Can I get some advice about adopting a dog?

[2cats2many]

Me and DH have decided we would like to add a dog to our family. Currently we have a rescue cat (she's about 6 yrs old and is pretty assertive) and 3yo and 4.7yo. Our friend has a 2yo rescue dog which has stayed with us on several weekends and we have been really pleased with how the chikldren and cat have responded to having the dog in the house (i,e. very calmly).

We'd like to get a young rescue dog. I'm not too bothered about getting a very young puppy and in a lot of ways would prefer one that is already house-trained, but am open to all options.

Our situation: I work part-time. My DH is self-employed and intends to have the dog with him most of the time (I think this is very realistic and he runs his own building firm). We own our own large-ish house with a safe, fully enclosed garden. We live close by to lots of wilderness and nice parks and the dog would get at least one long walk a day- more on the days when I don't work. It wouldn't be left on its own for longer than a few hours during the day.

We live in west London. I've looked at the websites of the local shelters and none of them ever seem to have dogs that they will place with homes that have young children or cats in. Is this the norm? Will we struggle to get a dog through a shelter?

I've spotted dogs in shelters that are further away from where we live, but they won't let us adopt their dogs, because of the home visits/ distance issues.

I'm open to advice on the breeds we should consider, but would ideally like a mongrel and not a Staffie or Rotty.

My questions is how do I start? Are we likely to be considered for a dog given the age of our children? Is there any way of adopting a dog from further afield than our local shelter?

God- this is a blummin' essay! Sorry and thanks to everyne who got this far.

don't rule out a staffy - they're meant to be great!

I've heard they are great, but I just don't want one. Maybe it's just believing bad press, but I'd never be able to relax with a staffie around the kids.

Have you thought about the size of pooch you'd like? If size is not an issue you could look at a greyhound/lurcher type - loads and some excellent rescues near west London outskirts

Finding the shleters is the problem. HAWS don't cover my area, the Dogstrust at Harefield doesn't seem to have dogs that they will place with cats of young children. I don't really know where else to go...

Big/ medium dog is not a problem and I've heard lots pof good things about lurchers.

Have you considered rehoming a 'failed' service dog? Either a guide dog retiree/failed the grade or an ex hearing dog? Both these charities have lots of dogs for rehoming.

It isnt well publicised but all dogs are trained to quite a decent degree, all know commands, sit, down, wait, stay etc and are good around children and most other situations. Not all good with cats, but they would help you to train the dog/cat to be liveable.

If you want any info PM me.

Thanks! Have PM-ed you.

I can second the 'failed' Guide Dog idea from the wonderful Jax. We brought ours home on Friday and he is just gorgeous. He would not have been suitable for little kiddies as he's a bit energetic and mouthy but there are some stunning dogs that need jobs as cuddle magnets. One piece of advice- I doubt our dog is unique in this- they are highly intelligent dogs and like to be busy. Ours will find entertainment if none is provided. Not destructive at all, just rearranges cushions and brings me a constant stream of things. I had quite a pile of remotes, coasters, dvd boxes etc. by my desk today as I worked.Prepare to play fetch a lot!

Thanks Horsemadmom. That sounds right up my street!

horsemadmom he's a lab, tis what they do. They need something to 'hold' I love when I go to my friends house and you can see that although he is desperate for a cuddle but needs to get something in his mouth first.

That waggy tail and mouth full of trainer/kids toy/remote control just makes me laugh so much.

I love your boy HMM he is a handsome young man.

We are absolutely besotted with him! He not only figured out the treat dispensing cube puzzle I bought him yesterday but also managed to dismantle it to get to the treats faster. Unscrewed the core mechanism. Not sure that was what it was designed for.
Makes me laugh so much!
2c2m- Flunked Guide Dogs are brilliant!

Can I try again to put the failed Hearing Dog idea to bed please - Hearing Dogs who don't make the grade are rehomed with existing full time Socialisers for the charity who are on a waiting list, not the general public. But I agree that a Guide Dog reject would be a great option :)

I have no direct experience of them myself, but my impression is that Dog's Trust have shelters all over the UK and that they will (selectively, obv) rehome to people with kids. Might be worth calling them/dropping an email?

oh, must have been because I was a volunteer at HDDP. No need for snippiness feesh

I knew that they HD dogs were offered back to socialisers first, then I thought they were offered to rehomers. My mistake.

Can I put a shameless plug for Many Tears Animal Rescue?

They are full to bursting at the moment, and it will only get worse before Xmas, and then again after.

They've got dumped dogs, ex breeding dogs, failed working dogs, older ex working dogs, puppies, dogs that just need a home to die in , blind dogs, healthy dogs, mutts and pedigrees. They all need someone to love them.

They won't turn you down just because you have children, and they will do their best to get your chosen dog (obvs once you've been checked) as close to you as possible.

Forgot the link doh!

HERE

LtE!ve - its mandatory that on such threads someone puts in a plug for MT

Absolutely! I do as much as I can for them, and tell as many people as possible. Our very own mutt was bought home from there in Jan 10 and we are looking to get another after this Xmas. Sylvia does a great job, I just wish we could adopt them all, we are finding it hard to choose

We just adopted a lovely greyhound. Cat friendly ones do exist. Our boy's great with the kids and very calm and affectionate. He came to us through the Retired Greyhound Trust as an ex racer.

I realised the other day that the DCs (5 and 3) could never have coped with a more playful dog. DS1 was playing with a terrier in the park (with owner's blessing, of course) and they both just wound each other up into a frenzy of excitement. So I guess thinking about matching the needs/limits of your DCs to the needs/limits of the dog is paramount.

I guess it's the dog, not the breed that's important.

Can I second Many Tears? We just adopted our girl a couple of weeks ago. We also have two young children (3.5 and 16 weeks!) and a cat. She's a collie/GS cross and is just the calmest, most tolerant, laid back dog. Perfect for us. 2 years old and house trained, doesn't chew etc. They can home check all over the country and although you might have to travel a bit to get there it is really worth it for the right dog. You might also find one in foster closer to you through them.

Of course plug away at MT. I just assume everyone knows about the regular charities and wanted to plug GD as not many people know that they rehome retired/flunked dogs.

GRWE are a national greyhound rescue organisation adn should cover your area. I second that a surprisingly high number of greyhounds are cat trainable 10-20%- it will be especially easy as you have an assertive cat- greys are wimps!!! They are also extremely loving, don't suffer many genetic problems that most other breeds do and are very lazy. Most come easy to house train- in kennels they are very clean. You also have this warm feeling inside knowing that you're showering attention on a dog that's always craved it but probably has never been loved as an individual- they really are so grateful.

The greyhound welcome bows, the long stretches after finally getting up off the sofa, the loving big brown eyes and pointy faces are so hard to say no to!

the hearing dogs website states that you fill in an application form. it doesn't state you have to be an existing socialiser

fill in the form overthemill they have some lovely dogs. And now that I think about it, I know someone near me who has a flunked HD and they are not socialisers or volunteers of any kind.

So feesh you may stand corrected.

We adopted a dog through Many Tears, and depending on the dog, they don't mind rehoming with children and cats. We have 3 young children and 2 cats. They are more concerned with the amount of time the dog will be left, the enclosed garden and whether you are sure you know what to expect when offering a dog a home.

We had to travel a good 150 miles to collect the dog, but they managed to find a home-checker down the road from us!

Our cats are furious though. They sneak past him.

Another vote here for greyhounds. You will also be helping to find a home for a dog that would otherwise be shot, dumped or worse.

They can make fabulous pets. Utterly gorgeous, very relaxed, and cat friendlies are out there. Only downsides - the bottom of Beelzebub. Oh, and your sofa will never be your own again.