Advice about rescue

[LoneTortoise]

Just that really - we are looking to rescue but I am hesitant as have never gone that route before, have always had from pups.

My main concerns are unknown health issues, unknown bad behaviour, etc. Seems so risky to get a dog when you might not know their full past.

Advice?

It can work either way.

If you go to a good reputable rescue the dog will have been assessed before rehoming. So in a way you do see before you buy. (not the case with puppies).

Some rescues will have issues many won't. Do hunt around for your rescue organisation and check them out well before hand. Make sure the rescue offer life time support for the dog (so if things do not work out they will take the dog back - really hope this situation does not happen but they tend to vet their dogs better). I would avoid most foreign rescues for this reason alone (ducks head for comments against this viewpoint)

Expect to visit any dog on several occasions to see how they are, with other dogs when you take them out for a walk etc.

Be patient and be prepared to wait for the right dog.

Health checks are harder but again if the dog has issues some of them will already have been noticed.

I actually think getting a rescue from a good rescue you have a clearer picture of what you are getting unlike the so called clean slate of a puppy (that phase really is sooooo wrong a puppy is never ever a clean slate!)

Good Luck in your search. I hope you meet you perfect dog soon

We rescued and I think Polly is right
Surely you are more likely to know about health and behaviour issues with an older rescue dog than with a puppy?
Rescue dogs are more often mongrels and are healthier so less likely to grow up to have some terrible costly health issue.
Our rescue fostered the dogs in homes so they were able to tell quite accurately what the issues were.

We have three dogs - oldest is my problem dog (very reactive to other dogs) - we had him since a puppy and he was great until about 4 and it is definitely fear aggression.
the other 2 are rescues which we've had since approx 5/6 months - both very chilled. They didn't start that way as they were both very scared when they arrived but now aged 3 and just over a year are lovely dogs

I have had one dog of my own since a pup, well, she still is, and is largely great but is prone to overstimulation and not as biddable as you would want for training ..she is a breed aberration. And she was from a completely legit breeder who bred for temperament not conformation!

I grew up with a succession of rescues and they were all largely great despite what would now be considered rather patchy old-fashioned-method training. Aside from one. He was a nightmare and could not be trusted not to snap.

My friend has a rescue from Romania who is a beautiful dog, a dream, aside from reactivity on leash. You cannot sit quietly with her at a cafe or pub because she is on guard all the time. Overall she is a lovely dog.

Another friend has an overseas rescue who was from an extremely thorough agency that does extensive home checks who is a dream in most respects. Only issue is that she has to be kept away from opening doors as she will bolt.

Another has a rescue who is friendly, healthy, averagely active, small amount of fear aggression but she has got it out of him, just a brilliant little chap
Not particularly experienced but I suppose the point I'm making is that no matter how you get your dog there is always an element of the unknown when it comes to behaviour and health. I would definitely agree that pre-adoption foster and assessment is a must. None of that straight-off-the-lorry practice.

Goaway, would you be happy to share the name of the extremely thorough rescue? We are considering a rescue for our first family dog for all the reasons above. For the cost of a puppy these days you could pay for an awful lot of one on one behavioural advice!

D4R if you're in Manchester

or

this one if not

Amazing kennel free rescues with (importantly) back up

www.heathlands.org.uk
This one for East of England

Fostered in U.K. homes where they train and assess before rehoming, they commit to take them back for life, do all vaccines, health checks, neutering and match carefully

We have one of theirs and I saw another poster on here who has one too.