Buying a trained dog/reputable organisations

[Bernster]

Hiya, can I get info and recommendations please on getting a trained dog as a family pet? OH and I are talking about getting a dog but we’ve not owned a dog for a long time. Neither of us are experienced with dog training but we do have a suitable home set up for a dog and are used to being around dogs. We were wondering if getting a trained slightly older dog ie not a puppy would be a good idea.

Are there reputable organisations that you can recommend, or can you give some tips on how can I check if someone is a good person to source a trained dog from.

We have a cat and I have horses (obv need a dog that’s going to be good around the cat) so we know how to be responsible owners. We’d obv still put in the time and effort to settle any new dog and ensure it continues to be well behaved but we’d like to skip the more intensive early stages and have someone who’s more experienced do that training correctly for us!

PS I’ve already put in an enquiry for a ‘failed’ guide dog (accepting that they sometimes have some health or behavioural issues) - waiting to hear back.

Thanks!

 

[CorvusCorax]

What type of dog is your preference? You could also try show or working breeders to see if they have any older dogs they've run on but decided not to keep. But will PM you also.

 

[Clodagh]

There’s part trained Gundogs for sale.
Gundogs direct advertises them, but be very careful and take a knowledgeable person along.
You get failed trialling dogs as well, that aren’t up to the intensity and pressure of trialling. Like my Scout. But he did come with some nervous behaviours and is very highly bred so I suspect t would be a PITA as a sofa pet, although fine for an active home.
I know you aren’t speaking about Gundogs specifically but just some ideas for the mix.

 

[Titchy Reindeer]

I can't help with recommendations, but my sister got a retired breeding Australian Shepherd straight from the breeder as a 2.5 year old. This won't be the case for all ex-breeders, but her Fluffbutt is one of the best trained dogs I know, she will recall mid chase off a cat or a hare, won't get on the sofa without permission and I think has taken food of the coffee table once in over 7 years. I wish I could say as much for my two monsters.

 

[Bernster]

Thx for the replies so far. No particular breed but I think I prefer more of a lab, retriever, Alsatian type or sometching similar. We have a big house and garden so could take a larger more active dog and I think, from research so far, that labs and golden retrievers tend to suit being with cats more.

 

[Orangehorse]

I have seen gundogs being sold as fully trained, but you are talking about a lot of money in that case - I think it was in Country Life magazine. And probably not really what you want.

Occasionally some rescue dogs come up with a really good history and it is just family problems that mean that they are looking for a new home. I saw a spaniel last week and had I been looking for a dog I would certainly have been interested as it was very well trained and very well behaved. Dogs Trust, I think. Or maybe try some of the breed specific rescues.

 

[ArklePig]

I have seen gundogs being sold as fully trained, but you are talking about a lot of money in that case - I think it was in Country Life magazine. And probably not really what you want.

Occasionally some rescue dogs come up with a really good history and it is just family problems that mean that they are looking for a new home. I saw a spaniel last week and had I been looking for a dog I would certainly have been interested as it was very well trained and very well behaved. Dogs Trust, I think. Or maybe try some of the breed specific rescues.

My friends rescue dog came with perfect recall, toilet trained, well socialised zero separation anxiety and knowing how to walk nicely on a lead. Had been an adored and well raised family pet and then the owners split up and neither could/would take her.

Mine did not

But they are out there depending on how much of a hurry you are in, the reputableness of the rescue (as in will they be 100 percent factual and have evaluated the dog properly) and if you might be able to accept a couple of quirks.

I hope you hear back from the guide dog people, a family friend had one when I was a child, they were 100 percent as a pet and with people, but reactive to other dogs as a bad experience with a big dog in training (didn't bother the owner, was a bit antisocial anyway).

 

[gallopingby]

It would be worth trying some of the breed rescues. You might have to wait a while but you might hit lucky. Dogs come into rescue for all sorts of reasons, people splitting up, moving into unsuitable accommodation, I’ll health of the owner or a family member, allergic reaction to dogs etc You would need to be home checked and they’ll ask a lot of questions but a suitable home with previous dog experience will give you brownie points. You will have to be prepared to put some work in and need to make this clear on your application form but it’s worth considering. You could also consider somewhere like Woodgreen or Battersea, they get all sorts in. I have fostered lots of rescue dogs and some are fantastic dogs, well trained and easy going, others maybe less so but the job of the foster home is to find out about the dog so it can be successfully rehomed.

 

[Bernster]

Thanks all, I will check out one of the breed rescue places. I’ve found place called Vislor which looks very impressive but also very spendy £££!

 

[Arzada]

Perhaps consider Forever Fostering with the Cinnamon Trust - ready made pets whose owners have died, gone into care etc. https://cinnamon.org.uk/fostering/

 

[Clodagh]

You can get a 6-12 month old ‘part trained’ lab for £1500 ish. A decently bred pup is £1000. Depends how trained you want, recall and sit and heel would do most pet owners?

 

[druid]

A failed field trial lab would suit what you want. There is a part trained spaniel on Gundogs Direct who might work also - advert 27709

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

Agree a part trained lab would be my suggestion

 

[misst]

Perhaps consider Forever Fostering with the Cinnamon Trust - ready made pets whose owners have died, gone into care etc. https://cinnamon.org.uk/fostering/

We had a wonderful lab x staff (maybe). She came from The cinnamon trust. She was perfect. We had her for two and a half years. She was shut down and overweight on arrival due her owner having been in a home and she lived in the room with him but only taken to the garden to toilet and no exercise. Then he died. She developed into a lovely girl. We lost her at the age of about 11 sadly but I would have another from them in a heartbeat.

 

[blodwyn1]

I bought a fully trained therapy dog a red lab. She is beautiful and everything I wanted and needed. She wasn't cheap but it was worth every penny to get a house trained adorable companion who can also alert me to hypos and anxiety attacks.

 

[ArklePig]

I bought a fully trained therapy dog a red lab. She is beautiful and everything I wanted and needed. She wasn't cheap but it was worth every penny to get a house trained adorable companion who can also alert me to hypos and anxiety attacks.

what a good girl

 

[planete]

If you go the rescue way have a look at dogs who have been in a foster home where they have been thoroughly assessed in a normal household setting. A dog in kennels can be a very different animal when out of them. A good fosterer will also have plugged gaps in the dog's education and will be able to give you a good assessment of it.

 

[Bernster]

I bought a fully trained therapy dog a red lab. She is beautiful and everything I wanted and needed. She wasn't cheap but it was worth every penny to get a house trained adorable companion who can also alert me to hypos and anxiety attacks.

PM if preferred but could you let me know where you got your doge from please?

Checking out the cinnamon trust and part trained labs, thanks. And gundogs site.

I’m thinking the foundational stuff in terms of training level as a min - house trained, walk on lead, recall, socialised …

 

[Squeak]

If you go the rescue way have a look at dogs who have been in a foster home where they have been thoroughly assessed in a normal household setting. A dog in kennels can be a very different animal when out of them. A good fosterer will also have plugged gaps in the dog's education and will be able to give you a good assessment of it.

I fostered dogs and sometimes we would have a dog who'd lived in a home and was easy from the start but often if they were straightforward dogs, after we'd had them a bit they would have ticked your boxes. Agree that dogs who have been in a foster home are a better option if you want a dog that is pre-trained and used to a home situation.

 

[blodwyn1]

Bernster I have sent you a message.