Where to get a rescue dog when you have young kids?

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We really want to get a dog and I’d love to adopt a rescue (don’t really want to have to deal with a puppy and would like to give a rescue dog a loving home).

We have a 4 and 7 year old and I work 4 days a week. I’m out the house for 8 hours but we’d get a dog walker.

All the rescue centres I’ve looked at won’t rehome if you have primary aged kids and and a lot say the dogs shouldn’t be left alone for more than an hour or 2.

Does anyone know any rescue centres that would let us adopt? We’re in the North West.

@DogInATent

From their perspective, they didn’t want the dogs to meet loads of strangers to then be removed from his or her new home again and put in a vicious cycle. Their thinking is that if they do the assessment, it’s in the dogs best interest because then it’s known which home s/he is suited to or more importantly not suited to.

They didn’t want the dogs to be continually disturbed with new faces all the time, being disrupted. They make that clear on the website - if you don’t like it, go elsewhere.

It worked for us because we had a very specific situation that needed checking first. It was set up & the dogs reaction was recorded & sent to us & we viewed it. It was perfect for us.

Had that assessment not been done, we wouldn’t have each other. Like I said in my earlier post, we have completed each other.

Different strokes work for different folks.

Don’t get a rescue dog!
First, you don’t have a lifestyle for a rescue dog. Rescue dogs need a primary carer who will bond with them and spend most of the day and night with them. They cannot mentally handle being left alone for hours and hours every day except for a dog walker. Too, they may not be socialised enough to handle dog walkers because dog walkers often take up to four dogs out at once.

Secondly, They are often suffering and traumatised and liable to be afraid of children or bite/maul them. That’s why most rescue dog charities will not adopt to families with primary aged children or toddlers. Rescue dogs are not usually suitable for families with small children. At least not straight from the shelter. Maybe after being with another owner who had loved and cared for them for years. But not straight out the shelter.

Well said Plan. I have 3 rescue dogs and whilst they all have particular - or even peculiar - needs, they all share the same basic requirement of wanting to be with DH or me all the time. And I mean ALL the time.

Thank you medievalist. The same with our rescue dogs. They are pack animals and so a traumatised dog, once it’s decided you are it’s pack and it is safe with you, will get very anxious and jumpy when separated from you (it’s new pack).
We have one that will panic whenever anyone approaches with a hoodie or a coat with the hood up. It takes time to find out their triggers and lots of reassurance and love to get them to relax. The other dog has a floppy ear but it took almost a year before she relaxed enough for her floppy ear to show...she had been so tense the entire year her ears were stiff- wondering if this was her forever home or another foster stop.

Personally I feel you should wait until the children are older and you have more time to be with the dog

This is an easy one. Just rehome from the last person on the Doghouse who took on a rescue with young children, no time for the dog and entirely unrealistic expectations, who is now desperate to get rid of their mistake. If you can’t be bothered to click in a thread from the last day, just wait a few hours and a new one will pop up.

Like PP have said you're not in the position to get a dog right now. It's not fair. Get a cat instead.

We were successful in adopting from a small locally based rescue. I think a lot of it is right place/right time for getting a suitable dog as of course they are in high demand. I only work 2 days though and my kids are slightly older.