Adopting a dog - getting nowhere

[RM2013]

We have a 15 month old working cocker spaniel that we have had since he was 11 weeks. We feel like the time would be right to add another dog into the family. WCS is our first ever family dog and we wanted a puppy. However we’ve done a lot of thinking and feel we would like to rescue next time.
ideally another spaniel as we love the breed and would like one a similar age so that they would hopefully match energy levels.

We’ve been looking for a while now and have applied a few times and never hear back.

we approached a local rescue that were looking for homes for some puppies but were told they wouldn’t consider us as our dog hasn’t been neutered. We don’t intend to breed and would only apply for another male or a spayed female but they said their blanket policy is they will never re home a dog if the resident dog isn’t neutered (even if the dog being re homed is neutered).

Can anyone share any positive stories? We do work (part time) and explained that there is someone at home a lot of the time.

It seems as if you can only adopt if you’re at home full time, live rurally with a massive garden and your resident dog is neutered

feeling a bit disheartened- will keep trying over the next few months but suspect we may have no option but to get a puppy from a breeder if we want a second dog.

We aren’t sure about neutering - wanted to wait at least until he reaches full maturity but would be guided by our vet.

I completely understand that rescues have to ensure the best homes for their dogs and I understand their stance on neutering but feels a shame that we have a kind and loving home that feels isn’t good enough for their criteria

We adopted a dog from a charity overseas (Spain) due to restrictive UK shelter adoption guidelines. It’s been the best experience I could have hoped for. We’ve had her 7 years now and I don’t know who was luckier, her or me

I have considered this. We do ideally want the same breed which I realise restricts us a little. What puts me off slightly is that a close friend adopted from an overseas rescue around the same time we had our pup and she had a horrendous time. The dog arrived riddled with worms and a raging ear infection despite the rescue saying she had been treated. The dog had never lived in a house and it’s taken her a long time to get her socialised. She’s a very experienced dog owner but says she regrets it because the rescue terrorizes her elderly dog. She’s done lots of training and socialising and used a behaviorist to try and help

Why don't you get your dog neutered?

Neutering aside, I would strongly recommend you wait until your dog is fully matured before you introduce another.

That's why we adopted from overseas too. I am sure it's a risk if the charity isn't recommended to you but I was recommended by a friend who had adopted from them and became friends with the organisers so I was confident it would be a good organisation and it was. Absolutely no regrets about getting our dog! The agency is animal angels global. www.dogsblog.com/author/animal-angels-global/

I'd give it a year and neuter first. My previously very chilled bitch became very much harder work around the age of your dog, and the hard work is continuing now at 18m+. My friend's extremely laid back boy became an absolute nightmare around intact males overnight and it continued until he was neutered, and the training work now is pretty intense to get back to where they were.

Some of these shelters rules are bonkers but I don't think this one is. Personal experience aside, the trainers I've worked with have always advised waiting until at least 2 to get another

You should get your dog neutered. If it gets the scent of a bitch you’ll never get it back unneutered. Bitches shouldn’t be spayed until after their first season - so the onus is on dog owners to be responsible.

TBH from a fostering point of view (and as someone very involved in rescuing and rehoming), I wouldn’t give you a dog. Not having an eligible dog neutered - behavioural, studding or show plans aside - is poor pet ownership in my view and not the mark of a responsible owner because there’s no reason not to neuter your dog. That being said I foster for and adopt from charities with no issue finding new owners - so my/their standards are probably significantly higher than somewhere like the RSPCA. TBH for any good charity you’d want to re-home from, neutered or spayed existing dogs in the home is a basic criteria (along with no kids under 5)

That aside, 15 months is too young to get another puppy. A puppy or rescue on top
if an existing dog isn’t twice the work - it’s ten times the work.

I agree that it’s too early to introduce another dog yet.

Have you tried this rescue?

spanielaid.co.uk

I can fully understand not neutering a dog until he is fully mature, physically and socially (I have neutered a bitch at 4 and a half, because she took that long to grow up). It's a shame rescue organisations aren't more understanding of this.

From what I have seen, people who obtain dogs from breed-specific overseas rescues do better than others. Within the UK, Spaniel Aid and English Springer Spaniel Welfare both seem to have good reputations.

I'd concur with what lots of PP have said and let your dog grow up a bit more. I'd not be keen to add another dog until I'd got recall etc nailed down with the first one.

As others have said, you need to wait before adding another dog to the mix.
I think leaving a male dog intact or at least waiting until he's fully mature before neutering is a valid choice. Like all medical procedures neutering has its benefits and possible downsides.

Wanting another spaniel is probably your biggest hurdle if you intend to rescue, they don't exactly turn up often compared to other breeds, and those that do tend to have problems like separation anxiety, which wouldn't work with your set up.

That said, they come up more in Irish rescues, and some will ship the dogs to the UK mainland (assuming you're in the UK).

Totally agree with all of this.

I'm also involved in dog rescue and I get fed up with the line that rehoming criteria is too strict.

* •*I can fully understand not neutering a dog until he is fully mature, physically and socially (I have neutered a bitch at 4 and a half, because she took that long to grow up). It's a shame rescue organisations aren't more understanding of this.

Totally agree with this. I neutered my spaniel at 3.5 years old and, if I am being frank - keeping him under control around an in season bitch was pretty easy. It just took proper observation of my dog. He always indicated when he could smell one and this meant I kept him on lead or clipped him back on sharpish.

There are countries where neutering is not legal without medical reason and they seem to manage to avoid uncontrolled breeding.

is poor pet ownership in my view and not the mark of a responsible owner because there’s no reason not to neuter your dog.

There are lots of good reasons not to neuter, especially for males. It's laughable that someone making scientifically backed decisions on when to neuter would be considered a poor pet owner.

Agree with @DataPup largely. But all things considered I think the best option for most dogs living as pets is to be neutered and reasonably early. But it's not necessarily in every individual dog's best interest. Reasonably often, it's not, and especially not if it's done very early.
Irresponsible dog owners need to have their dog neutered. With responsible ones it much more nuanced.
I must admit I'd struggle with the decision but I have only ever had/would ever have 'rescue' dogs so it takes the decision out of my hands.

I think your best option will be to get another pup tbh.
You'll really struggle to get a rescue and you are absolutely doing the right thing in waiting to neuter or even deciding not to neuter.
Unfortunately there are so many people that are uneducated in the subject and still think that bitches should be done straight after first season and dogs at 6 months
Only you know how well trained your current dog is and if you're ready for a second.
Enjoy

Thanks for the responses. For those that have asked why I haven’t neutered my dog yet - I’m not saying we won’t more that I want to make sure we make the right decision at the right time. We don’t intend to breed so that’s definitely not the reasoning but I’ve read so many negative things about their behaviour changing or other issues arising from neutering too young. after. I need to do more research and will be guided by our vet but I’m a first time dog owner just trying to navigate the process and wanted some kind guidance .

It seems like the general consensus is that it’s not a good idea to add a dog to the family. Just makes me feel sad that we are seen as poor owners 😢

Cocker spaniels are not one of the breeds that benefits from later neutering. The American Kennel Club commissioned research into this.

New Study Updates Spay-Neuter Timeline for Popular Dog Breeds (akc.org)

fvets-11-1322276-t001.jpg (1377×1909) (frontiersin.org)

There are breeds for which it recommends no earlier than 12 months, no earlier than 24 months, and for a couple simply leave intact. Cocker spaniels are not amongst the breeds who benefit from delay.

@wetotter thank you - this is really useful

Blackretrieverx rescue seem to get a lot of spaniels in and are very reasonable to deal with. You can find them on Facebook.

@RM2013 I can't see any issue with you getting another dog when your current one has reached maturity and you have a proper idea of his personality and adult behaviour.

At 15 months he's not out of adolescence and there could still be plenty of challenges heading your way in terms of behaviour.

I fostered and then adopted my springer through Spaniel Assist Rescue and Rehome. You can find them on Facebook.

OP wants to know why she was told no to being allowed a rescue. I explained why. Ultimately by 15 months a cocker could be neutered - unless there are behavioural issues. If there aren’t then there’s no reason not to? If OP wants to rescue, she’ll have to do it - no good rescue will give her a dog otherwise. Spaniel Aid certainly won’t

I think it's very odd not to rehome a neutered dog to a home because an entire dog lives there.

I never spayed my red setter bitch, as she was a silky coated breed. I thought spaniels were silky coated as well? There are various reasons to not neuter or spay; it doesn't mean you're going to breed your dog. The subject seems to have become ideoligical rather than factual.