Adopting a rescue puppy: What you need to know

by | Jun 21, 2026

Occasionally, we have sighthound puppies available for adoption. Most of our puppies are looked after in foster homes by experienced puppy fosterers. If you see a puppy on our website, please do read this guide and contact us through the [dog enquiry form].

It can be easy to let your heart rule your head when it comes to choosing a puppy. After all, who doesn't love a happy and playful puppy? However, it is worth remembering that a puppy is a life-time commitment and will be with you for many years to come. Most sighthounds can live happily into their teenage years.

Is a puppy the right fit for you?

Before deciding to bring a puppy home, you will need to consider your lifestyle and whether a puppy is the right fit.

Staying home, day care and dog-walkers

For the first two to four weeks, someone will need to be at home full time. If you work full-time, you'll need to arrange doggy day care and/or a dog-walker to help look after your puppy while you're out. Your puppy will also need plenty of exercise, especially once they're full grown.

Training your puppy: chewing, toilet training, staying home and more

Everyday puppy needs such as [chewing], [toilet training], practising being home alone, and [jumping up] will require a lot of patience. You'll also need to decide whether you want a family pet, or a partner for activities like agility or cani-cross. Either way, this means [finding a training class] that uses reward-based techniques.

Vet bills and pet insurance

Puppies need ongoing veterinary visits throughout their lives, including vaccinations and other health requirements, so budget for vet bills as well as pet insurance.

Puppy zoomies – the 'mad half hour'

Many puppies experience regular 'puppy zoomies' (or a mad half hour), where they zoom around your living room performing a 'wall of death' whilst treating your furniture like an agility course! This is quite common and generally happens in the evening, after eating.

Some puppies can become over excited during this mad half hour and may run and bark at you, or even snap. It is important to remain calm while this is happening; if you laugh at your puppy, you are likely to encourage the behaviour as your laughter will excite your puppy further and act as a reward for the behaviour. Grabbing, shouting, squealing or joining in 'the fun' will also make the situation worse.

Socialisation and habituation

Socialisation is the term for introducing puppies to other species and teaching them how to interact appropriately. Habituation is the process of getting your puppy used to new experiences, sights, and sounds. Both processes are a vital part of a puppy's development and help to prepare the puppy for what their life is going to contain.

Up to the first 16 weeks of age, your puppy is also learning who is in their social group. This means they are learning who the people and animals are that form their family, who they should be social and friendly to, who they play with, and who they are building a bond with. It is important that puppies are brought up to be social and friendly with everyone – not just immediate family and friends.

Your puppy's vaccination status doesn't stop you taking them out and about. Just make sure that you carry your puppy and they only meet dogs whose vaccination status you are 100% sure about. It also doesn't stop you inviting people to come and meet your puppy at home and in the garden, taking your puppy out in the car, or carrying your puppy around the town.

Many, if not most, behaviour problems can be prevented through careful socialisation and habituation – these include aggression, noise phobias, separation related issues, reactivity, poor learning, fearfulness and much more.

Getting ready for your puppy

There's a lot to think about before and after your puppy comes home. We've broken our advice down into more detail across the following guides:

  • [Preparing your home for your new sighthound]
  • [The first car journey home]
  • [Your hound's first night at home]
  • [Toilet training]
  • [Puppy biting and mouthing]
  • [Jumping up]
  • [Finding a training class]

Still keen to adopt a puppy? For a downloadable copy of all this advice in one place, you can download our puppy guide.

Recommended reading and resources

Further reading

If you'd like more information about puppy training and behaviour, we recommend the following books:

Further help and advice

If you experience any issues with your Forever Hounds Trust puppy, please do contact our Post Homing Support team for help and advice via our contact page.