For weeks we have searched rescue centres for a youngish family dog. We've tried RSPCA, Battersea, Dogs Trust, Many Tears, Bordercollie Trust, Collie rescue, local rescues, much less local ones

[Slowslowreader]

Please can some one think of anything that might help. The last two I spoke to said they had absolutely nothing in but young dogs with behavioural problems (often lockdown related) and big breed dogs/ greyhounds. We have such a dog shaped hole in this house. We'd love to fill it. Has anyone any suggestions please?

Have you contacted Hope Rescue and Brecon Animal Rescue? Both frequently have collies in. A friend has had two dogs from Hope and another has visited Brecon and rated it well.

I know you have tried Border Collie Trust, but they have Bastian available in case he has been added since you last checked. He has come from a family home, so he is suitable for children aged 6 and above and has had some training, so there is a chance he may be suitable for you.

Chesterfield RSPCA have a collie cross in. He is a collie lurcher, though, and I know you wanted to avoid Lurchers, but he is young and has such a lovely write-up, good with dogs and primary aged children.
https://chesterfield-rspca.org.uk/jack-d2024010/

There's loads of dogs like this on pets4homes or gumtree if you don't have any luck with rescues. Not saying I agree with people selling their dogs when they realise they can't look after them but I know a few people that have bought under similar circumstances as they struggled to rescue and they ended up with a really nice dog.

www.pets4homes.co.uk/classifieds/qk3cwrfpo-11-month-old-border-collie-bitch-preston/?pmg_source=share

www.pets4homes.co.uk/classifieds/fdfka318c-10-month-old-chocolate-and-white-border-collie-doncaster/?pmg_source=share

Another selling due to work commitments 🙄

Thank you. I've just checked, and he's reserved. I keep looking at little Meg on their site. She's deaf, and I have absolutely no experience of that. I wish I still had my old collie, she looked after everyone, dogs and people both. She would have taken her under her wing.

Rehabilitated collies in Wales. I know someone who adopted one through them , lovely dog .
Greenacres, in Wales is also great and they have a variety of dogs . There are some young dogs on there at the moment .

Deaf dogs aren't too hard really - and Meg is young (I just had a look). That means one thing; you have lots of time to correct any bad behaviour as she's still relatively young. It's much harder with a dog that's 2-3years+. It says she's friendly (of course you can check that). But altogether if the only issue is that she is deaf, that's manageable.

At her age she can easily learn hand signals. You just don't give her a 'verbal' command when you teach her to sit/down etc. Use your hands. I'm sure you probably already did with previous dogs (just without realising it).

IME deaf dogs rarely wander and if she is nervous she's likely to stick close. Keep her on a long line until you're 100% sure and where possible hire an enclose field to teach her to stick close.

Honestly, if her being deaf is the only thing putting you off then that's
not much. Deaf dogs make wonderful dogs and I think the fact she's a Collie will work in your favour here tbh - she's smart. She'll learn fast. Its worth enquiring about her at least.

I couldn't see if someone else has mentioned this but The Kennel Club have really helped me in the past. Try this?
Kennel Club Find a Puppy or Rescue

The children would need to be 8 or above but, if so, would Toffee fit the bill?
Toffee - 4 year old male Collie Cross Shetland Sheepdog available for adoption (dogsblog.com)

There is also Lulah, 14 month old collie cross, on the same site who looks adorable but no info on children.

You might think again about greyhounds, but try a breed specific rehoming kennels as you can get told a lot of nonsense about them from the generic ones. They come in a variety of sizes and many can be taught recall successfully, so can be walked offlead. If you squint a bit, some even look like short haired sheepdogs…..

Dogs needing a home - Last Chance Animal Rescue - a charity to rescue animals

Kingsley, collie x terrier can't live with children but visiting children might be ok.

Or Maximus, collie x saluki. He is dog reactive (barking at other dogs is all that is mentioned) but it might not be too much of a problem in a rural area with lots of space?

I don't really see the issue with manytears. If they didn't take those dogs they'd simply be killed. The issue of puppy mills desperately needs to be addressed but I don't see that sacrificing the dogs as a way to do it. Those running those operations are heartless bastards who I hope find a special place in hell. As far as I see MT is a properly run rescue.

Would you consider a rough or smooth collie rather than a border?
collielife.com sometimes have adults available.
It’s a website loads of breeders use so the dogs are often ones they’ve kept to show or breed and it hasn’t worked out, rather than proper rescues. Some people also put their own collies on their (it’s how my sister found hers - the family were emigrating and put him up on there.)

There’s a four year old smooth needing a home at the moment.
https://www.collielife.com/roughandsmoothcollieadultsforsale.html

If you're open to different or mixed breeds, this is a highly reputable though small rescue that rehomes all over the country. They only publicise dogs ready for rehoming but they generally have several more being assessed in foster at any one time. https://starfishdogrescue.co.uk/dogs-looking-for-a-home

Llys Nini have a collie/Kelpie cross.

following on from @Dbirk comment re the killing of unwanted breeding bitches / stud dogs / unsold puppies,

if anyone thinks / believes that some / most of these puppy farms will take the unwanted dogs along to the vet to be pts,

they are mistaken.

the bad ones will dispose of the dogs in other methods.

which I am not going into here, as that would totally spoil this thread which is all about finding a dog for the OP.

no, I do not work for / have not worked for Many Tears.
no I do not / have not worked for any animal rescue.

yes I have volunteered many years ago for a small animal rescue.

yes I have fostered for Many Tears - years ago
yes I have adopted from Many Tears - 3 times.

and yes I think Many Tears may very well have a suitable collie for the OP,

and yes I think the OP should be eligible to adopt from them - having asked the OP re children / garden / working.

Valgrays Border Collie Rescue in Surrey.

Try Protecting Preloved Border Collies. They are on Facebook, and my last collie came from there. Good people.

Toffee the sheltie cross looks perfect.

Generally, I think we're seeing the after effects of lockdowns not allowing dogs to be properly socialised or giving them separation anxiety.

Thank you all very much. We are following up new rescue centres and new dogs from here (Toffee!) and it's been very useful altogether.

Have you put an application in at Dogs Trust? They keep your application for three months and not all their dogs go on the website, especially not the "easier" ones.

Unfortunately for Collies, behaviour is going to be the most common reason for them to be signed over 😥people getting Collies for their looks and brains, then realising too late they are not Collie people and either signing over immediately, or leaving the dogs in inadequate surroundings so their behaviour just gets worse and worse, and THEN signing them over.

@Slowslowreader

Please will you come back and update us ?

Preferably with a photo :)

It might be worth talking to local dog trainers, when our last dog died and we weren't going to get another, our dog trainer phoned us about a dog that she had in one of her classes. The owner had had a change in circumstances and was looking to rehome. He was perfect for us which was why she phoned

Yes, I will. Nothing I would rather do. Thank you for your help.