Rommie rescue puppy experiences?

[MumtherofCats]

Can anyone share experience on whether a rescue puppy from Romania might be appropriate as a first time dog? We are looking to rescue rather than buy a puppy from a breeder and I have found a rescue in Romania that often has puppies and looks very reputable. Currently an adult only home so we will have plenty of time for socialising and training but may want children in the future. My husband thinks for a first dog we should go with a reputable breeder for an "easier" dog, but I've always rescued all of my animals and seems a shame to do that when so many are dying for lack of good homes. Just wondering if any less experienced dog owners have gone this route and how it went? We are well researched and invested in training and raising properly, just haven't had a dog before.

@MumtherofCats
"A reputable rescue will not place with anyone who has never owned a dog before? That would be quite silly given we know that we can provide a great home for the right dog."

Sorry. That should read "place a quirky dog", a Romanian rescue is not a first dog, it's a feral animal who could be carrying disease. They're not the dog to go in a novice family home.

You won't legally be able to bring a 2-3 month old puppy into the UK. Legally they need a rabies vaccine at 12 weeks at the earliest, then wait 21 days. So, if you're told a puppy is younger than that, it's either travelled on fake papers or the rescue has lied to you. Neither are a good start.

In addition, a pup that young has likely (although not inevitably) been bred to sell. That adoption fee? That's not a fee - that's a purchase price, and will be supporting brutally cruel breeding back in Romania.

A number of my friends have Eastern European rescues. They're all in very experienced homes. One is a delight. The others all have serious issues - resource guarding, no recall, reactivity, fear-aggression - and have required behaviouralist input. Which is expensive. Two have bitten, to my knowledge. In both cases, the rescue blamed the new owner; in both cases I suspect it was noone's fault, but simply the inevitable consequences of taking a dog off the streets and trying to make a pet of it.

You might get lucky and get a cracking dog. There will be stories here from those who have.. More likely, though, you're taking on a bunch of stress and problems. Are you prepared for that in the long term?

As others have said, the issue I have with imported "rescue" puppies is that you're most likely not getting a street dog, you're funding horrendously cruel puppy farming. You likely won't get a pup who has been thoughtfully raised during crucial first few weeks (you can't just catch up with socialising a dog later, the first few weeks are irreplacable) and pup could well be diseased and even die. Also I think it's just incredibly cruel to transport such a young animal that far, especially if they fly cargo.

Plus if they were really street rescues, they'd have worm damage and other infectious disease damage, and the genes and learnt behaviour of a tough street dog mum. It's not a great scenario either way.

I’m 100% with your husband.

The majority of temperament is inherited, not through training and socialisation.

These dogs have often suffered terribly at the hands of people.
I think the temptation is to humanise and think that with enough love they’ll come good but the reality is often very, very different.
As evidenced by the comments on here re aggression, escape etc

We took on a Romanian rescue 3 years ago. She was 1 when we got her and initially seemed fine but nervous. We had an awful couple of years with her. From the start she was wonderful with the family who live here. My youngest dds were 6 and 7 when we got her and she adores them. However, any strangers in the house would make her anxious, bark (like incessantly until they went), basically she was terrified and was trying to protect us. She would only go for a walk on the same route and if she heard a load noise or something Unexpected then she’d refuse to go further and turn back.
She also likes to pee on soft furnishings such as rugs and cushions. We’ve sought help and advice and basically been as calm and patient with her as we could. She’s a lovely little dog. She’s quirky but at 4 years old she finally trusts that if someone comes into our home and we tell her it’s ok then it is ok. It’s been a long slog and I wouldn’t do it again but I’m pleased we have given her a loving home and rescued her because we do love her and she is such a sweet girl.
That said, I have two friends who have had numerous issues with expensive puppies where they did everything right and saw the parents etc.. so I guess it can happen with all dogs.

We adopted a romanian rescue puppy who was 5 months when he reached us. We was told he was found on the streets with his siblings as a smaller pup and had been in foster and not in a shelter. We were told he was fine with children. He came over and it was a nightmare. He barked continously at everything, no amount of training could stop him, he snatched food from hands constantly, probably because he had to fight for food on the streets, he slipped two leads and wanted to constantly escape, he wouldn't let visitors in the house and would be aggressive if they tried, he was terrified of the outside world and walks and the final straw was when at random he ran across the living room with no warning and took a snap at mt 3 year olds face. My son wasn't even looking at the dog or bothering him. We contacted the rescue who agreed to take him back but blamed us even though we had followed all their advice. We was sad but we gave him up and now he lives with an adult couple who love him but have admitted he is still hard work 3 years on. We thought him being a puppy meant we could shape him to our family but I honestly don't think it is that simple now. I belive genetics and also having to fend for themselves on the street and not having that socialisation really impacts for life. His foster home turned out to be him living with his siblings in someone's garden. I think sometimes these rescues make things up to get them homes. I wouldn't rescue a dog of any age that I had never met again even though I desperately feel sorry for them.

I know some people who got a Romanian rescue puppy and they are very happy with it. I think if it's young enough and hasn't picked up street dog habits it should be fine. They are intelligent and quick learners.
Btw it is only likely to be from a puppy farm if it's a known breed. No one would bother breeding 'muts', there is just no money in it. The cost of looking after the puppy (and the mum), vet treatments, vaccinations, passport, travel, etc far outweighs whatever 'profit' they can make from the adoption fee.

@Tardigrade001 sadly that's just not true. The "Rescue" mine came from very definitely bred mongrels to sell as pretend rescues for profit. Of course they're not going to try to pass purebreds off as rescues... they produce the type of crossbreed that people think is cute and will believe is a rescue.

The cost of looking after the puppy (and the mum), vet treatments, vaccinations, passport, travel, etc far outweighs whatever 'profit' they can make from the adoption fee.

That's assuming they do it properly and above board to the standards we think are normal because we live in the UK. They don't.

This is such a good discussion, thanks everyone so far. I was considering any shelter in Uk too simply because its next to impossible to find a dog that has been tested with young children. But having read your comments would rather wait longer to get the right dog for our family and I suspect this will be an exercise of a good few years.

@LillyC - UK shelters are overwhelmed with requests from people with young children. But young children require a dog that's fully tolerant of the behaviour of young children 24-7, a very big ask for any dog that's already had at least one major change of circumstance in its life.

Let your children grow up to the point they can be responsible around a dog, then things will be much easier.

I'm not a fan of some of the RSPCAs enforcement activities, but I do appreciate the work they do locally as a shelter taking in council strays. We've had our rescue Staff a couple of years now, and I don't think I'd be without one again.

Oh I agree, the controls are there for a reason, I grt that this is why I'm willing to wait. Sometimes they get dogs that had been with young children but it's rare. I could buy a puppy but I would rather home a dog that deserves a chance and I surely don't want just a xmas puppy, it's a commitment for life.

Thanks to everyone who has shared -- there is obviously a wide range of experiences and lots to think about and it's been helpful to hear from you all

We have a Romanian rescue and know several who have. No issues at all. Very much depends on the rescue centre used

Bombay -- are you able to recommend one?

Yep HIgh Hopes based in Worcester ... i was impressed at how few dogs seem to have major issues from there, based on reviews and recommendation etc. The rescue in Romania that they are paired with is obviously very good

If the dog is a puppy, you are literally paying for a mongrel to be bred abroad.

Factor in the stress of the transport experience for the dog and the uncertainty of his start in life, why not pay a bit more to get a UK dog you can spend time with or wait for a UK rescue to come up?

Ours isn't a puppy. Just realised that the query was specifically around puppies. Sorry. Ours is a young dog