Really worried about friend getting pup from abroad

[Scottsforsure281]

My friend has 2 young daughters, one has Down's syndrome and they suspect that their other DD has autism though not diagnosed yet. They're 7 and 4. They've wanted a dog for a while and are seriously considering getting a puppy from a rescue abroad.

I don't know anything about dog breeding or rescues but this sounds like a bad idea to me. Could someone more clued up please explain to me why they shouldn't do this (or if my gut is wrong explain to me why they should!) so that next time I see her I can bring it up in conversation without her feeling attacked. Many thanks.

pS the rescue from abroad did much more thorough home checks and after checks than either of the U.K. rescues I’ve used. They also had a fantastic online Facebook community for back up and support. They certainly didn’t make any money from it, it was all about helping the dogs. You must have a heart of stone to see how those dogs are kept and still think people shouldn’t help. You’ll also find a lot more dogs there because they’re saving the abandoned dogs from over the border in Ukraine.

I’ve got 2 rescue dogs from abroad and I wouldn’t do it if I was your friend either. These dogs don’t just slot in they take a hell of a lot of work. Depending where they come from they also can’t travel under a certain age so you run the risk of getting a typically naughty puppy when the socialisation window has closed.

for experienced dog owners they can be such a rewarding option but for a young family as their first dog - terrible idea. Better to buy a puppy from a reputable breeder, then they know the dogs whole history

My friend got one from Spain. Incredibly reactive, sky high prey drive, is 4 now and can never go off lead. She has had trainers, behaviourists etc, spent a fortune.

Hi OP,

I work for one of the rescues well known for bringing dogs from abroad and happy to chat to you to ease your concerns.

I have two from abroad, one I got as a puppy, one as an adult with years of abuse. Both perfect pups who I adore. The most behavioural issue I’ve had is that the adult one loves a bark. But that’s not an issue as we trained her. I’m currently laying in bed sick, one dog on my feet, the other getting ready to jump on me in 9 minutes as she does every time to feed her.

There's a lot of positive posts from people who don't say if they have DCs.
Will the four year old want to walk the dog in cold rainy weather? When is she going to have time say half an hour a day (at least imv) to spend training dog?

My issue with rescues from abroad is that they're seen as the "easier" option than a UK rescue or a "cheaper" option than a breeder. That's not the right reason to adopt from abroad. It's a complete lottery whether you'll get a dog that can cope in a family environment.

If you adopt from abroad, any puppy will be no less than 4 months old, you won't get an 8 week old puppy as that's illegal to bring in that young. If you adopt from abroad you've really got to want a dog from that particular country, NOT because it's "easier".

There are some excellent rescues abroad, there's also a whoooole bunch of dodgy ones and ones that are fronts to puppy farms. The demand for dogs from abroad has developed a "market" for them. If they don't have any back up support in the UK, beware. I'd also be super wary of rescues that deliver dogs straight from the transport van to your home - it's much better to have the dogs in foster homes in the UK for a month or two first to let them decompress and see their true nature.

Basically, adopting from abroad can be as much of a minefield as buying a puppy or adopting from a UK rescue.

And bringing a dog into a home with two young children, especially two children with special needs, is going to be hard. Even the most stable dog can be rattled by meltdowns or stimming or being disturbed when eating or sleeping.

There's a lot to consider.

My issue with rescues from abroad is that they're seen as the "easier" option than a UK rescue or a "cheaper" option than a breeder. That's not the right reason to adopt from abroad. It's a complete lottery whether you'll get a dog that can cope in a family environment.

If you adopt from abroad, any puppy will be no less than 4 months old, you won't get an 8 week old puppy as that's illegal to bring in that young. If you adopt from abroad you've really got to want a dog from that particular country, NOT because it's "easier".

There are some excellent rescues abroad, there's also a whoooole bunch of dodgy ones and ones that are fronts to puppy farms. The demand for dogs from abroad has developed a "market" for them. If they don't have any back up support in the UK, beware. I'd also be super wary of rescues that deliver dogs straight from the transport van to your home - it's much better to have the dogs in foster homes in the UK for a month or two first to let them decompress and see their true nature.

Basically, adopting from abroad can be as much of a minefield as buying a puppy or adopting from a UK rescue.

And bringing a dog into a home with two young children, especially two children with special needs, is going to be hard. Even the most stable dog can be rattled by meltdowns or stimming or being disturbed when eating or sleeping.

There's a lot to consider.

Whoops, Mumsnet went nuts, didn't mean to post twice.

I know lots of people with foreign rescue dogs including myself and there has been zero difference in issues compared to the ones with british dogs

Personally I would never rescue from abroad, though I know many people manage it quite successfully.

I think it's one thing to take a risk when you're a lone adult or there are no children in the home, but adopting an unseen dog from overseas with young children and other pets in the house is so unfair on everyone and it has the potential to go so, so wrong.

I have a 6 month old romainian rescue and 3 weeks in she has already learnt her name, sit, stay, bed and paw. She was housetrained in a week and has started to walk on a lead. She is the brightest dog I've ever had and i've had labs and collies. She loves my kids and a short sharp "shush" has quickly cured her of barking at passers by. She loves other dogs.

We had no idea she was romainian but applied to a uk rescue who told us she was part of their last rescue from kill shelters. She came fully vaccinated, wormed, with a pet passport and they will check in monthly with us for a year.

There's an awful lot of prejudice against overseas rescues. Sure they might have problems but so might any rescue. Our last rescue came from a breed specific rescue and took 2 years to train!

Your friend needs their brains examining.

Even if they were PTS because of say cancer or something? 😧

How much is the purchase price, sorry I mean rehoming fee, from the puppy farm, sorry I mean rescue?

DS1 has complex special needs. He was 10 when we got our dog, who is his unofficial support dog. We got a pedigree Labrador puppy from a breeder who was as reputable as we could find and who seemed at least to be completely honest re breeding history etc. We felt that we couldn’t risk going down the rescue route because it would have been disastrous for both of our boys and the pup if the pup hadn’t been able to cope with our family life and the adoption hadn’t worked out.

I got a rescue from Romania a few years ago. Not a puppy, about 2-3 years old.
Was about £250 - she came with passport, health check all vaccinations and was neutered.

The rescue still keep in touch, lovely people, they rescued her from hell for me.
My god she is the most amazing dog, so gentle and loving. Slotted into my life and routine no worries (a lot easier than a pure bred puppy I'd previously had).
She loves children and is great fun.

Don't listen to scare mongers - I am reasonably experienced dog owner, and very confident around dogs, but I'm not very organised or strict and I couldn't have handled re-training a staffy or Husky from a UK rescue place, but my little dog is fab and doesn't take the piss so it works!

I know a couple of people who have taken foreign rescues.

One friend got two puppies from Greece, they are beautiful dogs and she's had no issues with them at all.

Another friend got a dog from Macedonia who had a bad start and is understandably nervous but doing well.

It can work out but I think I'd want to be sure the rescue I went with were reputable and happy to support with any issues.

It’s a gamble you may be lucky but on the other hand you may get a highly reactive one who needs a lot of time and training. I doubt your friend will have much time on her hands/strength of mind with two small special needs children. I can understand why your friend wants to do it as if they get a good one it will be wonderful for all of them.

I think there's a huge difference between adopting an overseas dog from a UK shelter that's been vetted and that you can meet beforehand, and adopting straight from abroad where you often collect the dog straight from the airport, or they transport it straight to you.

My friend has one from Romania and I have never known such a traumatised dog. Even after 2 years it is scared of everyone, runs away and barks. Clearly mistreated when it was a young pup, it hates men.

I have never been able to stroke it. I think you don't know what you are getting, that worries me.

Of the people I know with overseas rescue, all but one have needed input from a behaviourist. That’s not cheap! Is your friend ready for that expense?

it would also be worth pointing her to the thread a few down from yours. www.mumsnet.com/talk/the_doghouse/4538155-rescue-dog-barking-growling-at-dc

It's such a lottery. On the basis of the overseas rescues I know or have known locally, I'd say you have about a 25% chance of an easy, healthy dog after about 6 months.

We had an ex-street dog when I was a kid, who was a lovely dog, so this is not automatic prejudice speaking.

My friend got a dog from a Bulgarian rescue a few years ago. He’s a lovely little chap now but my goodness was he hard work when they first got him. Absolutely terrified and refused to get out of his crate for days and days. They had to carry the crate into the garden, lift him out for a wee and then he’d be straight back in again. Poor thing.
My friend has spent a lot of time working with him and her teenage children to get him to a trusting and happy dog.
For your friend OP, a first timer with two children with special needs this seems an unwise decision.