Page 16 - Summer 2022 Newsletter

SKIPPER SAYS ...

Hi all! I’m writing this from the comfort of Food
my new sofa! This chapter of my life as In the first few days most of us will be too
a Bedlington Terrier Rescue dog started stressed to eat properly. So let us take our
last year but I really don’t remember that time. We would probably appreciate having
much about it. I was so worried and something to chew, or forage or lick
stressed that I couldn’t enjoy or understand because that helps us feel better about life
anything about my new home in those first – that’s called ‘enrichment’ apparently. Oh
few days. and please, we don’t want to have to work
for our food –
There is so much to go through but I that makes us
wanted to share the most important bits feel insecure if
that help rescue dogs feel safe and relaxed you are making
in the first few days in a new home.
us wait for our
Exercise food or just
The biggie - nope, we DO NOT want to rush making it too
headlong into the big blue yonder on walks difficult for us
and be shown all the highlights of our new to fulfil that
environment. That’s way too scary, our need easily.
brains can’t cope with all that new stuff.
We MAY be up for a 10min sniffy walk but Sleep
mostly we are not. We just want to potter https://www.sleephelp.org/dogs-sleep/
in the garden; sniffing out the new home ; We need good quality sleep. It is vital as
getting used to all the different things; and we may not have had much of this in the
getting used to our new ‘Lovely People’. lead up to our rehome and we certainly
won’t sleep too well in the first few days –
Cuddles way too stressed to sleep as much as we
Highly likely a NO on that too. We don’t should. You can help by giving us lots of
know you from Adam – some of us may choices (different types of beds in different
have had bad experiences with humans places; some raised positions too as that
and being cuddled and fussed over where helps us feel safer;
we can’t move away is too scary . We need
time to get to know and trust you – we’ll and allowing us to
come to you when we are ready for fuss. lay out flat helps us
regulate our
Play temperature making
Ah now, you may think we want to play lots us feel secure).
of chase games or take part in lots of very
exciting activities on the day you collect us Remember that
but that will not help our already raised choice in all things
adrenaline levels. We may not be able to helps us feel
cope with that, in fact it could mean we will emotionally better
be able to cope less with everything going about life.
on in our new life and this could make
things worse for us and you.

info@bedlingtonrescue.co.uk www.bedlingtonrescue.co.uk