Advice wanted on rehoming from rescues.

PinkFairy

PinkFairy

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As title really.

My husband and I have been see-sawing back and forth about possibly rescuing a dog from the RSPCA (have not yet looked at others).

Personally, I would rather just either buy a pup or look at potential studs. Hubby would rather rescue.

My reasons for being apprehensive are that we want to start a family soon and while we could cope with a pup (had our two since they were puppies) I'm not sure about a dog that has come from a rescue, don't get me wrong, I'm sure there's wonderful dogs that are fab with babies - I'm not trying to tar all rescue dogs with the same brush but it is a concern of mine that a rescue dog wouldn't be suitable.

Also, we have two girlies who have not been spayed. We've been talking about breeding them both someday so I'd rather not spay them just yet.

Can anyone offer any opinions/testimonials etc?

I'm sure I sound a complete numpty!
 
Just been watching my rescue dog roll about on the floor with a friend's young son, meet her new baby gently and generally behave like a star... this is the dog so soft I can lift him up so he can properly meet wheelchair users who make sudden moves and noises, and still his tail wags and he just wants to meet them. The dog who when someone else's toddler used his floppy ears to pull himself up and grabbed his waving tail (:eek:) simply looked long-suffering...:rolleyes:
 
Can I be nosey and ask why you're considering a third dog with 2 already (then 2 litters) and starting a family? Would you not be keeping any pups that you breed?
 
Sounds lovely Spud, like I say, I'm sure there ARE wonderfully behaved rescues, I'm just a worrier. :p

Mollichop, bit of a mix up there, we were talking of either breeding one of the dogs (definitely not both lol) or either buying a pup instead or rescuing a dog. Definitely not all at once though lol, just weighing up our options. :) As for keeping home bred pups...Well this is why I'm not overly keen, I don't think it would be practical for us to keep a whole litter and I'm not sure whether I would be able to just keep one of them.
 
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Phew, was thinking you must like having your hands full! :D

Don't think the baby/child thing should be too much of a worry as the 'testing' process is very good from well respected rescues I believe, and as long as the dog didn't feel pushed out then it should not cause resentment.

Any ideas on breeds you'd consider?
 
It took a bit of work to get him there as far as behaviour goes (still working on it in fact!), but his temperament has always been spot on and that is the main thing. Pick a dog with a good temperament and you are halfway there:)

A good rescue will be able to help you get the temperament that you need.
 
Most rescues won't rehome to a home with un-nutuered dogs. Also if you are honest and advise on your family plans they won't rehome to you either. I'd wait until you have had the planned child and then see if you are able to cope with another dog in the house. 3 dogs compared to 2 esp as the pack dynamics will be changable with addition of new dog/puppies AND possible child, is risky.

Also any good rescue dog is better assessed than any puppy you'll buy. We have experienced professionals who assess the dogs, alongside foster homes who can give an honest and full character assessement of the dog. All my dogs are rescues and apart from 1 would be perfectly wonderful family pets..the one that wouldn't?? Well he's the big fluffy poodle cross that most kids would adore to have as a pet..he'd rip their arms off if they nicked his toys so goes to show, don't judge a book by it's cover!!
 
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Lol! :)

Well my two are very welcoming, they tried very hard to make friends with my parents dog who was (and still is) very antisocial and refused to play nicely.

I'm open minded on breeds really, my husband has one or two favourites but I'm not fussy. :)
 
Spud - Thank you for the advice, will bear it in mind. :)

Cobgirlie - I did say that to my husband, I told him that due to our circumstances, we may not have a chance of being allowed to rehome a dog. Another reason why I think just buying a pup is better.
 
PinkFairy said:
Cobgirlie - I did say that to my husband, I told him that due to our circumstances, we may not have a chance of being allowed to rehome a dog. Another reason why I think just buying a pup is better.
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:D Now being rescue 100% I wouldn't agree!!! I think you should wait, and then get a nice older gentleman dog (castrated) from a rescue who will rehome with unspayed bitches who is proven with kids and just wants a loving home. The Oldies Club are one to look out on (don't be fooled....most are not at all 'oldies' on their site!!) ;)
 
I did actually spot an older dog who I fell in love with but I can't quite remember the ad, I think it said he would be happiest in an adult only home. I think we will end up waiting til next year before deciding, I just wanted to see if anyone had any advice on rehoming etc. :)
 
I have a two year old son and I recently added a third dog to our family. I actually decided to go with rescue in preference to a puppy because i couldn't face the thought of toilet training a puppy and a child at the same time lol plus I don't think it's fair on a puppy to have to deal with a baby. Also the dog I ended up with came from a home with small children and has far more patience with my son than the other two dogs :)
 
PinkFairy said:
Cobgirlie - I did say that to my husband, I told him that due to our circumstances, we may not have a chance of being allowed to rehome a dog. Another reason why I think just buying a pup is better.
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All rescues have differing criteria, there is one near here that is SO desperate for homes for the strays they take in that they have almost no criteria! Problem is I've seen alot of their dogs handed back in or picked up by other means stray, abandoned!! Rescue animals have already had one life that has ended up badly hence resulting in being in the centre, therefore the centres usually make sure their criteria are high for new homes to limit the possibility of the above happening, and I'm affraid that rehoming due to new baby is one of the top 5 reasons for rehoming an animal!

Agree with above that all rescue animals are temperament tested and some will have some history, i.e been brought up around young children etc, so you'd know if there'd be a problem here.

My advise would be to wait until baby is here and see how you cope, (hey for all you know you could end up with my surprise and have twins! where would that leave you!!?)

If you do decide to go for the purchase instead of the rescue, please bear in mind the aboption fee you pay at a rescue in the vast majority of centres will include neutering, vaccinations, microchipping etc, all of these you'd be having to payout for ontop of the purchase price of the new pup!
 
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Katie - It's just an idea, my hubby has always wanted to but never did. My nan and my mum used to breed dogs and show them too - I've always wanted to have a go at breeding.

Brownmare - Like I say though, it will probably be next year before we decide on what we want to do, I think you're right about it possibly not being fair on the pup to have to deal with a baby. And then for my two girlies to deal with a pup AND a baby, lol. :)
 
competitiondiva said:
All rescues have differing criteria, there is one near here that is SO desperate for homes for the strays they take in that they have almost no criteria! Problem is I've seen alot of their dogs handed back in or picked up by other means stray, abandoned!! Rescue animals have already had one life that has ended up badly hence resulting in being in the centre, therefore the centres usually make sure their criteria are high for new homes to limit the possibility of the above happening, and I'm affraid that rehoming due to new baby is one of the top 5 reasons for rehoming an animal!

Agree with above that all rescue animals are temperament tested and some will have some history, i.e been brought up around young children etc, so you'd know if there'd be a problem here.

My advise would be to wait until baby is here and see how you cope, (hey for all you know you could end up with my surprise and have twins! where would that leave you!!?)

If you do decide to go for the purchase instead of the rescue, please bear in mind the aboption fee you pay at a rescue in the vast majority of centres will include neutering, vaccinations, microchipping etc, all of these you'd be having to payout for ontop of the purchase price of the new pup!
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Thanks for the reply, I do appreciate it. :)

Will bear it all in mind. :D
 
As already suggested not many rescues would rehome when u are wanting to start a family because as suggested a huge percentage of dogs are rid og when someone falls preganant or has a baby then cannot cope (even though half did not bother to even try)

Also think hard re the breeding, Im sure u said they where staffs, the self and same breed that are packing rescues to the brim, and being destroyed daily for no fault of their own, other than they are over bred.
Aslo can you offer to take them back at any stage of their life and cope with a staff of any age/issues that u have sold, as to be a responsible breeder is to safe guard your produce, (not let the rescues have to take them in) when they become to boisterous and dont look so cute any more or have not been socialised, the 3 mains reasons staffs are discarded of.
There is alot more to breeding than simply "having a go" also health tests, need to be carried out
 
Please don't breed just to 'have a go' PF - as mentioned, there are tonnes of Staffs in rescue - would you be able to take any of the pups back if they didn't work out in their new homes? Or would you be OK with them going into already full-to-bursting rescues?

And didn't you say you had issues with your current bitches being hyperactive? It is very common for the bitch line to have a huge influence on pups.
I like dogs to have worked or shown a little to prove they are good examples of the breed and have all the relevant health tests that the breed needs.

The rescues here are, without wanting to sound dramatic, at critical point and I am sure in your area can't be that far behind.
Why not help them out, rather than add to it :)

Sorry if I sound harsh, but 'having a go' is not a reason to breed, IMO.
 
competitiondiva said:
All rescues have differing criteria, there is one near here that is SO desperate for homes for the strays they take in that they have almost no criteria! Problem is I've seen alot of their dogs handed back in or picked up by other means stray, abandoned!! Rescue animals have already had one life that has ended up badly hence resulting in being in the centre, therefore the centres usually make sure their criteria are high for new homes to limit the possibility of the above happening, and I'm affraid that rehoming due to new baby is one of the top 5 reasons for rehoming an animal!

Totally agree. We have two labs - one that we were given from a friend's sister, who couldn't manage the dog and a baby, the second came from a rescue centre - he is one year old, and we are his fourth home - all three others gave him up when they couldn't cope with pregnancy/new baby and a puppy. He is a lovely dog, despite having had three "thoughtless" homes in his infancy. He just needed the right amount of time and space - none of which he got as a pup in his "new parents" homes. So PLEASE think very carefully before you do get another dog/pup - buying a pup would not be an easy option at all...!!
Agree with above that all rescue animals are temperament tested and some will have some history, i.e been brought up around young children etc, so you'd know if there'd be a problem here.

My advise would be to wait until baby is here and see how you cope, (hey for all you know you could end up with my surprise and have twins! where would that leave you!!?)

If you do decide to go for the purchase instead of the rescue, please bear in mind the aboption fee you pay at a rescue in the vast majority of centres will include neutering, vaccinations, microchipping etc, all of these you'd be having to payout for ontop of the purchase price of the new pup!
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Thanks for the additional replies. :)

I didn't mean for my "have a go" comment to come across so carelessly, there's no way my husband or I would do something like breed a dog without doing our homework etc.

As for the dogs being hypo, yes, they did come across very excitable - well, one in particular, the other is much more laid back - and she's calmed down a lot, mostly due to the fact that both dogs get lots of interaction with me during the day and then my husband in the evenings. They're so much better now that they're using their energy up.

I know there's masses of Staffs in rescues, in the end, I stopped looking because it just felt so sad that there were so many. :(

Thanks again for all the replies, as I said before, we will most likely buy a pup when the time is right, just wanted some advice which I got and it's much appreciated. :D
 
Well firstly - massive thumbs up for taking the time out to think about this and consider the options.

If you do decide to take on another dog after baby has arrived and all is settled, please please do think of a staff who has been tested by the rescues. I have 2 rescue staffies myself and get involved occasionally to help with staffie welfare. As a rough guide - Battersea had to put down 3000 dogs last year, 80% were staffies. That is just one rescue stuffed to capacity. There are frequent calls with just some of the charities shown below who are taking in poundies - ie the dogs who have been in for only SEVEN days before they are on the PTS list - nearly always Staffie - and I didn't even mention Caylas rescue..

http://guildfordstaffords.org/home.htm - my boy came from them
http://www.happystaffierescue.org.uk/aboutus.html
http://poshpussrescue.org/default.aspx (yes was focused on cats but has opened their doors to Bullys in need - go and have a look at Janets DREADFUL video of staffies in bins having been put down
http://www.rescueremedies.co.uk/ - read their daily diary/blog for a real eye opener on running a rescue.

I have now had 3 rescues and previously we had bred (god the times when you bred from your staffie and had a waiting list of local people who knew the bitch and wanted a pup from her).., bought from a breeder.... but not now. When I had my rescues they were trialed with me, home/activity taken into consideration and I knew pretty much to the last degree what I was taking on as the dogs were either well tested or history known. When Blaze came to me, he met my staffie bitch several times and was tested (biggest test - would my bitch let him into the back of the car together!) and then finally came home for a 3 week trial with plenty of support, checks and advice.

My Brother in law bought a properly bred staffie KC reg pup as he wanted a puppy due to an elderly cat and his own allergy issues. Alfie was lovely, expensive and died aged 4 from a weak heart. He also broke my BIL's heart at the same time.
 
Just wanted to mention that even if you're after a pup don't discount rescues. I work for a large independant rescue in the north west and we have had FOUR litters in the past month or so, two staffy litters, some GSDs and a medium sized xbreed litter. We also regularly get dogs in under 6 months. We don't rehome with unneutered dogs or young children but not all rescues are the same.
Good luck with your search whatever you decide.
 
Thank you Luci07 and Pendlehog. :)

We will keep the rescues in mind, I know my husband would much rather go for a rescue, if we do decide to get another dog.

Baby will come first though (hopefully!) so all plans on hold til then.

Thanks again everyone. :)
 
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