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The doghouse

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Original poster

Rescue or puppy?

91 replies

Lovemusic33 · 09/06/2019 16:14

Sorry, posting again. If you haven’t seen my other threads..I lost my dog almost 2 weeks ago (pts), the house isn’t the same without a dog so we would like to get another. I have been in contact will local rescues but can’t find a suitable dog. The problem being that not many of them are cat friendly and quite a few are not dog friendly. We have a cat who is in the house 75% of the time, we don’t have another dog but I have friends with dogs and would also like to be able to camp with the dog so it’s important they get on with other dogs.
One of the rescues suggested a dog but I didn’t feel it was what I was looking for.

I’m not really keen on going through the puppy stage again but on the other hand it means the dog can be trained to suit our needs. We have puppy training classes near by which we could attend, I’m just not keen on the house training, the chewing etc.. etc..

Also unsure what breed would suit us. It’s just me and 2 teens so will be mainly me looking after it. I walk a lot, we live in the countryside, we have a big garden. Whilst out today I saw a lot of dogs and the ones that caught my eye were springer spaniels, I grew up with a springer and owned when when I was younger so I know they are high energy dogs and can be slightly crazy but they also seem to be obedient and great off the lead.

Now I notice the problem of trying find a puppy, there don’t seem to be as many about due to new breeding rules and the prices seem to have tripled since I last bought one (around £1000 for a puppy), is this purely because of the new rules of micro chipping etc?

So I guess my question is....do we wait for a suitable dog from a rescue or do we buy a puppy?

OP posts:
steppemum · 12/06/2019 12:52

are you accessible to swindon?
We have a local rescue that is much easier than that! All the dogs are on-line.
SN dogs.

they do usually do a house visit, but might be happy with photos/video so show your garden is secure etc. Their application form is really simple

Original poster
Lovemusic33 · 12/06/2019 14:55

steppmum I am in contact with a rescue who have dogs in foster care in Swindon, maybe the same one. It’s still over 2 hours drive from me. I just worry if something goes wrong and if I need to return the dog (not very likely). I would rather find a rescue that’s local so I can do several visits before adopting.

OP posts:
Fucksandflowers · 13/06/2019 16:30

Personally, I would go for a (well bred, from excellent temperament parents) puppy.

I’m not surprised a lot of rescue dogs are cat/dog aggressive as although there will undoubtedly be problem free dogs in there through evictions, marriage break ups etc I think a significant proportion of dogs will be in there because of a behavioural problem and dog aggression is really common and as predatory animals I would argue aswell that most dogs are not ‘cat safe’ away from their ‘own’ accepted family cat.

The overwhelming majority of dogs will try to chase cats and some will follow through.

On springer spaniels, I personally really dislike them.
Working cockers I like, but show cockers and springers I don’t trust.
I’ve met far too many of them with an aggressive temperament.

Jojobythesea · 13/06/2019 17:43

Hi. So sorry for your loss. We are in the SW too and really wanted to rescue and would've traveled within reason. Just so difficult to adopt a rescue dog imho. We have two boys over the age of 11 and no other pets but every time we were not suitable for the dog or vice versa. Very frustrating. We have ended up buying a lovely Labrador from Wales and she is a delight. Good luck. I really hope you can get a rescue dog but it is a difficult process in my experience. Even more so if you work. Even part time as I do.

Original poster
Lovemusic33 · 13/06/2019 18:08

Jojo it is hard. The rescue still hasn’t contacted me about the GSD x, I have contacted several others today but I’m finding it impossible to find a dog that is cat safe. If I don’t here back from any soon I think we will end up getting a puppy.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 13/06/2019 19:03

A puppy won’t naturally be cat safe and you may have to wait months to get one from a reputable breeder.
Have you visited any rescue centres?

Original poster
Lovemusic33 · 13/06/2019 19:53

wolf there’s no rescue centres here, all dogs are in foster homes apart from RSPCA but they only have a few dogs at the moment.

I’m looking for a cross breed, I don’t want a pure bred pup and that seems to be the problem as there are not many about. The for sale pages are just full of frenchies at the moment as they seem to be the “in dog”, other than that it’s all spaniels and collies around here. I would love a staffie x, lab x or even a Lurcher.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 13/06/2019 20:01

Unfortunately you may have to wait or travel. I did both! Blush

Original poster
Lovemusic33 · 13/06/2019 21:38

I have a possible viewing for the gsd x at the weekend but now I have found a lovely lurcher who’s extremely laid back and can view him at the weekend too. 2 totally different dogs. The laid back lurcher is probably going to suit us more as we want to be able to take the dog camping with us, the GSD x is more bouncy and playful. Apparently both are ok with cats.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 13/06/2019 22:37

I’d clarify what ok with cats means. Walked past one in a cat carrier or lived with one in a foster home. Good luck.

Original poster
Lovemusic33 · 14/06/2019 07:23

The GSD x has been cat tested in foster but this worries me as most cats in foster homes are pretty dog savvy (my cat only has experience with a old staffie who he grew up with). Also this dog is quite playful.
The lurcher has always lived with cats (and chickens) but the fact he’s a lurcher worries me he might suddenly chase. He’s a very quite dog and sleeps a lot so would be ideal.

I have been awake all night trying to decide what to do. The GSD is at a rescue, the lurcher is a private add (family looking to regime as their other dog is attacking him).

OP posts:
Original poster
Lovemusic33 · 14/06/2019 07:24

This is the lurcher..
I have kind of fallen in love with him.

OP posts:
Fucksandflowers · 14/06/2019 08:23

the lurcher is a private add (family looking to regime as their other dog is attacking him)

Be very careful and take what they say with a massive pinch of salt.
Private rehomes often, not always, lie about the real issue.

Original poster
Lovemusic33 · 14/06/2019 11:05

Fuck yes, I am wary, looks like they have sold him to someone anyone, probably without doing a home check, poor dog Sad. I will wait for the call about the GSD x, she was being viewed by a family this morning so probably won’t get her either.

OP posts:
Keepaddingpets · 14/06/2019 16:30

Have a look at Spaniel Aid uk.

Floralnomad · 14/06/2019 16:36

How was your cat with your other dog ?

Original poster
Lovemusic33 · 14/06/2019 17:35

My dog and cat were best friends Sad, they shared a bed. When ever I have had other dogs in the house the cat hides. We did have another dog for a while and he did eventually except him but we got him as a pup too.

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 14/06/2019 21:19

It was the other dog that I was referring to as if I recall he was quite a handful which is why you rehomed him but if your cat was ok with him I would imagine it would be ok with any dog that is deemed cat safe . Personally I wouldn’t trust any adult lurcher or terrier type with a cat unless it had been bought up with it .

Original poster
Lovemusic33 · 14/06/2019 21:23

The other dog was a handful (and very large), the cat was ok with him but took a while to trust him enough to stay in the room with him. My cats quite a large boy but since being barked at by a friends husky he seems very wary of dogs.

We are looking at the GSD x lab tomorrow (she’s more lab than GSD and isn’t that large). I think if/when we get a new dog I will be using a stair gate for a few weeks so the cat can get away from the dog if it needs too.

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 14/06/2019 21:54

Sounds like a plan .

Cherrypies · 15/06/2019 17:02

Have you looked on Twitter, there are a few rescue places on there. If you like golden retreivers, there is second chance goldens, they do have other dogs too, and puppies at the moment. They rescue and bring over here to their shelter.
There is also gsd rescue, who have a few centre's around the country.
They are run in the usual way, with home checks etc, just use twitter to get a wider audience for available dogs.
Good luck

onemorecakeplease · 15/06/2019 17:32

Have a look at animal house rescue on FB

We rescued a dog from them last week and Altho they are based in Birmingham they arranged ddog to be brought up to Scotland.

And she's amazing. All of their dogs are in foster; no kennels. So they know if they are cat/dog/child friendly

Definitely worth looking at them

Original poster
Lovemusic33 · 15/06/2019 20:24

Just been to view the GSD x and she’s coming home tomorrow or Monday. She’s lovely, very quite and gentle for her size. I think she has a bit of growing to do as her paws still look too big for her body so I think she’s younger then they estimated. We are a tiny bit excited 😁

OP posts:
Cherrypies · 15/06/2019 20:57

Ah, fantastic news
Please can we have a picure when you can.

onemorecakeplease · 15/06/2019 21:40

Aww awesome!!! Pic please....