Dog rehoming!

PinkCob

PinkCob

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I'm seriously considering rehoming a dog from a charity/rescue centre. Has anyone done this? What are your experiences?
Please post any HELPFUL comments below!
 
Yes- go in with your eyes OPEN.
Research the breed you are thinking of taking on.
Be prepared for issues.
Be prepared to give the dog time to settle.
Do not expect dog to be 110% perfect at everything without you putting in 110% time, effort, training, money.
Think about what you want to feed it.
Think about the costs.
Are you home?
Do you have other animals?
Kids?

Ohhh and then consider a Staffy!! :)
 
lexiedhb said:
Yes- go in with your eyes OPEN.
Research the breed you are thinking of taking on.
Be prepared for issues.
Be prepared to give the dog time to settle.
Do not expect dog to be 110% perfect at everything without you putting in 110% time, effort, training, money.
Think about what you want to feed it.
Think about the costs.
Are you home?
Do you have other animals?
Kids?

Ohhh and then consider a Staffy!! :)
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1.) Eyes open- tick! (I'm open to any breed, although slightly tempted at another border collie)
2.) Will do! For sure!
3.) Again, will be prepared!
4.) I won't, I am prepared to spend time and I have plenty of patience for a troubled or unfortunate hound!
5.) Whatever is needed, I will have a chat with the career of the dog.
6.) Considered!
7.) Yes I am/would be
8.) Another dog!
9.) No chance :D

I do like staffy's too! :D
 
My current 2 Dobes came to me from Dobermann Welfare at 18months old, they had little training prior to my adoption but are nice natured and have been easier than the one I had before from a private rehome.

It is a common misconception that all rescue dogs have problems, this isnt true and I have a lot of friends with rescue dogs who have been delightful.

Cayla on here runs a rescue centre with her mum and I sure if she sees this post will answer or you can try pming her. She also has a rescue guide and the money from this goes back into her rescue.

A lot of rescues dont allow you to walk along looking at the dogs but prefer to match a dog to a prospective owner after you have filled out a questionaire. There will also be a home visit to check your home is suitable and a lot of rescues will not rehome to anyone having a child under 12yrs of age.The criteria for adopting a rescue is very high and is a bone(excuse the pun) of contention by many.

A lotof people on this forum have rescue dogs which have worked out really well and Im sure they will soon come along and tell you.

With so many dogs being abandoned and being put to sleep it is really lovely when someone saves a life which is what a rescue is.
 
Spotty dog came from the Siberian Husky Welfare Association. We spoke to a volunteer on the phone for a very informal sort of interview (to weed out any 'status dog' numpties and to check why we wanted that specific breed), filled out a form with our details and were offered a home check about a week later. Home check lady was lovely, not at all intrusive, didn't even look beyond our living room, just wanted reassuring that we could meet the requirements of the breed.

Following that we had another chat with the volunteer by phone to confirm what we were looking for and were told about two possibly suitable dogs they had in at that time - there was no pressure, if they weren't right for us we could have gone on the waiting list and been contacted when a suitable one came in. We spoke to both of their fosterers on the phone, discounted one through that and arranged to meet the other one. We brought him home the same day. :) If at any stage he'd turned out to not be right for us he could have gone back no problem, and the same at any point in the future.

The entire process was painless and we ended up with a dog that fit right in to our family, he came with a very accurate behavioural assessment from his foster mum. That is not to say that he was/is perfect but he was exactly right for us at that time, but certainly no major issues.

I would have another rescue in a heartbeat and, unless I am really lucky enough in the future to be in a position to buy a perfect, well-researched pup of a specific breed or type with which to compete I will always go to rescues first.

Cayla's not far from you, oi, Cayla, have you a collie ish type thing? :p
 
Lol, Im not far, we have just been handed a red and white collie but apparently he is terrified:(, never even had a lead on:( I have not seen him myself we have been drafted in to go meet him at the weekend and work out our plans for him in regards to working with him otherwise he has been left to settle into the environment.
He is not yet on our site, we also just rehome a red and white collie boy:)

Rescues are very rewarding but you do as suggested have to give them time to adjust and settle and be prepared to introduce a routine that does not just involve cuddles:D:p never expect a replica of your old dog or someone elses dog that you saw who behaved impeccably, of course you will indeed get rescue with no baggage that are perfectly well behaved and need minimal work but also be prepared for the opposite.:)
We tend to have a chat and discuss what you are looking for and carry out a home visit and have a lengthy chat about the dog/s in question and decide between us if this is the dog for you and determine weather you can offer the kind of home the dog needs based on a lot of questions.

Obs I have a million rescues, all different some with serious issues some with mild, however I did take them on because of this:rolleyes: I now have some super dogs:)

We do offer full back up/ongoing advice as all good rescues should.

Is there anywhere in particular you have been looking, is it a rescue/pound based kennel?
 
Yes certainly.:Dseems no one wants yellow labs, it took me ages to rehome his brother, Bruno is still in his home, mind you a few asked but where not suitable, esp the one with the low garden fence who said the dogs next door often jumped in her garden to crap and where not good with other dogs:confused:

I would not care they are actually very well bred (health tested parents) and there natures are fantastic. It seems fold want the black ones:p
I rehomed the brother to client of mine who had a yellow lab bitch.
 
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I've only ever had 2nd hand dogs. I would never go and buy a puppy, there are so many dogs that need good homes. Be prepared to take at least 12 months for your new companion to become conditioned to the way you live and what you want him to be. It can be hard going at times but so rewarding when it all comes together.
 
I have two rescue girls ( read chucked out breeding bitches ) and they are just wonderful. One has been far more of a challenge in that she came straight from an outdoors kennel not knowing the rules for living in a house and was / is chronically shy but she is a joy and getting better every day.

The other was with the rescue who do stirling work and only needed her personality to come out which it has.

Pup one was a little unfortnutate in that her foster carers IMO struggled a bit in that they appeared house bound and brasic so she wasn't walked to socialise her and the poor quality food didn't help with her housetraining etc etc but I don't want to say more because anyone who opens their door for an abandoned dog has a big heart in my book.

OP deffo go for it, other than my Bulldogs I would have rescue every time. To see my girls flourish has been wonderful.
 
I re homed an ex pounder staffy x almost a year ago. It is very rewarding. He adores us and is so loving. He had a bad start to life but seems to have only made
him more loving :)
 
Yup I have a rescue, Staffy X, had her for 14 mths now and love her to bits :D

Was quite lucky in that I started doing volunteer work at a local animal rescue so got to know her a bit first, even so I think it took nearly a year to really bond together. The first few months are obviously the hardest, we struggled a bit to start with but I was so determined that she was not going back!!

Good luck with finding your forever dog and well done for choosing to have a rescue!
 
We had a rescue lab x who lived to be 16. He had his issues which we had to manage but in time he did improve. We have got a schnauzer x from a friend of a friend who has no issues at all. We also have a jrtx who is the happiest friendliest dog ever, but hyperactive and can be quite submissive. Both very rewarding and its satisfying that we have improved their lives.
 
My first dog was a re-home from a farmer at age 18 months. She was great and slotted in quite quickly (probably within 6 months completely). Although had a lot to learn about living in a house etc. She lived till she was 14years old and by the time she went we were completely in sync with each other. She was a Border Collie and I think I learnt a huge amount from her.

My current dog I've had since the end of January and she did come from a Rescue age 11 months, but it was one that handles a lot of collies and so knows the breed well enough to give me an accurate assessment of her temperament. She is a lot sharper than my last dog but I want to do agility with her and my last dog was too sensitive so I kind of went for that. She's come a very long way since I got her but we do have occasional moments when I have to remind myself it's only been a few months. She was under weight, under socialised and very overwhelmed when she came. Now she's the right weight, has met many many dogs and people and is slightly less overwhelmed to the point of a little cheeky at times. We still have a lot of work to do but I am enjoying the process and maybe that's part of what you have to want to do.

My advice would be to make sure you go to the right Rescue and be prepared to travel (I went for a 5 hour round trip). There are some (and actually I'm thinking of some of the National ones) who are so keen to move the dogs on they don't always take a breath and work out if yours is the right home.

Good luck!
 
What about Saltburn Animal Rescue it can't be too far from you

http://s-a-r-a.org.uk/category/dogs-needing-a-home/

We have 3 rescue dogs. An 11 year old Kelpie x, an 8 year old jack russell, both were 6 months when we got them.

Our most rescent addition a 2 year old Staffy x we rehomed in October. She needs loads more help and training than either of the other 2 and she has come a very long way since we got her. But we still have a lot to work on especially on socialising her. It is very rewarding when you see just how far she's come since we got her.

Good luck and post lots and lots of picture when you get one!!
 
Stencilface said:
This place may have your answer, they have lots of staffies in too ;)

(although please as I'm helping, don't take Max, he's mine - I want to pick him up in a few weeks (whn I change jobs), but they won't reserve him this far in advance, which is understanable, but still :( )

http://www.bluecross.org.uk/2566/1/adopt-a-dog.html?uf_Breed=&uf_Location=Thirsk&uf_Sex=
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OMG how cute is Max and his wiggly tail lol :D Feel so sorry for you, fingers crossed you manage to get him home!!
 
Lol, I love him, but need to wait until a week before I can take him home to reserve him, its so frustrating from my pov (although understandable from theirs :) ) I first went to see him in March. He's so friendly, such a big dollop of a dog, my not really doggy OH (has never had one) met him too, and he was friendly from the off which is a really positive thing for me :)
 
As many people know we got Sandy for free through an ad in the paper. She needed medical attention and didnt know if she was coming or going - it took her nearly a year to cope with being left on her own for more than a few minutes and even now she'll try and chase the cats if no one is watching :rolleyes: She probably cost my parents over £500 in vets bills - if she'd have come from a rescue that would all have come under the adoption fee. She's worth it tho :)

Cayla - send yellow labs my way :D
 
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