What was your first-time owner rescue dog?

Floralnomad · 09/10/2021 19:23

Our first family dog is a patterdale x ( likely JRT) , he is now 11 and we got him from Battersea when he was about 4 months old . He came to us completely untrained in any respect and he’s not without his foibles but has turned out to be a fabulous family pet .

Madasahattersteaparty1749 · 09/10/2021 19:30

We have a gorgeous Spanish Podenco which had been fostered in Spain with children and cats.
She has her issues, is so scared of men, doesn’t really play ball and separation anxiety but she is an absolute goofball who we couldn’t imagine life without.
I would prefer a dog that had been fostered beforehand with a reputable rescue so you know some of their quirks beforehand.

shinyblackdog · 09/10/2021 19:41

@EvenRosesHaveThorns

I'm a first-time owner and it's taking a long time to find a suitable dog that rescues will even begin to consider me for as they are overwhelmed with experienced applications. Happily, I may now have a chance on a sweet elderly staffy, which will give me a great opportunity for a first dog to learn the ropes, but just wondering how other people managed to get a first-time dog from a rescue and what breed/did they have any issues? As opposed to buying a puppy and starting from scratch

This is exactly what I did, even down to the breed. My staff x was 11 when I got her from a rescue centre, and she was pts a year later when her pre-existing arthritis got to the point she could no longer walk. We were so sad to lose her, but the rescue centre said she had a lovely end to her life. Having her gave us confidence we could have a younger dog and our next rescue was six months old. The only thing I would say is if the dog you have been matched with has health conditions my experience is that it's a bureaucratic nightmare to get vet bills reimbursed (which our rescue centre said they would do). In the end we didn't bother as we would have had to use a vet miles away. Older dogs, unsurprisingly, have higher vet bills!

Original poster

EvenRosesHaveThorns · 09/10/2021 20:03

@shinyblackdog ours would be even older at 12 so I am worried she won't have long left in proportion to the inevitable heartache, but she should be a mutually beneficial placement as we can actually get a dog, plus give her lots of love and a decent home (and no doubt vet bills!) and then have a better chance of getting a second dog - should we wish to!!! I cannot see us getting a dog otherwise through any well-known rescue as they have waiting lists within minutes of putting dogs on th website. Would be much easier to get a Romanian rescue of course, but that has the potential to go quite badly wrong. She is apparently affectionate and so chilled out. She has had benign lumps removed already, so not sure if we need to declare that when we apply for insurance as a pre-existing condition. Can't wait to meet her :)

OP posts:

user1471453601 · 09/10/2021 20:22

We have had two rescue staffys. One we were only blessed with for two years (heart failure). I regret neither of them. We gave them the best life we could while they were with us, and they repaid us with their presence and their love while we had them.

We now have a Jack Russell puppy (well, she's 16 months old now).

Every dog I've ever had has brought something to our relationship.

So what, if it's only for two years you can show them the life they should have had all along? At least they've seen and felt kindness and love.

Reasonistreason · 09/10/2021 22:35

DH and me first time dog owners but were lucky enough to adopt a beagle X at 18 months old. Had her 7 months now and she’s fantastic. We had been looking at all the reputable rescues in UK for 14 months, had applied unsuccessfully for two dogs, had a zoom with one dog and the dogs trust behaviourist. Sadly we didn’t think we were the right owners for that dog but we were so lucky to be matched with ddog who had only just come into DT and hadn’t appeared on their website. Had a zoom, we were happy, she came to us two days later as her temporary owners for two weeks (new adoption process due to Covid) before going onto full adoption. We couldn’t be happier with her, she’s brilliant.

howdidigettobe50something · 09/10/2021 22:52

Ah that's wonderful that you have the opportunity to rescue a lovely Staffy! You really won't regret it. They are such wonderful dogs and we've rescued two. In fact both rescues have been much less trouble than the one we had from a pup! Our current old rescue is an absolute gem and I'll be heartbroken when she leaves us. Hopefully that won't be for a while yet. Good luck and enjoy!

WoodchipNightmares · 09/10/2021 23:32

Mine came from a friend who emigrated.

It worked out for us in the end, but I can see how, all too easily, private rehoming can go very wrong and would not recommend it unless you already know the dog well.

plominoagain · 10/10/2021 00:27

Ours was a greyhound . Incredibly calm and gentle , and didn’t need hours of walks either so having to walk miles every day wasn’t a shock !
We’ve had five since and lost our last one a fortnight ago .

Kanaloa · 10/10/2021 00:34

Mine was a staffy! She was very sweet and loving and an extremely affectionate dog. She was really attached to me since I was mostly at home during this period. She was very relaxed, happy to lie on the couch and watch telly or go for a walk anywhere, loved everything and everyone basically. More of a people dog than a dog’s dog, I don’t recall her ever playing with another dog. She didn’t bark or fight them or anything but would just look at them politely as if she was one of us humans and didn’t quite know what to do.

Negatives about her were that she was very attached. This was fine for our family because one of us is always at home but I don’t think she could have been left at home alone. Also, as much as we loved her, she wasn’t the brightest button. If you wanted a dog to do tricks etc she wouldn’t have been the one. She struggled to remember the patio doors were solid.

3ormoredogs · 10/10/2021 07:13

I got a random mix of German shepherd/border collie and probably husky. Apart from being high energy he hasn’t had any issues.

Totally unsuitable on paper but he has been perfect in every way for almost 13 years!

sjxoxo · 10/10/2021 07:33

Ours was a difficult cocker spaniel. We had no kids & spent a huge amount of time and money on training him and he was wonderful after that. I definitely wouldn’t recommend a ‘difficult’ rescue dog if it’s your first. Our second is still with us; a very docile, gentle oldie; adopted at 14 now 18 and blind/deaf. Third was a little terrier/poodle mix; we were sold an ‘oldie’ at 11 years old but in reality hes full of beans and if I didn’t know his age I’d say hes about 7!! He’s a bit nervous at times as he’s been in rescue centres multiple times and previous owner was an elderly lady who spoilt him rotten so he expects similar treatment from us haha. Such a rewarding experience. I would offer the following advice:

meet the dogs several times, walks etc, but bear in mind they will likely be more difficult at the rescue centre than in real life as they are so stressed! V hard to see their real personality in this environment so don’t be too quick to judge.
it will take the best part of 8months-12months for them to settle in properly- a long time, be v patient.
middle aged or older is great- older dogs have the health worries but still can be brilliant so do consider them. Puppies are a huge huge amount of work; I’ll never adopt a pup under 6-7yrs old!
mix breeds or mongrels are generally healthier with less potential health issues; my ‘easy’ ideal would be a small/medium mongrel perhaps 7/8 years old.
be firm at the start! This is where they learn the rules.

Good luck.. it’s a lovely experience 💖 my DH was anti dog but after our difficult cocker he was hooked. I think we’ll always have a rescue oldie now! Xo

Definitelyrandom · 10/10/2021 14:00

Not a rescue but a retired greyhound, who was 3 when we got him. The homing kennels couldn’t have been more helpful, especially since we were first time dog owners as a family and my elder (adult) son who was living at home during lockdown had always been rather nervous around dogs (he’s now fine!). We had lots of opportunities to walk different hounds and a trial period to make sure we were ok. 16 months or so on and our hound is a very much loved member of the family.

Hellocatshome · 10/10/2021 14:05

Our first dog that wasn't our parents dog that we just helped out with was a rescue Bichon Frise, she had been rescued from a puppy farm. She was elderly (no one could really tell how old as she was so abused) but she was a wonderful dog, she had no behaviour issues and would either sleep all day or walk all day with you whatever you were doing she would just do it with you. She loved the beach and chasing seagulls and when we got cut off by the tide she actually managed to swim back to shore (we had no hands left due to carrying children) despite despising the sea, she gave us some dirty looks for that one. We only had her a year and a half until she passed away unexpectedly in her sleep on the sofa.

Mrsjayy · 10/10/2021 14:08

We had a hairy lurcher he was a joy of a dog we got him from the dog pound, sadly he didn't live a long life but he was lovely and adored then toddler Dd.

Ariela · 10/10/2021 14:10

'10' year old rescue border collie.
Having recued more border collies since I would say he'd have been easily 12-14 when we got him. He lived to '18' with us, a happy 8 years where he learned a bit of kindness. Had a lot of issues , could not have been rehomed with children under 8. The worst was he thought throwing a ball was being thrown AT him. So he never got to play.

CuddlesAndShit · 10/10/2021 14:12

We had a staffy as our first rescue too. She was a handful in her younger years but was the sweetest, most loving dog ever. She got to the grand old age of 16, so you still could have some very happy years together

There really is something about an elder staffy that makes everybody's heart melt.

CMOTDibbler · 10/10/2021 14:15

A 6 month old rescue lurcher. Our second was a rescue puppy, and now we foster puppies for the same rescue (there's one snoring next to me right now)

Gherkingreen · 10/10/2021 14:28

Ours is a Patterdale cross, possibly with whippet so he's a kind of cocker spaniel-sized, fast beardy lurcher squirrel chasing bundle of delight.
We've had him since birth (I was there when he was born) as his pregnant mum was adopted by a friend who brought her home to have the pups, all adopted by friends.
He's 3 now, and is utterly adored. He's smart, sensitive, content with a couple of hours' walks a day then snoozes happily while we work. We haven't had a dog before as a family, but we can't imagine life without him.
A happy ever after for everyone

EgweneWoT · 10/10/2021 14:29

We walked into the rescue centre five years ago and said: ‘what dog are you having trouble rehoming?’ They brought out a four year old Rottie X too big for most people. They vetted our house and saw our massive garden and it was a yes! He’s been amazing. Sweet, docile, lazy, sleepy.

Original poster

EvenRosesHaveThorns · 10/10/2021 16:27

Thanks all, very positive stories! Unfortunately my application has fallen through for the staffy as they found a better match (they are looking for the 'perfect' home). Gutted because this was the furthest we'd got so far in adopting and was feeling so happy expecting a phone call all day. This rollercoaster of ups and downs is not doing me any good emotionally getting my hopes up for several dogs now, although I absolutely want dogs to be put with experienced owners by rescues and understand their predicament, and so I think I need to take a break from looking for now.

OP posts:

Mrsjayy · 10/10/2021 16:48

Do you follow the senior staffy club on Facebook? They are always looking for fosters or adopters .

MapleMay11 · 10/10/2021 16:51

My first rescue was a 1 year old staffy. He was the most gorgeous dog imaginable. Older dogs are so rewarding though, I wouldn't hesitate to get one.

Spudlet · 10/10/2021 16:53

18 month old cocker spaniel. He was a dude but also massively overweight and mostly untrained, so a bit of a handful…! However, I got him sorted and had him until June this year, when we lost him aged 14. I suspect rehoming was a bit easier 12 years ago though (he came from the Dogs Trust, so a proper place, but I just walked in and was matched up with him).

sospspsp · 11/10/2021 08:18

@Hellocatshome

Our first dog that wasn't our parents dog that we just helped out with was a rescue Bichon Frise, she had been rescued from a puppy farm. She was elderly (no one could really tell how old as she was so abused) but she was a wonderful dog, she had no behaviour issues and would either sleep all day or walk all day with you whatever you were doing she would just do it with you. She loved the beach and chasing seagulls and when we got cut off by the tide she actually managed to swim back to shore (we had no hands left due to carrying children) despite despising the sea, she gave us some dirty looks for that one. We only had her a year and a half until she passed away unexpectedly in her sleep on the sofa.

What a wonderful 18 months she must have had with you though. So great she was able to have a normal loving home at last