Tips for rehoming applications?

[ThrowawayName987]

Been on the lookout for a rescue/rehome dog for about three months now. We have two children (aged 4 and 6) but otherwise I think we're a good prospect - own home with a large garden, work from home, active lifestyle, not particularly fussy about breed etc.

I've applied for a number of promising-looking dogs and we arent getting any callbacks. Am I filling in applications wrong? Most of them are tick-boxes so I can't see where I'd add much detail in to really sell ourselves as a good family. Should I be adding in a whole bio somewhere?

I really, really don't want to buy a puppy but I can't see us getting a dog through rehoming. I know they're looking for the best home for the dog, and that chilld-friendly dogs must have loads of applicants to choose from, but I thought we were in a good position. Just wish I could ask for feedback - it's like applying for a job!

Any tips or advice from those with experience would be so appreciated.

What sort of rescues are you applying to? IME the big ones (RSPCA) etc are pretty awful about actually re-homing. Smaller, breed-specific ones, are easier to navigate and actually tend to want to re-home.

Smaller ones, including places like Spaniel Aid, actually ask for a tonne of information. DMum practically wrote her entire life-story to them when she applied to adopt (and was successful). I'd be very uncomfortable of re-homing from somewhere that only asked a few dozen questions that were yes/no and didn't give you a chance to expand. There should definitely be a section for you to talk about your experiences of dog ownership, what sort of life you can provide, and discuss your family circumstances at the very least.

That all being said, lots of rescues (and breeders) would certainly discount you based on not having just one, but two, young children.

I do a fair bit - tbh increasingly more and more - with my local Golden Retriever rescue. We get dozens, sometimes hundreds (the record is about 230 applications) of applications for one dog. If it's a choice between a family with young children, or a family with no children...we'll go for the family with no children every time. That's simply because so many of our dogs come to us because they have previously been in homes with children and it hasn't worked out - the dogs bitten, or it's been re-homed because the family couldn't give it what it needed anymore. We want to be certain their 'adoption' family is going to be their forever family.

Even Spaniel Aid, who I think can be a bit lax in regards to the age they'll let a family take a dog if they have children, won't give a dog to a family if a child is under five - and those are special cases and fantastically rare - most of the time you're looking at 12+.

@LandSharksAnonymous (amazing name!) thanks so much, this is really helpful. As disheartening as it is, I can totally see why families with children would be at the bottom of the pile, for all the excellent reasons you've listed.

We're trying a range of rescue organisations - big ones and smaller, local places. The only "success" I had was a local lady who seems to be bringing in dogs from Ireland - she wanted us to take an unneutered 5yr old bitch straight off the boat and charge us a £550 "adoption fee". Obviously I swerved that one!

I'm a bit stuck now though. We're desperate for a dog and I know we could provide one with a fantastic home - really up for continued training, a dog would come everywhere with us etc.

For so many reasons, I dont want a puppy. I'm starting to think that'll be our only option now though.

The rescue I volunteer for carries out home checks to see if people can offer a suitable home first. Only once that is passed are people allowed to apply for a dog. This way the dogs can be matched to the people's needs/desires/experience etc.
Having young children wouldn't necessarily exclude you from adopting, but it might limit which dogs were suitable for you.
The rescue is only active in Scotland though, so might not be of any help to you. And you might not want a spaniel. But I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't. 😂

Decide on a breed or two and apply to specific breed rescue organisations. I used to assess potential new homes and the form for the new home provider was very detailed. Look for rescues that don't use kennels but foster to a family home so the rescue gets a proper idea of what the dog is like.

I do Homechecks for a couple of rescues and children wouldn't rule you out necessarily.
The hyper child who kept trying to go through my bag while not listening to a word the parents did though.
The key for me is understanding what they are letting themselves in for and how their lives may change
Anyone who doesn't do a Homecheck nd then match you with a dog AFTER that should be avoided

I have had dogs since I was a child,a lot of border collies. Always 2 dogs,used to be 3 ,we applied to the RSPCA,we had quarter of an acre garden, backing onto fields,at the edge of a Surrey village, I worked nights,so there was always someone at home. DH dog, female was 16,so we thought she wouldn't be around much longer. Inspector looked at all the other animals,all good, put medium size garden,I told her 50 foot was a medium sized garden, she said we had to have a male,DH didn't want a male. She said you cannot have 2 females. Our DD was 10 they were happy with that. We ended up buying a BC puppy,6 months later was offered another BC puppy free,both bitches,no problem whatsoever. They had died one was almost 18, got a little toy, another BC. We tried all the rescues in England Ireland Scotland and Wales, plus specific BC rescue in Surrey,who didn't even answer.we now live on the edge of a village,10 minutes from the sea, plenty of woods, forests. 200 ft garden, not big enough,5.5 ft fence,got to be minimum 6 ft. Only dog, reactive to other dogs, people,cars, bikes,no visiting children youngest then was 12, 2 more now. I didn't trust the ads I need to get rid of my dog blah blah. We weren't fussy about the breed. One BC a year old,had never been on a lead. Ended up buying a puppy from a farm where we used to live. I understand from other dog walkers, this is why people adopt from abroad

@ThrowawayName987 what sort of dog breed would be your ideal?

Thanks so much everyone, this is giving me some hope back!

@LandSharksAnonymous we like labs, whippets, border terriers, or any tatty looking mongrel - doggy dogs! I'm afraid I'm a bit averse to spaniels (sorry @SpanielsGalore 😩) but I may be unfairly tarring them all with the 'neurotic and snappy' brush, based on the few i've known.

I've found a local labrador rescue with an epically long application form, so I'll give that a shot.

I would say phone up before filling in a whole form, and check about the children ages. We have been looking for the last few months and some rescues ruled us out completely based on children, some had blanket no under 12s but hadn’t specified that on the website, and some were open to younger children at their discretion. I can PM you the details of a rescue that will accept families with children on a case by case basis, if the South East is any good for you

I agree with all that's been said and the advice. What you're after is what is quite rare with rescues but does happen - a dog with known 'provenance' that's good with all humans. They're usually in res ue because the human/family that previously owned them was forced to give the dog up (these days that's often a couple sitting who cannot take the dog into rented or similar).

Our current dog is a 6 year old staffy-labrador cross who was brought up from being a puppy and adores every human on the planet, especially children of all ages. She came to us because her previous mum died very suddenly and completely unexpectedly (it still makes us sad to think of it and we never met her).

My advice is to contact small rescues and try to build a relationship, explaining what you can offer and the circumstances. With luck, they'll record your details and offer you a suitable dog when one arrives with them. You may have to be patient.

I’d try breed specific rescues as well.

If you are on FB try Labradors In need

4 years old is too young