new partner - or a new pet, you should commit to it and do your utmost to make it work for both parties. Giving a get-out clause gives weight to the idea that animals are disposable.
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youngstevie
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05-02-2009, 03:33 PM
After giving this alot of thought, I have to say I disagree.

But that is only my opinion and only applies to me, I couldn't and wouldn't take a dog on home trial. Reasons being, I would feel awful about taking it back, in some cases of rescue's especially here some only get 7 days, and I would always wonder if I took it back....would I of been the last chance it had.

No I have all rescues, have always had rescue's, and my two son's both have rescue from BDH and Blue cross, we went with the knowledge that we might be in for the long hurl, maybe a behaviourist might be needed, maybe we could solve the problem ourselves, maybe we could call one another and work with each other. But once they came they stayed, baggage and all. It just meant alot of hard work I'm afraid.

I think if I had doubts about taking a rescue, I wouldn't go down that road............thats my opinion Sorry.
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gemma riley
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05-02-2009, 03:33 PM
One thing I have learned from rehoming is to make sure that people are aware that the trial period is for the dog NOT them! Sometimes if you say trial period they seem to think they can use this to see if they are capable of looking after a dog, this is not the point of a trial period.

I agree though there should always be a couple of weeks grace time just to make sure the dog does suit the family it has been placed with.

Gemmsie
x
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Ramble
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05-02-2009, 03:33 PM
I agree with Claire and Daisy...BUT I also agree with Hali and Fudgeley and I think there should be some leaway here. Whilst yes, it takes time for a dog to settle, it can also be that a nerw dog enters its home and it just doesn't work out and could never work out...what about in those instances?
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Krusewalker
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05-02-2009, 03:39 PM
another problem would be the practicalities of allotting kennel spaces
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Ramble
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05-02-2009, 03:40 PM
Originally Posted by Krusewalker View Post
another problem would be the practicalities of allotting kennel spaces
Yes and I can see this would be a problem and this is probably why larger rescues don't do it.
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Moobli
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05-02-2009, 03:56 PM
Originally Posted by Fudgeley View Post
I personally can't see the problem. A lot of rescues use foster homes and there is no difference to a short term foster placement to a trail period for a rescue.It is far better IMO to make sure there is an introductory period with support from the rescue to ensure a smooth transition to a permanent home.
I agree with these comments from Fudgeley. Many rescues prefer to have their dogs in foster homes instead of kennels (understandably) and so a dog going to a foster home on a trial period would make no difference to the dog itself surely?

Originally Posted by ClaireandDaisy View Post
No, because
1. it takes time for a dog to settle, and relax, and to show their true nature, and also for the new owner to make friends with the dog. It takes time to establish a relationship and putting a time limit on a decision would add stress.
2. When you have a child or take on a new partner - or a new pet, you should commit to it and do your utmost to make it work for both parties. Giving a get-out clause gives weight to the idea that animals are disposable.
I also agree with Claire's first comment. The older dogs I have taken on don't show their true nature until at least 2-3 weeks into the relationship (the honeymoon period!) so a short-term foster may not necessarily show up problems that could arise later on.

I don't necessarily agree with the second comment about animals being disposable - as anyone can *get rid* of any animal at any time unfortunately, whether dogs can be taken on foster or not.
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Stormey
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05-02-2009, 04:08 PM
I dont think a rescue should rule it out fully. If a rescue deem a trail home is likely to lead to a forever home then they should do it. It could also give rescues more of an insight to how the dogs are, granted it takes time for a dog to settle but even from early on its behaviour would differ from being in a kennel.

For example family A takes a dog on a 4-6wks trial and find out they cant cope for whatever reason and the dog is returned the rescue would now have a better idea of the possible problems the dog may have.

On the other side along with the practicalities of allotting kennel spaces I could see problems if a dog is constanly taken on trial and returned for maybe no apparnt reason, this imo would have a bad effect on the dog.

So I dont think its something that should be ruled out but should be thought about very carefully
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