I've found the perfect rescue dog!

[GinAndOnIt]

Everything we have been keeping a look out for finally appeared on the Black Retriever X rescue page over the weekend. He is lovely!

He is also very popular so I'm not convinced he will become ours, and although disappointed, I'm pleased we are no longer looking for the unachievable, and also pleased the rescue have such high interests in their dogs needing new homes.

I hope we get informed if we haven't been chosen to rehome him though, I am frantically checking my phone for updates at the moment!

Why do you need a boy Gin, if you don't mind me asking?

Our current dog is an entire male, and we are generally trying to find a young dog who may not have been spayed yet, which would be an utter nightmare (and would be unlikely to find a rescue that would allow it, too). We also don't have any experience of bitches, and our current dog has lived with other males but never a female, so we were sort of thinking we'd be better going with what we know!

I would be inclined to get a 2+ year old that has been neutered in your situation personally as it will be out of the lunatic teenager stage and easier to settle in.

Ah fair enough - agree an unsprayed female could be doable, but a bit of a nightmare..
So either a boy or a slightly older spayed female. Will keep an eye out

Our only concern with an older dog (and the reason we originally were looking for puppies) is that we have found it bloody hard work to train GinDog out of his old habits, and into new ones. We also have a bruiser of a cat who would settle better with a young dog who could grow up learning how to be around him, rather than having to teach an older dog he's not for chasing etc. (Again, another problem we had with GinDog, and what felt like a very long time of keeping them separated!)

I've mentioned it previously too, but we are on a farm, and teaching an older dog how to behave on the farm will be a lot more hard work than a dog who's been around the farm vehicles/machinery from day one.

We're not ruling out older dogs, but these are all things to consider, and probably why it's taking a long time to find the right fit! Some things mentioned can be compromised on, of course - its just trying to find the closest to an ideal. I find puppies a hundred times easier to cope with than a dog set in his old ways!

Sounds sensible. Hopefully the perfect pup is just around the corner. I rate the dogs trust very highly and they do get puppies in just you have to get in quickly!

PICS 🙏🏽