Struggling to find a second rescue dog

[Missfelipe]

We’ve been trying to get a second dog for quite some time now and it’s really getting us down. We want another rescue but it is becoming impossible and don’t want to just give up and buy a puppy.

We’ve been the reserve choice countless times with dogs trust and on the only occasion we made the top of the list the meet and greet didn’t go well as the dog wasn’t at all as described (the opposite in fact, we would never have applied had we known this and was advertised as a breed he clearly was not).

We’ve tried smaller rescues who almost don’t seem to want to give the dogs up from their various foster homes (or they end up within their own circle of mates) and never get a look in. We had a home check with one with a view to adopting a dog from them and the woman turned up to our house with her own two dogs who I should say weren’t exactly well rounded and our poor pup didn’t know what was going on. She declared that she thought our dog wanted to be the only dog in the home. I was annoyed by this, she was very excited by what was happening and so the behaviour wasn’t the best (over excited) but I would never introduce new dogs in this way. We’ve had family and friends stay with their dogs a few times and a she’s been great with them. She loves other dogs out and about as well.

I realise with a dog in the home it will always be harder but we have a lot to offer. We’re usually applying for the trickier more active breeds as well which usually are harder to home. We don’t want a puppy or to encourage the current demand but it’s so frustrating.

Anyone else been in the position. It’s so disheartening 😕

We’re still in a peak dog situation, albeit the demand is gradually fading as office work hours increase and the opportunity to go on holiday abroad returns.

Many of the tricky dogs may have been signed over to rescue precisely because they haven’t got on with other dogs or have missed that socialisation. When you’re looking for something quite specific it may well take a year or more, even pre-pandemic, to find that right match.

On Dogs Trust’s filter there’s 89 dogs who could live with another dog (pending introduction), what was the breed they got wrong?

Have you tried black retriever cross (BRX) rescue? They are usually looking for homes with another sensible dog.

www.facebook.com/395268360494824/

Many Tears dog rescue has a lot available.

The dog had been advertised as a specific breed and there was no pictures. He was also described as very playful, boisterous, confident, and loves other dogs. He was about one. When we turned up they said oh we don’t actually think he’s X breed, not a major issue but he was the exact opposite in temperament - timid, terrified of his surroundings, hiding from us and our dog. They also chucked us into a room and said just let them off without a walk first because it was raining 🧐 so ours was in full play mode and then the wee guy was not up for it. Ours did nothing wrong but it obviously was nowhere near a match. He went back up on the site with a very different description a week later!

We aren’t applying for every dog and are quite specific when we do apply. Because we’ve been reserve a few times I know we must be decent candidates but I feel they’ve lost their touch a bit. We’re only looking at the two dogs trust that are closest to us.

I’ll have a look at the black retriever rescue - thanks for the recommendation!

[quote Lougle]Have you tried black retriever cross (BRX) rescue? They are usually looking for homes with another sensible dog.

www.facebook.com/395268360494824/[/quote]
I recommend these People too. I have home checked for them and I promise I didn’t t take my dog ( I did take the kids once though)

There are loads of organisations on Facebook which rescue from abroad and they quite often specify they want a resident dog to show the new one the ropes! If you just dog a fb search for dog rescue sites you'll see loads pop up

We’re reluctant with the abroad rescues (I know - fussy!) but we know some people with rescues from various places abroad and they have had loads of issues. I am concerned with the ones where you can’t meet them before they arrive either. I’m sure their hearts are in the right place and perhaps the people we know have been unlucky but it’s not for us.

Have you tried a smaller breed-specific rescue? I know someone who fosters for one and the dogs do regularly go to people outside the rescue's immediate loop.

We were home checked for a small breed specific one. The woman who came out as much as said that they can magic dogs out of nowhere for the right people 🧐 you only need to look through their Facebook to see that they are just adopting the dogs amongst themselves…great for the dogs I guess but not so much for anyone who’s not in with them. Although what annoyed me is that she admitted her dogs weren’t a good match but she fell in love with them and that was that. We will keep looking, it’s just bloody frustrating. I know a lot of other people who are in the same boat.

I’d just buy a puppy tbh.

Mine's from abroad (wasn't planning on adopting from abroad really, just fell in love with him) - I think the charity mine came with has changed a little since so you don't necessarily meet the dog first. I think that's absolutely barmy and best avoided, especially with a resident dog in place. I'm pretty sure most responsible rescues would agree to let you (and the dogs) meet first though, and I know a few who have met for walks with the foster family etc before making a decision.

Sometimes local vets know of local dogs that need rehoming if circumstances have changed for the owners - might be worth asking?