It’s fairly common knowledge that if you adopt an older street dog, they’re going to come with some difficulties due to years of life on the streets. That’s why many people look for younger dogs or puppies when considering adopting a stray. 

But how do street dog puppies adapt into homes? Do they settle in like domesticated dogs? Are their behaviours different? Let’s look at it…

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Street dog puppies have inherent traits

Usually street dog puppies’ parents have also been street dogs (often going back for generations). That means they could have some inherent traits characteristic of street dogs, namely: 

• High intelligence 
• Food aggression 
• Other resource guarding (you, toys etc) 
• A high prey drive
• Tendency to sleep a lot during the day 

Some of these can be great traits. Who doesn’t want a clever dog who actually enjoys sleeping? But others can be difficult to train out like food aggression or resource guarding. That’s not to say it’s not possible, you just need to be aware that even as puppies, street dogs are different to dogs bred to be pets.

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Puppies will usually have spent some time on the streets

Unless the puppy’s mum was brought into a home or shelter while pregnant, these young dogs will still have spent some time on the streets. 

This means they could have had some trauma or life experiences that you won’t know about. That could include losing their mum, being treated badly by humans, experiencing a lack of food or a variety of other things. The impact of these unknown experiences can come out in their behavior, and you will likely only begin to see issues once the puppy has fully settled into your home.

The change in weather, temperature, and being in a house can be a lot for them

While puppies usually only spend a short period of time in their homeland, if your dog is moving countries, it can all be very confusing. The temperature is different, the smells are different, and the terrain is different. That can mean you need to spend a bit of time settling them into their new country. 

They might have lived the first part of their lives on the streets or in a shelter, meaning they’re not used to the etiquette of a house. They could require potty training and training to stop destructiveness – much like other “normal” puppies. 

The plus side? Because they’re usually so smart, they pick up training in no time!

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The case of Rodney

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One of our most incredible rescues was a tiny puppy called Rodney. We found Rodney without any fur, covered in fleas, and starving. He almost didn’t make it. But he did pull through and Rodney now lives in Wales with his parents and brother Khabib. 

When we found Rodney, he was only a few weeks old and hadn’t spent much time on the street. He lived the first 6 months of his life at our sanctuary with the best food, attention, and medical care. 

Now, in Wales, Rodney’s new parents have had to do some intense training to integrate Rodney into their home. He can be reactive to other dogs, will be overprotective of his humans, and has ripped up more than his fair share of furniture. 

However, he is improving every day. With training, he’s less destructive, gets on with his new brother and has become a vital part of  their family - and a loving one at that. As his new mum puts it: 

"Rodney is probably the most loving dog I’ve ever come across. He always wants a cuddle.”

Getting a puppy is a challenge no matter where you get them from or what their background is. Even if you spend thousands on a dog from a breeder, there could still be behavioural issues. 

And while street puppies might have some more or different quirks to domesticated dogs, they also have their pluses. They’re super smart, so they tend to pick up their training easily. They can make incredible guard dogs as they’re so protective of their humans. And they’re some of the most loyal dogs you’ll ever meet. 

With the right training, they’re likely to settle well into most households and complete your family beautifully. 

Not to mention that if you put in the time and effort, you’ll always know that you’ve saved a dog from a life of suffering and struggle on the streets. 

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Are you interested in adopting a street dog? Check out our Adoptable Dogs.