To think that "rescuing" an imported dog is a bad idea?

[pepsicolagirl]

So last lockdown (ahem, and the one before) we had the company of our dog to motivate us to get moving everyday. She was an old girl who sadly had to be put to sleep in September due to old age and early stage heart failure.

Since then I have been looking for a new dog to join our family. I feel very strongly that I'm just a better version of myself when I have a dog around and we can offer a nice family home with years of dog ownership experience and a nice big secure garden. I work from home (did so pre lockdown) so no issue there

But OMG the prices of dogs at the moment!!!
Now, I understand that cheap dogs are not a good idea because of people buying them on a whim but even though I KNOW I can afford the day to day costs of feeding and properly caring for a pup I can in no way justify upwards of 1500 to buy one and I am absolutely gutted about it.

I have been looking at rescues too, it would be nice to have a young puppy but I am absolutely aware of the amount of work involved and I would be happy to open our home to a rescue but there are none out there suitable for a home with 6yrs+ children so that's not an option.

The other thing I'm seeing all over the place are dogs/puppies which have been rescued in places like Romania and then sold in the UK.
Now, the prices are lower and many accept kids 6+ but why does it feel like such a bad idea to me!?
If you've got one of these dogs I would love to hear from you as to why I'm wrong in feeling like this about them?

I've never seen anyone 'selling' Romanian or other European rescue dogs. They are all available through rescues only. All rescues require a fee for any dog you adopt.
We got a Romanian rescue from a Welsh rescue called many tears dog rescue. She is absolutely fantastic and a complete sweetie and is so calm and affectionate and the best dog we have ever had.

We have had Ddog now for about 4 months, she was 7 months when arrived from Portugal. Is currently snuggled up with DD, is slightly timid but never aggressive with people or other dogs. She has tried to chase cats in the garden, but if they stand their ground she quickly pretends that she wasn't that interested anyway

Playful, affectionate, a demon for stealing and chewing socks... great recall since we discovered how much she loves cheese, but that goes out of the window when she finds something really smelly to roll in!

From what I know (and seen video evidence of) she was living with other dogs in a squat, and the people moved on leaving the dogs behind. That fits with her behaviour which is cautiously friendly and getting a lot more confident over the 4 months. I don't think she was actively abused, just not loved and cherished. Now she is soaking up all the love and giving it back 100 times. Was 90% house trained when we got her, had good off lead recall within a week. Is a complete scavenger and eats all sorts of crap out on walks...

Any dog is a risk. Ask questions, do your homework.

Oh, and cost £300. For which spayed, vaccinated, microchipped and transported to the UK. Not much profit there

Just coming up to 3 years with my Romanian rescue. I didnt get him via a Romanian charity/organisation, however. He was 8 months old and was being adopted via a place called Halfway up near Newark (they have a fb page).

He had been fetched over and the new owners didn't get in well so he was fostered out, then tried elsewhere but wasn't being looked after properly and ended up at Halfway...all before 8 months!

He was extremely placid when we met him he got on well with our kids and other dog. Once we got him home he was EXTREMELY possessive and nasty with food and I had to work really hard with him over this. He will now be as elfentle as can be and will take crisps and things so gently out of your mouth its unreal. I have cats also and they often fetch rodents in. He is so gentle mouthed with them its unbelievable and once dropped a tiny baby field mouse at my feet that he had found when the cats fetched it in. It was alive, unharmed and not even a tiny cut!!

So yes its been hard work but he is now the most gentle soul. Looks like an Irish wolfhound X.

Will never be able to walk him off lead cos he just likes to run, and has 0 recall and he is a barker at times, at motorbikes and his own farts in particular but I wouldn't be without him for the world now. A massive personality, talks to me on a regular basis with his gruffling and wowing, is a total cheese monster and loves cheddars, and is generally quite loopy. Such a tough start in life but he is still improving every single day

I’d say as an experienced dog owner go for it, but as an inexperienced owner we didn’t have a good experience of a rescue from abroad. She is thriving now in a new home full of adults though, thank goodness 👍🏻

Ddog and DD hanging out...

A family member is involved with a charity that rescues dogs in China. Quite a few have been regimes in the UK. Some have issues but over time after gaining trust they can make amazing pets. One who was adopted by another family member is still scared of strange men and therefore has to be crated before they have guests.

Did you read the thread from the other week, someone with a dog like this, it destroyed her cooker (and others have had destroyed kitchens etc).

Adopting a dog from abroad from bonafide rescue centre is perfectly fine but you will have the same issues with them as with uk rescue dogs e.g behavioural issues and unsuitable for young kids etc.

Getting a puppy from unknown breeders abroad is a very bad idea. Google what happened to Molly Mae Hague's puppy.

[quote FAQs]@Youdonut the local one to me doesn’t do home checks, my parents adopted one 3 weeks ago from a ‘Ronnie’ rescue, in their 70s, no home check, a 4 month old puppy, that rescue, in Hampshire also had a large emotional following and waiting list.

The long journey over in the vans are also often incredibly traumatic for the poor animals.

They are not alone, and yes I do have experience, my dog is from a UK rescue however I have experience or trying to assist when it all goes wrong.

Many of these ‘rescues’ are merely dog traffickers although you’ll obviously disagree.[/quote]
Why did your parents adopt from any 'rescue' that does not home check, UK or abroad?

Just to point out. UK rescues aren't always what they're cracked up to be - even registered charities, and yes I do have first hand experience. Some are unscrupulous. I know of at least one that has had animals taken by the RSPCA but still allowed to continue 'rescuing'. Riddle me that!

I agree about the long journey over in the vans can be traumatic. For some dogs it's worth it, for some it's not!

I'm not sure what you mean by experience of trying to assist when it all goes wrong - are you suggesting you work with a rescue that takes on Romanian dogs? Because a genuine rescue is the only ones that should be assisting 'when it all goes wrong' as they have the expertise & facilities to do so.

I adopted my dog nearly a year ago from Turkey. She was found on the streets, full of fleas and being bullied by the big dogs.
After spending a short time in fostercare she travelled to England and was brought to our door. She has been wonderful from day 1. Completely house trained, gentle, patient, has never chewed anything. She is such a lovely dog and I enjoy having her so much. She's getting on abit now. Maybe around 8 years old. The vet said she has also had a number of litters of puppies. Despite a difficult past life she now seems very content with her new life of luxury!

I've known 3 people adopt Romanian rescue dogs:

1. Nice dog but quite sensitive and reactive. She had very young children at the time and they had to work very hard with a behaviourist to get to a comfortable stage. She was experienced and committed too I think somebody with less experience would have given up.
2. Nice little dog, no issues, fitted into the family (including a child of 9) no problems.
3. Most placid well behaved dog I've ever met, the owner trained and got her tested and now she's a therapy dog.

I think all rescued dogs come with their own issues. I would worry about getting a Romanian dog as I understand they don't always come with a history of their health. Having said that, a friend adopted a lovely street dog from Greece but he did have to go through a lot of vet treatment as the dog had some health problems. He's a beautiful dog.

Have you looked at Rescue Remedies OP? Based in Surrey, adopt all over the country, but you must go to meet the dogs. They will adopt to families with children.

Really interesting and varied response to this, thank you.
Fwiw I offer no apology for having reservations and I believe I would be a pretty crappy pet owner if I wasn't wary!

I have looked into greyhound rescues and its definitely on my shortlist!
Not a breed I would have gone for ordinarily (not that I have a type, past dogs have been a cairn terrier, a bulldog and a beagle) but I think a greyhound would actually be very suitable for us.

Also got my ear to the ground for other breed rescues so if anyone knows of any good ones please feel free to add them.i would be very grateful!

Same as anything . Do your research . I rescued two dogs from Spain . Both young . Both lovely dogs . No problems.

If you can chose one that fosters so you can see the dog in a home .

My reason ... uk rescues would not let us rescue as we worked ( not full time ) even though we had a dog Walker for lunchtimes . Plus more choice of breeds of dogs in Spain .

Personally I have no regrets.

Btw . Before these dogs I had a rescue lurcher . Absolutely the most lovely dog . He had a very special place in my heart .

@Dogscanteatonions

It's my understanding that a lot of people are adopting rescue dogs from abroad as the animal rescues here make you jump through hoops to adopt and will turn you down for all manner of reasons.

This is exactly what I've been told by a friend who has just adopted a rescue dog from Romania. It's such a pity - I know the rescues which cater for british pets are just trying to do their best by the animals but making it so very difficult for people to adopt just means the poor animals end up in kennels forever. The Romanian dog has worked out really well by the way. As an aside, many animal charities try very hard to put people off buying puppies from breeders for all sorts of reasons so in that sense it is "better" to re-home a pet if at all possible.