Has anyone had a good experience with a rescue dog?

[Twoshoesnewshoes]

I’m having an interview today to discuss adopting a rescue dog.

she is 2, apparently house trained, okay to leave (although she won’t be left often, and then only for 2-3 hours), and good with cats.
Ive spoken to a few people who have ended up with unsociable, needy and anxious dogs and I’m a bit worried.

we have had dogs before and I was brought up with having dogs.

Absolutely. We got ours at 1yr old, came fully house trained. She was off lead within a week and everyone loves her.

Good grief. I haven't read all of this thread. As usual, it has descended into madness.
I have had over a dozen rescue dogs. Mainly German shepherd's. Every single one walked straight through the door, got on its bed and went to sleep. Never any trouble. Also had greyhounds, staffing, collies.
Rescued dogs don't live as long as a puppy, if that makes sense. You have missed out on a few years of its life.
My last one died suddenly. I was devastated and decided to have a puppy.
I got him from a kennel club approved breeder. Visited the kennels. Met the siblings and parents. He came with a puppy pack, vaccinated, wormed, fleaed and had been tested for hereditary diseases. I was also given his inbreeding coefficient.
Irresponsible cruel breeder. I don't think so! They breed one litter a year. Her retired broods live in the house.
If you are looking fir a puppy look on kc website.
I have had rescues from the dogs trust, blue Cross, German shepherd rescue and local dogs home. All are fussy where they will rehome.
I applied to many tears. Didn't get back to me.
I know someone with Romanian dogs. Not for me. One of their dogs is a handful. The other is a sweetie. You don't know what you're getting

Check out the rescue thoroughly. They should be able to provide you with all the up to date documentation, passports/health tests, vaccs etc. Please check that they have been tested for Brucella Canis (BC) if from Romania and research it first. Do they provide RBU? (where they will take the dog back if it does not work out) Will they also offer ongoing support with any issues any problems you may have? Most importantly do they spend time managing your expectations and setting you up for success. Adopting is not all a bed of roses and it can take time and patience. If you can offer that you will have a wonderful dog and a wonderful bond. I'm on my 4th rescue. 2 UK 2 Eastern Europe. Love them to the moon and back and could never buy a puppy ever again. Good luck. xx

I haven't read all of this thread.

Then I urge you to do so @HarshbutTrue2. You might learn a thing or two.

I mean, you say that your breeder "breeds one litter a year". And how many years is the dog required to do that to earn its place in the breeder's house?
Living in kennels and producing a litter of pups every year doesn't much appeal to me but we're all different and perhaps it's a life you'd like.

We have had 8 rescue dogs over the years and only one was a problem. He had been badly abused and never socialised at all. He was kept in a barn and never let out, only fed occasionally and only given water occasionally.

We never managed to socialise him even with the help of dog trainers and behaviourists. We had him for 12 years and, to be honest, he was a pain as he could only be walked in really really quiet places where there were no or very few people and definitely no other dogs. He was just terrified of everything but very loving with us.

We lost him early last year and got a new rescue June last year. He has fitted in brilliantly although he does suffer from separation anxiety which we are working on and is quite clingy.

Back to Devon !

The nearest rescue to me in South Devon is Animals In Distress, has a quick look, they don't have many dogs today and none struck me as ' scruffy ' :)

Neighbours have adopted twice from Foredown Kennels, but
I understand any dogs they get in have been found as ' strays ' so their history is of course unknown and I don't believe they use fosterers.
Personally I wouldn't adopt from them.
Tho ' Furby ' looked scruffy and very sweet.

( I also did a search on Many Tears but the problem with them is only x amount of dogs can go as ' only ' dogs, and based on your suggestions of age and size I didn't find an only dog that would suit. Tho of course they get new dogs in every single day, and frequently have litters of puppies )

We got our little rescue in June last year and honestly she has been the best thing we have ever done. The rescue centre had little to no info 9n her other than they thought she was roughly 2 and a Frenchie mix. My youngest is autistic and she is such a calming soul for him.

She was wary to begin with and was incredibly anxious but now she is happy to sleep the morning away while I'm at work and doesn't make a scene. Just jumps up happily when I return 😊

We have a "retired" ex-racing greyhound and she's the best thing ever. We got her from a charity that fosters them first and does a full assessment of what their needs are and what type of home will be suitable (e.g., are they ok with small dogs, cats, children, are they likely to need a lot of support). They matched her to us based on our situation - it's been a very good experience and she is the most loving and gentle dog.

The breeder was kennel club registered. This means she is only allowed to breed one litter of pups a year per bitch. She had 2 bitches which were bred from on alternate years. A bitch is only allowed 4 litters in its lifetime and must retire from breeding aged 8.
The kennels were of high standard with sleeping quarters and a run. They were as good as the dogs trust kennels. Pups were allowed out to roam under supervision in a large grass paddock. They had been reared with children and well handled. They had been under veterinary supervision and had vaccinations and health tests. She was keeping a pup from the litter for herself. My pup was virtually house trained at 8 weeks.
There is a difference between a good breeder who chooses their stock carefully and breeds for quality and a back yard breeder or puppy farmer or even a family breeder who mates fluffy with bonzo who lives round the corner because it would be nice to have puppies, it would be a nice little earner and who cares about paperwork.
Luckily, I have the experience and intelligence to distinguish between the different types.

Have you tried dogs trust Ilfracombe? They have a westie and a Bichon frise available at the moment. They also have staffies which are good family dogs. They use Foster homes. It's worth ringing them for a chat and advice

We've had three rescue dogs and all have been lovely.

Thank you so much for joking in my search! It’s really helpful
yes it’s always the way, when I filter ‘can live with cats’ I get about two doggies left.

I did have a look yesterday! A Westie would be great - can it live with cats?

@OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon do you have any knowledge of break the chains Bulgaria, in Brixham?

No, I hadn't heard of them until now as just googled.

KC registration isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. And “stock”? Really? STOCK?
No, these dogs aren’t “stock”. They are living beings, with the average intelligence of an 2.5 yr old human. They feel pain and fear. Sleeping quarters and a run? What luxury!
I’ve adopted ex breeders from that type of kennel. I can assure you, they are a MESS.
Spend some time with some ex breeders from KC registered kennels. That might expand your “experience and intelligence”.

We’re on our second rescue dog. First one was perfect- no issues. Our current one is now 8 years old. We got her at 2years old. She’s reactive and very protective of me. However absolutely fab with her dog pals when she’s with the dog walker (3 times a week) and at kennels. We adore her though she can be a thug with posties, delivery drivers. We live in a rural location, land for her to roam in. We took her to classes and had some 1:1 with a specialist. The specialist was a bit scared of her tbh. Good luck!!

Breeders are first and foremost about money, not welfare. OK, maybe some breeders treat their dogs better than others, but the use of the term "stock" tells you that these are commodities to them, nothing more.

How much do they know about the people who come and buy their puppies? Do they home check? Enquire into people's circumstances before they sell them a puppy? Do they know many of their puppies have ended up abused, neglected or abandoned, or ended up having to be rehomed? Have they ever refused someone a sale because they were concerned about the buyer's ability to care for the dog? Do they take the dog back if the new owners can't cope or circumstances change, or are they like every other breeder out there that's contributing to the problem of too many dogs ending up needing rescue?

I have an interview next week about a little girl from Bulgaria
she is not scruffy 😂 looks a little bit wolfie- not sure of her size and temperament so I need to visit first.

Sadly not myself but I knowota of people who have rescue dogs and they're the best thing to happen to them.

And your experience of this is?
Yes, most good breeders will take a puppy back.
Yes, they will interview owners to see if they are suitable. Some smaller charities don't. I would be very wary of adopting an Eastern European dog that I hadn't even met.
You do not seem to have understood my post. I usually adopt from large dog charities. I visit their kennels before adopting. Do you understand that? I have visited several kennels, it can be dispiriting looking for the right dog.
I chose a pup because I was devastated about the loss of my rescue dog. Do you really understand that? Do you? Do you understand the devastation of losing a dog and being unable to go through the whole situation all over again? I don't think you do.
I always visited rescue kennels several times during the adoption process. I visited my puppy more than once. I saw the litter playing with kids. My family visited him to make sure we were all compatible. He has grown up to be the most handsome, sociable, intelligent dog. He goes to training club and is in the advanced class. Complete strangers walk up to me to tell me how lovely he is.
But in your tiny warped mind I am just an evil vicious bitch who once dared to buy a dog from a KC approved breeder. I suppose you want to ban the kennel club and crufts too.

DDog was very reactive with other dogs when we got her but that settled with sone training.

Shes still not keen on people outside of our family but that’s more if a breed trait than being a rescue.

Thanks @SleafordSods what breed is she?

5 rescues and several fosters, so yes I absolutely do understand a) the devastation of losing a dog and b) my experience is that breeders are in it for the money, and once they have it, they couldn't care less. And yes, KC and Crufts can do one, for many reasons.

I never said you were a vicious bitch and I don't think that. I'm sorry for the loss of your rescue dog and although it's not a choice I'd ever make to give money to a breeder, and I disagree with many things about commercial breeding, I do appreciate that rescuing again might have felt too painful. Whether I agree with it or not, breeders exist and I know people will use them and may have their reasons for choosing that route. I just won't ever encourage anybody to, because I don't think it is an ethical industry.

She’s a Miniature Smooth coated Dachshund.