Didn't expect that to happen....

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We've been looking for a second dog to keep our two year old Jack Russell bitch company for about a year now. We've out our names down with a breeder who is expecting pups around Christmas time. The issue is that I was just having a lazy look through some pup adverts and come across an advert for a 1 year old jack boy. Oh my god, his picture went straight through me and had the same effect on my very non emotional boyfriend. The problem is, it seems he has had some trauma in his young life including a broken leg - are we just setting ourselves up for issues??? We have been very conscientious with our dog since getting her as a pup - what if he has loads of issues from lack of training/socialisation?? Can any issues be ironed out with proper training?? Help please, we just want to make the 12 hour return journey tomorrow to scoop him up and bring him home to a good life with us. Feed him some good food, give him some good runs etc. are we being silly??
 
That's a really nice thing to do. How awful that he is being rehomed though :( I am unsure about any issues (could they be why he is being rehomed?) I know a dog that had a broken leg, he led a normal life and lived til 17 with the only issue being that his movement was affected in the cold/wet weather and he needed a thick comfy bed. But, I do think rescuing/rehoming is better than getting a puppy. So good luck with your decision x
 
We have a rescue dog who we got completely untrained (not house trained either) at 10months old. She is the most fantastic dog now 7 years old who has never given us any problems. She was £15 from police stray dog kennels and she is wonderful loved by us and friends and family alike and all the children at the stables too! Go with your instinct and give a dog a chance.
 
We took a rescue dog with all sorts of issues and we have learnt so much by working with him that I wouldn't have had it any other way. Its so rewarding when you make progress with them and imo makes them extra special when it all comes good. The fact you are both keen is important because you can help and support each other if any problems arise. It is definitely worth it and I don't think you are being silly.
 
Thanks for your replies - its good to hear some positive feedback. Please know that our issue is not with rescuing a dog as I've never not had a rescue dog but strangely we've always got our rescues as puppies. Our worries are mainly to do with training out any issues that may have developed since he was a puppy. Thanks RaLouLou for your story about your rescue and Mr Velvet I've been thinking the same thing re issues but the advert says that rehoming due to lack of time. Tried to ring the owner about 10 times so far but I daren't ring again as its getting a bit late. Maybe he's been rehomed already. God, heartbreaking.
 
Thanks also to Wandamare for your reply - I can totally understand how amazing that must be. Have emailed the owner and will hope to speak to her tomorrow.
 
Ok, had time to let the effects of the wine to wear off and we still feel the same about him. No reply yet from his current owner yet but it is only 8:15 in the morning!!

Ok, now for some non drunken practicalities. What if he hasn't been vaccinated? Is there any chance this could affect our own vaccinated dog?

If he hasn't been neutered or properly housetrained will he be cocking his leg up all over the house?

He's apparently had two operations to fix his leg and hasn't learnt to use it properly yet. If we insure him will this be considered a pre-existing condition for which we cannot claim?? My mums dog had a similar reaction to hip surgery and he has to have months of hydrotherapy which I suspect will be expensive. I'm not put off by this, I think we just need to know what we're getting ourselves into because we would have to give him all he needs regardless of cost despite being a bit brassic ourselves at the moment.

One other thing, our jack is a VERY active dog who runs and jumps endlessly on walks. Will this affect the little fella with his broken leg? I know MrVelvet said that they knew of a dog with a broken leg who wasn't severely affected by it but I just thought I'd ask.

Sorry for all the questions, probably over analysing but I guess it's better to have a good think about it than not.

I think the done thing is to offer some cyber goodies for all who have helped so how's about some very lemony drizzle cake??
 
Oh I can see why you were taken with him, such a cutie and sounds like he may have had a traumatic start in life.
You'll just have to try and speak to the owner. Personally I can never understand why people want to make money out of dogs they have to rehome. If I couldn't take care of a dog who I had made the decision to take on and be responsible for, I would feel devastated and guilty and not want money from someone good enough to take them in and care for them.


I hope you hear from the owner soon and you sort something out x
 
Thanks for your reply, TheFarmersWife. I agree, I would also feel awfull if I had to give my dog up for adoption. In fact, the idea of giving up on your animal just doesnt bear thinking about. But I suppose sometimes things happen that are outside your control and that his current owner is trying to do the best for him now. I guess I'll get the full story when I ring if he's not already been rehomed. Re the asking price, I think people are often advised not to advertise as 'free to good home'. However, I fully intend to suggest that she lets us have him for free in leiu of fuel and time spent travelling.

I'm so tempted to just ring now regardless of time but cant quite bring myself to be so rude!!
 
No!! Have rung quite a few (!!) times and no answer. She's either working or has already rehomed him. Although if it was me I'd have maderised available to take calls from interested people. Strange. If he is still available we've hatched a plan to stay at a friends house so we don't have to do the journey in one hit as we will have to take our dog with us to make sure they get on.
 
Don't have any answers to your questions I'm afraid, but I thought it worth suggesting that you speak to their vet before taking the dog on. Am pretty sure any new insurer wouldn't pay for future treatment of the dodgy leg, so best to know exactly what you're dealing with. I personally wouldn't just take the owner at their word, but then I am a suspicious so and so :o

Good luck!
 
Still no answer on the phone. The mobile number given doesn't even work. I've left a couple of messages so can't really do much else other than hope she calls back. Quite sad really, just want to make sure he's ok. Been unite productive while trying to take my mind off him so maybe that's a positive!
 
He does look cute as a button! Hope you get an answer.

We too rehomed a 1year old lab with a lot of issues (he'd had 3 homes prior to us in that one year). He wasn't neutered (he was two days after he came to us!) and didn't cock his leg everywhere. (He didn't cock his leg at all until he was 2). Having another older dog was just what he needed for something to calm him, play with him, and show him the ropes.
 
That's exactly what I was thinking when I called again for about the zillionth time tonight. Weird situation. Who posts an advertisement to rehome their dog and then refuses to answer their phone ?? I'm sure there is a good explanation but I can't help feeling a bit frustrated. I've left a couple of messages and an email so I'll just have to wait and see what happens.
 
I live in the area and haven't seen any other adverts for him (I'm on enough local pet groups to see them lol). If you like I can ask around?
 
Update!

Got through to the owner of Buddy and we had a long chat. Turns out she has been working long hours and not checking her answerphone.

Buddy sounds lovely but I just need to work out whether he would fit into our lives and whether he and our dog would get on. He's been neutered, microchipped and vaccinated so that's all fine. His two operations involved having a pin inserted into his leg and then removed again as it had moved and was causing pain.

I think a lot of his negative issues - which are very typically terrier like - are due to lack of training so I would hope (over optimistic!!??) that we could resolve them. They include pulling on the lead, shredding the post and being a bit over exuberant probably caused mainly by boredom as he is left for 14 hours a day with no toilet break. The owner works nights and he is not allowed upstairs so I assume he is actually left alone downstairs for up to 22 hours while the owner sleeps.

So, making our decision based on this information alone is difficult as I think our dog would be equally as nutty if she had such little stimulation. However, I've never had an over energetic dog before. Is it possible to get them to calm down a little with proper exercise and discipline?

The owner has offered to let me take him out for the afternoon if I do decide to make the epic journey down to Wiltshire so I can see how he and my dog interact together. Think that's a good idea but can anyone else think of any other things I should ask about or check when I see him? I'm going to give his vets a call to ask about his operation and leg etc (I assume that if the owner gives the vets permission that they will be happy to discuss it with me??).

Thanks very much for all help and replies so far - much appreciated! Any additional help or tips welcomed!
 
My old bitch had her front left pinned after breaking it (she was hit by a car) at about nine months - she lived until she was 14 with no lameness issues.

He sounds bored out of his tree and I bet he would improve with more exercise/stimulation/company.

Most dog owners have to deal with pulling (easily solved in small dogs IMO!!) and boisterousness at some stage, so I wouldn't let that put you off. Shredding the post, put a cage on the letterbox or install an external one, job done!
 
14 hours by himself without a loo break :eek::eek::eek::eek: Poor little mite, no wonder he's a bit 'wild' I would be too !!!! And then more hours by himself, that's absolutely unacceptable in my opinion. With regard to his leg I think you're right to speak to his vet, but I had a dalmation with a badly broken leg at around 9 months old and it didn't even slow him down for the next 10 years. If I could have another dog I would be on the phone to rehome him, he looks absolutely cute, and frankly shreddding post and pulling on the lead are hardly the worst habits he could have in his present circumstances. I'm sure in a proper home with some attention he could be quickly trained - even though he is a jr :D Good luck, I do hope you get him for his sake poor pup !
 
Our nutcase second rescue lab was hyper when he came, but we just had to wear him out! We let him out in one of our fields with our other dog and et them go crazy! You would be suprised just how quickly they turn into normal dogs and part of the famiy, given exercise, rules and fuss. I think exercise solves 90% of issues! Its just a question of whether his leg is strong enough at the moment for you to let him hurtle.. Speaking to his vet would be good.

Im looking forward to a "Meet Buddy" thread on Monday!!xx
 
Our boxer had her hip pinned at 3 years old and lived to be 12 and very active. She got arthritic in three opposite joint (from over compensating) but that was managed with pain killers in old age and bio-flow collars.
Good luck with your decision.
X
 
I have another update but I'm afraid it's not the good news I would like to be giving. His owner sent us some pics and a video yesterday and my partner and I had a long chat last night. He admitted that he was only agreeing to have him for me and that he wasn't actually that keen. Really gutted and surprised that he didn't tell me this from the start but I suppose it's better late than never. His reason was fairly justified in that after seeing more pics of Buddy it turned out that he only has a wirey face and the rest of his body is smooth coated. He gets fairly bad allergies to dogs with a tight, smooth coat (maybe it retains the dander more than wirey coats?). He doesn't react to our current dog at all but we couldn't take the risk and have to rehome the poor little man again. I'm quite upset about it because I'd really fallen for him and now I can't stop worrying about him.

If anyone else is interested in him he really does seem like the sweetest boy. In the video that the owner took of him he is wriggling and kissing her with a mega waggly tail as she holds him up to the webcam. He is also very good with kids and doesn't suffer from separation anxiety (!!). He just deserves a home where he is made a priority rather than an inconvenience.
 
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