How to Socialise your Rescue Dog

A happy Jack Russell Terrier is enjoying some fresh air.

How to Socialise your Rescue Dog

22 March 2023

Reviewed by Dr Jill McMaster BVM&S MBA MRCVS, Veterinary Surgeon and in-house expert at BorrowMyDoggy on 7 June 2023

If you’ve adopted a rescue dog who’s in need of socialisation, joining BorrowMyDoggy is a great first step. As the Dogs Trust says, “If you want a happy and friendly dog that you can take anywhere and meet anyone, then early socialisation is the key.”

Through BorrowMyDoggy, owners are able to gradually introduce their dog to a wide variety of people, children and animals so they can confidently make new friends. By being able to sniff out new experiences and places, BorrowMyDoggy dogs can also learn to be more comfortable and relaxed.

Doug is a rescue dog and wasn’t socialised at all. He’s now transformed from being shy to always wagging his tail.

- Lisa, Doug’s owner

Lisa joined BorrowMyDoggy with her rescue dog, Doug, who was looking for extra help to socialise him. With her borrower, Tim, Doug made a pawsome transformation and she says, "Doug started looking at Tim as another source of trust, which was so important to us."

As first time dog owners, James and his wife initially joined BorrowMyDoggy to make sure Simba, their new rescue, received as much love and socialisation as possible. When their family went through an unexpected life change and his wife needed regular hospital treatment, their BorrowMyDoggy match provided them with the flexibility they needed so Simba continues to enjoy lots of walk, playtime and love. Plus, having Simba has made a massive difference to James' wife's life, giving her unconditional love, fun and entertainment.

Borrowers who join BorrowMyDoggy do so for their love of dogs, not to get paid. At the same time, BorrowMyDoggy owners get peace of mind knowing their dog is enjoying extra exercise and dog care from a verified, insured dog lover who loves dogs as much as they do.

We take safety and security very seriously and believe that dogs truly are family members and as such, BorrowMyDoggy is all about getting to know other dog lovers really well before making a match. Just as you would with a dog walker or dog sitter, it's super important to know each other well before a dog is taken care off by another person. This is especially important for rescue dogs who may need extra care when meeting new people and experiencing new environments. It may take a little longer for a rescue dog to feel confident with a new friend, so take as long as you all need to feel comfortable and confident that the match is right.

Our owners have shared how BorrowMyDoggy is a more affordable option than doggy daycare and dog walkers, especially as our annual membership includes several beneficial services, including our 24/7 Vet Line and third party liability insurance protection, which covers the owner and subscribed borrowers when taking care of a subscribed BorrowMyDoggy dog.