possible puppies?

[willoughboobs]

i have a beautiful lhasa apso who is nearly 3yo and has she has just been in season so we've paid for a stud to mat her with for her first time
they was stuck for 20minutes, the studs owners said everything went perfect and they doubt she wont have caught. my dm and df also lhasa apso breeders think the same but I'm not to sure does anyone else think her chances are good just from being stuck once?

[LadyTurmoil]

Can add a few more: Heathlands in Hertfordshire, Four Paws, Hope Rescue, Wagtails Rescue (Essex), South East Dog Rescue, Oldies Club, Many Tears, Pro Dogs Direct (South East England), Hillside Animal Sanctuary (Norfolk), Ravenswood Dog Rescue, Dog Friends, Bath Dogs and Cats Home, Black Retriever Rescue, Mayflower Animal Sanctuary, you can google Dogpages and get a list of rescues in your particular part of the country. I found all these through Google, most of them have Facebook pages as well.

If you are willing to rescue a dog from abroad there are so many rescues operating in Spain like SOS Animals UK, RSDR in Bulgaria, Action Aid for Animals in Romania, Sirius Dog Sanctuary and Desperate Greekies as well as rescues in Cyprus - they are all helping to home dogs in UK and other European countries. They often have puppies (as do all the UK rescues) because of IRRESPONSIBLE breeders and owners who don't spay their dogs.

Thousands and thousands of dogs all looking for homes, can you really say it's impossible to find a rescue dog?

[MagicLlama]

Yes but most people dont bother. I dont know why that it - I assume that really its because a cute puppy for a couple of hundred pounds seems like a better option than jumping through all of the hoops a rescue has.

Buying a dog needs to be harder, it needs to be more thought out by people buying them, and breeding needs to become more regulated. Hopefully this compulsory microchipping will help - although it hasn't been brilliant with horses, but one can hope.

And it doesn't surprise me in the slightest that the KC were campaigning against better regulation. Them and the RSPCA are on my list of self serving organisations to try and have as little to do with as possible, but thats a whole other thread.

[Scuttlebutter]

I 've just typed the words "Labrador Rescue" into Google. Amazingly, there are labrador rescues all over the UK, and many which are national as well. Most rescues can also arrange for homechecks/transport etc.

Just on the first page of my Google search there were several dedicated lab rescues based in the SE of England.

[Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme]

Saying that, I can't find it now. I also can't find a local lab rescue but will keep looking.

Have suggested to dh about having a rescue dog. He said no. He wants a well bred dog that he knows and can train.

I'm sure if we looked hard enough we could find a nice lab from a rescue somewhere. Would be a lot cheaper too.

[Scuttlebutter]

I'll say it again - regulation of breeders IS coming in Wales from May. I was at (yet another) meeting last week with Welsh Govt officials - Wales has a road map for dog welfare which started with banning shock collars, will be having compulsory chipping, dog breeding regs and the latest thing - Control of Dogs looking at dog behaviour and training. For the last three of these, I've been very closely involved with the preliminary work - the grind of meetings, working parties etc (all done on a voluntary basis by rescue volunteers). Funnily enough, breeders were nowhere to be seen, except for the dog breeding regs, when they mounted a furious campaign to water down the very modest set of proposals that the Welsh Government initially proposed. Remember that - it's "hobby breeders" and the KC who oppose the sort of regulation that governs idiot BYBs and large scale puppy farmers.

And rescues already do plenty. For anyone who is thinking about dog ownership, there are masses of sources of information especially these days with the internet. Every rescue I know has at least a website, a Facebook page, most have Twitter. The Dogs Trust have a whole social media department because they know how important it is. Dogs Trust and RSPCA do TV ads. I regularly hear Clarissa from DT on national media e.g. R4. Rescues do education work, the Retired Greyhound Trust take out full page ads in the Daily Telegraph FFS. Magazines like Dogs Today promote rescue dogs every month. All the time, all over the country, small rescues run events, meet n greets, dog shows, walks, picnics, talks to groups, visits to Brownies and a multitude of other events/activities.
Of course there is always more to do but most rescues are run on a shoestring by committed volunteers who are also busy caring for the dogs they look after.

And like Dooin, I am also sceptical of the "we can't find anything that isn't a staffie" claims. Virtually every breed has its own rescue, and again the wonders of the internet mean that if, say, you wanted a cocker you could register with CAESSR very easily after two mouse clicks.

[needastrongone]

Spicy - anyway, so much for pedigree status. He ain't never going to win a beauty contest now with the state of his eye!!!

[Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme]

TantrumsAndBalloons I hope your comment about myths wasn't aimed at me! The website was Norfolk Rescue I think and that's exactly what it said! They wouldn't rehome to young families or working homes! I couldn't give a shit if you disagree, I do too, but that's what it said.

If however there is a Labrador rescue I would gladly take a look. A rescue centre dedicated to a working breed would obviously rehome with a working family.

I have to say, my old boy is at his most deliriously happy when we head off up the farm in shooting season. He loves his work, it is where he is happiest and when he does his ashes will be spread round the woods and fields where he is at his most demented excited happiness

I would like to think that my next dog gets as much enjoyment from being with us and if I could provide that to a rescue dog that would be lovely.

[tabulahrasa]

Well a good breeder will want to meet a whole family too - quite often before the bitch has even been mated...it'd be quicker and easier to go to a rescue usually tbh.

I would imagine they wanted to meet everybody to see if they had anything suitable...how would they know from a phone call?

[D0oinMeCleanin]

Yes, hundreds

Even GRACE for retired greyhounds has some

They're all over the country

There's some over here too

[needastrongone]

Er no Spicy, fair point

There are a few decent breeders out there if you spend time researching, but for our next dog, I understand the rescue predicament better and would be rather more belligerent (if that's the right word) about keeping at this route.

We live near a large rescue, you really do gave to make your face known as they have so many window shoppers, this may come over as unhelpful if you don't know this, which I do know!

[SpicyPear]

Grunzle the problem is that the type of dog you were looking for are rehomed very quickly. They often wont get on the website as someone who could be bothered to take their family for an interview to get "on the books" and arrange a home check will have been called about them as soon as they arrived. That's how I got my 9 week old puppy and he could have gone to anyone with children. The entire litter had homes within an afternoon. You cannot just go out and pick up a responsibly bred pup, you have to research and meet breeders, then be interviewed and go on a list. I really don't see how that is any less effort than registering with a handful of rescues and waiting.

[SpicyPear]

needa I don't think we actually disagree too much. I prefer to take rescue dogs and am very pleased to hear that you will consider it next time but I respect the effort you went to in selecting a responsible breeder. I know you're trying to give OP the benefit of the doubt but look at it like this, can you imagine your breeder posting that? That's what is the problem here and got everyone so riled.

[needastrongone]

I went to see a rescue dog that was in foster care. I had been home checked and interviewed. I spent over two hours with the dog, I hit it off with both fosterer and dog tbh.

Later that day, the coordinator phoned and said he was mine. The fosterer also phoned to say she was delighted with the forever home the dog would get. I was overjoyed.

An hour later, the coordinator called to say that someone the rescue managers dh worked with was looking for this particular breed and they had decided to give the dog to them as a favour. I was gutted.

One bad experience shouldn't have put be off though I readily admit. Kids hankered for a puppy and I started to research this more.

I do know our dog will be loved regardless of origin!

[Grunzlewheek]

Dogs Trust, 3 nearest rescue centres, small female 2 years or younger.........none !

[Grunzlewheek]

3 large rescue centres. Phoned another who insisted all members of the family attended an interview before they would even tell me if they had anything suitable. I couldn't ask DH to take time off work without knowing if they even had a suitable dog.
As for Terrier lady, ok so maybe she was having a bad day, but why would you want to risk putting off someone who might help ?

I'm not trying to start an argument I am just explaining why people don't go to rescue centres.

Just done a check on RSPCA site, 5 young bitches in whole country, 2 must be only dogs...................hundreds ?

[needastrongone]

Our puppy came from a reputable breeder. Waiting list, we were reserve but litter was large. Interview. Bitch bred once to gain a puppy themselves, already spayed. Mother and grandmother owned. Sire chosen for size, temperament and conformity. All health checks complete. Hip scores very low. Lifetime support. Home boarding for life. Emailed pictures and updates of puppies at least twice a week. microchipped. Even now, reminders from 'mummy' to send more photos. Sire available to view.

Emergency c'section meant breeder fed puppies, all 13 at two hourly intervals until mum could cope with the demands of such a large litter.

All that being said, I wish I had researched rescues more, I believed a few myths and didn't pursue two particular avenues of enquiry as rigorously as I ought to have done. . Also did have one difficult rescue experience which was absolutely genuine.

I know better for next time.

Hope all the above re breeder applies here, that's all.

[D0oinMeCleanin]

Grunzle, I am sorry but I don't believe you did try. I could find hundreds, if not thousands of small, young bitches in rescue in just an hour. Maybe one or two rescues had none, but I don't believe for a second that none did. As for the scary lady, are so you childish that you would believe all rescuers are exactly the same as one another? I know many rescue workers, some can be abrupt when they've had a day full of calls from the public demanding that their dog be collected that day at the rescues expense because they're moving tomorrow and will have the dog pts otherwise, but mostly they are lovely and will bend over backwards to help you.

[idirdog]

Battersea is not a rescue centre it is a dog pound and puts down hundreds of dogs each year.

[Empress77]

And Im sure Ive seen Canine Defence league TV adverts showing plenty of interesting dogs needing homes! And my local paper shows dogs needing homes at the RSPCA so Im sure they must work to get their dogs out there. And they all have websites with plenty of info & clearly showing dogs that are suitable for children etc. People getting a dog should do some research (another major problem of course is that people dont-and you have collies with behavioural issues cos they live in a flat etc!).
I think rescue centres do amazing work. And I would say its far easier to adopt with the support of one, including training from a behaviouralist and one thats likely to be toilet trained already etc, than picking up a puppy and having to go through toilet training etc.

[idirdog]

littlewhitebag we should be against breeding until the rescue issue has been controlled.

Dogs are being breed without health tests by byb and being given a life of hell due to peoples ignorance. The OP is just typically of people who think they have a right to breed their dogs for friends and family.

The reality is that dogs are being destroyed in their 1000's each day because of overbreeding.

There should be no support for BYB at all ever - that is the dog house being supportive for the rights of the dogs.

[Grunzlewheek]

There needs to be some kind or regulation on breeding but rescue centres are very off putting.

My first 2 dogs came from Battersea dogs home (many years ago) but last time I tried to get a dog from a rescue centre (yes we went to several) if I had wanted a middle aged big male there were hundreds to choose from, the only small female we found had behavioural problems and had been returned twice. I also rang the local terrier rescue and the woman was so scary I would never dare to contact an organisation like that again !

[idirdog]

MagicLlama get real! If people are interested in getting a dog it is not a lot to expect a very minimal amount of research eg look at rescue website

Rescue centres are fit to bursting and dealing with everyday issues, generally with money raised from charity there is not a lot of time left, or money for promoting what people can find out. If they can't be arsed to find out then have they the time for a dog.

[Empress77]

Can I also make the point that it is easy to adopt from breed specific rescues....OP could your friends and family not perhaps consider adopting those in need of a home already and still have the exact breed they want - www.lhasaapsorescue.org.uk/rescuers/index.htm

Im a vet nurse and it is so so dismaying and heartbreaking the numbers of: dogs owners want killed because they are too much for them now/dont fit with the new lifestyle/has snapped/a million other excuses....; dogs at death door/having to be euthaniased due to having a pyometra that would have been preventable by spaying ; puppies dead after a ceaser ; pedigrees having to be euthanaised due to health defect that is due to the breed.

I really really wish people would not breed anymore, I cant understand how anyone could think it a sensible plan, its a tragedy for another dog that could have had a home and been a great pet. And its very likely to be a tragedy for the pup itself when the new family tire of it after a year and it ends up in the pound too. And its a tragedy for the poor Mum if she doesnt get spayed after the enforced breeding and ends up with death by pyometra.

Please reconsider breeding from her if she hasnt got pregnant and please look at adopting instead.

[MagicLlama]

Scuttlebutter but lots of people do think that about rescues. They do think that they wont be considered because of their kids / work / garden / location whatever. They do think that there is no "point" going to a rescue because it only has staffies, or the dogs are dangerous, or there is no puppies. Yes people have the wrong misconceptions, but I think rescues could do more to promote the fact that that is not the case.

Sadly, many people dont even consider a rescue pup because they a) dont think they are suitable b) dont want the hassle c) think the dogs are more likely to be dangerous / unsafe.

I dont want to rescue bash - I think rescues do brilliant work, and 2 of my dogs are rescues themselves, but I just think the myths about rescues need to torn apart so that the general public consider getting a dog from there and that the rescues have a part to play a part in that.

There also needs to be far more legislation around owning & breeding dogs but I suspect its not very high on the governments priority list so I dont hold out any hope there.

[SpicyPear]

I draw the line at supporting someone in this type of breeding and feela responsibilty to make the points so that hopefully OP will reconsider.

I think the Doghouse is supportive and many of us bite our tongues and try to help when people have clearly been irresponsible in getting a dog, but this type of breeding crosses a line and we'd be part of the problem if we didn't say something.