Dogs are the oldest and one of the most common of human companion animals. Dog ownership is increasing, especially ownership of rescued dogs. This study and others have shown that there are clear differences in the behaviour of rescued/rehomed dogs compared with the rest of the general dog population, however, these differences are not well understood. While dog ownership has many health benefits for the owner (both psychologically and physically) the link between the health and well-being of both parts of the dog-owner dyad is becoming more clear – for example it has been shown that dogs mirror their owners’ stress levels. Therefore, it is important for the welfare of both rescue dogs and their owners that we better understand their behavioural needs which starts with understanding how their behaviour differs from that of “normal” dogs and what the underlying mechanisms of these differences are.

During the Covid-19 pandemic many more people than usual acquired new pets (especially dogs) to deal with the boredom and social isolation that was ubiquitous during this time. People who did not have room in their lives for dogs before the pandemic are unlikely to have room for them once the pandemic is over. It is therefore likely that many of these dogs may be rehomed in some fashion – whether they are given to family or friends, relinquished to shelters, or simply abandoned. This will lead to an even greater increase in the number of rescue dogs that need homes. Hence, it is more crucial than ever that we begin to understand the potential cognitive impairments and different behavioural needs of rescue dogs.