We are seriously considering rehomimg a rescue dog. What should we know?

[purepurple]

We have been thinking about getting a rescue dog for years and came really close a few months ago but we were in the middle of moving house and it didn't happen.
Would the rescue people consider us suitable candidates?
We are a family of 4; Me, DH, DS 21 and DD14.
Me and DH both work full time, DS is looking for work and DD goes to school just down the road.
We have a medium sized garden and DD would come home at dinnertime to feed and let the dog out.
I have resisted getting a dog as feel that they shouldn't be on their own all day.
We have had dogs before, a very long time ago when I was pregnant with DS. We had 2 rescue dogs, a German shepherd/Labrador cross and a collie/cross but I had hyperemesis and was very ill so we had them rehomed.
DD has had hamsters and rabbits for many years so is used to being responsible for animals.
So, are we suitable as a family for rehomimg a dog? I don't want to waste my time looking if we are not going to get very far. I hate going to the rescue centre, it makes me want to cry.

purepurple - try looking on rescue shelter websites if you are feeling brave enough, but definitely phone them up for a chat.

We rehomed a dog just over 7 weeks ago and it's going really really well.

Found that all the shelters had slightly different approaches but very helpful and encouraging as far as possible. Just missed out on one perfect dog at one rescue shelter but because I'd had such a long chat with shelter owner, she subsequently rang back with another offer, after we'd already rehomed from elsewhere. Had previously emailed her photos of my garden to show how dog proof the hedges/fences were, have you given that some thought?

We actually ended up popping into the Council pound pretty much on the spur of the moment and taking home our dog that night. No home check at all, we had to be confident that we were doing the right thing.

For information dh works from home most days but when he's away, the dog would have been on it's own for around 10 hours. We'd planned to use dog walkers (or friends) where necessary, so don't see why your dd couldn't walk the dog.

Are you sure you have time in the morning to walk/toilet the dog? Also our children are quite a bit younger than yours (9, 7 and 4) so we didn't think about the extent to which we could rely on children to help.

Thanks bosch I think that if the dog needed walking in the morning then DH would take it before he goes to work but haven't actually thought about that. DH does flexi-time so he can start any time up to 10 o'clock. I leave at 7.30 one week and 8 am the next..
I will have a look at the websites.

My concern would be the amount of time the dog is left and what happens when your 14 yo gets bored/finds more exciting things to do/gets the hump and refuses to help/gets moved to another school further away from home for whatever reason or somesuch (mother of a 14 yo here - can you tell? :o ).

A working day is too long for a dog to be left unattended with just a child coming in at lunchtime to let him out into the garden for a short while. Rescue will also tell you (and quite rightly) that they rehome to adults, having ascertained that everyone in the family is up for having a dog and that the responsibility for his care in this manner shouldn't be left to a child.

Sorry to be a killjoy but that's my take on it as a rescuer and as a homechecker. HOWEVER, it's not all doom and gloom. An adult/older child home is a great thing for rescue to come across and if you were willing to prove to them that you will get in a dog walker for the days you are going to be at work they would certainly be happy to consider you.

A dog from a reputable and responsible rescue will be assessed, neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, matched to the new owner and vice versa, bringing with him a lifetime's support and an agreement that the rescue will take the dog back should the owner not be able to keep him, even if that's in 10 years time. A responsible rescue will also home check which is as much for YOUR benefit as the dog's, so they can identify and iron out any potential problems before they start and assess whether the dog you have chosen is right for your family and environment. They'll also want to meet the whole family and any other pets. Any rescue which doesn't offer all these things as a minimum should be avoided as you won't do anyone any favours by taking a short-cut and ending up with a dog which is totally unsuited to you, which chews your furniture when you're out or which you can't cope with.

"We actually ended up popping into the Council pound pretty much on the spur of the moment and taking home our dog that night. No home check at all, we had to be confident that we were doing the right thing"

Jesus Christ I thought it was only me who would take that risk!

I would NEVER advise that anyone with DC did this - not unless they had an extraordinary amount of experience with dogs at least. Far better to take on an assessed dog from a reputable rescue than to take on an unknown quantity from a pound. Adopt from a rescue and you free up a kennel space so that THEY can take in a pound dog and assess him, rehabilitate and vet treat as necessary etc. They're the experts.

Consider this... what would happen if the pound dog didn't suit the family? What will the family do with him if they can't cope and want him out? A decent rescue WILL take him back and care for him... a pound MIGHT take him back... and they might well KILL him.

PLEASE folks, go to rescue and adopt an ASSESSED dog... leave the taking dogs out of pounds, admirable as the intention is, to the experts, for your sake, the dog's sake and the sake of your children.

Thanks valhalla You have given me lots to think about there. It confirms why I have been resisting getting a dog all these years.

Vallhala, I completely agree with you but I think we've just been very lucky.

We were a bit that the Council did what appeared to be no checks on us and our ability to look after the dog. And the deal is that if you don't get on with the dog you can exchange it within 3 or 6 months. (Double !)

However, the pound has lots of info about how they NEVER kill dogs, contrary to what most people believe. Maybe that's just ours.

bosch in my experience any council pound which tells you that it never kills dogs is lying. I think that 99.99% of my fellow pound dog rescuers would agree on that one.

The council is only obligated to care for a dog for 7 days if he's a stray, before they can legally kill him, rehome him to someone like you or allow a rescue to take him in. What do you think happens when those 7 days run out? The money isn't finite and nor are the spaces in the pound. What happens when the next batch of dogs come in if the last lot haven't been moved out... and then the next lot...? Where do they put all those dogs?

What about the aggressive dogs that no-one wants? And the old ones who no-one will offer a home to?

Sheffield has a huge problem with unwanted Staffies (don't they all, but the Sheffield/Wakefield/Leeds area is one of the worst outside London). You;ve seen the hysterical attitudes to Staffies on here.... and out there in the real world it's no better. No-one wants them and yet they'll make up the bulk of Sheffield's pound dogs most of the time. Where do you think they end up?

WRT you not being homechecked, VERY few pounds do. Hull does.. they recently homechecked in less than 5 minutes in and out again and let a novice owner without a garden and with an Autistic, sometimes wheelchair-reliant 6 year old child take on a 1 year old unassessed ex stray collie with no history. It was the council's dog warden who "homechecked" the (kind but naive) new owner.

It took about 3 weeks before, as I predicted, the dog nipped her child and ended up leaving the owner and (thank god) being placed in rescue.

FFS, if anything goes wrong like that, please come back to me and don't return your dog to the pound. He'll be dead within 24 hours if you do. Guaranteed.

Valhalla - our dog is a crossbreed lab/staffie!

As I said before, perhaps we just got lucky. Frightened myself to bits when I looked on the internet and read about the honeymoon period with rescue dogs but so far so good.

Crossbreed Labs are very special dogs in this house, bosch. :o A certain furry black genteman here approves your choice.

Top photos Vallhala.

Time I uploaded a photo of my furry black scoundrel!

Thanks!

And yes please, we want to see your lovely new friend. :)

Valhalla - I don't mean to insult you at all.

I know you work your arse off for dogs, but you always seem to be the harbinger of doom.

I think that just average people could really try with dogs. We are not all dog angels. But dogs can fit in with families.

Maybe your personal criteria is too strict? Most people are well meaning and will really try with a new dog. Surely a good hearted person is a good chance for a dog?

You have said that there are X thousand dogs in pounds - I said in a precious post that I have a 7 mo puppy and would like another and you said that you wouldn't rehome to a home with a puppy.

I respect what you are saying as you know more about dogs than me. But there are dogs needing homes.

It seems to me that there are kind, dog loving people who are rejected and this leaves rescue dogs in limbo.

Sorry - previous post.

whatever17, I'll answer you here anyway. :)

I understand what you're saying but the fact is that we see more dogs being handed in to rescue at the adolescent age than any other, generally as a result of the owner not being able to cope. Taking a rescue dog in only to return it to rescue (or worse) is NOT helping anyone. Increasing the chances of that happening by taking on a pup when you already have a pup is daft.

My criteria are the same as any decent rescue... it's not just me making up ideas as I go along, it's me agreeing with scores and scores of experienced, responsible rescues that it is not a good idea (nor is it particularly fair on the pups, who need a lot of 1-to-1) to rehome a pup to someone with a 7 month old pup already unless under exceptional circumstances, no matter how lovely that person is.

Yes, there are thousands of DOGS in rescue needing homes, as you say... and I wouldn't have expressed anything near as much reservation about you adopting a DOG. but you mentioned a puppy, which is completely different. You probably could indeed offer a loving home to a dog and on what you have said here I would have no reason to have issue with that, but a puppy... no.

Besides, hang on a minute... am I the only one advising that you wait a while? NOT to reject the idea but to WAIT? No, I'm not.... I'm just the one with the rescue experience but others are saying it too... so why pick up on just one of us saying it and especially why pick up on the one person who has issued the warning as a result of a great deal of first hand experience and seeing a huge amount of heartache?!!

Dear Valhalla

I didn't mean to "pick on you" just that I respect your opinion as a dog rescuer and all round dog knower of all things.

I wasn't in particular thinking about me with my 7 month old pup - just thinking about dogs in general who are desperate to get out of kennels. Just sad really and thinking about how many people would give homes who are not perfect dog people.

For instance, I have kids, I try my utmost, but I am not perfect.

I was thinking about that in relation to dogs/puppies - do you need to have a "perfect" environment or a home that is "good enough" - like I have with my kids.

Anyway - back to me - ha ha - do you think I could think about adopting a dog?

My Border T is wonderful, he is my 1st dog, as an adult, and I am amazed at how lovely he is. I almost don't want to jinx the mix. But he is so lovely and easy that I almost have "adoption fever" and want to get another dog - what age/sex would be good?

I am more than willing to be talked out of a 2nd dog.

We started with one, were never home-checked, then a year later, we were allowed to take home a 'special case'. 10 years later we have dog #3. If you have the time and commitment, go for it. If you aren't sure or if there is any doubt in your mind, don't get another dog. Ours are all very different in lots of ways and come with their own issues. They are all fabulous, of course , but it certainly hasn't felt like that at times. We try hard to be good enough, but we are not professional dog trainers. Lots of people keep animals perfectly well enough in the world of amateurs!

Do you think 2 male neutered dogs can live together amicably or is it better to have male/female?

Depends on the character of the dogs, whatever. I have 3 boys here - 2 are neutered and the third isn't (owing to health problems and the cons outweighing the pros). They get on brilliantly - the eldest, my neutered Lab X, is the smaller of the three and is boss largely by dint of his strong personality although he is the one I've had longest too. Being the longest-standing dog in the house wasn't always the case but he was petty much the more dominant dog when my Staffie cross and first GSD were alive too.

In reality being the boss just means that he will tell the other dogs to sod off and leave his food alone or leave me alone because he's the one on the sofa with me.

He and my younger, (4yo) GSD have been very accepting of a variety of foster dogs too.

So, it can be done - careful introduction on neutral territory is often the key.