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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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5
hartof · 15/02/2022 09:48

Try The Pack Project, they rescue dogs from Europe and recently shared they had some dogs that desperately needed rescuing. They are on Instagram

hidingfromthemouse · 15/02/2022 09:50

I've got a labradoodle puppy and she's great. Got her from a farm (not a puppy farm, a bird farm that her mum was a working dog on) she came to us at 12 weeks. Was already mostly toilet trained, had a few accidents but that was more our fault for missing her cues. Very responsive to training. Haven't needed puppy classes, socialised her with friends dogs. She's very good with my toddler. We have crate trained her, hardest part was leaving her to cry and setting an alarm to take her out for the toilet at night but that only lasted two weeks. We do work but luckily work shifts so make sure she's not left for too long by herself. She can do about 5 hours in her crate. Best decision we ever made and we felt concerned like you too.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 15/02/2022 10:09

How do I get a dog

Steal a car, drive off at high speed, ignore all normal highway rules, get followed by a police car, abandon stolen car near some woods and run away and hide in the woods.
The police will send a dog to you.
Voilà. You have a dog!

steppemum · 15/02/2022 10:20

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles

How do I get a dog

Steal a car, drive off at high speed, ignore all normal highway rules, get followed by a police car, abandon stolen car near some woods and run away and hide in the woods.
The police will send a dog to you.
Voilà. You have a dog!

Grin
HowlongWillThisTakeNow · 15/02/2022 10:28

If your not sure about breed / size Get along to Crufts if you can and go to Discover Dogs, you can see lots of breeds, talk to the breeders/ owners etc about what a breed is like to live with, exercise/ diet / potential health issues etc.

steppemum · 15/02/2022 10:36

I always think the idea that one breed is one way and another breed is another way is an interesting one.

My friend has a lab. beautiful dog, sweet, gentle, easy to train etc etc. But I have met labs that are twice the size, and weight and complete nutters and high energy and hard to train.

I think so much more is down to individual dogs and personality.
Which makes it hard when you get a puppy.

Leonberger · 15/02/2022 10:51

Not really @steppemum. The vast majority of litters are very predictable if you go to an experienced breeder who knows the lines inside out.

Obviously things like early neutering can effect size a bit but the chances are putting a small quiet lab with a history of throwing small quiet labs and a background family tree of the same stamp/personality to a stud of similar lines and personality will create what you want. We looked at siblings, parents and grandparents to get an idea of what we would be getting with our pup and he is exactly that.

Obviously if you put a random lab with another random lab then it could be more of a pix and mix of personality and look wise but this is why I research pedigrees so closely when choosing Grin

Goooglebox · 15/02/2022 10:56

21:45TiredSloth

Would you create an Instagram account and write about your dog in the comments? I and I have no doubt many others would love to hear more about her. There is something really special about the way you describe her and quite honestly anyone would want to hear what life with her is like.

Envoitrevisage · 15/02/2022 11:22

As a breeder, I can tell you that all my pups leave here crate trained, on their way to be house trained, will have been on a few car journeys, will have met kids, been exposed to house and farm noises, and will have worn a collar and lead a few times. Getting a good breeder will mean a much easier journey with a puppy.

steppemum · 15/02/2022 11:36

Envoitrevisage

what type of dog do you breed?

Envoitrevisage · 15/02/2022 11:47

Private message me, I won’t say publicly due to it being a numerically small breed and very popular on the hit list for thieves. It’s a sighthound :)

ABitBesottedWithMyDog · 15/02/2022 11:47

a lot of "Labradors" you see who are larger are crossbreeds. I know a lab cross who, apart from a fluffiness on her tail, looks just like a purebred lab, but she's, size-wise, Cliffordesque!

Also, English labs are bigger and fatter than the (original) North American ones. In my country, the latter are what we think of as labs and they are definitely smaller, medium-sized dogs.

steppemum · 15/02/2022 11:50

@Envoitrevisage

Private message me, I won’t say publicly due to it being a numerically small breed and very popular on the hit list for thieves. It’s a sighthound :)
Oh understandable.

We can't have a sight hound though - cats and chickens!

Original poster
MuffinStrops · 15/02/2022 15:36

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles

How do I get a dog

Steal a car, drive off at high speed, ignore all normal highway rules, get followed by a police car, abandon stolen car near some woods and run away and hide in the woods.
The police will send a dog to you.
Voilà. You have a dog!

One that bites your arm off, or worse!
OP posts:
Original poster
MuffinStrops · 15/02/2022 15:41

@steppemum

I love watching the Wood Green show, but it really makes me eye roll. Both people out all day at work, and they never mention how they will look after the dog/daycare. Is this rescue suitable for daycare etc etc.

And so often we go - NOOO wrong dog, they won't like that dog, and we are right.

Exactly The 80 year old man who only wanted a large male dog as a sort to trophy . They shouldn't never have considered him but instead they brought him a small dog and a female dog. Unsurprisingly, he took neither. I am astonished at some of the dogs they choose which are clearly not a match for the people concerned. It makes me cross. Many of the people are just not suitable as dog owners.
OP posts:
steppemum · 16/02/2022 07:44

There was a really good one recently.
Family with small kids wanted a dog.
They showed them 2 puppies

  1. Jack Russell, lovely dog, calm, nice natured, really really friendly and small. Cuddled right up on their laps straight away, no nipping or bouncing, just a lovely friendly young dog.
  2. cockerpoo puppy, much more boisterous, bounced all over them, scratched on of the kids, very high energy, but of course gorgeous looking.

They wanted the cockerpoo, and I was thinking, no, the best fit for your young children is that lovely little Jack Russell, because of his temperatment. (and generally I don't really like Jack Russells) Cockerpoo was already too bouncy. Looked like they were all in love with the cockerpoo, mainly because she/he was so pretty.
Family went away and did some research.
Discovered cockerpoos are much harder to train and have a loooong teenage phase. Went back and got the Jack Russell.

That was very satisfying, but it was down to the family and not Wood Green.

ABitBesottedWithMyDog · 16/02/2022 07:49

Sounds heartwarming. I bloody love Jack Russells. They really do have excellent litrle personalities.

Blossomtoes · 16/02/2022 09:43

I saw that one @steppemum. I thought the person who was really pushing for the cockerpoo was the dad. I reckon Mum went off and collected the ammunition to over rule him. I was so pleased they had that lovely little Jack, they’re the best dogs in the world.

steppemum · 16/02/2022 10:59

Just filled in the application form to be a foster for dogs again.

eek!

see what we get!
(and if a dog we like comes across our path, then we get first dibs to adopt)

Before I did it I moved the furniture round, created a new safe corner for the dog, and got out the old dog bed with new covers.
Big step forward

ABitBesottedWithMyDog · 16/02/2022 11:18

Good luck @steppemum. Fingers crossed you get a good dog along soon.

My dog chose her own corner. Then when we got that all comfy for her she returned to the corner we had originally set up for her. Though currently she is asleep on a backpack with her head on an iron dumbell.

Wexone · 16/02/2022 11:36

@Blossomtoes They are - Though i have three JR and their personality's are so different . The male especially is a grumpy fecker- along the line of Victor Meldrew.

@steppemum best of luck with your foster- Its so rewarding

steppemum · 16/02/2022 11:38

@ABitBesottedWithMyDog

Good luck *@steppemum*. Fingers crossed you get a good dog along soon.

My dog chose her own corner. Then when we got that all comfy for her she returned to the corner we had originally set up for her. Though currently she is asleep on a backpack with her head on an iron dumbell.

yes they do tend to choose don't they! our old dog's bed was right by the door, in a busy spot. So we thought for a foster/new adoptee they needed a safe place that was a bit more in the corner. So there is a safe place bed there. No doubt the rug in front of the fire and dd's bed will all prove more desireable!
Blossomtoes · 16/02/2022 11:40

[quote Wexone]@Blossomtoes They are - Though i have three JR and their personality's are so different . The male especially is a grumpy fecker- along the line of Victor Meldrew.

@steppemum best of luck with your foster- Its so rewarding[/quote]
Our Scottie was exactly as you describe - grumpy, miserable old fucker he was. Whereas our Jack has the sweetest, sunniest nature ever.

I think you’re really brave to foster @steppemum. I’d fall in love with every dog that crossed the theshold. Could you bear to start a thread to let us know how it goes?

steppemum · 16/02/2022 11:52

I think you’re really brave to foster @steppemum. I’d fall in love with every dog that crossed the theshold. Could you bear to start a thread to let us know how it goes?

we did it before.
the dogs were lovely and we enjoyed having them, but it was interesting, we had a strong sense of - nice dog but not for us with each one, until Steppedog came along. 24 hours and I knew he was staying. Took the rest of the family about 2 days longer! He stayed.

So I am assuming same will happen again.
And I miss a furry friend, and I miss walking in the mornings.

Wexone · 16/02/2022 12:06

@Blossomtoes ha your JR like my other two. The youngest one is 7 and a little dote - ting and loves sitting on my lap . The eldest ( and the newest ) is about 11 and i never have had a more lovely dog ever, constant jumping about and playing - would have thought she was a pub the way she carries on. The male he gets his notions of grumpiness and storms off to his bed. But when we are out walking them they are the best of friends. I agree with you couldn't Foster, would be what they call a foster fail every time. But a foster told me that once she knows the dog is going to a good home it really helps her