More than 1800 people have contacted Dog’s trust to rehome unwanted lockdown puppies

[AlternativePerspective]

And 1 in 4 people admitted they had impulse purchased a pet during lockdown.

how the fuck do we get the message home that a puppy isn’t a toy and that people should think twice three, ten times before rushing out and buying one.

And obviously the increased prices aren’t a deterrent, although those are about greed anyway, because these people are buying them for £££ and then selling them on for the same prices.

www.countryliving.com/uk/wildlife/pets/a35115185/hundreds-puppies-resold-abandoned/

@SchadenfreudePersonified

That's so sad lynsey - it must break your heart to see him so anxious all the time.

In practical terms t also makes him dangerous - any dog can become fear aggressive, and when it is a bg, powerful dog it can do a lot of damage.

A neighbour had an alit like this - she had been kept in a stable on her own until the neighbour got her. She was about 10 months. She actually attacked and killed another dog.

Neighbour didn't get her destroyed but like you, always walked her on a very short lead and couldn't relax if other dogs came anywhere near them. She admitted that she was relieved when the dog died (aged about 10).

So was I.

Thankfully he is a big softie. All the behavourists and trainers said the same. He barks because he is scared and it is his defence mechanism.

He has never even growled at another dog or person. We have had him 7 years and he has never shown the slightest bit of aggression.

Yes it is very sad but he is very loving to me and DH and he does get really excited to go out for a walk but then if we see anyone he gets scared. If we manage to walk without seeing anyone it is great and we are all happy.

Luckily we live somewhere pretty quiet and can fairly often manage to walk and not see anyone. If we do see someone approaching we cross the road or move out of the way if we are in a wood/field etc.

So sad to hear, people just don't realise how hard work puppies can be.
Ours was harder work than a newborn baby!

@ChestnutStuffing I agree that my dog being locked in a shed has made him very anxious but just walking a dog is nowhere near enough socialisation.

When we got our other dog as a puppy we took him to markets, shops, cafes, pubs, the beach, on a bus, on a train. We took him to training and let him meet other dogs.

People can't do most of that now can they? I believe most dog training classes have been cancelled. Even 2 that I know of that are held outside have been cancelled.

Of course its not the owners' fault but I do think there are going to be a lot of dogs with problems because of the lack of proper socialisation.

If breeders really were responsible they would not be breeding their dogs until things are more back to normal

I'm not convinced that all that "socialisation" is necessary. It's not bad, but if a dog gets to be with his people, or go to the park, it will be ok. It's not permanent by any stretch - lots of puppies don't go out much at first anyway as they are so unreliable. Most families see some other people and no one is obliged to stay in an apartment all day long.

@sashh

how the fuck do we get the message home that a puppy isn’t a toy and that people should think twice three, ten times before rushing out and buying one.

Annual dog licences, make it really expensive to have a puppy, cheaper to have a dog 2+ and a nominal amount for older dogs.

Also cheaper for rescue dogs.

Dogs that have had 'the op' nominal or 0 amount.

No - licenses (to own a dog) don't work. Responsible owners get them; irresponsible owners don't.

But breeding should be much more tightly regulated, and heavily taxed. People should not be able to breed animals of any type for a living willy-nilly the way puppy farmers do. Gundogs/ working dogs - well bred and for purpose tend to be from specialist kennels or breeders, and they aren't usually the main form of income.

At the moment any money you make from a home litter from your pet isn't taxed. High taxes on imported dogs/puppies.

I honestly don't know how this can be properly regulated - though hopefully the tragic, sick puppies imported in their 000s from abroad should grind to a halt. I imagine a lot of these will be dumped/drowned.

There was an attempt to have a maximum price put on pups to discourage greedy breeders, but parliament decided that as dogs are property, you could charge what you liked for them.

It's not just BYBs who breed "extra" puppies - some sports (eg greyhound racing and fox hunting) require puppies to be bred every year. These dogs have big litters - you might get a litter of 12-15, and only one dog of the standard required. Some get pet homes. Most don't.

I only know one person who owns a foxhound - I don't know her well, but I know he's a huge and energetic dog and has been very hard work, even re: housetraining.

*should read "There should be high taxes on imported dogs" though TBH I wouldn't include rescue dogs in that.

I know some people on here have reported difficulties with them, but I've honestly not met one which hasn't been a sweet-natured pet, though many lack confidence at first.

One of my many local BSAH reps has started this this week. I am assuming from her FB posts it's not going well. First post was all sweetness and light and how she's doing a lovely thing etc, then came a post saying how weird people are for not supporting her and that some people have reported her... Now there's an almost terse post telling people to get on with it and make it happen and giving her PayPal address!

Sorry, wrong topic

@ChestnutStuffing

I'm not convinced that all that "socialisation" is necessary. It's not bad, but if a dog gets to be with his people, or go to the park, it will be ok. It's not permanent by any stretch - lots of puppies don't go out much at first anyway as they are so unreliable. Most families see some other people and no one is obliged to stay in an apartment all day long.

Dog trainers and behaviourists say that all that socialisation is necessary. Dogs should go to as many different places as possible and meet lots of people and other dogs.

I agree that at first puppies will not be going out so much because of their innoculations but if someone got a puppy at the beginning of first lockdown that puppy will now be a year old

Of course not all dogs will have problems but it is very likely that a lot will. Lots of my friends and neighbours have dogs and you can tell the difference in the ones that were socialised well and the ones that weren't

Dog trainers and behaviourists say that all that socialisation is necessary
Of course they do

We had our puppy in April at 8 weeks. From day one we were out in walks, him in pouch to get him used to outside noises and scents.

He then got to meet many other dogs in the park because dogs still needed to out. Met friends when we were allowed to go outside with others 2m apart.

Taught him commands including recall. He is now 10 months old and a dream dog. Excellent command, loves people and dogs.

Dog trainers/behaviourists don't like dogs like him!

@itchyfinger

This is strange though, we have been trying to adopt a dog from our local dogs trust and there are never any suitable for houses with young children, and very rarely puppies. Where do all these pups go?

Same here. We have been thinking of getting a dog for 3 years. Our boys are old enough now and plus we now work from home so we think this will be the year. But we can’t find any suitable rescue dogs. We have the money to buy a pup but would rather give a home to a rescue. Can anyone recommend where else to look apart from Dogs Trust?

I was on a few rescues today (I’m on them every day ) and many are not taking enquiries not only because of lockdown but because they have no inmates.

I actually got told off by one after I’d sent a very polite email making an enquiry and setting out my credentials. I received a very high-handed rude email basically saying they were inundated with applicants and they didn’t want any more emails coming in and if I thought I could jump the queue then I was mistaken! How was I to know ?

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland

The reality of rescue dogs is these 6-12m puppies have not been trained properly when they were young enough to do so, so many may now be unsalveageable as safe pets for all the but the most experienced child free homes.

It's the case with rescue dogs generally. You don't get lovely well trained adult dogs that are used to children turning up in rescues - because even if a family's circumstances change, they will nearly always have family and friends queuing up to informally rehome such a desirable animal.

So what you get is poorly socialised, difficult breeds, mistreated, elderly dogs, dogs with expensive health needs etc.

This is so true. These dogs generally have varying degrees of issues. Our rescue is a year and a half old, never lived in a house, never been toilet trained, never been on a lead. He has a lot to learn but he’s a lovely dog.

@ChestnutStuffing

I'm not convinced that all that "socialisation" is necessary. It's not bad, but if a dog gets to be with his people, or go to the park, it will be ok. It's not permanent by any stretch - lots of puppies don't go out much at first anyway as they are so unreliable. Most families see some other people and no one is obliged to stay in an apartment all day long.

Socialisation is essential. Some dogs don't need it as much it's true, but an anxious or highly strung puppy or a breed that might potentially be a danger to other dogs due to size or temperament needs careful, consistent socialisation. Not just for them either but for you, the owner too, so that you can get used to reading their body language, knowing what their triggers are etc. That way you can intervene and distract before conflict may arise. I've an occasionally grumpy dog who tried very much to take charge of other puppies he came across and the only thing that worked was "socialisation, socialisation, socialisation" which was the advice a family member who was a breeder told me when I asked when I could see that he might potentially be a problem. Now I can see exactly what might make him irritated and intervene and distract before it happens.

No suitable dogs in any of the rescues i check either. And I've been looking (and applying) for a long while. In fact, Dogs Trust currently showing no puppies in the whole of the UK. Where are they hiding them...? . By what I've seen, must of the unwanted puppies seem to end up on Pets4homes.. usually for a grand or so

@dontdisturbmenow

Dog trainers and behaviourists say that all that socialisation is necessary Of course they do

We had our puppy in April at 8 weeks. From day one we were out in walks, him in pouch to get him used to outside noises and scents.

He then got to meet many other dogs in the park because dogs still needed to out. Met friends when we were allowed to go outside with others 2m apart.

Taught him commands including recall. He is now 10 months old and a dream dog. Excellent command, loves people and dogs.

Dog trainers/behaviourists don't like dogs like him!

Well surely if trainers and behavourists were only thinking about money they would NOT say that lots of socialisation is important?

You have obviously socialised as much as possible in lock downs and your dog may well be fine but many would not be.

As I said, I can see a difference in friends and neighbours dogs from having been socialised properly or having little or no socialisation

Selfish irresponsible numptys

@OptimisticSix

Sorry, wrong topic

Thank heavens - I thought I'd lost it for a minute!

Been looking for 2 years now. Criteria isn't met with young child but now she 2 years older at 10. Ideally we would like 2 dogs but we under no illusion how costly it gets as still paying for the failed chemo treatment my last dog had.
The prices of dogs this year has risen to ridiculous amount. Nothing below £1000 ! So we keep looking and hopefully someone else's problem dog will eventually become one of our family. Just biding my time

Socialisation is essential. Some dogs don't need it as much it's true, but an anxious or highly strung puppy or a breed that might potentially be a danger to other dogs due to size or temperament needs careful, consistent socialisation. Not just for them either but for you, the owner too, so that you can get used to reading their body language, knowing what their triggers are etc. That way you can intervene and distract before conflict may arise. I've an occasionally grumpy dog who tried very much to take charge of other puppies he came across and the only thing that worked was "socialisation, socialisation, socialisation" which was the advice a family member who was a breeder told me when I asked when I could see that he might potentially be a problem. Now I can see exactly what might make him irritated and intervene and distract before it happens.

Excellent post - Jan.

Getting to know your own dog's triggers and warning signs is essential

YANBU. I've wanted a pet since the 90s, when my cat died, but have been prevaricating for 30 years.

It still cost a few hundred to get a rescue animal. You don’t get a rescue dog for nothing. Many years ago it was a donation that was asked for. Now the set price is considerable. I’m aware dogs cost quite a bit to feed and vet bills are high but the joy and love a dog gives is above all money.

I am perfectly suited to home a rescue dog but I am struggling to find one.

Can’t buy one, they are way too expensive.

@Strawberrypancakes

I’ve looked at a few places online and there don’t seem to be many dogs.. my parents would love to rehome one but there are very few available.

I've looked too, there's only one or two available. I wonder where all these 1500 dogs are?

My dog is nearly 15 and I'd love to get another when he passes but refuse to pay the astronomical prices people are charging atm.

Sadly very very predictable.
I would love another dog, but know that although I'm currently wfh so could look after it now, once life returns to normal I will be back at the office and wouldn't be able to afford day care for two