Getting a rescue dog is the hardest thing I've done but I don't (always) regret it

I swore I'd never get a rescue dog, no matter how cute.

I knew all the stereotypes about abandoned dogs — they are troubled, come with too many neuroses, are too much work, and might be dangerous.

And yet somehow for the past nine months, my life has been dominated by a sack of anxious, scared, and highly stress-inducing black fur known as Moss.

If you're thinking of going down this path too, read on for my advice.

The getting of Moss

My partner and I got Moss from a regional pound in New South Wales. He was microchipped but his former owners didn't want him back.

He was underweight, wired, and scared as hell, but also seemed like a softie under it all.

My gut reaction said no. I thought he was too traumatised for us — too big and traumatised.

But after we had left to weigh up the decision, his boofy head and gentle pleading eyes kept appearing in my mind. Everyone told us: "He just needs some love".

In the end, we agreed to take a punt on him, reassuring ourselves that if it was a disaster we could again rehome him.

What it's like having a difficult dog

When Moss came home, it quickly became clear the path ahead was going to be difficult and my vision of him settling in after a month or so was a fantasy.

There were all the pillows he chewed in that first month; the loaves of bread, two butter sticks and baklava he'd stolen and devoured; the barking at every noise in the backyard; the growling at strangers on walks; the way he bailed up any visitor in our home.

Without exaggeration, becoming the owner of a troubled rescue dog has been one of the most stressful experiences of my life, and I'm someone who works on a daily national radio show with nauseatingly tight deadlines.

So why haven't I given Moss back to the pound?

Well, I've become stupidly attached to him. I've learnt more about myself, and having a complex dog has taught me patience and selflessness.

He's also ridiculously cute and joyful, and nine months in has started to relax into our life.

With patience and training and medical help, the trickiest behaviours are mostly under control now. Our life has almost returned to normal, only infinitely better thanks to Moss.

My advice on getting a rescue dog

I don't want to scare anyone off getting a rescue dog on account of our story.

Since I got Moss, friends have adopted dogs who have eased into their life without many hiccups (I try not to be resentful and jealous) and we now find ourselves doing things like going to a cafe or dog park with Moss that would have been unthinkable last winter.

But if you are thinking about going down the #adoptdontshop route for dog ownership, I've got some advice.

1. Make sure you're ready for the commitment

Despite putting off getting a dog for years, the commitment was still a shock to the easy-going way of life my partner and I enjoyed.

Part of the adjustment was getting used to waking up early in the icy mornings for walks and making sure someone is home promptly after work to keep him company.

2. Consider breed and age

In retrospect, getting a two-year-old Labrador cross from the pound threw me straight into the deep end of the doggie pool. A two-year-old Labrador needs lots of exercise and engagement.

If you're concerned about how much you'll need to exercise your dog, think about getting an older dog, or rehoming a greyhound.

3. Get professional help

If it wasn't for the dog trainer we enlisted to help with Moss, he would have been shipped back to the pound months ago.

The professional dog trainer helped me to understand why Moss behaves the way he does, and how best to correct or encourage those behaviours.

It's not just about the dog either — I also had unhelpful habits and a dog trainer helped me to learn how to be a better, more consistent dog owner.

4. Be patient

When I got Moss, I posted a photo on Twitter asking for advice.

I was flooded with tips, but the most consistent comment was, "Be patient". This applies for the daily ups and downs as well as the long game.

It's easy to get frustrated when they don't act like other dogs you see at the park, but anger doesn't help anyone.

5. Don't say no to meds

We've done a lot of behavioural training and classes with Moss but at a point last year we consulted a vet about putting him on anti-anxiety meds.

At that point he was still hopelessly terrified of other people and would bark endlessly at anyone in our home.

I had a lot of misconceptions about putting a dog on Prozac, but seeing how stressed Moss was made me realise we owed it to him to consider it.

It's made a noticeable difference to his anxiety, and that's made it easier to train Moss and get him comfortable with other people.

6. Ignore the haters

People are quick to judge you if you have a less-than-perfect dog and it's easy to take onboard that judgement, but it doesn't help to get embarrassed or ashamed when your dog is misbehaving.

7. Give it six months

I didn't anticipate the adjustment period would take so long and I'd advise anyone considering adopting a dog to expect it will take six months before the dog feels settled into your life.

8. Have fun

It's easy to get frustrated and regret getting a dog when it's more difficult than you anticipated, but Moss is also the one of the best things that's happened to me.

Nothing beats the crazed excitement of a loving dog when you arrive home after work, or the affection you feel when they curl up next to you as you read.

And there's also the sense of accomplishment looking at how far we've come from those early days.

Jo is a reporter and broadcaster for triple j’s current affairs show, Hack. She tweets at @jolauder.