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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How do I get a dog?

151 replies

MuffinStrops · 13/02/2022 19:57

Been looking for a dog for years. Rescues are a waste of time. Either I apply for a dog, and am told they have received enough applications already (why is it on the website then?}, or they can't live with cats, or will only be rehomed to owners with lots of experience of that breed. Or I need six foot high fences. Or all of those . I don't want a puppy. I'm looking for an adult, house trained dog with plenty of years ahead of it.

Watching the Wood Green programme, dogs are being rehomed to people who work, have young children or have no experience of dogs. No questions are asked about fences etc. How can this be?

I am reluctant to try a rescue working with dogs from abroad as there is no opportunity to meet the dog first to see if there is a fit. Also street dogs can have all sorts of issues that aren't immediately apparent.

I am so frustrated!

OP posts:
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Hulahula86 · 13/02/2022 20:16

Hi we’ve been going through this process too finally got to stage where we are ready to rehome a dog, the general Uk rehoming like blue cross rspca etc seem to be very hard to rehome from if you have young kids and work etc.
we’ve always lived French bulldogs so I started looking specifically at rescues for this breed and am at a stage with 3 where I am home checked and ready to adopt! However when dogs do come up their have not been loads that are ok with young children so with the support of the rescue I started to look on private pet rehoming websites and made sure I asked lots of questions! We are now in the process of rehoming privately and it’s an amazing experience so far the lady has been very honest so we know what the dog has outstanding he needs boosters and hasn’t been neutured so we will do that and sue to this and the fact he hasn’t visited a vet since being a puppy we negiotiated the price to bring it online with the rescue. We had video calls and gave the owners a virtual tour of our house, they have bought him to us to see our house and meet our children which went well so we are just doing the last bits to get ready for him to move in and will be going to them this weekend, our piece of mind that his home is as they say etc and bringing him home 😊
The rescue have said they can help advise if we do need any help with anything diet, behaviour related etc so it’s nice to have that background support who know the breed well and the current owners have said any issues they would take him back and they seem genuine and just care about him being with a family who has the time love and money to invest in him. So I would start looking for breed specific rescues there’s loads of Facebook and go from there. Best of luck and hope you find your furry friend soon.

UneducatedHV · 13/02/2022 20:18

Have you tried a specific breed rescue?

CarbonelCat · 13/02/2022 20:30

Lots of the rescues that bring the animal from abroad will let you do a foster to adopt type arrangement if you're worried about getting the right fit.

Look at Paw Help, Pads 4 Pooches, Serbian Street Dogs and lots of Cyprus based pages on social media. I have also seen Spaniel Aid advertising with reasonable expectations.

Original poster
MuffinStrops · 13/02/2022 20:37

@UneducatedHV

Have you tried a specific breed rescue?
Yes. They say they will only rehome to rural homes.
OP posts:
Yarnivore · 13/02/2022 20:39

Are you applying for dogs that are actually suited to what you can offer?

ilovespinach · 13/02/2022 20:40

My parents had been refused by all of the big animal charities think RSPCA and the like as their garden is small and the fences are low. They've just had success with a small rehoming charity local to their area. They now have a 5 year old dog who is keeping my retired dad company. Have a look online at the local charities in your area.

Thoosa · 13/02/2022 20:42

Get in with a (foreign or domestic) rescue organisation by fostering. So much is done by recommendation and personal contacts.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 13/02/2022 20:42

Stop trying. Get a puppy. It will only be a puppy for a year. I wish someone had told me that and I would have had a dog for the last 4 years instead of 1.
I'm also bemused by the rescue shows.

DementedPanda · 13/02/2022 20:44

Have you visited your local dog removing centre?

Chickenpoxtwins · 13/02/2022 20:45

Lots of foreign rescues send dogs to be fostered in the UK.

Original poster
MuffinStrops · 13/02/2022 21:15

@SpiderinaWingMirror

Stop trying. Get a puppy. It will only be a puppy for a year. I wish someone had told me that and I would have had a dog for the last 4 years instead of 1. I'm also bemused by the rescue shows.
I keep reading how awful having a puppy is on MN though!! It sounds absolutely horrendous!
OP posts:
Original poster
MuffinStrops · 13/02/2022 21:18

@DementedPanda

Have you visited your local dog removing centre?
No. Just applied for lots.
OP posts:
XenoBitch · 13/02/2022 21:18

Rescues are fussy and for good reason. They don't want the dog being bounced back.

Original poster
MuffinStrops · 13/02/2022 21:19

@XenoBitch

Rescues are fussy and for good reason. They don't want the dog being bounced back.
I understand that but we could really offer a great home.
OP posts:
CandyLeBonBon · 13/02/2022 21:22

I keep reading how awful having a puppy is on MN though!! It sounds absolutely horrendous!

Rescue dogs can also be difficult op. Make sure you're not wearing rise tinted glasses!

Dontlooksup · 13/02/2022 21:25

Our dog was fine as a puppy. She had a few toilet accidents at the very start which were easily cleaned. She was mouthy for weeks. But other than that she was no hassle. There is almost always someone at home here so that made things easier but we really didn't find him hard work at all. Go in expecting the worse and you will be pleasantly surprised.

LoopyDream · 13/02/2022 21:26

Have you looks at Pets4Homes? You can filter by age which helped us to rehome a dog recently who was not a puppy. The previous owner had some health conditions and wanted to be involved in the rehoming.

Ylvamoon · 13/02/2022 21:27

I don't want a puppy. I'm looking for an adult, house trained dog with plenty of years ahead of it

Don't get a dog if you are not prepared to put in the hard work.

Rescues come with baggage, they will need some training, they often have little quirks that are can be endearing or just plain annoying. Fact is, some behaviours are impossible to correct.

Get a puppy if you want a dog to suit your needs and lifestyle. A puppy can be trained and with patience, commitment and hard work, you'll have your dream dog within 12-14 months.

Original poster
MuffinStrops · 13/02/2022 21:28

@Dontlooksup

Our dog was fine as a puppy. She had a few toilet accidents at the very start which were easily cleaned. She was mouthy for weeks. But other than that she was no hassle. There is almost always someone at home here so that made things easier but we really didn't find him hard work at all. Go in expecting the worse and you will be pleasantly surprised.
That’s encouraging! What breed do you have out of interest?
OP posts:
Original poster
MuffinStrops · 13/02/2022 21:28

@LoopyDream

Have you looks at Pets4Homes? You can filter by age which helped us to rehome a dog recently who was not a puppy. The previous owner had some health conditions and wanted to be involved in the rehoming.
Yes I have. It’s just hard to know if what you are being told is true.
OP posts:
Original poster
MuffinStrops · 13/02/2022 21:29

@CandyLeBonBon

I keep reading how awful having a puppy is on MN though!! It sounds absolutely horrendous!

Rescue dogs can also be difficult op. Make sure you're not wearing rise tinted glasses!

Yes, I know that. I am prepared for it.
OP posts:
Envoitrevisage · 13/02/2022 21:31

Talk to the breeders of your breed. Sometimes we have adult dogs returned to us for no fault of their own. Our breeding contract requires the pups to return to us if they owner can no longer care for them, so occasionally we have an adult dog back from say a divorce, massive life changes or sadly death.

Mumofsend · 13/02/2022 21:31

Our grown rescue dog was far far harder than our puppy.

She was poorly trained due to neglect, an anxious mess and completely unable to be left alone.

Our pup did need house training and chewing shoes was a bit of a nightmare but he learnt on both very quickly. He was by far the easier of the two.

XenoBitch · 13/02/2022 21:32

An adult house trained dog will have been used to its previous home, and therefore some issues could come up when it is rehomed. That is natural. A new home means new surrounding, people, routine etc. It wont be "perfect" for a good few weeks at least.
Even previously housetrained dog can go backwards in a new home.

Dontlooksup · 13/02/2022 21:33

Jack Russell terrier

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