Lila: female dog to adopt

Lila is currently fostered in Norwich, Norfolk.

Lila is a three year old small crossbreed. Her undershot jaw suggests she has pekenese in the mix as this often gets genetically passed down.

Lila has came to us around two years ago from a shelter in Bosnia…… and we have failed abyssmally to find her the right home in all that time. With us she is a comical and plucky little character who is very loving and playful, in theory she should have her pick of homes. However she has been in a few different foster homes and adoptive homes and has had completely different issues in each one. In two of the foster homes, including her current one there’s been no issues at all, she loves everyone including the men, the children (as young as 8 ), varying shapes and sizes of dogs and cats. In two other foster homes and an adoptive home she has really bullied the men. In one home she was mean to the chihuahua 🤦‍♀️ . I mean how do you solve a problem like Lila when she’s changing her mind about what she likes and what she doesn’t in every placement? So we are thinking a female only home with no children and that maybe in this case a trial period initially to see if the situation suits her ladyship’s contrary life choices!

Honestly if this little fool would just be how she is with us somewhere anyone would love to have her. I feel she’s been sent to really test our assessment skills and we are not passing with flying colours 😂

When you adopt a Safe Rescue dog, you MUST use a slip lead. This will keep your dog safe: your new dog will be nervous and will not trust you, and you will not know which situations might upset your dog. If your dog panics, then a slip lead is the only way to prevent your dog from escaping (many dogs can escape from a collar and/or harness).

It will take AT LEAST 3-6 months for your dog to settle-in and for you to know your dog fully (longer for nervous dogs). The slip lead must ALWAYS be used during this settling-in period. 
Even after your dog is settled, it is safest to use the slip lead in situations where your dog may become scared (e.g. visiting new places, around unfamiliar people, at the vet), and it situations where unexpected triggers might happen (e.g. around bonfire night). Nervous dogs may always need to wear a slip-lead as a back-up safety measure.

The slip lead is a safety device and must NEVER be used as a training tool. Using the lead to apply pressure to the dog’s neck is damaging. If your dog pulls on the lead, then we can advise you on training methods that avoid harm.

Once your dog is settled, you may want to consider using a harness (together with the slip lead) if your dog is comfortable with being handled when it is fitted. Most harnesses are not escape-proof, but harnesses with a strap behind the ribcage (e.g. Ruffwear Webmaster or Perfect Fit Harnesses) are safer.

Retractable / extendable leads must never be used on our dogs.

Adopted dogs must be collected from the rescue and transported straight home in a crate.

Fences and gates must be 5foot minimum in height and secure.

If you are interested in finding out more about Lila and think you have the right home set up for her, please get in touch. We can tell you more about her and explain how adoption with Safe Rescue works.