Available

Alan

Shar Pei · Male · Young · 3 years

Although Alan is confident and friendly with people, he can be quite intense when meeting other dogs. He will need ongoing socialisation and guidance from adopters who are happy to work with him at his own pace, as some dogs can find his enthusiastic approach a little overwhelming. Alan will need to be the only pet in the home, with no dogs, cats or small furries. He could live with secondary-school-aged children who understand that, although he loves attention, he sometimes appreciates a little space and time to himself. Alan can also find veterinary visits worrying, so he will need patient adopters who are comfortable helping him build confidence in these situations. If you're looking for a big, affectionate lad who will happily swap playtime for cuddles and companionship, Alan could be the lovely new addition you've been waiting for! Alan is a very lovely big lad who has been instantly friendly when meeting new people. He is a confident, affectionate boy who absolutely loves human attention and enjoys nothing more than having a good fuss and a cuddle with his favourite people. He isn't particularly interested in toys at the moment, preferring to spend his time enjoying your company, although this may change as he settles into home life. Alan eats his meals well and takes treats gently from your hand. He already knows a couple of basic cues, including Sit and Paw, so it seems he has had some previous training. Having arrived with us as a stray, there is still plenty for us to learn about him, but we think he has all the potential to make someone a wonderful companion. Alan does have some ongoing medical needs, which will be discussed with any potential adopters.

Size

Large

Age

Young · 3 years

Location

🇬🇧Wickford

Shelter

Dogs Trust Basildon

Living with Alan

✕Good with dogs
✕Good with cats
✓Good with kids

Cared for by Dogs Trust Basildon · Wickford Learn about Shar Pei →

More dogs in Wickford →More dogs in United Kingdom →

Listed Yesterday

Bringing Alan home

What you'll need for Alan in week one.

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About Alan

What life with Alan looks like

Alan is a large young adult shar pei dog waiting at Dogs Trust Basildon in Wickford.

A young adult dog fits most household rhythms once the first couple of weeks of adjustment pass. A larger dog like this one needs daily off-leash time when possible — a fenced yard or regular access to safe walking trails. Plan a "decompression fortnight" — quiet routine, no visitors, no off-leash adventures — to let them settle.

🇬🇧Adopting from United Kingdom

UK shelters work under the Pet Travel Scheme (post-Brexit, the EU pet passport is not valid; a UK Animal Health Certificate is required for travel into the EU). Most UK rescues focus on domestic placements but some work with EU partners.

Wickford, United Kingdom — browse more dogs in United Kingdom.

Frequently asked

Adopting Alan, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about Alan?: Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. Dogs Trust Basildon handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Alan on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt Alan if I live in another country?: Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — Dogs Trust Basildon will tell you what they need (EU pet passport, rabies titer, transport coordination) and whether they handle transport themselves or refer you to a partner. UK adopters: post-Brexit travel into the EU requires an Animal Health Certificate. Transport is usually a separate cost, so ask for the exact figure before you commit.
Is Alan already vetted, vaccinated, and chipped?: Most dogs on TailHarbor leave their shelter with sterilization, current vaccinations, microchip ID, and an EU pet passport included in the adoption fee. The vet status on this page reflects what the shelter has reported — ask them directly if you need details on specific vaccines, recent bloodwork, or chronic conditions.
What happens if Alan isn't the right fit?: Every reputable rescue accepts an animal back if the adoption genuinely doesn't work — that's part of the standard contract. Talk it through with Dogs Trust Basildon early rather than rehoming privately; they know Alan and can place them more successfully than a second-hand listing can.
Why does the description sometimes read awkwardly?: TailHarbor translates shelter descriptions into English from the source language (EN). Translation is imperfect — names of streets, donors, and shelter-specific terms occasionally slip through unidiomatically. For the cleanest read, click the source link to see the shelter's original page.