Rehoming charge

[daffodilbrain]

We are going to see an 18th month old this weekend the current owners want £400 for her. People at work think I'm mad to pay this and the current owners should be glad we are able to rehome her. Is this the norm or not?

[Wasail]

I think that is a bit steep for a rehome charge. I have a rehome, when I went to look at him the owners said they wanted £700 for him, he is a pure breed and was entire. I offered £200, in the end they had no other options for him so I got him but it was nerve wracking as I really wanted to get him out of the situation he was in.

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

So it sounds as if you're looking at privately rehoming a dog via the internet?

I've previously privately adopted a dog of about that sort of age, from a someone I knew socially who couldn't keep him, and I knew the dog very well I'd looked after the dog so much he didn't notice the difference. He was about the same sort of age at the time. From experience, I would honestly strongly advise against adopting a dog privately. Reasons are that

1. the owners are likely to try and cover up the issues the dog has, because they want to see the back of the dog. These could be medical or behavioural. Before I started dog sitting DDog he was billed as being a perfectly nice dog (and so he seemed to be, inside the house). It turned out that he was reactive to weird triggers, totally untrained (as in, he couldn't even sit on command), a veteran kitchen bin raider, avoided affection from humans (still does, apart from his nearest and dearest), lacked social skills and regularly got himself into scraps with other dogs, pulled on the lead so much I got chronic backache etc.... you start to get the picture. I have lost count of the number of dog scraps I have broken up, and how many times I've been bitten by him, albeit not for a while. In comparison, a rescue centre will have had the dog checked by a vet, vaccinated, neutered, spayed, and independently assessed for behaviour. You also get back up support - advice, information, and if things really didn't work out they will take the dog back. You don't get any of those with a private rehome.

1. Why haven't the owners rehomed via a reputable rescue? Usually it's one of a couple of reasons

a) the rescue has refused to take the dog on behavioural or medical grounds
b) they value £400 more than ensuring that their dog gets the best home possible, which doesn't exactly bode well for their ability to tell the truth

Is there a reason why you're not looking at adopting via the local rescue centre or a breed rescue?

[JKScot4]

That’s buying a dog not rehoming 🙄

[Honeyroar]

I think you’re mad too. I can understand paying for a rescue, where the money goes to the upkeep of kennels and helping further dogs, but to pay some lazy knobs that want to dump their pet, no chance. Are they doing any checks on you or are they just interested in the money?

[Kirkman]

You are buying the dog from someone the owner?

Not rehoming through a rescue?

Firstly, that's a disaters waiting to happen. Yes, I am sure it works out sometimes, but generally it doesnt. The owners often lie to rescue (hence why rescues have an assessment period) and the new family arent prepared or experienced enough to deal with it.

My last foster had been rehome twice privately. Thankfully he last owner had the sense surrender him to a rescues and not sell on again.

Secondly, you arent rehoming. It's not a rehoming charge.

I adopted one of my foster dogs and she was £300. I was happy to pay it. I get so much support, with my adopted dog and with the foster dogs I have, I think it's well worth the money.

A decent rescue wouldnt let the owner negotiate and sell the dog. Because it wont have been assessed. I have known it happen a litter of puppies stay with the family. The owner of the dam died. The owners daughter was looking after the dam and pups and contact the rescue to rehome them as she wasnt an experienced breeder/seller herself.

But the rescue had people visit several times a week to provide support and better the homes for the puppies.

This would not happen with an 18 month old dog.

Dont kid yourself it's a rehoming fee. You are buying a dog

[BiteyShark]

Dont kid yourself it's a rehoming fee. You are buying a dog

I agree with this.

[Booboostwo]

You are buying an 18mo dog someone else has probably ruined and cannot cope with. Why would you do something so silly?

If you have the experience, time and patience to retrain a young dog, go to a reputable rescue who will match you with the right dog and provide support.

If you want to buy a dog go to a reputable breeder and buy a puppy.

[Iwantmychairback]

From a different point of view.....
I privately re homed a dog. The fee was to discourage people who just saw a handsome dog and had no idea how to look after him. The owners had hired a dog trainer to assess the potential new owners. He came to our house, discussed the way we would look after him, came with us on a walk with him to get an idea of how and where he would be walked. The owners genuinely could no longer look after the dog and wanted to personally know who he would end up with so chose not to take him to a re homing centre.

[StrongTea]

Folk rehome for lots of reasons, ask loads of questions, especially health ones. Try to get the dog out for a walk, see how she is if you pass other dogs, traffic etc.

[CanIHaveATiaraPlease]

They are after your money. I wouldn’t do a private sale unless I knew the dog already. Ours is a rehomed dog that we got through a charity as her owner could no longer look after her (she was unwell). We made a donation to the charity & nothing to her owner.

[NotStayingIn]

I agree it could be to discourage people who don’t really want the dog but want to try and make a profit by selling it on.

Do make sure it really is their dog and not stolen. I would want evidence of that dog having actually been in their lives. They must have photos from over the years. Most dog owners have lots on their phone.

I would see the £400 as a starting point for a negotiation with both of you needing proof this is all above board.

[mistermagpie]

Not dogs but cats... I have bengals and 'rehomed' one of them (an ex breeding queen from a breeder) for a fee of £100. I agree with a pp that in some cases the reason for the charge is to discourage people who just see a pretty dog/cat but have no understanding of the breed.

On the other hand I see loads of bengals offered for rehoming for fees of hundreds of pounds. I wouldn't touch these with a barge pole. I got my cat from a breeder I know and had used before and I knew the cat. Loads of the ones for rehoming have behavioural issues and I just wouldn't take that on.

And to be honest, serious behavioural issues in a cat mean it might scratch you or piss on the floor. In a dog? It could kill someone.

[WhoWants2Know]

If you rehome a pet from a rescue, you pay a contribution to cover their food, veterinary care, heating, staff, etc so that the rescue can continue to work.

A private individual has willingly undertaken those costs when they bought their pet, so why would you be responsible for that?

The only reason a private individual should be charging is because bad things happen to "free to a good home" pets.

[Motorina]

It's not a rehoming charge. The current owner is selling a possession. They could rehome with a reputable rescue, which would give the dog the best chance of an appropriately matched and stable home, but they would be expected to make a donation. This way, they make money. This tells you a great deal about how the current owner values their dog.

Proceed with caution.

[Motorina]

I'd add that 18 months is peak dickhead for most dogs, and is the time where adult behavioural issues caused by poor socialisation/lack of training of the puppy come to the fore. I might consider an older dog from a private rehome where life circumstances had forced the rehoming, but an 18 month old which hasn't been properly assessed and where there's no backup? I'd be hugely wary.

What is it about this particular dog which means that you're considering this?

[squee123]

I'd be worried it was stolen as well.

[LadyGuffers]

18 months...

Old enough to no longer be cute.

Just the right age to be a teenage dickhead.

But young enough the current owners still remember what they paid for him and want to recoup some losses.

I would also proceed with great, great caution. Actually I'd walk away but...

[daffodilbrain]

So we've seen the dog on a rehoming website and spoken to their vet who's confirmed it's healthy etc. My opinion is the owners are well meaning but with 3 small dc in a smallish house have taken on too much. One of the dc is allergic too. They said they've refused the dog to an older couple as the 'teenager' is too bouncy. I think you're right the poor dog hasn't been trained. I'm guessing they are charging to deter people but £400 seems steep when all we want to do is adopt and love an unwanted dog.

[Kirkman]

What's the rehoming website? What breed is the dog?

The charge isn't to deter people. If it was once they found the right people they would then tell them, theres no charge. High charges to put people off is con.

They foolishly bought a dog in circumstances they shouldnt have done. They arent responsible. They bought (I am guessing) a high energy breed, and want some of their money back.

A vet may have said it was healthy. But the dog as it is with its owners, has not been assessed by someone independent OR trained to do so. The dog could be aggressive or anything.

Also with rescue dogs they dont fully settle in until around 3 months in. You dont know what behaviour will come out in that time. Sometimes unexpectedly.

And untrained dog needs of that age need someone very experienced to actually do the training.

[Honeyroar]

Two of my pedigree labs came to me for exactly the same reason at the same age. I didn’t pay a penny. The owners were just over the moon to see their dog safe in a good home.

[Motorina]

If it's healthy, then, as an 18 month old the vet will have seen is a couple of times for jabs, and maybe for castration. Won't have a clue about the broader temperament.

You know you are going to have to sort out poor training, no manners and bad socialisation. Quite likely poor or unreliable housetraining, too. The first two and the last are doable. I'd want to see how the dog reacts out in the real world before deciding on whether it was adequately socialised, as a reactive dog is a potential nightmare.

In terms of the money, I think you have to view it like buying anything else second hand. Say I advertise my sofa. I want £400 for it. You think that's too steep, so you make me an offer.

Their response will make it pretty clear whether their primary concern is getting a good home, or recouping their initial cost.

[Booboostwo]

Have you seen the Dog Nightmare thread running just now? It's you in a few weeks time.

Why do these same topics keep cycling around in the Doghouse? Don't people look into anything before getting a dog?!

[SharkasticBitch]

My opinion is the owners are well meaning but with 3 small dc in a smallish house have taken on too much.

I am not convinced anyone really gives up a dog because "they have taken on too much". I think there is always something else wrong that they describe as "taking on too much".

The dog is destructive, reactive, fearful of children, poorly trained, pees in the house etc. Hardly anyone ever describes it as that. But they should, because they are the real things you will need to deal with.

I'd personally walk away from anyone who was not 100% honest about what's 'wrong' with the dog. Anyone saying "we just don't have time for him" is covering something up or glossing over something.

[Reallybadidea]

We "rehomed" a 2 year old dog for £300 from someone who was moving house (she said) and couldn't take the dog with her. My gut feeling was that she didn't have time for him and he needed more attention than she could give, but didn't want to admit to it. We spent time with her and the dog and did end up taking him. I was really worried about all the things mentioned on this thread, but honestly it was the best decision we've ever made. He is an absolute joy and we adore him. I think if you go into it with a degree of cynicism about how much you're not being told and are prepared to put the time in with them, then it's not necessarily the worst thing in the world to get a dog this way.

[Lunafortheloveogod]

So you’re buying a dog? It’s not from a rescue, it’s from a website presumably not one that’s monitored or ran by a rescue either. Preloved, pets4homes, gumtree etc.

£400 might seem steep but they’re probably basing it against what they’ve spent, neutering, vaccines, stuff etc.. and not wanting to give it away for peanuts to deter people who just want a dog now (impulse buy) or the horror stories you hear of dog fighters collecting free dogs (big ones can be fighters little ones can be practice dogs).

The vet won’t know what the dogs like in the house, just that it’s not Cujo foaming at the mouth and mauling his staff. You need to see it in the flesh and be prepared to take everything with a pinch of salt and put in a lot of work.

I’m assuming it’s a popular breed too hence the price.