Looking for a new rescue dog and have noticed two things...

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tasteofchristmaschaos

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Not for me, as my darling boy would eat any dog that came in the house, but for my partners family. They have just moved into a house within a park, that has an acre of land and my partners mum has given up work, so now they finally feel they have time and environment for a dog. I have had plenty of experiences with dogs, and lots of different breeds, so they asked if I could look around for them.
Observation number one - Over half the dogs up for rehoming are staffies. Have they lost popularity recently?
Observation number two - If you have a child under 13, you are not allowed a rescue dog. The family have 3 kids living at home, the youngest of which being 10 or 11. Looking through battersea dogs home website there was not a SINGLE dog there allowed to go to a home with children under the age of 13.
It looks as though finding a rescue dog that likes cats, dogs and children is impossible! Maybe it will have to be a puppy after all!
 
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Observation number one - Over half the dogs up for rehoming are staffies. Have they lost popularity recently?


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I'd say possibly that as well as the fact more staffies are probably being bred due to being the dog to have for the yobs on the streets
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When they realise they can't be bothered with them anymore they just get chucked out on the streets.
 
I think it varies by region, our local ones have a tonne of rotts and GSDs - as well as a Newfie and a Spinone?! although they are there as the result of a marriage break-up.

I think a lot of places are very careful with dogs whose backgrounds may be unknown - they would be partly liable if they rehomed an animal to a family home that then snapped.
From conversations on here and in RL, I think they do have blanket rules (to make sure dogs don't go to unsuitable homes) but are prepared to take cases on their own merit.
 
Ditto this! I am looking for a companion for Ruby at the moment but we have cats and nearly all the dogs I have been looking at can't be homed with cats! Staffies seem to make up the majority of dogs up for rehoming here too, apparently they are all cast aside as they aren't fashionable anymore? according to the RSPCA lady I spoke to. She said if I want a dog that gets on with cats it'd have to be a puppy!
 
It is worth contacting the rescue societies personally. Most do have blanket rules re young children etc but are prepared to be flexible. I have homechecked for GSD rescue where there have been children under 10 and they have been approved. I think maybe under 5s are a different matter as bit harder to teach them to respect dogs. You have to bear in mind that quite often a dogs history is not known and they tend to err on the safe side rather than risk children.
 
Third thing is that two thirds to three-quarters are dogs. Where are all the bitches????

I almost got a dog yesterday, but the owner wanted it back! It had jumped out of a first floor window to pursue an in season bitch. Very cute and friendly.
 
The staffie situation is so sad - last time I looked on the London section of Battersea, they were pretty much all staffies. Bloody chavs breed them, can't handle them, and in they go... so many are puppies. Makes me sick.

I think the Dogs Trust are more flexible in their rehoming rules with kids and cats etc? Most of the online dog-biogs state if they like cats, kids and other dogs. Might be worth a try? And while I'm here can I fly the flag for Trailhounds who get on well with everyone... :-)
 
I've noticed that too. Strange, isn't it when at one time everyone wanted dogs as bitches come into season and make a mess and run the risk of puppies. Times change. Much as I love my lurcher dog who is now coming up 16, I have said I would never have another male dog - because you can't take them anywhere without them embarrassing you by weeing up something!

I got my greyhound (bitch) straight from the trainer. I asked about cats and she said "ooh, she's never seen a cat, so I don't know" Incidentally, she hadn't seen stairs either and training her to go up and down stairs was so funny. Anyway, I took her home, the cat was sitting on the table, the greyhound looked up and sniffed her, walked off and that was it. No trouble at all. She's never chased or irritated the cat at all in all the years I've had her and I will often find the two curled up on the sofa or the dog beds together. The JRT runs after the cat in a sort of half hearted way as if she thinks she should, but the cat is not impressed at all and can handle her no bother.

Perhaps by the time dogs get to rescue centres they've got problems which is why they're there, so it's a vicious circle, but if you get them from the trainer they haven't had the opportunity to develop those problems? I don't know, but none of my track greyhounds have ever bothered cats or smaller dogs etc and they have all submitted to being pulled about by small children. When my daughter was tiny she actually rode one of the greyhounds who didn't bat an eyelid. She moved on to ponies and horses later - the daughter, not the greyhound. So they are there.
 
I think sometimes the stipulations these rescue places make are a bit mad and it's no wonder they're overflowing!

When we were looking for ours we enquired about loads and were told soo many reason why they wouldn't be suitable - even though the 'ads' for them said how fab and fun and great with kids, other dogs etc they were. The staff told us "oh, that's a mistake on the website! Well CHANGE IT THEN!!!

They do make it quite hard. I understand their concern as they don't want to have dogs being returned over and over again. However, when we did get our dog and we went to the induction meeting thingy I was quite amazed at how many dogs were being rehomed to very elderly people. I didn't quite get how this was more suitable a pairing especially when some of the dogs appeared quite lively individuals who surely would need a lot of exercise. The mind boggles!

I would suggest trying Dogs Trust that's where we got two of our rescue dogs from but also maybe some of the smaller, more local rescues who no doubt get less funding and might be a little more flexible.
 
It's really sad for the poor staffies. I work in 2 veterinary practices and have met a lot of lovely staffies and staffie crosses. They have got their bad reputation purely from stupid thug owners getting them as status symbols. Most of them are dogs as chavs seem to prefer these to patrol about uncastrated, no doubt compensating for something!! They breed them endlessly as they think its a way to make some quick cash, which sadly it is as more idiots will happily buy them to look 'hard'! Sadly once they realise that dogs actually require responsibility to look after they end up in rescue homes. They have been so badly looked after and are so unsocialised that they are difficult to rehome. Poor things. I would definitely have a staffie, with a responsable owner they are just as nice as any other breed.
Sorry bit of a rant there but it is very annoying, poor doggys. Although would just like to add that we do get several guys in that appear to be 'chavs' (sorry to be stereotypical) with staffies that do look after them properly and love them to bits, so not tarring everyone with the same brush!
 
I have a Battersea Staffie, she is a real sweetheart.

If there is nothing suitable online then fill in the online homing details and give them a ring. They have a waiting list of dogs due to come in so they may well know of something suitable. A friend got a lovely JRT this way.
 
I did speak to the RSPCA about age restrictions. I had this problem before when I got my boy a few years ago as I still lived at home and have a much younger sister. They said the age thing is purely size wise. My boy said 13+ and my sister was only 11 but she has always been very tall for her height and said that it would be fine. It's just so a bouncy or larger dog can't push the child over. Unfortunatly OH's little sister is tiny for her age, so that wouldn't work.
Thanks for the link MarleyandDarcy, Blue is too far away as we are in Kent, but Ellie looks like she might be suitable. (And adorable at the same time, I've had 2 collies before and would happily get another)
 
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I have said I would never have another male dog - because you can't take them anywhere without them embarrassing you by weeing up something!

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LOL - after having two bitches together I swear I will never have another one, the dogs are so much easier to have around and are more friendly than greyhound bitches in my experience
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I have never ever had a problem with dogs weeing up something though
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Perhaps by the time dogs get to rescue centres they've got problems which is why they're there, so it's a vicious circle, but if you get them from the trainer they haven't had the opportunity to develop those problems?

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I would agree with that - my greyhounds have come from rescue centres because in their cases the b*stard trainers couldnt be bothered to rehome them properly, so they dumped them on the street to starve
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Hence they are rather keen to chase things... But the rescue organisation re-homes many which are tested as 'cat friendly' etc, if that is what you stipulate
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We got our dog from wood green animal shelter - they were fine about taking him home with cats and a child of 7 and have this sort of information about dogs on their website. They may be too far away for you but they always have a range of dogs that are suitable for living with children and pets. Sometimes they have restrictions due to size or age of dog and stipulate older children for very old dogs - but were happy to waive the age minimum of 10 years for our dog as my children are sensible about not pulling an animal about.

Searching for Golden Oldies on google will lead to you to a site for older dogs that need a home but of course this depends on whether you want an old or young dog.
 
Interestingly, I had a request to home check for GSD rescue this week. The family had 3 children aged 6,8 and 11, and had never had a dog before. They actually weren't in my area so someone else is going to do them, but I did suggest that maybe someone who had never had any sort of dog before might not be ideal for a rescue GSD. However they are prepared to give them a chance, with loads of questions etc, and the home checker has to take their own dog and see how the family relates to it. So it is definitely worth talking to the rescue societies rather than just seeing what it says on their websites and deciding you would not be suitable.
 
Would they be up for a Greyhound? Or try a smaller, breed specific Rescue Organisation perhaps?

When I fostered greyhounds for a local group children generally were NOT our major concern as much as cats and small dogs. My own greyhounds (both ex-racers) were fabulous with children just unfortunately thought that anything small, furry (or feathered come to think of it) and infront of them was fair game. Many are cat friendly though.
 
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