Not deliberately goady but it probably is

[Yesinamechange]

I’ve read so many threads recently in which the op or posters justify getting a puppy or going to a rescue from abroad because they wouldn’t be allowed a domestic rescue. I’ve also read loads of threads about rescues having unreasonable/unrealistic expectations.
This isn’t an ask me anything but I don’t know if I’m being weird or was lucky or what? I went to one of the big rescues thinking that if they didn’t think I was an appropriate home then I shouldn’t have a dog. And I expected to be turned down- I work full time (with plans in place for the dog obv) and don’t have a secure garden. I live in a flat and rehomed a big bouncy young adolescent dog. It’s been hard!!
I’m not saying that rescues are for everyone, nor am I saying that puppies are bad etc but am I the only one that thinks the ‘well I want one so I’ll buy it because a rescue won’t allow it’ doesn’t address the why the rescue didn’t think that set up was a good idea?

1. past/unknown trauma to dog
2. children - see above
3. all the extra work that goes into #1

None of which means a puppy isn’t suitable.

I do get that, but the way I look at that is that the rescue won’t absolutely guarantee that a dog is child safe because of the liability issues-as it happens my rescue dog loves children (and was hopefully/obviously tested beforehand because when I collected they were not bothered by the children nearby)!! but Dogs and children should be separated anyway.
I still giggle about how I imagine rescues test child friendly-ness.. do they just send a child in and see if they get jumped on and muscled to the floor and face/ear cleaned (what my dog would do) or ignored, growled at, savaged?
A puppy will always be an unknown though?

Yes, but the breeder can’t be sued. A rescue probably could.

Which absolutely makes sense to me. Except it doesn’t make sense in terms of the actual risk to kids?!

Went to two rescues, we'd thought long and hard about getting a dog. Had a trainer lined up.
Both said no because we had, children and cats and were first time owners.
We got a puppy and 7 years on, I think they were largely right. It was hard enough having our completely wonderful blank slate puppy now dog.

There’s lots of risks to kids. Christ I’d never step out of my house if I actually sat and thought about them all.

I don’t own a dog, I’m single with 3DC and it’s at the top of my “once the youngest is 16” list

I currently have a rescue dog.

However, 5 years previous to that I was turned down be several big rescues. Because my son was 5.

I have always had dogs and my children were never left alone with a dog. Even ones we got as puppies.

All the rescues admitted that they very rarely got a dog in that was suitable for a home with small kids and they recommended we go get a puppy from a reputable breeder. Most were really disappointed they could rehome with us because we worked from home for ourselves, were active had a large very secure garden, experienced dog owners. The only sticking point was the age of ds.

We did get a puppy and later also got a rescue.

I also Foster dogs from time to time for a small breed specific rescue. And I absolutely hate people who try and shame people for rescuing from abroad or buying a puppy.

Its pointless and virtue signalling. Rescues do have very high standards. And sometimes they are very unreasonable and good dog owners can't get one. So, if they really want to rescue one, why not get one from abroad.

And not everyone can or should own a rescue dog. If someone wants to get a puppy, let them get a puppy. It's not really anyone else business.

Of course they should only get them through reputable breeders. But shit breeders get better and better at hiding they are shit.

Just let people do what they think is the right thing for them.

In all cases people make mistakes. Dogs end up back at rescues, people regret puppies, people rehome their dogs. It's no more likely to happen because the person bought a puppy.

That’s exactly my worry and yes I agree, is hard!! And that’s probably the question I should’ve asked-
‘did you get a puppy or an overseas rescue dog and did they turn out to be child safe’ and then see if the amount is above average?

Puppies are NEVER EVER balnk slate and people really need to understand this.

At least with a rescue you can see before you buy

So much important development that will affect the puppy for its whole life has begun before you take the puppy home at 8 weeks.

I agree OP if a dog organisation questions your suitability it may be worth considering their viewpoint. Not just rushing out to get either a foreign rescue who do not have the same support or vetting or a puppy

Also also... I agree with @angelofchaos mostly. I disagree about it being ok for people to make AVOIDABLE mistakes but totally understand that life doesn’t always work out how we’d hoped

PollyRoulson

To answer your pedantry, puppies are likely to have less issues than a rescue dog. It's what we do with them that makes a difference. And I don't agree that you get to see before you buy with a rescue. Seeing a dog in a centre is very different to having one in your home.

I've now remembered why I rarely come onto the doghouse threads.

i didnt get a rescue because of the unknown history. tempting as it was on looking at websites. my ddog isnt perfect but i have faith in her

i definitely do not understand the purchasing of Romanian street dogs though

I don’t get the virtue signalling of getting an overseas rescue dog? As if they’re someone more special than UK rescue?

@Theworldisfullofgs

PollyRoulson

To answer your pedantry, puppies are likely to have less issues than a rescue dog. It's what we do with them that makes a difference. And I don't agree that you get to see before you buy with a rescue. Seeing a dog in a centre is very different to having one in your home.

I've now remembered why I rarely come onto the doghouse threads.

I m not being a pendant.

Most the of the puppy development happens before 8 weeks- fact . A poorly breed dog even with the most experiened owneer will have "issues"

Some rescue dogs have issues but not as many as people think or quote.

On a daily basis I work with dogs from owners who bought their dogs as puppies from breeders with problems and a large percentage of them are issues from breeding and early socialisation, not what the poor unsuspecting owners have done to th the puppies.

A rescue dog that has spent time in an experienced foster home will come with a very detailed history and will give new owners a good idea of what they are getting

most UK rescues rehome dogs that have been relinquished due to behavioural issues or incidents, or are too high maintenence for previous owner to manage for whatever reason. They rarely want to risk it with young kids or cats.
Theres usually much more choice of rescue dogs coming from abroad that dont necessarily have behavioural issues, and were just stray or abandoned due to pregnancy etc.

@GetTaeFuck

I don’t get the virtue signalling of getting an overseas rescue dog? As if they’re someone more special than UK rescue?

i agree

Is there a standardised list of checks @Branleuse or anyone?
So I’d work from dr Sophia yin’s checklist (I’ll try for a link...crosses fingers...
drsophiayin.com/app/uploads/2015/12/Socialization_Checklist.pdf
And mine was found as a stray so no history and 12-18 months so way outside the socialisation period...

We weren't allowed a rescue for several reasons - we had cats, our garden wasn't "secure" enough and we both worked full time. All of which apparently meant we were totally unsuitable for any rescue in our area.

So we got a puppy.

• The puppy is practically never left alone - it comes to work with me or spends his days being spoilt rotten at my in-laws house.
• He's never managed to escape from our garden (and he's a breed known for their escapism tactics!)
• He gets on perfectly with our cats - they play together, share water bowls, sleep together etc. with no issues whatsoever.

Personally I think the vast majority of rescues are far too strict when it comes to their rehoming criteria. I do understand that they need to be careful around children but some of their restrictions make no sense to me, I have to be honest.

I appreciate all rescues are different, though, and some rescues are bigger and will have more choice etc.

a stray will have behavioural issues though by the nature of being stray

My dog is very definitely not cat safe so I’m totally in agreement with that being a non negotiable! I half think if she met a cat that swiped her (it’s the chase she can’t help herself with) then she might be ok but I wouldn’t risk testing it!
Stray wise I’m not sure- I don’t know how mine ever lived/counted as a stray- she loves dogs and people so I’d have thought she’d have galloped up to the whoever she saw first?

My dog is very definitely not cat safe so I’m totally in agreement with that being a non negotiable!

But many rescue dogs have lived with cats all their lives and are perfectly safe to live with cats. Mine is absolutely golden with the cats he was raised with but of the house, it's a whole other ball game.

How dogs behave around cats in public is often very different to how they behave around ones they live with (obviously that's not always the case).

Personally I think the vast majority of people should be able to manage dogs and cats living in the same home - the exception is probably sighthounds, but I know many people who have whippets, greyhounds and lurchers with cats with no issue whatsoever.

Mines a bull lurcher
And I agree in that that’s what I meant about her being swiped by a cat- if she was calm enough to meet one permanently and slow time and realise they were a person rather than a fluffy chase object she might be fine. But not sure I’d take the risk.