advice needed - want to rehome a rescue

T

tillyd

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 March 2007
Messages
434
Visit site
Hi, just looking for some advice. We very very sadly had to have our 15 yr old lurcher pts yesterday. I'd had her since she was 6mths (rescue dog) so am devastated, but have surprised myself by wanting to at least investigate getting another dog already. I feel guilty that I am thinking about this already - not what I expected to feel at all.

Practically speaking it wouldn't be sensible for me to take something on till later this year as I am pregnant, due end of this month. But I would like to investigate, give myself time to decide what sort of dog we want etc.

Am looking for advice as to a) what age dog is best to look at when i will have a small baby, plus a 3 year old in the house? I assume younger the better? - puppy age even?

b) what rescue orgs to look at other than Dogs Trust, Blue Cross? I would like another lurcher but am open to any breed as long as temperament is right.

Any advice welcomed and please don't be harsh about me thinking about this already, as am likely to burst into tears! thanks.
 
Sorry for the loss of your dog.
People handle grief differently so there is no right or wrong. I had another dog when my boy died which made it easier in some ways as we still had our routine, so can totally understand why some opt to get another dog soon after. It's been 5 months and we've just adopted another dog, but had circumstances been different i think we'd of adopted sooner tbh.

It sounds like your being sensible with your impending new baby to wait a while. I don't think you have to go with a puppy because of the children and they can need a lot of extra work, but perhaps look for a rescue that fosters it dogs in homes that can give better assessment of its character & behaviour around kids.

These lurcher/sighthound rescues home nationwide & use foster homes for some dogs http://www.lurcher.org/llink/forum/index.php, http://www.greyhoundgap.org.uk/
http://www.grwe.com/. There are other lurcher/sighthound specific rescues though not sure of your location.
 
Sorry for the loss of your pal.
Its always hard to know when its the right time to get a new dog. The first time i didn't want another dog for months the second time it was a few days after.

I would say you want a child proven adult dog NOT a puppy. Puppy's nip and barge into people. A child proven adult would be perfect.

As for breed it depends what sort of exercise ect you can give a dog,
 
thanks both for being understanding, i'm not going to make any decisions whilst its all so fresh, but is helping me to think about something to fill the hole left.

Interesting you think an older dog - I guess i thought with a puppy it would be easy for it to adapt and it would know its place in the pecking order straight off? - so no trouble with it being dominant with the children? The 3 yo is very good with dogs and knows when to leave them alone etc and new baby will be taught the same.

I know puppies are very hard work - possibly too much to sensibly take on with horses and children around too. Ideal age, purely thinking about convenience would be about 6mths again.

Any other views?
 
The dominance and pack theory is rubbish sorry. Its been dispelled time and time again.

You should get a read the book "The culture clash"

I think your best age would be 2 and above.
 
Getting a puppy with a youngster and a baby would be...just like having an extra baby. Seriously, I don't have kids and I've had to proof the whole house, all soft furnishings out of reach :p, you'd be making a rod for your own back in my opinion.
It's a nice idea that kids and puppies can grow up together but it is far from idyllic sometimes.
There are loads of kid friendly greyhounds and lurchers, from older puppies/youngsters up, tested by reputable, experienced rescue homes who are in real need of a loving home.
 
I'm so sorry to hear about your loss.

Greyhound Gap are well worth contacting when you are ready. They are open to rehoming to homes with kids, their dogs are fostered so full behavioural assessements made and they absolutely pride themselves on matching the right dog to the right owner. I've homechecked for them for years and have yet to hear a rehoming go wrong, they are a fabulous rescue ran by people who really care. Lurchers or greyhounds are the perfect family dog, lazy when you want them to be but happy to be on the go all day too.
 
thanks everyone you've been really helpful. i'll have a look at those links and will be openminded about age.

i do agree a puppy would probably be biting off more than i can chew at the moment. i guess the key thing is finding a dog where its been assessed with children etc. Was so spoilt with our lurcher - she had the most amazing temperament - she really opened my eyes to lurchers/greyhounds - would never have considered one before her, probably just because i was a bit of a purebred dog snob!

thanks again
 
Really sorry about loosing your old Lurcher, but you should definitely NOT feel guilty about thinking about another, we all deal with things differently and if thinking about another helps then you are doing nothing wrong!!

I would second the recommendation for GRWE - I recetly got my lurcher girl from there, they are incredibly supportive and will match you up. I now volunteer and do home checks for them. You can always let them know you may be interested down the line and get yourself on file, so as and when you're ready they can start looking out for suitable dog for you...
 
Good luck with finding a new dog:)

As others have said there is no 'right' time to get a new dog as everyone is 'ready' at a different time - I managed to go a whole 3 weeks between my old spangle Kira and St Sweep:) but that was mainly because he was only 5 weeks when I saw him so had to wait;)

It is worth talking to the breed specific rescues ie Greyhound Rescue or The Labrador Rescue etc etc as time and time again they have a better understanding of the DOGS neds than the RSPCA and other rescues who are more hung up on fencing, gardens etc etc - there are plenty of stories on here on people being denied dogs by the RSPCA etc (myself included) when the breed rescues have seen the home as a whole and the benfit to the individual dog:)

Sorry was wandering off on a rant there about stupid rescue rules......:o
 
funnily enough a puppy doesnt know its place at all. thats half the battle :)

good luck in your search, if it makes you feel better im already looking for replacements for my terrier...shes still ALIVE :o

i know full well i wont be able to live without her unless i have something similar to cuddle.
 
Hi everyone again.

Just wondering if anyone knows any rescues (pref lurcher specific but anyone really) that will rehome to families with young children? So far not having any luck getting my name on the books with anyone at all because they won't consider me as I have children under 4yrs. :(

Even when I explain I am in no rush but just want to get my name on lists, as i know full well i need a very specific type/temperament of dog which may take a while to find/come up.
 
Labrador Rescue def do as my SIL got her Lab when her baby was about 9 months

I know that's not a lurcher though.......
 
thanks all. I think GRWE is one of the ones I'm waiting to hear back from (sorry have contacted so many!).Greyhound Gap were a definite no and were quite sure I wouldn't find any rescue that would.

Am now considering a lab, as breed societies seem to be more willing, so thanks for that tip - had one lab rescue so far say they would rehome to me. Feeling bit more hopeful!

Am in Oxon by the way.
 
I'm surprised sure some of the greyhound rescues home with young kids as we see a lot of young families at events, though the RGT polices vary by branch anyway. Lurcherlink also have a page on site for other rescues/private rehomes to advertise available dogs. http://www.lurcher.org/llink/forum/viewforum.php?f=14&sid=34abd2775bf13c0d61bd56caca08f463

http://www.lurcher.org.uk/
http://www.southernlurcherrescue.org.uk/
http://www.greyhoundandlurcherrescue.co.uk/dogs.aspx
http://www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk/Branches/ - mainly greys but some also home lurchers

http://www.dogsblog.com/
http://www.dogpages.org.uk/forums/index.php?showforum=29
http://www.rescueremedies.co.uk
 
Just updating in case anyone else in similar situation finds this thread and this info helps - GRWE, Lurcher Link and Lab Rescue will all consider rehoming with very young children as long as the dog is right. So, feeling much better about everything - thank you all!
 
tillyd said:
thanks all. I think GRWE is one of the ones I'm waiting to hear back from (sorry have contacted so many!).Greyhound Gap were a definite no and were quite sure I wouldn't find any rescue that would.

Am now considering a lab, as breed societies seem to be more willing, so thanks for that tip - had one lab rescue so far say they would rehome to me. Feeling bit more hopeful!

Am in Oxon by the way.
Click to expand...

Well my SIL Lab came from London and they live in West Sussex, so good chance your area may be the same one.

Good luck! :)
 
I did exactly the same as you, lost my little whirrier, Jemma, below:

jemmalookingatmeonchair.jpg


She had cancer of her urethra and at the age of 10 we had to have her put down, (just over a year ago) I was heartbroken and still am but I found I missed having a running dog despite having 2 other rescue dogs of other breeds/types.
So, we searched and searched and found Daisy:

Daisysnoozing.jpg


She is a lovely little girl, nervous as she was abandoned and left to her own devices but we love her, she is not a replacement for Jemma, she was a one off but it lessoned the pain a little and gave me something to concentrate on.
Another couple of rescue sites for sight hounds and longdogs are:

http://www.lurchersos.org.uk/

http://www.scrupleswhippetrescue.co.uk/default.asp?textpage=home

You'll find your dog and you will KNOW the right one at the right time when it comes along!
Oz :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top