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The doghouse

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Original poster

Should we adopt this dog?

55 replies

Gamboge · 30/08/2021 19:42

We are in the process of applying to adopt an 8 month old rescue dog. We are not experienced dog owners although I grew up with dogs. More info has come through that the dog is reactive on leash and to other dogs as well as being very energetic and quite ‘demanding’. We are guessing poorly socialised due to lockdown / Covid.
We are willing to attend training classes and do everything we can to help this dog, even employ a behaviourist. But my question is whether we would be biting off more than we can chew (pardon the pun!), and whether this is a suitable dog for novice owners? Of course we don’t expect a rescue dog to be perfect but how easy is it to solve these kind of behaviours? We don’t want to mess the dog around by taking it and then not being able to manage. At first it was described as good with other dogs. Thanks for any advice.

OP posts:

Hellocatshome · 30/08/2021 19:44

Thats rescue centre speak for dont touch this dog with a barge pole unless you are very very experienced and dont mind having to walk it at unsociable hours to avoid other dogs.

FFSFFSFFS · 30/08/2021 19:44

Sounds like a challenge for a new dog owner - what breed?? Do you know anything about background?

PollyRoullson · 30/08/2021 19:54

You may never "solve" the behaviours it may be a matter of managing the behaviours and makig adaptation. If that is ok go ahead but if you want to have a "solved" dog then this is not the dog for you.

If the dog is reactive to other dogs a training class would not be the right place for it.

This could be a major project and not one I would recommend for a first time dog owner.

Reactive dogs are a long term project and can bring a lot of heartache and expense.

Hoppinggreen · 30/08/2021 19:59

I don’t think you should

Hekatestorch · 30/08/2021 20:02

Honestly, I think rescue dogs are, more often than not, not for novice owners. This one really sounds like it needs someone more experienced.

What breed is it?

joystir59 · 30/08/2021 20:03

I wouldn't adopt this dog as a novice dog owner.

Beamur · 30/08/2021 20:05

I think I would pass on this one and look for an easier start as novice owners.
Lead reactive, energetic, challenging and reactive to other dogs - this dog really needs a skilled owner.

Suzi888 · 30/08/2021 20:07

Have you actually met the dog?

Blueuggboots · 30/08/2021 20:08

My sis in law fostered a reactive dog recently. The charity really minimised the reactivity saying it was only to aggressive dogs when it was ANY dog which lead to a potentially dangerous situation.....
My sis in law is a very experienced dog owner and couldn't manage the reactivity alone and the dog WAS rehired but with a very very experienced handler.
Be VERY VERY careful. Charities often minimise problems to rehome dogs.....

twinkletoes741 · 30/08/2021 20:10

@Gamboge

We are in the process of applying to adopt an 8 month old rescue dog. We are not experienced dog owners although I grew up with dogs. More info has come through that the dog is reactive on leash and to other dogs as well as being very energetic and quite ‘demanding’. We are guessing poorly socialised due to lockdown / Covid. We are willing to attend training classes and do everything we can to help this dog, even employ a behaviourist. But my question is whether we would be biting off more than we can chew (pardon the pun!), and whether this is a suitable dog for novice owners? Of course we don’t expect a rescue dog to be perfect but how easy is it to solve these kind of behaviours? We don’t want to mess the dog around by taking it and then not being able to manage. At first it was described as good with other dogs. Thanks for any advice.

My first dog was a Romanian rescue dog and honestly, I got extremely lucky with her. I've had to put in some work but she's the laziest dog you'll ever meet!! Are you home a lot of the time or are you out at work? I only adopted when it became clear I'd not be going back to the office more than 1/2 days a week.

Mu girl doesn't like children (is scared of them) and I think this quite common with rescue dogs. If you have children under the age of 13/14 I'd really think hard about adopting a rescue dog. . Some rescues won't even entertain adopting to people with small children. Talk to the Rescue, see what aftercare they offer etc. Are you able to meet the dog before you adopt?

Cyberworrier · 30/08/2021 20:21

My parents always have rescue dogs, one is reactive to strange dogs and they have put in extensive time and money to helping him. Dog psychologist, behaviourist, residential training. He is still completely unpredictable around strange dogs on walks- he was under a year when they adopted him.
I really wouldn’t take on a dog with these issues as your first dog. When I look after their dogs, I can’t take them to the pub or to popular walks, or basically do many things I would do with my own dog, as it’s potentially very unsafe and stressful.
If you live in a remote area and don’t want to take your dog everywhere, maybe it won’t be an issue.
And another point- if you take this dog on and find you can’t cope and he goes back to a rescue, he will be more damaged by this uncertainty and change. The dog really deserves and needs experienced owners, so there’s less risk of it not working out. I’m sorry to be negative OP, I’m sure you could find a rescue with less issues.

Original poster

Gamboge · 30/08/2021 20:23

Thanks for the responses. This is a puppy/dog originally from Romania. It has been returned to the charity by its previous owners following a relationship breakdown. Neither of them could keep the dog. We have not met the dog. It’s not local. A friend has rescued two dogs from the same organisation. Not sure about the breed - a bit of a mixture I think, possibly a bit of the mountain shepherd dog type.

OP posts:

Original poster

Gamboge · 30/08/2021 20:25

We don’t have young children.

OP posts:

MrsSkylerWhite · 30/08/2021 20:26

Pinkandpurplehairedlady · 30/08/2021 20:31

I have a reactive dog and as others have said it’s a lot of work. I’ve spent a fortune on behaviourists and although we’ve seen quite a bit of improvement a lot of it is down to us managing it better. We’re restricted as to when and where we walk her and have to get up early to make sure the morning walk is done before there’s too many other dogs around and we definitely can’t take her to the beach / local pub like we’d imagined. I would think very carefully about taking this on.

Cyberworrier · 30/08/2021 20:31

If you’ve never tried to walk a lead reactive dog, I don’t think you can imagine how difficult it is. This poor dog has already been given up once then. Why are you thinking about adopting this particular dog? There are so many dogs, in the UK and overseas, needing homes, many of whom would be more suitable for inexperienced dog owners than a lead reactive one who has already been given up once.

villainousbroodmare · 30/08/2021 20:32

No.

LEMtheoriginal · 30/08/2021 20:32

No disasterwaiting to happen

pantherrose · 30/08/2021 20:32

At 8 months it’s still a very young dog and will be boisterous and ‘reactive’ to other dogs. Are they insinuating aggression or over exuberance? The flip side is that he/ she is still at a very trainable age and may well settle down with patience and in a less stressful environment. I’d try and find out as much as you can about the dogs’ history. I have only ever had rescue dogs and they have all been wonderful dogs. Young dogs can be a handful, rescue or not, but patience and good handling will usually bring it’s rewards. I’d try and find out more and maybe have a chat with a recommended trainer.

joystir59 · 30/08/2021 20:32

I have had my rescue JRT for 4.5 years. He will always have serious issues which must be managed. I have spent a lot of time and money on dog whisperers and behaviourists to good effect. But still.

Hellocatshome · 30/08/2021 20:33

I have a Romanian Rescue dog who is honestly the most easy going laid back dog you could ever meet. I think he thinks he is a cat he sleeps that much. HOWEVER People will say anything when they hand a dog over to a rescue, I wouldn't be suprised if his behaviour issues are somewhat behind him 'not being able to be kept. Also their behaviour are often very entrenched and very difficult to work with. My Romanian rescue despite being so unbelievably laid back he still gets randomly scared of wheelie bins, buses, men with hats on, young children etc. This is not a good dog for a first dog.

Hekatestorch · 30/08/2021 20:34

@Gamboge

Honestly, I would bet money that, that is (at least in part) a lie.

Its a reactive, energetic and demanding dog. They adopted it and just happened to split up very soon after? They possibly did split. But I am guessing no one wanted to take responsibility for sorting a dog with this amount of issues. I would bet either the couple lied to the rescue or they are lying to you.

My ex in laws adopted a mountain dog, no idea which specifically, from Greece. It was massive and a nightmare. They weren't strong enough to even try and stop it charging to other dogs.

ArcherDog · 30/08/2021 20:34

I have a lead reactive dog and it ruins dog ownership imo.

You can ‘manage’ it to a certain extent but it’s not fun, it’s not relaxing and you have to be on high alert all the time.

Hekatestorch · 30/08/2021 20:37

And also I am surprised, a rescue is thinking of putting a dig like this with a novice owner.

It must have come for a bad environment in Romania, rehomed, given back and rehomed again. It has some issues

It really doesn't feel right they are thinking of putting the dog with you, to be honest.

Cyberworrier · 30/08/2021 20:38

I don’t think a dog rescue would use the word reactive lightly. Boisterous, as in energetic and a bit rough and tumble, is completely different to reactive. However good the OP’s intentions, reactive dogs are very hard to manage even with extensive training by experienced owners. If the dogs needs are being prioritised, they should leave it to be adopted by someone with experience of reactive rescue dogs, to minimise the chance of it being given up again.

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