Dog search for a rescue

[kamillaw]

We have 3 children ages 2,4,8. Is this a mission impossible to rehome? If yes what is my best bet a resonably priced puppy? I really don't want to pay 1000's at this stage. We have never owned a dog before.
Thanks in advance for any tips!

Ours was a failed dog from Hearing Dogs. He was 2 when he arrived, so fully house trained. At that time you gave Hearing Dogs a donation, and kept the dog.
Rehoming a dog with small children could be a nightmare. Rehomed dogs may have problems which make them unsuitable for families with children. My son was bitten on the face at 2 by a lovely friendly rehomed dog, (not ours) which accounts for my wariness.

I mean this in the best possible way, with you having three young kids especially 2,4 year olds who is the 'puppy' for?
Are you finished your family or could there be another baby comes along ... you know what happens to the poor dog, right?

Why do you want a dog in the mix too?

How much time do you have for giving it daily training and exercise?

There is a reason why Rescues don't rehome to people in your situation and I'm afraid I agree.

If you're a first time dog owner, I really don't think this is the right time to dip your toe in the water. Wait until your youngest is at least 8.

Wow 8! The dog is for all of us. I don't want anymore children. I cannot have anymore children. So no danger to the poor dog there. My neighbour has 3 x dogs and kids and myself are well exposed so it's not some idyllic whim. I'm at home so will walk. Holidays have also been thought through.

Are you ready for another demanding peeing pooing baby puppy ?

If yes what is my best bet a resonably priced puppy? I really don't want to pay 1000's at this stage

I wouldn't be asking how to get a cheap puppy as that worries me that you don't see it as a long term (maybe 15 year) commitment. Hopefully I am wrong and just misinterpreted your post.

What you need to be asking yourself is how much exercise can you commit to every day. How long will the dog be alone for? Do you have the time to train the dog and I don't just mean puppy classes as training should be a lot longer than that? What characteristics of a breed would fit into your lifestyle and household? How are you going to manage the young DC so they give the puppy space? How are you going to manage the puppy when it's in it's bitey nipping jumping up at the DCs stage?

Yes, there are rescues that will rehome to people with young children, provided that they understand the importance of ensuring that the children learn (very quickly) how to behave around dogs and will not disturb the dog when it's resting or eating. And some rescues have puppies too - I know of one that's currently looking after a bitch with puppies with another bitch expecting - and these are brought up in a foster home...

@mistlethrush. Perfect thank you! I'm not after a 'designer dog' I just would like a dig that fits our family and that we can enjoy for many years to come! I've had cats before and have dog sat so am used to pee poo and walks and the kids were fab with the dogs here. I don't partic want a puppy I'm not sure that's best for us!

Have a careful think about how long you want to walk on a daily basis (there can be some variation - ours gets about an hour daily but is quite prepared to be going a lot longer at the weekend) and how active in the house you want it to be... Our 'chosen' dog is very easy - she needs a good walk but then is happy to laze around (in the same room as you mostly) for most of the rest of the time. The one we inherited who is now 11.5 yo has the same walk, then happily destroys a toy for several manic sessions a day... and yaps at anything going past or possibly going past.

Greyhound and lurched rescues are a good place to start for people wanting to rescue who have children as they seem to be less anti child . Greyhounds make lovely pets , don’t require masses of exercise but are happy to have a long walk if that’s what you want to do .

My chosen dog was a lurcher - she's lovely.

I know the RSPCA aren't always popular, but that's where out Staff came from. They are very particular about young children, and whilst they don't outright rule out dog adoption with very young children they will be very cautious about matching a dog that suits your circumstance.

I would avoid any rescue that is overly relaxed about young children. Young children can be rough on a dog mentally as well as physically, you need to think about this.

Have you ever doggy-sat or looked after your neighbours dogs for any period of time?

This is the small foster based rescue I work with. Every dog and every setting is different so we look at every potential home on its own merits. I know we have successfully adopted to families with young children, usually dogs who have been brought up with children but need new homes due to tragic changes in family circumstances.

I foster for the same rescue as Alpaca, and several of my fosters (including a puppy) have gone to homes with young children.

I believe you can rescue with children, but you need to be confident that you know how they will react around dogs....can they understand when a dog needs space/ what will they do if a dog jumps up/ what would they do if a dog stole a favourite toy/ will they whinge about going on walks - these are just the first few things that come to mind.

I have known dogs to be rehomed because they knocked over a toddler once, and dogs banished to live outside because they chewed toys left lying around .There are valid reasons why rescues are extremely cautious about homing dogs with children.

Rescues Like Black Retriever X. I also follow some rescues who help dogs abroad, Wags N Wet Noses and Help Pozega Dogs (both on FB). They do stringent health tests and often have dogs fostered in this country. I fostered two dogs (from two different rescues before I knew the ones above). Both dogs were great. Ex street dogs (which often means they had a family but were then chucked out for no good reason - happens a lot in the Balkans), but socialised very well in the rescues. No issues with them at all except a lot of recall training.

Join relevant FB groups for any rescues, much more up to date than websites. Most easy, family type dogs are reserved before they reach a website anyway. Gives you a good feel for the rescue, their adopters, how they react if an adoption doesn't work out etc.

Thanks I'm looking into RSPCA and have contacted your suggestion alpacalypse. X

If yes what is my best bet a resonably priced puppy

Sorry to state the obvious but the reason why this worries people is that the cost of a puppy is nothing compared to what they actually end up costing you, or could do.

I have a puppy and he is a proper delight but I wouldn’t fancy it with kids as young as yours. It sounds like that’s the conclusion you’re coming to.

Good luck with the rescues

RSPCA is the last place I'd go to, tbh. You need a small rescue which has most of their dogs in a foster home, so used to other dogs, children etc.

I'd be surprised if you're considered by the RSPCA as you have such young children. Many national rescues have a blanket ban under 14ish years old.

Join the FB page for black retriever X rescue - lurk and see how they operate. They are fab. I've supported them for years. They do get dogs that are used to children and they are scrupulous about matching dog to home - AND they give follow up support if needed.

I've had both pups and older rescues with young children. It's doable with the right dog - I had one that didn't work out (direct Rehoming from a friend of a work colleague) basically they had lied and minimised the dog's issues - he injured my elderly cat who had to be PTS . It was a hard lesson to learn. I've had three other dogs that came direct from original owner (one via breeder taking back a dog, one via breed rescue and one I knew personally locally) also two from RSPCA. I've also had pups when the kids were little.

As you might guess, I'm not the House proud type, your children have to learn to shut doors, baby gates etc. And put toys, shoes, school bags, away. Even with an adult dog, hide the TV remotes.

I had dogs before children, so felt pretty confident about dealing with new dogs around children. I know you are used to dogs, but the full time dynamic can be different. I would advise taking your time and doing your homework, because if it doesn't work out it's traumatic for everyone, my kids were 6-9 when we had our failed rescue and they very much remember it (now adults ) one in particular loved that dog but I couldn't risk it, he was huge, powerful and out of control ☹️

Having said that, the two from the RSPCA, where we had no history, have been wonderful little dogs, but with some issues (the RSPCA staff get to know them so take what they say seriously). My current RSPCA mutt was returned to them after his first weekend with his initial adopter - he had a fight with her sister's dog. He loved my elderly retriever, and adores my new young one, but yes, he is reactive with un neutered males and can't be let off lead. OTOH he's fine with the cats, loves children and is a dream in the house. You might want to think about what behaviours you really don't think you could cope with, be honest with the rescues about your lifestyle etc and good luck.

@Catsrus and @fivedogstofeed I knew there had to be more than just me of BRX's helpers and supporters on here! I saw Jem this morning, looks like Lara has got a lovely home fingers crossed. Good luck finding the right dog OP.

Jemima does an amazing job - I was sure she’d end up keeping Lara though, she has a real soft spot for GSD crosses!

For those not familiar with Black Retriever X rescue - they came into being because someone involved in Flatcoat rescue realised that lots of Black Retriever crosses (often golden x lab or collie) were being PTS (in Ireland in particular) because people didn’t want black dogs. The person who runs it is the TV producer who’s programme “pedigree dogs exposed” convinced the BBC to drop crufts - she campaigns tirelessly against breeding to exaggerated show standards that have negative health effects.

Maybe consider a rescue dog from Paphos Cyprus - they have such a hard life sometimes. There are quite a few rescue pages on fb. Most can fly to UK after a home check. Both these are being fostered currently looking for homes but there are all sorts of different dogs and different ages needing homes.