My name is: Rusty
I came from: Cyprus
Now I live in: London
My favourite things are: Food, food and food! Chasing squirrels, bum scratches, stealing as much of the sofa as possible, running with my friends in the park.

Rusty’s story

I had been thinking about getting a dog for a while. I kept finding myself "dog shopping" online, and after having been seriously ill for a year, I decided it was time to live my doggy dreams. I contacted Underdog who were brilliant - I chatted with Eve, who asked all the questions necessary, but more importantly took the time to understand what I could offer as a dog owner, and what kind of dog would suit me perfectly. She advised if I saw any dogs on the website that I liked the look of, to let her know - there was one I liked and applied for, but Eve was really honest and said that she didn't think that dog would be the best fit for me as a first time dog owner.

And then about a month later, Eve emailed to say they had a dog who they thought would be perfect for me and the living situation I could offer. I immediately panicked (!!) but then reading more and more about this little soul, I decided I had to give him a chance. And boy was that the best choice ever. I was home checked rigorously, and the team were very good at preparing me for what might be involved with him - he may not be house trained, he may have anxiety, there was no telling what he had been through, and I was under no illusions that there would be challenges, but also that there was support there for me.

Rusty arrived a few weeks later, and has been the light of my life ever since. He is a gorgeous little mix breed from the streets of Cyprus, and he is absolutely the best dog in the world. We have mixed into each others lives and are both really happy. It wasn't always plain sailing - at the start, whilst seeming very confident, his anxieties came out in ways such as chewing and ripping of home furnishings, and it took a lot of work (including a session with one of the Underdog trainers) but I figured out how to give him what he needed to fulfil his needs. I realised he is a VERY big chewer, and has teeth like knives (2 leads can attest to that!) so figured out how to use natural animal treats to destress him and give him something hardy to chew to bring his endorphins down after a walk. He is extremely food motivated, but isn't bothered with toys, or chasing balls, so training has been great, and settling not so much! He is a very intelligent dog, so is easy to train but gets bored if we train the same thing too much! He has such a fun personality - his transition from street dog to a home dog who loves his creature comforts is complete! He has adjusted well to London life, and loves hanging out with his friends in the park or at daycare. We are now off-lead walking, which is joyous, although his hound nose will take him off on his own little adventures on occasions!

He has been with me for just over a year now, and I see him progress on a monthly basis. Around the one year mark he massively relaxed even more than he already had, and seems to know that I am his person and this is his home. He's almost becoming a bit diva-ish in his demands - he has developed a hilarious trait for walking me over to the cupboard where his treats and chews are kept and flicking his head at it, letting me know in no uncertain terms that he wants treats or food! He is such a funny character - full of beans, knows his own mind, and will not hesitate to tell me if he wants something. And despite being a very handsome boy he also has a very good line in hilarious facial expressions in photos, which is just brilliant.

I am so happy that Rusty came into my life, and genuinely cannot imagine life without him now, even with all its occasional stresses and challenges, and he is utterly fantastic. I cannot thank Eve and the team enough for matching me with my perfect dog, and we are excited for many adventures to come.

- Alex