I’m getting a dog!!

[Hottesttrikeintown]

Well maybe - I’ve applied to some rescues. I’ve been brought up with dogs and always wanted one but always worked full time so it wouldn’t have been fair. Have now confirmed that post Covid I can work from home indefinitely and if I do need to go in DH can stay at home (he works shifts)

I have a 7 year old who is used to dogs and good with them (confident but knows when to leave them alone) which seems to put off some rescues.

I’ve been walking lots. I read advice here (long time lurker) to go out whatever the weather to get used to it before getting a dog so I’ve been having at least 3 hour long walks a day in pouring rain recently

Any advice for good rescues? I’ve gone to battersea, dogs trust, wild at heart and blue cross as well as some local ones but I gather they’re very overwhelmed at the moment as lots of people are interested because of working from home. I get that with a child it’ll be a long wait.

Ideally I’d like a puppy or young adolescent. I know how much work it is and ready to commit! I’ll be doing training classes etc

Anyone got any advice or just want to share my (premature) excitement?!

I hope you get your dog quickly, OP. I think it willbe hard for you, to be totally honest. They won’t like the fact you work (even from home) or have a child.

Thanks! Yes I think it will be a while. I’m happy to wait as it’s a big commitment. I must say though needing someone who doesn’t work or have children and can afford insurance etc and able and willing to put in the exercise and training is quite limiting

Well - yes! I honestly don’t know how they manage to rehome the dogs but I guess there must be enough people.

Its a difficult time to be re-homing, lots of places have been inundated with requests and lots of them prefer not to re-home to places with small children, I've applied to Battersea, a local place, the dogs trust and the guidedogs for the blind and not even had a reply from any of them, so I'm going to start saving for a puppy.

I don't know where you are in the UK, but you could try Sallipets - we got our lovely girl aged about 6-7 months, though realistically most are 1-3 years old.

www.facebook.com/SalliPetsRescue

Try breed specific rescues. Use FB to find them. Follow pages, that follow other pages.

Definitely look local. Here will be dogs available as people realise they can't cope with one long term. Lots of circumstances are changing, people moving etc.

EGLR rehome very happily to people who work, and those with children (if it is suitable for the dog).
At the moment, the dogs without big problems are being rehomed very quickly indeed, but unfortunatly they never stop coming in. Follow local rescues on FB, and check regularly. Certainly as a very small rescue, run entirely by volunteers, we don't keep a list of people who are interested in rehoming a dog in general, its down to who calls - we'll then have a list of possibles and its then about finding the best fit from that list for a particular dogs needs. People joke about the 'no kids, not working, no cats' thing, but its actually a lot of pressure to work out what the dog needs in a home as rescue dogs will come winging back to us very quickly if we get it wrong.
We'll be rehoming for the next 3 weeks, and then usually none of the dogs go to a home until the new year as the festive period isn't a great time to settle a dog in, though it might be different this year.
A dog is for the next 15 years - if it takes 6 months to find one, and a long drive to see them, its worth it imo

Try Griffon Adoption UK. Lovely dogs and rescue.

Good luck

We did not qualify as kids 10 & 8, and I sometimes have to go into work for an afternoon

That was 7 yrs ago. I now would like a second dog, but can only seem to find ones that have to be an only dog, or ones that are already older than mine (and I’d like a younger one)

I do sometimes wonder if they set the bar too high, but hope I am wrong in your case!

Dogs are the best

Try breed specific rescues. We waited 6 months for a dog that we matched. Our boxer boy was older than I thought we'd get and I worked part time ( now full time and have a dog Walker) and had 2 young children. We've had him over 3 years and it's like he's been here forever. He's fantastic with the kids and the most chilled out dog.

Good luck OP! We got our girl in August from a rescue...ex breeding German Shepherd. I wouldn’t be without her now

Thanks all. As I said I’m really happy to wait. I’m in it for the long haul and totally respect the people that have to find the right home for the dog. I’m just so sure we are it for a dog somewhere

And thank you for all the rescue recommendations- getting lost in a cute dog wormhole now 😍

I do sometimes wonder if they set the bar too high

I honestly think they do. I am disabled. I also work full time, from home. I have a very large "garden". My dog gets at least 10 miles of walks a day, 365 days a year. He is perfectly fit and healthy. He knows by name nearly 200 toys - he's a Border Collie, and both clever and mentally well balanced. I would never be considered for a rescue of his breed...

Want to know the perversity in that fact? When I gave up my previous job, out of interest I qualified (on top of working ) as a dog behaviourist/ psychologist having been a lifelong Border Collie owner, and I now volunteer for the local shelter of a national rescue, supporting and advising on retraining homeless dogs, and supporting new owners in resolving problems with their dogs. My Border Collie assists with the work.

Yet the shelter couldn't let me have a dog because I'm not suitable?!

If you are looking for a dog in the UK and are on Facebook, this page is fab:

www.facebook.com/groups/608772715863181/?ref=share

It shares all different kinds of rescue dogs from various rescues and you can contact (if you want to) from there 😊

Try FB for the Griffons too. Xx

This is a brilliant rescue - Black Retriever X - they don't have a lot of dogs going through their books, but they provide full back up support.

they've got a lovely oldie in need of a home ATM

www.facebook.com/BlackRetrieverXRescue/posts/3589477871073841

We recently rescued a puppy from a Spanish rescue centre ( we live in Spain). They are desperate for families and can arrange transportation. FB has many pages but Costa Balance dog/puppy rescue come to mind . Maybe worth checking them out if a UK home doesn't come through.

My DC were under 10 and I worked part-time when we got our lovely collie from Friends of the Animals (RCT) in South Wales.

They will want to know how you plan to organise your dog's day so that he has plenty of interactions, but they won't write you off just because you have children.

Has anyone had experience of paw prints to freedom who rehome dogs from Romania? I’ve looked online and they seem to offer good support but it’d be great if anyone has personal experience they can share.

I would look at Spaniel Assist and Spaniel Aid - both UK-wide, and very good/thorough’supportive. However, each dog that comes up for rehoming the last few months has had over 100 people applying, so yes it will take quite a while. I would suggest putting yourself forward as a potential foster home first, whichever organisation you go to - then if you bond with a dog in your care, you will likely be first in line to adopt.

Look at very local charities too - might not have a large web presence.

Hotmum85 what can you tell me about that hellhole sallipets

You had one if the few dogs that are allowed out of that hellhole. The adoption is a cover for breeding and a boost for her narcissistic personality. After the owner assaulted me yesterday I waited for the police and witnessed her throwing food into the garden in the dark and in the rain I then am heard dogs fighting and screaming. It was heart breaking