Pupdate: Anne and Bella

Before you rehome any dog, it is vital you give lots of thought to whether you can give them a secure and happy home for the rest of their life. Some dogs don't always get the best start in life, so being truthful to yourself and only rehoming a dog with behaviour issues if you know you can help reduce their anxiety and give them lots of positive training, is very important. After all, every dog deserves a forever home.

However, if you are confident you can give a troubled pooch a happy and secure home, then rehoming a dog can be very rewarding. That is how Anne feels having rehomed Bella, a young Labrador who was looking for a new start.

Anne and Bella

Bella turned 5 in August 2014. She is a Labrador and has been with us for over 4 years now. Bella is loving, cheeky, sensitive, clever..and very special. She's headstrong but obedient; clever and cunning - she doesn't miss a trick! However, she absolutely loves to please, and she's the best therapy for keeping life in perspective.

We don't know exactly what happened to Bella in her two previous homes, but we know she's been hit and she is suspicious of men. Because of this, the biggest challenge rehoming Bella has been managing her reaction to others, for her and for them

The most rewarding part of giving Bella a home is her welcoming us home every evening after work; she is always so waggley and pleased to see us. It's lovely.

If I was to give advice to anyone looking to rehome a dog, it would be to make sure you can provide your dog with a routine, exercise, love and consistent discipline with clear boundaries. Do that and they will soon become a family member you'll always value and love coming home to.