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Original poster

Where can I adopt a spaniel from?

31 replies

mayaknew · 10/10/2020 23:31

Have tried all the big charities they either have none or not suitable to live with children.

Are there any obscure smaller charities I'm missing?

I'm in Scotland but willing to travel.

Don't want to pay £3k to a shady breeder

OP posts:
GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 11/10/2020 05:49

Have you contacted the breed-specific rescues like English Springer Spaniel Welfare? I don't think they have any dogs at the moment but they have them regularly.

WunWun · 11/10/2020 06:04

Me ;)

Original poster
mayaknew · 11/10/2020 11:52

Tried spaniel aid but they won't give to children under 5 (youngest is 4.5) and another one cocker and springer rescue they are children under 8.

OP posts:
Original poster
mayaknew · 11/10/2020 18:18

@WunWun if only it were that easy 🤣🤣

I keep joking that I'm just waiting a wee dog to just appear in my life.

They are so hard to come by atm!

And its not like its a lockdown dog... we always said once youngest is in school we would get one. Just really bad timing.

OP posts:
FiresideTreats · 11/10/2020 18:21

Have you tried Many Tears rescue?

Bigsighall · 11/10/2020 18:22

Try spaniel aid. Can recommend

Todaytomorrow09 · 11/10/2020 18:25

2nd Spaniel Aid

SqidgeBum · 11/10/2020 18:25

We tried to adopt a spaniel, although we weren't set on that breed. We couldnt find anywhere that had a spaniel, but also we couldnt find anywhere that was willing to let us adopt any dog or pup as we were a young married couple that worked, and we were likely to have kids (which we did). In the end, we tried every dog shelter within a 20 mile radius, and nobody would let us adopt.

We went to a breeder in the end. Paid 800 for a male sprocker. He is a fantastic dog.

Smallsteps88 · 11/10/2020 18:29

Tried spaniel aid but they won't give to children under 5 (youngest is 4.5)

Wait 6 months?

Original poster
mayaknew · 11/10/2020 18:59

Tried spaniel aid they won't give to us because of ages of our children. Most say teen plus and definitely no under 5s.

800 wouldn't be too bad but they're into the thousands now!

Its frustrating that breeders have a bad rep but really how else are people supposed to actually get a dog? Its soooo difficult to adopt!

OP posts:
Original poster
mayaknew · 11/10/2020 19:00

With many tears you have to already have a dog. And usually no children.

OP posts:
SqidgeBum · 11/10/2020 19:08

OP where I come from (ireland) its very easy to adopt a pup, or just get one from a local farmer or someone whose dog just had pups, without paying extortionate money. My parents neighbour in Ireland just got a bearded collie and she paid 50 quid to the owner (who lived down the road) just to cover any food expenses. I was beyond shocked at how hard and expensive it was to get a dog in the UK, but it became very clear that unless one of us was at home full time, and we had no prospect of children (so basically retired) it was next to near impossible to adopt. I was so annoyed that I had to buy a dog, but it seems if kids are involved at all it's the only option. 3k is insane money for any dog.

exLtEveDallas · 11/10/2020 19:11

With many tears you have to already have a dog. And usually no children

...

Umm. No you don’t.

exLtEveDallas · 11/10/2020 19:21

To be fair to you OP, MTAR probably has a lot of ex breeding dogs in at the moment. Ex Breeders do need to have another dog around because they generally have no idea how to be dogs, having been used and abused for their whole lives. Lots of scumbag breeders dumped their dogs over lockdown because they didn’t have sellers lined up (or had cancellations) and of course asking them to take care of their dogs when they aren’t bringing in the bacon is too much for them Angry

Smallsteps88 · 11/10/2020 20:06

Tried spaniel aid they won't give to us because of ages of our children. Most say teen plus and definitely no under 5s.

You’ll have no under 5s in 6 months. What am I missing here?

EcoCustard · 11/10/2020 20:08

Spaniel Aid are good, as with most rescues very busy and try to match Spaniel to suitable family. I volunteer for home checks in my local area and they are fab.

EcoCustard · 11/10/2020 20:18

Just seen ages regarding children, just wait? Many rescues are not keen to rehome with young children for very good reasons and rescue dogs can require a great deal of additional support, care and love as they have had a pretty unsettling time. If you are considering rescue spaniels you need to be patient and find the right dog for your family, it can take months and in some cases years.

There is the Scottish spaniel rescues, have you tried them even if you have to wait a few months? Save our Spaniels? They are mainly Bretons from Spain?
Failing that pay £3k to a trusted breeder and do your research & observations.

Original poster
mayaknew · 11/10/2020 20:25

Yeah tried save our spaniels. They don't adopt to homes with children under 6.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 11/10/2020 20:28

Contact the breed clubs and ask if they have rescue contacts?

bunnygeek · 11/10/2020 23:58

Rescues will only have whatever people have signed over which, right now, is very unpredictable.

You’re trying to get a dog for your family at the same time the entire country wants to get a dog for their family. Any desirable breed - spaniels included, that has lived with small kids will probably get 500+ applications (and probably go to a family with older kids if any as it’s much less likely to be returned after smaller kids have been knocked over for the umpteenth time).

Be patient, keep in contact with all local rescues. In 6 months time when this whole pandemic thing has (hopefully) calmed down a bit people will be going back to normal routines and suddenly not have time for their pandemic puppies. This is when rescues will be overflowing again.

UsernameNotValid · 12/10/2020 00:07

We applied to springer rescue and spaniel Aid in August but received a phonecall from both to say they wouldn't process or application as we simply wouldn't be considered at the moment.

They said for every dog they are getting right now they have about 50-60 applicants to sift through and many of these are pups who need extra attention due to being bought during lockdown so have had little to no socialisation the or proper training and owners realising they can't cope alone now they're back at work or just not having the time.

We have a 7 and 14yo and my parents/grandparents have always had spaniels but we are considered as inexperienced owners and were told we'd be better off buying from a KC breeder.

SBTLove · 12/10/2020 00:20

springerrescuescotland.org/meetourdogs.php

www.cockerspanielclubofscotland.co.uk/cocker-rescue/

www.saveourspaniels.org.uk/dogs-needing-homes#

Perhaps look at other breeds, I always say to people not to fixate on one breed only, there are so many wonderful dogs needing homes.
Be patient and the right dog will come along.
Perhaps look into fostering to prepare for life with a dog.

m0therofdragons · 12/10/2020 07:40

We gave up trying - dc, no other dog and at the time we had a cat. We got a puppy this summer. I still think we’ll adopt but in a good few years.

m0therofdragons · 12/10/2020 07:40

That said, I’m not sure I’d manage a puppy and a 4 yo. My dc are older.

bunnygeek · 12/10/2020 12:31

@UsernameNotValid

We applied to springer rescue and spaniel Aid in August but received a phonecall from both to say they wouldn't process or application as we simply wouldn't be considered at the moment.

They said for every dog they are getting right now they have about 50-60 applicants to sift through and many of these are pups who need extra attention due to being bought during lockdown so have had little to no socialisation the or proper training and owners realising they can't cope alone now they're back at work or just not having the time.

We have a 7 and 14yo and my parents/grandparents have always had spaniels but we are considered as inexperienced owners and were told we'd be better off buying from a KC breeder.

That's going to be a trend - a lot of hand overs right now are going to have issues. Especially younger dogs - likely being handed over because the previous owners have not got training right and the dog is exhibiting problems like resource guarding or separation anxiety. Not something you want to have to deal with when there's young children in the house.