How do I get a dog?

[MuffinStrops]

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!

My dog was so lovely and easy as a puppy. We found ourselves in a similar position. We had a cat and young children and always missed out when applying. We walked rescue dogs every weekend and were so keen to have a dog!

In the end, I found someone who's dog was pregnant by mistake (lurcher) and we rehomed one for a fee.

She is beyond amazing and very much loved. She has a really nice life with us.

We didn't aim to end up with a puppy but are really glad we ended up with our dog.

If you are in a rural area there are sometimes working dogs advertised for pet homes because they won’t work. They tend to be spaniels or labs.
Have you tried some of the smaller less fussy (some would say less reputable) rescues? They are not as common as they used to be but are still around.
Ask at the local vets if they know of any. Especially dogs whose owners have died
I do understand the not wanting a puppy.

Honestly?
With difficulty

We applied to wood green as well as every other shelter within a 20 mile radius of the m25

We had

• experience of owning both puppies and dogs
• someone at home all day
• no other pets
• no children
• secure large garden
• time to decidate to training
• were open to a large range of breeds and any age up to 10 years

In 2 years we got NOTHING despite follow ups...

We ended up driving to Ireland to get a dog from a rescue there. It's utterly insane...

Not all rescue are nightmares... Our girl has her quirks (specifically around closed doors and food!!!) and was poorly socialised but honestly settled well and slotted into our lives fairly easily...

I would make contact with rescues. Not about a specific dog. But to say you really want a rescue and to give your info. You may have to consider just how flexible you can be though. Breed? Age? Behaviour issues?

I’ve recently rehomed a rescue greyhound and I’m massively regretting it.

She is the sweetest, most gentle dog I’ve ever met but there were lots of things I hadn’t anticipated (a lot due to her size!). Despite being told she would be ok on her own for a few hours this clearly isn’t the case and I come home to carnage when I do go out for a bit. She is tall enough to reach the work tops and pulls down EVERYTHING. My toaster, my kettle, my bread bin have all been destroyed. She has eaten whole loaves of bread, crumpets, bagels etc. I never lock my door but she has now figured out how to open it and let herself into the front garden when I’m not there. I am in a constant state of anxiety even though she has the perfect temperament.

What I’m trying to say is please please think about things like separation anxiety which can cause destructive behaviours. I don’t work so thought it would be fine but I’m pretty much housebound now.

@Wolfiefan

I would make contact with rescues. Not about a specific dog. But to say you really want a rescue and to give your info. You may have to consider just how flexible you can be though. Breed? Age? Behaviour issues?

I’ve done that. Never hear back. I’ve tried lots of rescues all with the same result. Maybe a puppy is the answer.

We decided on pups. (One at a time!) We wanted a specific breed. I have cats and kids. That’s not a quick fix. We had to wait. Went through the breed club. Met breeders. Got on list. It’s not quick.
Try local rescues? Smaller rescues?

We got a beautiful dog through Pad4Pooches. Join their FB group to see the thousands of successful rescues and rehomed they have facilitated. Really straightforward , quick process with some very devoted volunteers who offer aftercare and support too. We had a dog within six weeks of filling out the forms. Couldn’t love her more ❤️

Our Romanian rescue was 4 months old when he arrived. I don't think he ever had an accident in the house. I took him out every hour or so and he had a crate for night.

They did a home check and were satisfied that I wasn't an idiot and could raise children and had dogs before.

I saw loads of videos of him and his mum, siblings etc so I wasn't worried that he wouldn't be the one for us.

I wouldn't get an older foreign rescue as they can be full of issues sadly. And flight risks!

Our pup is six now and still totally amazing, so chilled and almost seems eternally grateful to have a warm bed and our love.

Get a puppy. I have had the same situation. Trying to rehome a rescue for years but with no success. I’m the end we got a puppy. It’s hard work but not a nightmare and they are pretty cute and funny which makes the hard times easier to deal with. Don’t pay stupid prices though, those type of breeders shouldn’t be encouraged. There are still good dog owners out there that aren’t churning out puppies for cash

I wouldn’t rehome a dog unless you don’t have the money to buy one. Get a puppy and then you can train them.
We researched breeds, interviewed a few breeders (and they interviewed me) we put a deposit down and got a puppy.
Said puppy went to puppy training classes and is as safe as a dog can be.

I like the idea of having a dog from a puppy and putting in the work to make sure the dog is happy and well socialised etc. It’s the puppy threads on MN that put the fear of God into me!

I have a puppy now. She's a bit of work but she's worth it.

I have had rescue dogs several time. All beautiful, wonderful dogs, but all had some unfortunate habits that no amount of loving training could correct. The last one had been hit and starved, so she cringed from every noise and even got fat stealing every bit of food she put her collie brain to. There was also coprophagia, and she would hide under the house and not come out when she went into batshit mode.

Even the dog we adopted from a breeder at a mere nine months (a return), who hadn't been abused at all, was difficult. My favourite dog ever, but set in her ways and always slightly aloof. She also would never submit to brushing, baths or being near small children as she hadn't had early experience of them.

A puppy is destructive and tiring from night wakings for toileting, but honestly, easier in many ways. Plus, puppies do sleep a lot!

Both mine are rescues and both came as puppies.

One at about 4 weeks with the rest of the litter, as they were abandoned. We had to rearrange Christmas to take them in. One who had been bought but was so timid (breeder was shit and wouldn't take her back) she didn't make a good family pet. She was 10 weeks, 8 months now. She is a mixed poodle. The other is a working cocker and is almost 3.

Both were fairly easy. I have had bought puppies, rescue dogs. All are fairly hard work in different ways. All need time and effort put in. I would say rescues, potentially more.

What breed is it? That a rescue is saying rural homes only?

Another one here to say my experience of having a puppy was nothing but positive!
Our pup really was no bother and she was utterly adorable, I can't imagine missing out on her growing and developing it was amazing to see.

Puppy threads on MN … I won’t say exaggerate but you see the worst, put it that way.

We got a rescue dog, eight weeks later we had a $5,000 vet bill (so about 2,500 UK pounds) and a dead dog - he died on the operating table, my kids were traumatised. We got a puppy after that, and pet insurance from the day we brought her home. I love the idea of rescue but would never do it again, our "puppy" was the most beautiful, gentle girl you could imagine. We had her for 13 years before she died.

@AlDanvers

Both mine are rescues and both came as puppies.

One at about 4 weeks with the rest of the litter, as they were abandoned. We had to rearrange Christmas to take them in. One who had been bought but was so timid (breeder was shit and wouldn't take her back) she didn't make a good family pet. She was 10 weeks, 8 months now. She is a mixed poodle. The other is a working cocker and is almost 3.

Both were fairly easy. I have had bought puppies, rescue dogs. All are fairly hard work in different ways. All need time and effort put in. I would say rescues, potentially more.

What breed is it? That a rescue is saying rural homes only?

Border collie rescue is oneI have looked at. They have so many homes being offered they can afford to be selective. I know BCs are really hard work. Rural homes would be preferable and I don’t blame the rescue. I have looked at lots of breeds. Having a cat makes things difficult.

I’m keen to know the breeds of the puppies who were relatively easy! I know there’s no such thing as an easy puppy.

I've had pups and a rescue. The rescue dog was by far harder work and ultimately after 4 months, behaviourist input and many vet checks had to be rehomed as we couldn't meet her needs. It was a heart breaking decision.

I wouldn't attempt a rescue again unless I was at home 24/7.

This was about 7 years ago. We currently have 5 month pup who is crate trained and yes hard work but doesn't have entrenched behaviours that need to be worked out

I have had a similar thread recently OP.
We've just lost our springer, and all the dogs on the websites seem to be for rural locations with one adult who works form home, has no visitors and no other pets!

You need to foster.
That isnhow we got our springer in the first place.
Local small rescue, we fostered for them, we had 4 different dogs, each one stayed abotu 3 weeks until they were adopted. Then the last foster was our springer and we decided to keep him.

All of those 4 dogs would have been rehomed into your family, but not one of them made it as far as the website, they were snapped up by contacts.
The springer, who was the most amazing family dog, came to us because th current foster parents couldn't cope, he kept weeing everywhere. They had 5 dogs.
As soon as he came into our house, solo dog, he was fine, turns out he was super submissive to other dogs, and he shows that by weeing. He stopped doing it once he wasn't expected to live with other dogs. The rescue hadn't even clocked that yet.

You need to get on to the inside track.

The other thing is that most of the 'lockdown puppies' are now being sold via gumtree/preloved etc, so there aren't that many dogs coming through.

We have said no dogs from abroad, but we are starting to think we may do it, but only ones who have been in a UK foster. Pets4homes has a lot of theses, and they seem to have rescue back up and support.

@ABitBesottedWithMyDog

I have a puppy now. She's a bit of work but she's worth it.

I have had rescue dogs several time. All beautiful, wonderful dogs, but all had some unfortunate habits that no amount of loving training could correct. The last one had been hit and starved, so she cringed from every noise and even got fat stealing every bit of food she put her collie brain to. There was also coprophagia, and she would hide under the house and not come out when she went into batshit mode.

Even the dog we adopted from a breeder at a mere nine months (a return), who hadn't been abused at all, was difficult. My favourite dog ever, but set in her ways and always slightly aloof. She also would never submit to brushing, baths or being near small children as she hadn't had early experience of them.

A puppy is destructive and tiring from night wakings for toileting, but honestly, easier in many ways. Plus, puppies do sleep a lot!

Oh my God! What a gorgeous puppy!

Check with local vets. My DD2 got a darling, well-trained adult Jack Russell whose owner was being placed in a retirement home and none of the family wanted the dog. They instructed the vet to put her down if he could not find a home. She was very well-trained in the home (did have some quirks - disliked riding in cars and would sleep only under the bed covers) but they have been fine together for the last four years.

I know everyone says "Adopt don't shop" but while I admire their work (and have DDs to a number) my God they make it difficult. My husband is retired, we own our home, have a back yard, no kids or other pets. On paper we were told we were perfect, but despite being registered with several rescues and checking the sites all the time....no luck. Any dogs with complex needs we were told we didn't have experience for, any unwanted puppies (so no issues) were snapped up the second they came in. We ended up going to a breeder.

Puppies are hard but so are rescue dogs, as they often have anxiety and behaviour issues.

Good luck x

Oh my God! What a gorgeous puppy!

Thank you. She's a tricolour border collie, so very trainable. They do need a bit of room to stretch their legs, but they can very very happy town dogs IME.

Jack Russells are also an excellent suggestion. Intelligent and maybe half-cracked but in a loveable way!