Hello folks, welcome to my first blog! My name is Laura, and I am one of the trustees for Universal, allow me to share a little bit about myself.
I first came across UBTR by chance, I was looking to adopt a bull terrier, and WOW what a journey I’ve been on. I adopted Chandler in 2019. I’ll share more about our journey another day, most likely about reactive dogs, and what that entails.
You’ll often see our social media posts have certain adopters criteria for different dogs, so I will break it down in what these mean. Grab yourself a beverage and enjoy!
Active Home
Do you enjoy pottering along? A little walk here and there? Well if that’s the case, this isn’t for you. Some of our dogs need a good burn, and thrive with being out and about exploring and going on those long picturesque walks. They don’t do well with just a short walk as this can lead to boredom. Dogs need mental and physical stimulation in equal measures.
Someone home for most of the day
This isn’t the odd pop in, this really does mean what it says on the tin. Occasionally we come across dogs who really don’t cope well on their own. This means they may have accidents in the house, or they may become destructive when left for long periods. Some people are also blessed with the flexibility of being able to work from home. They may work alternating shifts with partners, they may also work part time or be retired.
No kids
No matter how big/small or dog savvy your kids are, the rescue can’t risk placing certain dogs with children. Children are unpredictable, they move differently to adults, have higher pitched voices. Could you imagine pairing an unpredictable dog with a child? It would be like pouring petrol onto a fire. There may be certain occasions where this may be possible, and Universal will always outline if the specific dog can live with kids.
Pet free home
Yes, I’m afraid when it say’s pet free, it really does mean no pets. And this isn’t always because that the bullie isn’t friendly, it’s to ensure a safe integration into the new home. There is always a risk when introducing two dogs together, let alone asking them to live together. Do you like every person you’ve ever met? No! Of course not, but as humans we can choose not to interact with that person. Our dogs don’t have that voice. Bull terriers do have a high prey drive and small furries could be seen as a light snack! (My Chandler for one is a definite no no for anything 4 legged, even the pigeons in the garden aren’t safe).
Ability (and willingness) to crate a potential dog in your home
Crates are a safe space. Contrary to what you may hear or read. Crates are important to letting your dog adjust to its new surroundings. It allows them to decompress in a safe place. Have you considered where you may put the crate? Are you able and willing to rearrange your house to accommodate a suitable size crate? Maybe the dog is a serial chewer…and in that split second that he/she isn’t in the crate, they ingest something they shouldn’t have…. That’s an expensive mistake for you, and life threatening for the dog. What if you’ve never crated your dog and it needs to spend time at the vets, in a confined space? How will it cope? Crates are down time, they allow the dog to switch off in a safe environment. You wouldn’t just allow a toddler to sleep on your living room floor would you? No, or course you wouldn’t, the toddler would be in a cot, Safe!
Ability to implement and establish boundaries
Why are boundaries important, I hear you ask? Well just like children, bull terriers need to understand what is right and what is wrong? Bull terriers, if allowed to do their own thing can get up to all sorts of mischief and bad choices. Chandler is notorious for getting too excited. He will hump when he gets over stimulated. Funny the first few times right? But you try getting a 35kg lump of a dog off your leg when it is super over stimulated. Myself and my long suffering partner (Martin) had to work hard to stop this. It didn’t happen over night. It’s ok to tell your dog NO! We had to start at the basics. For Chandler this was BED. Meaning that when he got to that stage in overexcited, he was sent to his bed for a time out. This is perfect for all sorts of eventualities but it quickly taught him that he needed to time out. So a swift NO followed by BED soon reminds him what is expected of him.
Willingness to work with a trainer
Yes, you may have years worth of bull terrier experience behind you, and that’s brilliant, but what if this new dog is different to any other dog you have taken on? What if you need that extra bit of guidance? Universal would support with that, we just need to understand that you’re willing. Some of our dogs have spent months in residential rehabilitation due to their “quirks”, and it is important the same structure is offered in the new home. Here’s a few other points to consider when opening your home to a rescue, whether it’s a bullie or any breed to that matter.
Routine is Key!
Aren’t we all creatures of habit? I know I am…. Try getting hold of me after 9pm there’s a very slim chance because I’ll be getting ready for bed. Dogs thrive on routine. Bull terriers especially thrive with routine, it helps them adjust much quicker If you implement routine from day one. Yes of course we have busy lives, but whilst your new dog is adjusting to its new surroundings it’s really important to keep things consistent.
Trust with a new dog is earned and will not come instantly?
As a human, do you instantly trust everyone you meet? No of course you don’t. Trust is earned, and built over time isn’t it? It’s no different for a bullie. You need to show that dog that you are in charge of what ever situation, be that out on a walk, or in a strange environment. Your dog is looking to you to demonstrate that you’ve got the situation in hand. My own dog flinches if a stranger goes to pet him on the head. They haven’t earned his trust for that privilege. You wouldn’t put your hand into a strangers pram would you? Advocate for your dog.
Are you realistic in your expectations on what to expect with a rescue dog? And are you realistic in what you can cope with?
Where possible Universal will always discuss warts ‘n’ all for each of our dogs. We would probably go out of our way to put you off taking on a dog. We will always discuss all known issues that dog has.
Are you looking to take on a dog through rose tinted glasses?
Are you realistic in what you or your house hold can manage? If you enquire about taking on a reactive dog, do you truly understand what that means? If the dog is reactive to other dogs, that means you’ll spend every day walking your dog dodging every other dog you may come across in order to not upset your new dog. Probably walking at ungodly hours to avoid interactions. (Yes I speak from experience here)
Does everyone else in the home agree to taking in a rescue?
On occasions we have found that one part of the family is more keen than others, and they will say the right thing to keep the other side happy. We need people to be brutally honest. Everyone has to be in absolute agreement they are willing to take the dog on… Links in to the above point… are both sides willing and able to cope with that particular dog.
It can take months, if not years for your rescue Bull Terrier to settle
Common mistakes we see is people feeling sorry for the dog. You shouldn’t pity the dog, you are applying human emotions to a creature who is just grateful you have given them food and a bed to sleep in. Dogs are simple, occasionally fickle creatures. The dog has gone on quite a journey to get to you, left the home they knew, and met you. They will need time to decompress, they may have accidents. They may seem shut down. That’s ok, take each day at a time. The biggest mistake I see is people doing way too much too quickly. Slow it down. Don’t rush the process. Enjoy the ride…. After all you’re in it for the long haul. If you have a dog that slots right in….youre blessed!
Are you willing to work with a complex dog?
Every bull terrier I have ever met has quirks, some are more extreme than others. Are you willing to take on a dog who reacts to the washing machine? Are you willing to take on a dog that will kill the hosepipe given half a chance?
Are you willing to follow the guidance and advice put in place by the charity?
We’ve been doing this for a while, and whilst sometimes we may seem a little over the top with our advice and guidance, we know the dogs in our care, and we know what they need. We don’t give this guidance to hinder your experience of taking on a rescue bull terrier, we are giving you this advice to ensure that you and your bullie get off to the right start.
So, if you’ve read this far…. And are still looking to adopt one of these magical creatures… we’d love to hear from you!
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