JRT rescue dog question

[SobaSoma]

We've just reserved what seems to be an adorable male JRT aged 5 from the local rescue centre. He's a stray so they know nothing about him, eg whether he's house trained or has any behavourial issues. When we met him he was very friendly and energetic and seems to love being around people.

I just wondered if it seemed odd that they can't tell whether he's house-trained or not and how much of a risk we're taking if we bring him home (we also need to assess if he gets on with our cat!). Am prepared to do some training classes but would rather not have to house-train him! Also will be out of the house 4 days a week for 6 hours, popping home for 15 mins at lunch-time (the rescue didn't see this as a problem). Any advice welcome, thanks.

crikey - they don't sound like a very good rescue to me! Have they homechecked you?

I'm also that they would approve you seeing as you are going to be out of the house for so long 4 days per week. What rescue was it?

Yes, I thought it was odd too - it's the National Animal Welfare Trust and I would have thought they could tell if animals were house-trained or not but just said "it's impossible to tell if they're in kennels". I notice on many other rescue websites though (Battersea for eg) that they clearly state whether a dog is house-trained or has been trained in any sort of way. Do you think it's because he's a stray or they just haven't taken any time to get to know him?

They do know I'm going to be out but said it should be OK but if I come home and find the house chewed to bits I'll be a very unhappy bunny indeed! Also if he has any sort of separation anxiety it would be hard on him. What do you reckon I should do, they have offered to come and do a home-check soon. Thanks for the replies.

i would let them do the homecheck and grill them while they are there! Worst thing all around would be for you to get a dog home and it all goes tits up. Bad for dog, bad for you and your children (if you have any) will be devastated. Ask all the questions you want even if you feel like you sound a bit neurotic. Good luck!

Thanks CW. Am going to the rescue again next week to visit Albert (!) so will ask more questions then and make sure he seems friendly and relatively calm (for a Jack Russell) and we're organising the home-check then. Step at a time is best it seems and as you say, don't want to disappoint DD - that would be really hard!

i wouldn't even mentionit to dd too much if it were me. Low key until you decide. You will probably get a gut feelng about it all. it sounds dubious to me

My jrt was 2/3 when i got him from the council pound as a stray. They told me he was house trained. Twelve years down the line he still pleases himself whether he is or not. Also in the kennels he was calm but at home he was a total nutcase pacing backwards and forwards with his claws clicking on the wood floor, still does it but not so quickly these days. However I used to work full time and he was very happy on his own and has never really been any trouble. What you see in the kennel and what youre told is not always what you get. Put some hours of training in and you should be able to iron out any problems. Dont mention it to your dd.

So he's energetic and loves being with people yet you're going to leave him on his own for hours most days of the week

I think you need to consider whether you are acting in his best interests here. Could you not pay someone to at least spend an hour with him at lunchtimes?

He also needs to be cat tested if he's going to live with one. Terriers are notoriously bad with small furries as they are specifically bred for killing them. He may well be fine, but you do need to check before you commit yourself.

Hi Fuzzy, he's been cat-tested and doesn't seem interested but the real test will be when he comes to our home next week to meet the cat! We've visited a few times since I first posted and he's been calm and obedient and a joy to be around. I know that until we bring him home though we won't have much idea of how he's going to behave.

As to getting a dog and then leaving him on his own for hours? I work four days a week and he'll never be alone for longer than 6 hours and I'll be able to come home most days at lunch time to let him out. It amazes me how anyone can have a dog these days, apart from those fortunate enough to be able to stay at home all day and rely on someone else to support them financially. It's absolutely not an issue with the rescue, they feel he'll be fine being left for that amount of time. Are you saying, if you work, even if it's part-time, don't get a dog? I know plenty of people who work and have happy, contented dogs.