If I only want a rescue dog with no issues, does that mean I dont want a dog enough?

[Branleuse]

I keep thinking about getting a dog. I have cats and kids already. My partner has dogs but we dont live together and he doesnt bring the dogs round often.
Im definitely more of a cat person, but I have had my own dogs in the past who i have loved, including a puppy (never again) i keep thinking a small to medium dog, that is housetrained, good with cats and no major issues would be lovely and would give me exercise. Im in a lot, and there is usually someone around.
Ive looked on rescue sites, and they mostly seem to be either ex breeders, ex problem dogs, massively bouncy adolescent dogs from people with puppy regret. None of which appear to be toilet trained, and most of them wont give to you if you ave kids or cats, so im presuming there is some history of aggression too. And then theres the romanian and spanish street dogs etc, which im tempted by, but a bit put off that you cant meet the dog first, and also how damn hard it is to get any of them to reply to your questions.
Im doing a lot of second guessing myself. Im almost embarrassed to tell a rescue that I want a dog that will slot into family life rather than a massive project. Am I being unrealistic?

I think you have to be prepared that any rescue dog may have issues that aren't immediately evident. Squickdog is a rescue, and whilst they knew that she was a very anxious dog and needed a quiet home, they hadn't been able to assess at the rescue that she is dog reactive, she's very territorial, terrified of strangers and gets distressed after about an hour on her own. Apparently in rescue a lot of dogs just shut down as the environment is so overwhelming so you don't see what they are actually like until they've settled in with you. We are still working on these issues 2 years later and it's unlikely they will ever be 'properly' resolved.

We had absolutely no idea how much it would restrict our lives, and if someone had said to me at the time 'if you get this dog there will be no more holidays abroad, having visitors will be very difficult as it'll be really stressful for her, she won't cope well with daycare so you'll have trouble changing jobs unless you can WFH, and oh, by the way, no more popping out for a couple of drinks after work' I'd have thought twice. For the first year we couldn't leave her alone. At all. As it is, we love her so much that we are really happy to make those sacrifices but I can easily see why someone wouldn't want to and why dog adoptions fail only too often.

I think what I'm saying is that there are no guarantees, and if you get a dog and it turns out to be not quite what you wanted, what will you do then? If you're going to rescue, that dog will already have been through quite a lot, please don't be the person to let it down yet again. You may have to pay for classes, for a behaviourist, put in lots of work into training etc and dogs are returned to rescue all too often when they turn out to be something a bit different to what someone wanted or expected. I've seen it happen repeatedly to a lovely dog at our local rescue, 3 different adoptions failed because people couldn't be bothered to give her time to settle in and try and understand her and work on her issues.

some good advice on this thread and lots to think about. Thankyou

an ex racing greyhound cant go with cats, otherwise I would love one.
Lots of gorgeous dogs out there who cant be homed with cats unfortunately

Heathlands in Hertfordshire - lots of dogs from Ireland, where an awful lot of family pets end up in pounds
Pro Dogs Direct are much more lenient I think about cats and novice owners
Mayhew Animal Home will also keep you on their books until right dog comes along, so not just the ones on the website. Often people do move into rented accommodation which wont allow pets, or just chose the wrong dog for their situation, not necessarily going to mean all the dogs have issues.

The thing is you have to put a lot of work into a puppy to prevent issues arising.

I met someone the other day who had had a Tibetan Terrier from Battersea which was a dream, incredibly loyal and obedient. When that dog died, he wanted another Tibetan, and was astonished to find how stubborn a puppy "without issues" could be...

I also met someone today with a Schnauzer Bichon cross (now aged 3) from Battersea or some other rescue, she said biggest problem was the barking. She didn;t link this with the dog being rescued. Now you can imagine that this could well be the issue with any dog of that breed mix, rescue or otherwise. Or you could say, that is an issue to do with anxiety/reactiveness. But some dogs are barkers, whether they are rescues or not. Not wanting to be left in the day might be a breed characteristic, for example poodles aren't very good at being left I have read (not that most dogs like it much)

As others have said, no dog is without problems, and based on my own experience over the years, I very much believe that rescue dogs with "problems" are very likely to be heavily influenced by their owners (seeing immediate family, relatives and friends with a succession of rescue dogs turning out with the same temperament and behaviours - good or bad).

Have a look at the dogs that are looking for homes from the Cinnamon Trust. They are looking for new homes because their owners are no longer able to look after them. They will be loved family pets and often from quieter homes with older people.

There's ex racing greyhounds & lurchers available that can live with cats, some rescues just don't have a stunt cat available for testing & others just seem to write off all sighthounds. I've done home checks for quite a few that have successfully adopted.

Its really about the individual dog (& cat involved) I know a top class racer that went to live with a houseful of cats. Prey drive often varies between indoors & out, some dogs may have very little drive but many dogs that live with cats will still hunt & even chase non-family cats, it's not breed specific.

im writing off sighthounds. Im not putting my cats or my neighbours cats at unnecessary risk thanks. If I was going to get an overlooked breed, id be happier with a staffie than something like a greyhound or saluki etc even though I think theyre adorable

I don't always think it's useful to think of it in terms of dogs that have issues and dogs that don't. Whilst there are some deeply damaged dogs out there, for the most part dogs just have a range of behaviours.

Some of those behaviours you will like.
Some you will not feel anything about.
Some you will dislike.
Some you may not be able to live with at all.

And what fits into each category will vary between us. For example, Battendog will go and fetch a shoe into the living room when he wants to play. I find this funny. I laugh, play with him and he keeps doing it.

However, I was talking to a friend recently and she commented how 'naughty' he was for doing it. It is a behaviour she does not like. If he were her dog, no doubt she would take steps to decrease him doing that (hide the shoes, not reward him with attention or play).

That's a benign example but the principle is the same regardless. I've met quite a few people for whom their dog barking at other dogs is just not an issue. Their lives do not really require a social dog and so the barking occasions cause no stress to them. For many people it would be a big problem.

The advice on here is sound - just be clear what behaviours you absolutely cannot cope with. Tweaking the rest is the good bit and often there are ways to tweak them that are fun for you both.

That's funny miss I just don't mind the shoe thing either. But my shoes aren't very smart it must be said...

Me neither mostly mine are worn and muddy - which makes them rather poor candidates to be in the lounge...

Still, he is too funny when the idea occurs to him. He turns tail and rushes out and back in with a shoe. He looks so pleased with himself for thinking of it!

I'd actually visit a rescue and talk to them, they tend to know the dogs and will be able to advise according to your situation. Some will let you have trial stays where you bring one home for a night or take it out for the day, it can be really helpful to get a gage on the dog and your situation.