rescue home visits

[Deleted]

Mostly for motzie and bullygirl979 and anyone else involved in a rescue group - I am tasked at doing a home visit tomorrow for someone who applied to adopt one of our pups. They have no dogs/vets and I have never done one before. My coordinator told me to take Willow and see how they interact with her and check out her place, ask her common questions like where the dog will be kept, etc. 

Any other tips or suggestions??

ETA - This is just a general home visit so they will be approved to adopt from our rescue. They aren't looking to adopt my foster pup. 

[motzie]

Does your rescue have a checklist for you to use? That would be helpful. Ours just asks that you note the type of area, what the street and traffic are like, yard conditions, where the dog will stay. Most of it is common sense stuff.

The only home check I've ever done is for Bully, lol.

[Muddled]

If they are renters, you need landlord approval.
If it's an apartment, I know they check out the window situation on home visits here.

This is all I know.

[captainmel]

All I know is that I love your siggy pic of Willow.

[bullygirl979]

Ha, motzie!

doglove, I am going to send you a link to a rescue group that is in my area. They are pretty intense with their application questions. I'm not sure if your rescue has already asked these types of questions (disregard if they have). I'd ask to see the area that the dog will be kept in, look at the back yard, check out the fence (if they have one).

Hope this helps!

[Deleted]

Jul 9, 2013 12:16:05 GMT -5 captainmel said:

All I know is that I love your siggy pic of Willow.

That is Raffy - our foster dog!

motzie - there is no check list, but she said to talk about and look for all the common things associated with having a dog. 

bullygirl979 - She is an owner of her own home. I got your email - thanks!

[starrieskies]

Jul 9, 2013 12:51:44 GMT -5 doglove said:

Jul 9, 2013 12:16:05 GMT -5 captainmel said:

All I know is that I love your siggy pic of Willow.

That is Raffy - our foster dog!

motzie - there is no check list, but she said to talk about and look for all the common things associated with having a dog. 

bullygirl979 - She is an owner of her own home. I got your email - thanks!

Every single time you post a new pic of a foster, I fall in love all over again! This one has got to be my favorite!!! (although I'll probably say that about the next one too)

[Deleted]

Jul 9, 2013 13:07:18 GMT -5 starrieskies said:

Jul 9, 2013 12:51:44 GMT -5 doglove said:

That is Raffy - our foster dog!

motzie - there is no check list, but she said to talk about and look for all the common things associated with having a dog. 

bullygirl979 - She is an owner of her own home. I got your email - thanks!

Every single time you post a new pic of a foster, I fall in love all over again! This one has got to be my favorite!!! (although I'll probably say that about the next one too)

He is so adorable, he's like a pocket golden because he's half the size of a normal golden (he's at 45 pounds or so). I love him. 

[captainmel]

doglove, I can't keep track! Either way, he's adorable. I would probably visit your house everyday for golden snuggles if I didn't live across the country from you.

[Deleted]

Jul 9, 2013 13:10:46 GMT -5 captainmel said:

doglove, I can't keep track! Either way, he's adorable. I would probably visit your house everyday for golden snuggles if I didn't live across the country from you.

Haha no worries. Willow is our perm dog - she's a yellow lab. 

Here she is:

[captainmel]

Willow is adorable too! You are making me want a dog.

[smock]

I have no actual experience with this sort of thing, except that when we were looking for a dog, I was terrified of the idea of a home visit. We'd never had a dog, didn't have a yard, and our landlord was like "yes, you can have a dog, but we won't put that in writing for you." We ended up adopting from a county shelter so no home visit.

However, in addition to what's been mentioned . . . you might also ask a few questions to figure out how prepared they are for a dog. Like, where will dog sleep, what food will you feed, work schedules, theories on training, if they plan to do obedience classes. Mr. Smock and I did a TON of research (books, internet, Pets board!) and I'm sure it's a good sign if they've done their homework.

Good luck!

[Deleted]

Jul 9, 2013 13:25:44 GMT -5 smock said:

I have no actual experience with this sort of thing, except that when we were looking for a dog, I was terrified of the idea of a home visit. We'd never had a dog, didn't have a yard, and our landlord was like "yes, you can have a dog, but we won't put that in writing for you." We ended up adopting from a county shelter so no home visit.

However, in addition to what's been mentioned . . . you might also ask a few questions to figure out how prepared they are for a dog. Like, where will dog sleep, what food will you feed, work schedules, theories on training, if they plan to do obedience classes. Mr. Smock and I did a TON of research (books, internet, Pets board!) and I'm sure it's a good sign if they've done their homework.

Good luck!

Thanks smock!

[dixienormous]

I keep thinking "Bat Dog!" complete with Batman theme song music in my head every time I open a post of yours

[Deleted]

Jul 9, 2013 14:07:53 GMT -5 dixienormous said:

I keep thinking "Bat Dog!" complete with Batman theme song music in my head every time I open a post of yours

Haha! He looks like an upside down yoda to me!

[doctorchick]

In addition to everything above, I would also watch how they reacted to Willow being in their home (e.g., do they freak out if she sniffs something, do they excitedly follow everything that she looks at?) and do a few basic obedience tricks (e.g., luring into a sit or spin) with the owners to see how well they do with learning to communicate (positively) with Willow.

[Deleted]

Jul 9, 2013 14:56:55 GMT -5 doctorchick said:

In addition to everything above, I would also watch how they reacted to Willow being in their home (e.g., do they freak out if she sniffs something, do they excitedly follow everything that she looks at?) and do a few basic obedience tricks (e.g., luring into a sit or spin) with the owners to see how well they do with learning to communicate (positively) with Willow.

Thanks! This is exactly why my foster coordinator recommended I bring her. 

[motzie]

Jul 9, 2013 14:56:55 GMT -5 doctorchick said:

In addition to everything above, I would also watch how they reacted to Willow being in their home (e.g., do they freak out if she sniffs something, do they excitedly follow everything that she looks at?) and do a few basic obedience tricks (e.g., luring into a sit or spin) with the owners to see how well they do with learning to communicate (positively) with Willow.

I was going to say something like this as well. You can tell a lot from how people respond to someone's dog invading their home.

[bowies]

I made the mistake of showing Raffy to FI and now he wants him.

[captainmel]

Jul 9, 2013 15:54:16 GMT -5 bowies said:

I made the mistake of showing Raffy to FI and now he wants him.

Do it! Then I can have pictures of him forever.

[bowies]

Jul 9, 2013 17:40:59 GMT -5 captainmel said:

Jul 9, 2013 15:54:16 GMT -5 bowies said:

I made the mistake of showing Raffy to FI and now he wants him.

Do it! Then I can have pictures of him forever.

If he's still hanging out with DL after September we would seriously consider it. But Raffy is gonna be hella popular so boo.

[Deleted]

Jul 9, 2013 20:13:29 GMT -5 bowies said:

Jul 9, 2013 17:40:59 GMT -5 captainmel said:

Do it! Then I can have pictures of him forever.

If he's still hanging out with DL after September we would seriously consider it. But Raffy is gonna be hella popular so boo.

Ohh you guys would be perfect. He's been "available" now for almost 4 weeks - can you believe it? He's come a long way even in just 7 weeks with us. Raffy is the same dog who was beaten and kept in a crate. I've gotten about a dozen applications on him, but only two that were worthwhile. Ironically - one from VA, but they couldn't make up their minds so I axed them. I'm not even looking for really hard stuff - fenced in yard, another dog and someone who is willing to continue to help socialize him. 

We have one contender right now, but the dog they have at home is 9 years old and I'm afraid Raffy will annoy the crap out of her because he loves to play. 

Meanwhile, my foster coordinator really would like to see us keep him (me too), but I just want to keep fostering and having the freedom of not having a permanent second dog so I'm having a ton of anxiety over this whole situation. I do love him a lot, but after we were able to let the last one go, I am confident I can do it again. What a mess. 

[bowies]

Don't rule out a dog based on age, LOL. Our older dog is 11 and she tires out Flapjack with her constant need to play. She's 11 going on 3 and Flaps is 3 going on 11. My worries lie in having an odd number - would Flaps become the odd man out? S looks to me as her primary bond and Flaps looks to R as his primary bond, so how would another dog impact that? Would there be jealousy? I've never owned more than 2 dogs at a time.

[Deleted]

Jul 10, 2013 8:23:41 GMT -5 bowies said:

Don't rule out a dog based on age, LOL. Our older dog is 11 and she tires out Flapjack with her constant need to play. She's 11 going on 3 and Flaps is 3 going on 11. My worries lie in having an odd number - would Flaps become the odd man out? S looks to me as her primary bond and Flaps looks to R as his primary bond, so how would another dog impact that? Would there be jealousy? I've never owned more than 2 dogs at a time.

Oh I definitely am not and hopefully we'll get to see more of her personality when we do a visit to their home this weekend. She just seemed so reserved and calm (but we were in an unfamiliar place) and Raffy is literally a wild man who has endless energy. 

I've never had three dogs either so I'm not sure how that dynamic would work, I can imagine it would be hard!

[bowies]

Off topic, but Flaps has been like a big sponge lately. He observes our behavior and then mimics it. His most recent trick has been to "pet" S on the head. He sits next to her, will lift up a front paw, and then bonks her on the head a few times. It's hilarious.

[Deleted]

I love him bowies, I'm so glad he's making such great progress with you guys.