Topaz – 2 year old female Cross-Breed

Topaz is a medium sized crossbreed aged around two years old.

Topaz is fostered in Norwich Norfolk.

Topaz has come into our care recently from the Botosani public shelter in Romania. She was in with two other dogs and one of them would not let either of the other two come out of the wooden huts without he nipping them. We took both of the victimised dogs and both are doing brilliantly well in their UK foster homes.

Topaz was initially quite shy but once she realised she no longer has to watch her back and can move around freely without fear of attack she quickly relaxed and settled in. She picked up lead training very quickly but will need to build up her fitness after being so restricted in the shelter for weeks.

She mixes well with other dogs but could also live as the only dog in the home. She is a quiet and placid dog who still has some opening up to do. This is just the start of her journey and in the coming weeks and months she will positively bloom.

Topaz would like a quiet and calm environment in her forever home. She could live with respectful children aged twelve and over and will just need a little time to evolve into the dog she was always meant to be.

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.