Rehoming centres and advice please.

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bertin12

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So after coming very close to getting myself a lurcher pup recently I have decided that I would much rather rehome/ adopt a dog. But I need reccommendations on where to look. I obviously know of dogs trust/ battersea etc and will look there but I've heard they can be quite 'fussy' who they rehome to. I'm in hertfordshire and willing to travel a bit for the right dog.

I'm after a dog that will happily go for long walks with my mum, but not have endless amounts of energy! It will come to the yard with me every day and also to work with me (at a boarding kennels where it will stay in the staff room or office) a few days a week to. On the other days it will be at home with mum when she's not working.

I know each dog is individual, but what sort of breed would you recommend? I've just been instructed to get a 'real size dog' as apposed to something yorkie or chihuahua size, and Im not really a fan of terriers.

Thanks in advance :)
 
I have two dogs from the council pound. One was about 3 when we had him, a collie x - he's OK, but I don't trust him.. He has snapped a few times at strangers and I don't trust him when visitors come to the house.. He's now 11 so unlikely to change his miserable ways.
The other is a staffie x (dare I say pit bull) had him at 8 weeks old... He is amazing!! Kind, loves kids and other animals, four stone lapdog who is happy to walk every other day... He did have an awful chewing stage, but wouldnt change him for the world!
Guess what I'm saying is my preference would be a younger dog, only because I'm a believer in nurture not nature x
 
The blue cross were good with me, they know people generally have to have jobs to afford a pet. My dog gets taken out by a dog walker for the 3 days I'm at work. Its a godsend really as when I get home I just give him a run in the garden - its large and he can reach full speed! - I don't really have time for walking in the pitch dark with a baby after 6pm in the winter, but she loves watching the mutt chase the flashing balls I bought in the garden.

I quite like Monty and Bella

http://www.bluecross.org.uk/2566/1/...d=&uf_Location=Hertfordshire&uf_Sex=&#filters
 
Labrador rescue are good, and most working type rescues tend to be realistic. TBH I wouldn't worry too much about breed, if you are rescuing an adult and mutley dog would be ideal. Collie and collie lab crosses would probalby like your lifestyle, most Staffies are easy going and active dogs.

I look on here sometimes...
http://www.labrador-rescue.org.uk/dogs.html
Although you do need to go through the assessment bit before you can meet a specific dog.
 
have you looked on dogs blog, there are dogs from lots of different rescues on there, but there are also quite a few dogs who have been rescued from abroad, which some people don't agree with(me included)..there was a thread a little while ago about difficulties getting a rescue and amymay knows of a good rescue who mainly do lurchers so may be worth a pm...if you want a puppy there is a rescue in east sussex who are on dogsblog who seem to have loads of nice ones..
 
Thank you everyone. I'm constantly checking all the 'big' charities like blue cross etc but it's good to know there's lots of smaller rescues out there too
 
I went to one reputable dog rescue centre and was shocked when I heard a family were looking to rehome a dog and said they both worked full time and dog would be left at home for 9 hours a day and the rescue centre was happy to rehome them a dog! I overheard another family that said the dog would live in a kennel in a garden and again they were happy for them to rehome a dog! I would Google local rescues near you and see what there is.
 
That's surprising as all I've heard is that you have no chance if you work a decent amount of hours.
Hopefully rescues will accept the idea the dog would come to work with me
 
splashgirl45 said:
but there are also quite a few dogs who have been rescued from abroad, which some people don't agree with(me included)..
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I agree with you about rehoming from abroad, but I guess when you're looking to rehome you can't be too fussy or exact in what you're looking for. I think if I found one that I really liked and it happened to be originally from abroad then I'd still have it :)
 
bertin12 said:
I agree with you about rehoming from abroad, but I guess when you're looking to rehome you can't be too fussy or exact in what you're looking for. I think if I found one that I really liked and it happened to be originally from abroad then I'd still have it :)
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there are so many lovely dogs from the uk who need homing and while I appreciate that the dogs from abroad have a bad time, how ethical is it to transport them to another country with different weather conditions and different living conditions. they also seem to be doing a lot of operations so we have dogs with 1 eye, dogs with 3 legs,even a couple of completely blind dogs.. I am not a hard person but feel that it would be better for a lot of these dogs to be put down rather than have ops and then be transported to somewhere strange...
 
Evesham greyhound and lurcher rescue are brilliant and very sensible with regards rehoming. I have a saluki x whippet and a saluki x Afghan from them.
They have a large number of fantastic dogs currently being fostered and needing a forever home. Especially considering January will no doubt be awful as usual for rescues :-(
 
Sounds silly but we have found it really hard to rescue a dog as we have a cat, kids (14 and 16) and another dog who isn't chopped but is fine with other males. :/ Most of their dogs can't seem to live with cats even as a very small puppy so we are near giving up (This is with Blue Cross, Dogs trust etc)
 
I help out with a poodle rescue - registered charity and we don't have kennels but we help find homes for poodles of all sizes. I happen to know of a young apricot miniature bitch that is being rehomed because she's bored in her current home - rescue seeks to find her a very active (ie flyball or agility) type home.
 
Tern said:
Sounds silly but we have found it really hard to rescue a dog as we have a cat, kids (14 and 16) and another dog who isn't chopped but is fine with other males. :/ Most of their dogs can't seem to live with cats even as a very small puppy so we are near giving up (This is with Blue Cross, Dogs trust etc)
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Evesham greyhound and lurcher rescue will tell you where possible if a dog is cat friendly and also if suitable to live with others dogs and children. As rescues go Pip who runs EGLR really is very practical uses common sense and not a one size fits all approach.
 
PucciNPoni said:
I help out with a poodle rescue - registered charity and we don't have kennels but we help find homes for poodles of all sizes. I happen to know of a young apricot miniature bitch that is being rehomed because she's bored in her current home - rescue seeks to find her a very active (ie flyball or agility) type home.
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Are their dogs based all over the country or in one specific area? I do like poodles!!
 
splashgirl45 said:
there are so many lovely dogs from the uk who need homing and while I appreciate that the dogs from abroad have a bad time, how ethical is it to transport them to another country with different weather conditions and different living conditions. they also seem to be doing a lot of operations so we have dogs with 1 eye, dogs with 3 legs,even a couple of completely blind dogs.. I am not a hard person but feel that it would be better for a lot of these dogs to be put down rather than have ops and then be transported to somewhere strange...
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You make a good point! To be honest I haven't looked into rescuing from abroad and don't know much about it
 
As you've said you're in Hertfordshire, I would recommend Southridge RSPCA. I know the RSPCA get a bad press a lot of the time, but the individual centres have quite a lot of autonomy and my experience at Southridge has always been that they make sensible decisions, taking into account the particular pet involved.
They fostered an old GSD to us despite the fact that my OH and I both worked Mon-Fri (albeit flexi-time), and didn't get evangelical about our inadequate fencing because they recognised that the dog was clearly not going to be leaping over things. They then rehomed a cat to us despite the fact that we didn't have outdoor access - we just chose the disabled one and they were very happy to have made the match. They seem willing to listen to peoples' lifestyles on a 'common sense' basis, and as it sounds as if yours will be perfect for a lot of dogs I'd be surprised if you had any issues.

ETA - not strictly relevant, but when we did have to say goodbye to our GSD we received a lovely card from them a few days later to say thank you for taking him on and giving him a happy year which I thought was just lovely.
 
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Have you tried Heathlands near Royston, Herts. They have a website and are on facebook. Their dogs for rescue are all kept in foster homes. Also GRWE have a branch in Herts and Beds and rehome lurchers as well as greyhounds. I have a dog from each and they are brill!
 
Possum said:
As you've said you're in Hertfordshire, I would recommend Southridge RSPCA. I know the RSPCA get a bad press a lot of the time, but the individual centres have quite a lot of autonomy and my experience at Southridge has always been that they make sensible decisions, taking into account the particular pet involved.
They fostered an old GSD to us despite the fact that my OH and I both worked Mon-Fri (albeit flexi-time), and didn't get evangelical about our inadequate fencing because they recognised that the dog was clearly not going to be leaping over things. They then rehomed a cat to us despite the fact that we didn't have outdoor access - we just chose the disabled one and they were very happy to have made the match. They seem willing to listen to peoples' lifestyles on a 'common sense' basis, and as it sounds as if yours will be perfect for a lot of dogs I'd be surprised if you had any issues.

ETA - not strictly relevant, but when we did have to say goodbye to our GSD we received a lovely card from them a few days later to say thank you for taking him on and giving him a happy year which I thought was just lovely.
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I know a friend who volunteered at the south ridge rspca and she did say they were good, I guess you always hear the bad and not the good. I'll definitely take a look there and chat to them about my lifestyle etc, thanks :)
 
Chiffy said:
Have you tried Heathlands near Royston, Herts. They have a website and are on facebook. Their dogs for rescue are all kept in foster homes. Also GRWE have a branch in Herts and Beds and rehome lurchers as well as greyhounds. I have a dog from each and they are brill!
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I've looked at heathlands and am going to call them after Christmas when we are ready to get a dog. Haven't looked at GRWE but will add them to the list!
 
Second recommendation for Heathlands :) I have a lurcher that I got from them about 18mnths ago, they were very sensible about the realities of life and dog ownership.
 
Is Appledown in Eton bray to far? We have just rehomed a eight week old lab x collie (see one of my previous threads) and had to have house check which we were nervous about as we are redoing our kitchen. We passed and she has been with us a week and a half and already can sit and give paw:D
 
Slightlyconfused said:
Is Appledown in Eton bray to far? We have just rehomed a eight week old lab x collie (see one of my previous threads) and had to have house check which we were nervous about as we are redoing our kitchen. We passed and she has been with us a week and a half and already can sit and give paw:D
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Less than an hour away from me so not too far! Do they have a website?
 
Have you thought of a withdrawn guide dog? There are many reasons they may not have made the grade and there are usually some waiting for homes. Try looking on the website.
 
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