Understanding adoption profiles

Adoption profiles are designed to capture the attention of potential adopters, helping to introduce the dog, their likes, their dislikes and the kind of environment they are best suited to.

Adoption profiles can differ greatly across re-homing groups. Some adoption teams take great care to provide every piece of information they have available, while others offer a more general overview based on what they have been told by the original rescuer.

As you read the following profiles, think about what you are actually being told about the dog, what you're being asked to assume and what you would still want to ask the rescue.

This adoption profile tells us:

Archie is uncomfortable around new people, until trust and a relationship has formed. This makes him best suited to a low pressure, calm environment with a predictable routine and attention on his own terms. He may have handling sensitivities. He is unlikely to feel comfortable in the presence of visitors.

Through further conversation, the rescue should be able to explain what home environment and family dynamic would best suit Archie. They should be able to describe what they have seen of Archie in a rescue setting, and what this may mean once he reaches his new home.

They reference muzzle training in his profile, but that he walks well on-lead. Does he show reactive behaviour towards people or other dogs on walks? Does he need to be re-homed to a rural environment with no neighbours or visitors to the home?

This adoption profile tells us:

Luna is an adolescent, hunting breed mix, who has shown to be friendly towards people in rescue. What does the assessment the rescue mentions actually involve?

The profile gives us very little information about Luna. We know she has been friendly towards people in a specific environment. But what else would be important for an adopter to know?

Consider energy levels, behaviour around other dogs, comfortability on lead and with handling. Has Luna ever been seen in a home setting?

The team may not have these answers, but a good rescue will be very clear about what information they can or cannot provide.

This adoption profile tells us:

This adoption profile gives us the impression of a friendly, happy dog. But when we look a little closer, it tells us very little about Balto's temperament, his needs or how he has actually behaved in the rescue's care.

Where is Balto currently living? Has he spent time in a home, or has he only been observed in a shelter? How does he respond to unfamiliar people, other dogs and new environments? Has he experienced walking on a lead or everyday household life?

This adoption profile tells us:

Rosie enjoys time around familiar people, but she needs time to feel comfortable. What would this mean for you if you regularly have visitors, or enjoy taking your dog with you on outings and adventures?

Rosie must be an only dog. Does the term unsettled mean that she becomes reactive in the presence of other dogs? Is your daily routine and neighbourhood compatible with a dog who made need adjustments made to avoid seeing or interacting with other dogs completely?

Questions to ask the rescue

Before making a decision, it is worth having a proper conversation with the rescue about what they know, what they have observed and what remains uncertain. A responsible rescue will be very clear about exactly what they are able to see and test for, and what they cannot know in the particular environment.

A rescue group working with public pounds, for example, will have no way of knowing how a dog will behave in a home environment. But they should be comfortable discussing what this means for you, offering support and advice to help you prepare.

What do you know about the dog's history? Where did they come from, and how long have they been in your care?

Where is the dog currently living? In a shelter, foster home or another environment?

What does an ordinary day look like for the dog? How do they spend their time, and what opportunities do they have to rest, explore and interact with people?

How do they respond to unfamiliar people, dogs and environments? What has actually been observed, and in what circumstances?

What situations do they find difficult? How do they show that they are uncomfortable, and what helps them cope?

What experiences have they had? Have they lived in a home, walked on a lead, travelled in a car or encountered traffic and other everyday situations?

How was their behaviour assessed? Who observed them, where did the observations take place, and over what period of time?

What kind of home do you think would suit them, and why? What has led the rescue to make those recommendations?

Video footage tells you much more than a photo possibly can. A dog on-lead in a photograph, does not show you how they actually feel when it comes to walking around. Do they look tense or timid when interacting with people, or do they move around with loose, relaxed body language?

Would you like to look at adoption profiles together?

If you've found a dog you're interested in adopting, a Pre Adoption Consultation gives us the opportunity to look through their adoption profile and any information the rescue has shared. We will look at what it might tell us about the dog, what is still unclear, and the questions worth asking before deciding whether they could be a good match for you.