Do we get this dog?

[ThePinkOne]

DH's friend has a dalmatian labrador cross but he's moving house this week and can't take it with him. DH said that if he ever had to get rid of it to give us first refusal. So he has called today to say he's moving this week and the dog has to go.

DH grew up with dogs and loves them and thinks no family is complete without one. I grew up being bitten by them (!) and am not so keen but fairly confident now. DS 1 and DD 3 are both quite happy round dogs.

However, my reservations are the hair (I have enough trouble cleaning up after the 1 year old!), the vets bills and food (I'm a SAHM and we get by but not much spare cash), DH works long hours so I would be doing most of the walking (how much exercise do they need btw?) and the fact that I would worry about it attacking the children or being boisterous.

We have a fairly big garden and if we go away we have family that it could stay with (as long as it gets on with thier dogs).

DH's friend hasn't had it for long and doesn't know much about it. It's 7 years old, male, isn't chipped, we'd have to find out about the jabs and things.

So, what do I need to think about? Just thought I'd get some thoughts and perspectives from different people.

TIA

i WOULDN'T, DALMATIONS ARE SUPER LIVELY AND LABS NEED LOTS OF EXCERCISE.

PLUS YOU DONT KNOW IF ITS TRAINED ETC OR ITS REAL TEMPREMENT.

Oops caps sorry

if your dhwants a dog you should get one from a rescue centre where the dog can be found to fit your needs.

it would be awfful for him to be passed to you then on to someone else when hes too much to handle/ knocks your toddler over / poops in living room etc

Thanks for your thoughts.

DH has met the dog half a dozen times and says he's lovely. At the moment he's left out all day while they're at work and apparently not walked enoguh

We're going to have him over for a couple of hours this afternoon to see what he's like (although obviously that's not very long but will give us an idea).

Also I see your point about him being moved from pillar to post but if we don't have him he'll be going to someone else (or maybe a rescue centre). I think we're probably the most solid place - likely to best look after and keep.

Hi, found you here now. So he is full Dalmatian then? Is he still very fat? I ask mainly as overweight dogs, rather like people will appear much slower and quiet. If thats the case, be prepared for him to liven up when fed properly and when he is fit. Is he castrated? Will link you to the main health problem (apart form deafness) for Dalmatians. Its more problematic in dogs as well. Again, would doubtful be relevant if he was a cross breed.

This is a link the our Welfare page which gives details of living with a Dal etc. It also links to the British Dalmatian Web site that gives more details about urinary stones which unfortunately can be common in Dalmatians. Actually its here. Its a pdf file. Hope these help. Come back and ask lots of questions, I have had Dalmatians for 14 years and help out with our Welfare as well.

Whilst things go through my mind and maybe before his owners go. Left out - outside? Ask what he is like if he is left in the house when they go out? Does he have a kennel outside or something. Could you leave him outside or would he be left indoors when you go out. Personally I would never leave a dog outside without shelter, so consider that if you felt you would have to leave him in the garden when you went out. Ask what they feed him as well. I can recommend some complete foods that are low protein (which is what a Dal needs, especially because of the stone issues). Hopefully you can see how he interacts with other dogs whilst you have been out with him. Hope its gone well

Well I have judged and competed at the Championship level in Competitive Obedience.

My last dog died shortly before DD was born.

I will not be getting another dog until DD is 4 or 5, she is 2 1/2 atm. I would only have a puppy from well bred parents so I could be sure of their background and upbringing.

There is NO WAY I would have a 7yo dog with a 1 and 3yo, especially if I had zero experience around dogs. Really bad idea imo.

See we wouldn't discount a home just because it had young children. But we would probably not place a dog in that home that hadn't already lived with young children/baby. My 2 Dals got their longest walks when mine were in the buggy, went for miles over the fields when DD was born, still managed miles when DS came along but tended to stick to more paths as Phil & Teds was a but heavy to do the whole ploughed fields thing .

But just as an example of my day when my Dal dog was 7yrs and my bitch was 5 yrs. I worked part time. DH would do a long walk in the morning with both dogs, he is self employed so enough time. I would pick up DD from childminder, she had tea already. Would come home, put her straight in buggy with raincover in winter to help keep her warm. Flashing collars on dogs if winter (it was 6pm by now)and trudge them all round the local park. This happened RAIN OR SHINE and I mean that. There would be hell to pay for and some 'crime' would normally be commited if they went short of walks . I was dedicated to them, my friends thought I was nuts. It was what they deserved as I chose to have 2 exceptionally lively dogs. They did not choose for me to have kids.

I agree 1 is way too small. I only manage with pup and almost 4yo because our house is massive and it's easy to keep them separate.

Being nosey..... did you have a Border Collie ElenorRigby? We have more Dals nowdays that are beginning to do well in obedience, although yet to see one in top level. Some have done well in flyball at Crufts which is a hoot. Lots are now excelling in Carriage Dog Trials, see here if fancy a peek. Makes me go all goose bumpy watching them

"See we wouldn't discount a home just because it had young children."
I find that quite disturbing.

OP please put your foot down over this. Do not let an older dog who has multiple homes, who lives outside, be left for you to manage, when you have hardly no experience of dogs, with 2 little ones.

Like I said in my post, I am more than experienced with dogs but I will NOT have a another dog until DD is around 4 to 5.

Ok, apparently he used to be left inside and didn't chew stuff or anything but if they were out all day had to put him outside or he'd poo (obviously!) But they hadn't had him long (a month or so I think)

We met dogs of all other sizes and volumes(!) out on our walk today and he didn't look twice at any of them. DH just took him out again and apparently he had another dog (collie off it's lead) jumping and yapping round him and again, didn't rise to it, just ignored.

I'm trying to get to speak to the previous owners.

I don't think I can have him I think it's too much to take on with 2 wee ones and as I say I'm not experienced with dogs and worry about what might happen as regards temperament (even though he seems so laid back he's horizontal so far!)

DH is devestated and so am I but I just don't think it's sensible atm

ElenorRigby, thanks for your input. I know you'll probably think I'm being stupid but can you spell out to me why you wouldn't have a dog with children this age? In case he attacks them I guess?

Thepinkone, I just wanted to post in support of your decision not to have this dog. It is totally possible that it would all turn out fine of course however, this poor animal is being rehomed after just a month with his new owners, owners who were happy to leave it alone in the house and alone in the garden if out for longer (ie it has been alone a lot in the last month). Dalmations can be difficult with change, they can find it all a bit too much and get grumpy and/or snappy (obviously a lot don't, I do not want to besmurch the breed as a whole).

Whilst I admire anyone wanting to rehome (I do it myself) I do not think this situation is a good one, it is an older dog moved around a lot with unknown background of a breed who can, sometimes, get cross and you have young children - who are notorious for making old dogs cross (in general that is not yours particularly). By all means rehome but rehome a younger dog of known background from a center who will support you through any teething troubles and, ideally, wait until your dc are a couple of years older.

Thanks Bella.

I've been sobbing for the last half hour!! But DH is going to take him home now

aww sweetie, it is awful I am sure! Sadly the right situation and the right dog do not always coincide, there will always be another time to find the right dog for your family, making a rash decision because you feel sorry for an animal or are under pressure usually ends in tears one way or another. IMHO you are doing the right thing. I am sure others may disagree but that is my feeling!

You've definitely done the right thing, although I know how guilty you must feel sending him back. We have been asked to take on a couple of labs during the last year and agonised over both of them for days (one was only a year old and it's owner had died, the other was 3 and it's owner was moving to Australia). But in the end we said no, because we knew it wasn't right, and we'd just be doing it because we felt guilty and worried about what would happen to them (I would take in all the waifs and strays if I had the room!). In the end it worked out fine - the younger one found a home and the older one went to Dogs Trust.

Maybe Dogs Trust would be the place for this wee chap - he would be fully assessed and placed with a family who suited him, and would be well looked after in the meantime.

Even if he is not registered, Dalmation Breed rescue should take him and probably already have a home waiting. I think suggesting this to the owner is the best policy.

That said, I have a million kids and dogs, and all is well. I am currently expecting anothe rbaby and also hoping to have a litter whilst pregnant and keep a pup. Puppy will be four months old by then, so will be toilet trained and have enough basic training under her belt to be easy around the house/on the short walks she'll need. I had dogs when my now oldest two DC were very small. (babies) It is hard work, and maybe not for first time dog owner, but it does depend on the circumstances and people/dogs involved. I do think you've made the right decision here though.

ThePinkOne, do you know what they are going to do with him now that you won't have him? If they have trouble homing him, please direct him to that Dalmatian Welfare page I linked you to. There are phone numbers there that may be able to help.

ElenorRigby, I would also like to know what is so disturbing about a dog being in a home with young children. Its rare that we do get a dog to re-home that 'ticks all the boxes' i.e. is suitable to live with young children but if we do then we would have no qualms placing it into a home that has been checked that also had young children.

Dalmatian Welfare won't 'take him' as such. We don't have kennel facilities but we do have homes waiting that have been home checked already. Unfortunately at the moment we have quite a lot of middle aged dogs on our list, I am due to go and see one next week which needs re-homing, a 6 year old boy. But its still his best chance and I would encourage him to ring. What sort of area are you in. North England, South England?

You've definitely done the right thing - a very brave decision but much better in the long run for all concerned.

Hope you stop giving yourself a hard time & that the dog gets a good, permanent home through Dalamtion Rescue or similar

Thanks everyone [weak smile]

I will definitely suggest Dalmation Welfare and the Dog's Trust and hope that DH's friend rehomes him properly. We're in the East Midlands Wags.

I'm gutted cause if it was the right time to have a dog I'm sure he would have been the right little guy.

When I was talking to my mum she asked where else he would go if we didn't have him but I said that couldn't have any bearing on the decision. I couldn't have had him just cause no-one else would!

Thanks for all your support lovely MNers

The North of England Dalmatian Welfare deals with dogs North of Stafford upwards, so guess the link I first gave you was the one to use. Sounds definitely the right decision for you and your family. Hopefully you saw just from this afternoon with him how much work it would be. Don't feel bad, unfortunately for this poor fella its not your decision that is making his future, its the poor decisions of his previous 2 owners. Very sad and very common for this time of year.

I agree that sadly this may not be the right dog for you. Many of the rescues I work alongside will rehome to families with young children and there isn't imo anything wrong with that, but for them to do so is very different to you taking on a dog with a troubled past (albeit not his fault) from an owner rather than a rescue. A rescue will assess the dog, know the history as far as possible and consider your own circumstances and experience, something which can't be done objectively in this case.

Please would you consider passing on the email of the West Midlands based all breed rescue (which operates via foster homes, not kennels) to your DH's friend, in case he needs it? Denise there is very helpful and will do her best to help if she can.

If all else fails please do come back and give a shout on here - I and a few others here on Pets have rescue contacts and between us may be able to place the little fella in a suitable rescue or foster home.

Sorry, the West Midland based rescue is Dogwatch - [email protected] and the contact there is Denise.

Thanks everyone for all your support on this.

DH has passed on the number of Dalmatian Welfare and there is a rescue kennel nearby. I don't think he's going to try and rehome him privately now which I'm glad about.

He sounds like a lovely, socialised dog, I think you should do what you feel is right, not what other people tell you ;) if you want the dog and have the time etc. to look after him, why not? I know people that have small children and 3 to 5 large dogs together with no issues at all, simply because the dogs have great temperaments.