Rescue dog- should we go for it?

[Mrsmcq1]

We are considering adopting a dog - a female clumber spaniel. The current owner tells me she has agreed to re- home her, as she was previously used by a undisclosed government agency but didn't quite make the grade. She is 18 months old, crate trained, walks on the lead and is currently living in a house with young children. Apparently vaccinations and worming are all up to date.

Is this too good to be true?
Is there anything I should be worried about when considering a rescue? My kids are 7 &10.
What about Clumber spaniels? Are they too hairy/ smelly?

Thanks in advance!

[frostedviolets]

a female clumber spaniel. The current owner tells me she has agreed to re- home her, as she was previously used by a undisclosed government agency but didn't quite make the grade


I don't like to say this, but how well do you know this person?
Because I have a hard time believing this.

Clumber spaniels are NOTHING like the working springers and cockers.

They are big, heavy, drooly dogs very much bred for show/pets.
I could be wrong but I didnt think working clumber spaniels even existed anymore..

[TeddyIsaHe]

What on earth would a clumber be used for?! They’re lovely dogs, but they don’t do nose work, are beat/peg dogs, or guide dogs. Unless there’s a secret government initiative that employees get a dog to cuddle when they’ve had a tough day?!

Alarm bells would be ringing for me.

[TheoriginalLEM]

You ask if its hairy and smelly -don't get a dog

[frostedviolets]

Unless you've misunderstood and they actually said cocker..?

I honestly can't envision any agency 'working' one.

[TeddyIsaHe]

Hairy and smelly? Yes. Drooly as hell? Very much so! Your house/clothes will be covered in sticky dog drool whatever you do.

[lotsofdogshere]

Spaniels can be smelly and they're very hairy. You'd need t commit to daily brushing and 6 - 8 weekly professional groomer (unless you can do it yourself)
I'm curious as to how she didn't meet the grade with this unspecified government agency but ended up with someone tasked with re-homing her. She sounds find but does she have pedigree papers, confirmation that her parents were both health tested for the kind of diseases seen in the breed?
I you've any doubts research various breeds and narrow it down to the kind of breed you believe best suited to your family. Spaniel rescue is somewhere to try, if you do decide on a spaniel. I love the breed, currently have a show type cocker spaniel, gentle, kind, mud/water/duck maniac, easily distracted and her coat needs daily brush and comb, 5 weekly professional groom. I do understand why some owners have them shaved.....

[Floralnomad]

If I wanted a dog I’d probably go for it because I love clumber spaniels , however I assume this is a private rehoming not an actual rescue so if I had young children I wouldn’t because with a proper rescue you have back up if things go wrong , if you just buy a dog from some random ( who apparently tells fibs ) you don’t .

[Shadyshadow]

Hang on, who exactly is rehoming the dog?

And what government agency uses climber spaniels?

Undisclosed? All sounds a bit dodgy.

I would never privately rehome a dog.

[lotsofdogshere]

Glad to see others are more direct than I was about how dodgy this re-homing situation sounds.
"government agencies' like the police who have dogs that don't meet the grade have lists of people waiting. Same with Guide Dogs who don't quite make the exacting standards, there will be people who have already been assessed and are waiting

[Whynosnowyet]

Give the local station a ring and see if they can shed any light on her story.
Sounds dodgy as hell to me.