Introducing the Underdogs

Meet the long term residents patiently waiting for their forever homes.

Underdog Bruno needs a home

All of the staff here at Dogs Trust truly love and care for every dog at the centre but would love for them to go to their Forever Homes. The team are desperately trying to find homes for these beautiful characters and know that there is a special someone waiting out there for each and every one of them!

Sometimes, if a dog has had a tough start in life, they might be nervous or frightened of unfamiliar people and places and may need some extra care and attention in order to adjust to home life. Other times, a dog might be unfairly judged by their breed but may be the softest soul underneath their appearance. Believe it or not, sometimes black dogs can be overlooked because they do not stand out as much as a lighter coloured dog.

Underdogs are dogs who have been in our care for six months, or more. They may need extra training, ongoing veterinary treatment or a home with no children or dogs. Or, in some cases, they are simply overlooked.

Could an Underdog be your pawfect match?

Our Underdogs are all looking for special adopters - you don't necessarily have to be experienced but it may be a case that you would be prepared to get to know the dog over a period of time.

Although this group of long-term lodgers have been in our care for longer, they have lots of love to give! Whilst they stay with us, they benefit from regular time with our teams to ensure that we can help them – and you – prepare for life in their forever homes. And, as we know them so well, we’ll be able to help you decide whether you and your new home could be their perfect match.

When you’re browsing through the rehoming gallery, you can search specifically for ‘underdogs’ in the additional filters on our rehoming page, because one of these long-term lodgers could be just what you are looking for.

Restricted dog breeds

Ireland currently has no banned dog breeds, however some breeds are restricted and have a few rules that their owners must follow. These restrictions can make these breeds less desirable to adopters. 

Restricted breeds, including strains and crosses are:

  • American Pit Bull Terrier
  • Bull Mastiff
  • Dobermann Pinscher
  • English Bull Terrier
  • German Shepherd 
  • Japanese Akita
  • Japanese Tosa
  • Rhodesian Ridgeback
  • Rottweiler
  • Staffordshire Bull Terrier

In accordance with the Control of Dogs Regulations 1998, while in a public place, restricted breeds must be:

  • Wearing a muzzle
  • Kept on a short strong lead (under 2m)
  • With someone over the age of 16, who is capable of controlling them
  • Wearing a collar with the name and address of their owner

Meet our Underdogs

Could you give a forever home to one of our underdogs who has been waiting patiently for the perfect pal?

Commonly asked questions

Why are some dogs overlooked?

With so dogs and puppies in our Rehoming Centre, some of the dogs in our care get overlooked. This may be due to the …

How long does it take for a dog to settle in a new home?

We cannot say definitively how quickly your new family member will adjust or settle into your home or how well they …

What is black dog syndrome?

We all have favourite breeds and “types” of dogs and different dogs that catch our eye more so than others. …

Related articles

Dog advice
Dog advice
Training classes, tips & advice
Dog advice
Training classes, tips & advice