Has anybody had a good experience with a rescue dog?

[AMockingbirdCalledScout]

We were planning to buy a Pomeranian from a breeder.
However, in our local rescue a pair of dogs have been giving me heart eyes and I'm falling in love. Their background is that apparently an old lady passed away leaving her Pomeranian and Westie x Lhasa Apso, 3 years old and 4 months respectively. No family members wanted the dogs, so they sent them to the local rescue . They would prefer them to be rehomed together but they can be rehomed separately. I've never rescued before because our Alaskan Klee Kai, Bear and Finnish Lapphund, Leo are fairly rare dogs and we had been on lists for years before we got our pups. DH thinks we should go for it and so do I but I just want some reassurance that people get rescue dogs and are better for it. My sister is horrified that we are planning on rehoming both (can't bear to pass them both up and we did want a puppy) but oh well, her pugs and basset hound annoy me anyway.
Pictures would be lovely!
Btw, they're called Phoebe and Millie.
The Pom's Phoebe and the cross is Millie.

I haven't personally but bffs dsis, bffs dparents and a few good friends have. One dog is a GS cross, another is a collie cross, another was an old (14yo?) Golden retriever, and another is a lab x rottie. The collie cross was only 18 mo and had already had 3 homes 😔. Had a few issues at first about her personal space and a fear of men (aside from bffs df) but she's delightful now. Just needed some time and patience to build up trust again. I occasionally dogsat overnight for them and she used to get on my bed and cuddle in for the night. The lab rottie cross guarded me and my ds like it was his job. If I bfd at their house, he would come sit with me. So sweet.
Do it. You'll get so much love back.

All of my dogs (3 Lurchers) are rescue dogs. They are fantastic dogs, so loving and happy. Don't buy from breeders, give rescues a chance. They just want to be loved and secure.

We lost our amazing rescue after 15 years this year she was scared only husband or don allowed near her for first 6 weeks she was psychological damaged but my god we loved her and if i see her breed now 3 months later i just bawl like a baby go for it you will be giving them an amazing chance .

Just to point out she was about 18 months when we had her off a farm skinny as hell and not cared about

My last two dogs have both been rescues. Staffie x beagle who we had until he was 16, and then a pure Staffie who lived to be 13. Both amazing lovely dogs.

In rented accommodation at the moment but as soon as me and dp get our own place I will be straight to the local rescue.

Aside from my beagle, the greatest dog I've ever had was a rescue. He was a kelpie/terrier/mutt basically. I still miss my Desmond dog.

I've never had a negative rescue experience. I won't get another dog from a breeder, because there are some wonderful dogs sitting in shelters just waiting for a home. I still feel bad that my beagle and border collie came from a breeder, but there's nothing I can do about that now. I can only make more ethical choices in the future.

All three of my dogs were rescues. First was from an actual rescue organisation, a pup of about 4 months, terrier cross of some sort. Had him till 17 and he was brilliant all the way through (until near the end, when he became incontinent, but that's forgivable in such an old boy) even with small boistrous toddlers.

Second dog was a bitch a friend found running loose on a rural bit of main road. It was before the days when everyone had the internet, so she'd notified the relevant authorities but hadn't taken her to a shelter because of the risk of euthanasia. Her dh wouldn't let her add the dog to their existing menagerie, so we took her on. She was about 18 months old, and lived til she was about 16/17. She was another mongrel, with beagley looks and colouration, accustomed to indoor living and housetrained already. Great with everyone, and had the most amazing howl - she sounded like the Hound of the Baskervilles, though she was only about 15" at the shoulder!

Third was a Border Collie who was advertised as "free to good home" on a card in the vets when we went to pick up the ashes of dog no 1. She'd been bred for working, but failed sheepdog training, and had just turned 3 yo when we took her. She settled amazingly well into family life, having never been in a house - she was kennelled outdoors before coming to us. I don't remember housetraining her specifically, she just seemed to know! Again, she was lovely with everyone (apart from cats, who terrified her) all the way from babies to old ladies, and died last year at 17.

Each of these dogs had their own characters and personalities, each had minor irritations about them, each was very much loved.

(And they were all very healthy till very old age... )

My rescue dog chose me.

I'm on my seventh rescue dog so you can assume good experiences!
Issues as well, of course, but every one of these dogs has enriched my life more than I can say.

I've fostered 2 rescue dogs and they were great! Came straight into the house, no issues at all except for needing recall training (but any dog would).

It's more important to check out the rescue, almost more than the dog. Some rescues are better than others and will do everything to make sure the dog is suited to you and your family, others not so much. I like ones who have their dogs fostered, so that they can be assessed in family homes, who will cat test if you ask them. Following a rescue on their FB groups is a good way of getting a feel for how they do things.

Heathlands Animal Rescue
Help Pozega Dogs
Balkan Underdogs
Black Retriever X
Silver Fox Dog Rescue
Pro Dogs Direct

Definitely rescue those dogs! I'd never buy from a breeder. My rescue collie died 2 years ago and changed my life. She was an sspca abuse case with issues and I was her 3rd home but she was the best dog ever. Despite being warned she was vicious, I rehomed her and she was the gentlest soul. She qualified as a therapy dog and visited an old folks home. But the kindest thing she did was she rescued me when I didn't know I needed it. She made me smile everyday and made me get out even when I was too depressed and scared to leave the house. She touched the lives of so many and I'm in tears remembering her. So please, take a chance on these dogs. You won't regret it! Also, I'm loving the stories and pictures of all the lovely rescues on here

My rescue dog is a greyhound x. I love her beyond measure and she has enhanced my life immeasurably. 💗 I have even put the rescue organisation in my will.

I can't encourage rescuing enough.

(I'd love to post a photo as she is super photogenic, but she's quite distinctive and I don't want to out myself!)

Loads we had one dog she was rescued from a dog shelter well behaved but was scared of the dark dog two rescued from a divorcing couple dad said we will take a look at her see if we can find her a home and we kept her she was nervous around young children/babies preferred to leave the room but great apart from that

I went to rescue a cat and came home with our enormous scruffy furry mongrel! He just looked so sad to be in kennels and snuggled right in when I asked to walk him that we couldn't leave him there. We had him nearly 16 years
Just starting to consider rescuing again...

Currently cuddled up to our gorgeous mutt. She was so shy to begin with sat in the garden for 4 hours before she came in - the garden is still her safe space of the kids ha e too many/too loud friends over. But we adore her - nothing beats that wagging tail and kisses as you walk in the door or come downstairs in the morning.

WE had a rescue Border terrier as children and she was wonderful. We had her for 14 years

We got out mixed terrier mutt 4 years ago when she was 9 months. Was great not having to do the puppy training. Her recall wasn't great at first but we got a trainer and got it sorted quickly. She's such a great family dog, great with children, intelligent and makes us all laugh a lot and we wouldn't be without her. Go for it

My dog is half Pyrenees, part golden part husky and she came up on a huge truck from Kentucky with 80 other dogs.

Her Mother had been killed and cut open and her six live pups stuffed inside her and dumped on a highway. ().

She had a really traumatic journey to the other side of the States, it took a few days and when we got her she was in a state. She was really quiet and lethargic for a month or so and I knew something was wrong. We took her to the vet who could feel a mass, did an ultrasound and saw that one of her kidneys was 80 times the size it should be so they took it out. (Larger than a cows, I saw it, have a picture of anyone has a strong stomach!).

They think she got an infected kidney from either lack of water on the drive up or being hit/kicked.

So she cost us a fair bit but we all adore her. I can't imagine life without her. Ds and her are inseparable.

Yes. My almost six year cold springer collie cross has been with us for three years. He did have trust issues at cfirst and didn't get walks at all but now is pretty chilled and very looting band happy.

Yes. My almost six year cold springer collie cross has been with us for three years. He did have trust issues at cfirst and didn't get walks at all but now is pretty chilled and very looting band happy.

Loving and happy lol

Got my lad when he was 18 months old. He turns 10 in June.

He's an incorrigible food thief and has a variable recall, but honestly, he's better behaved then a great many dogs I know that were bought as puppies!

My rescue collie with my daughter. She is a rock solid dog who loves her family very much.

And my rescue spaniel, he had a really rough start and has probably been treated less than kindly by humans in the past but he loves everyone he meets. Abandoned as a young puppy and left to fend for himself, he had more homes by the time he was 7 months than most dogs have in a life time but he has never put a foot wrong now he is in his home for life.

Yes, I rescued through Helen McGarry Cyprus street dogs. Dead easy and she gives full back up.

So rewarding to rescue, the amount of idiots who ask me in England what designer breed she is and where they can buy one though

Just been burying a bone with her nose in this photo.

I have two rescue greyhounds, couldn't wish for nicer dogs that are better suited to my family. I would always choose rescue over buying a puppy for the reasons above, plus the rescue will know about the dogs temperament and what it can/can't cope with. My two were introduced to me by the rescue but they most definitely chose me themselves!

We rescued a 15 month old Jack Russell crossbreed last summer in similar circumstances, her owner had had a stroke and was going into sheltered housing and couldn't take her. She's the most fantastic, loving dog and fitted in with the family immediately and is brilliant with our three children and all their friends. She's our first family dog and I'd never had a dog before, though my husband had growing up, but she's been so easy and just loves everyone and likewise everyone who meets her loves her! If you do decide to do it I really hope it works out for you. Good luck!