Rescue crisis

[Moobli]

With many breed and general rescues at crisis point in the UK right now, wouldn’t it be wise and sensible for breeders to stop breeding for a year or three? Or would it be futile and pointless (given more people buy a puppy than rescue presumably). Someone I know who breeds and boards dogs as their bread and butter has said it’s unlikely they’ll breed at all next year due to slow pup sales and a saturated market. I’d say that’s sensible.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I think a lot of responsible breeders stopped breeding during covid, and all that did was leave the way open for all the backyard breeders to jump on the bandwagon and churn pups out purely for profit, with no health tests, lifetime back up etc.
It's an unpopular opinion but I do think some rescues should stop trying to rehome dogs with multiple issues. In GSDs there are some dogs in rescue which make me cringe they have so many issues, dog aggression, separation anxiety, not good with cats, not good with children, resource guarding etc. Rather than languish in kennels for months waiting for the impossible home to turn up I honestly think it would be kinder to pts.

 

[Clodagh]

I think, especially in the current market, any dog in rescue which has bitten, more than ‘a nip cos I got sat on’ should be pts. Also anything over 10 years old. Anything with long term health issues. Anything that needs rehoming to a world with one severely agoraphobic adult who doesn’t have any friends or visitors.
I am sure lots of those could with work go on to be decent and rewarding pets but right now let’s just get numbers under control.
I don’t breed anyway but part of getting Ffee spayed was because I foresaw no market in the next few years so no point me even thinking about it as a maybe.

 

[blackcob]

While the market for 'a puppy' is saturated there will always be a market for responsibly bred working, sports or show dogs IMO.

There's something of a crisis in the breed I have at the moment in that fewer than 30 puppies have been born each year for the last several years, from a historical peak (if you can call it that) of 47. I can think of only two puppies exhibited at championship shows this year, they are shortly due to age out with nothing looking to replace them at least in the early part of next year. The breed club rescue averages one dog per year and they are almost exclusively elderly dogs belonging to elderly people who have gone into care or passed away. These breeders need all the encouragement they can get and cannot be lumped in with the type that have caused any possible rescue crisis.

Agreeing with MM that we wouldn't discount a rescue again this time round but I am alarmed at the number I've come across not just with complex issues but with documented bite histories, the combination of which I wouldn't want to touch even as a relatively experienced owner. The ideal home for these dogs is vanishingly rare.

 

[Annette4]

While the market for 'a puppy' is saturated there will always be a market for responsibly bred working, sports or show dogs IMO.

There's something of a crisis in the breed I have at the moment in that fewer than 30 puppies have been born each year for the last several years, from a historical peak (if you can call it that) of 47. I can think of only two puppies exhibited at championship shows this year, they are shortly due to age out with nothing looking to replace them at least in the early part of next year. The breed club rescue averages one dog per year and they are almost exclusively elderly dogs belonging to elderly people who have gone into care or passed away. These breeders need all the encouragement they can get and cannot be lumped in with the type that have caused any possible rescue crisis

My OH would love one having seen one out competing (not that we're in the market for another) but we aren't likely to be in the market for another dog for 4 or more years but I think you're right re:show and sports dogs.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I have noticed the prices for puppies has gone way down now but a lot pf people forced back to the office and no longer have time for their cute fluffy woofies ?

 

[Clodagh]

My latest two have not been pups, although only one is a true rescue. Pups are much easier! (Imo, to train for work) as a pet most rescues can do a sterling job.

 

[Moobli]

I think a lot of responsible breeders stopped breeding during covid, and all that did was leave the way open for all the backyard breeders to jump on the bandwagon and churn pups out purely for profit, with no health tests, lifetime back up etc.
It's an unpopular opinion but I do think some rescues should stop trying to rehome dogs with multiple issues. In GSDs there are some dogs in rescue which make me cringe they have so many issues, dog aggression, separation anxiety, not good with cats, not good with children, resource guarding etc. Rather than languish in kennels for months waiting for the impossible home to turn up I honestly think it would be kinder to pts.

You are so right about the backyard breeders and all those who jumped on the breeding bandwagon over lockdown just to make money ?. I suppose it’s mostly those types I’m thinking of.
I also get the whole problem with many rescue dogs being unsuitable family pets due to a multitude of issues … also overly stringent rules on who can even have a dog from rescue. aargh! ?

 

[Moobli]

I think, especially in the current market, any dog in rescue which has bitten, more than ‘a nip cos I got sat on’ should be pts. Also anything over 10 years old. Anything with long term health issues. Anything that needs rehoming to a world with one severely agoraphobic adult who doesn’t have any friends or visitors.
I am sure lots of those could with work go on to be decent and rewarding pets but right now let’s just get numbers under control.
I don’t breed anyway but part of getting Ffee spayed was because I foresaw no market in the next few years so no point me even thinking about it as a maybe.

I hate to think of that being the best way forward but as the numbers stack up I’m not seeing a more valid way out.
It’s also one of the reasons I had my girl spayed - just not enough decent homes. We’ve also not bred a working collie litter in over ten years ourselves, despite having some excellent working dogs for a similar reason.

 

[Moobli]

While the market for 'a puppy' is saturated there will always be a market for responsibly bred working, sports or show dogs IMO.

There's something of a crisis in the breed I have at the moment in that fewer than 30 puppies have been born each year for the last several years, from a historical peak (if you can call it that) of 47. I can think of only two puppies exhibited at championship shows this year, they are shortly due to age out with nothing looking to replace them at least in the early part of next year. The breed club rescue averages one dog per year and they are almost exclusively elderly dogs belonging to elderly people who have gone into care or passed away. These breeders need all the encouragement they can get and cannot be lumped in with the type that have caused any possible rescue crisis.

Agreeing with MM that we wouldn't discount a rescue again this time round but I am alarmed at the number I've come across not just with complex issues but with documented bite histories, the combination of which I wouldn't want to touch even as a relatively experienced owner. The ideal home for these dogs is vanishingly rare.

Is the breed dying out through lack of popularity?

 

[Moobli]

My latest two have not been pups, although only one is a true rescue. Pups are much easier! (Imo, to train for work) as a pet must rescues can do a sterling job.

I also agree pups are easier when selecting for work. We’ve also taken in two rehomes and are having to undo habits nurtured in the pet home before the real training can begin.

 

[splashgirl45]

rescues need to be more realistic about rehoming , I am retired, live alone , walk my dogs EVERY DAY for at least an hour usually an hour and a half with lots of off lead running, I do have to go out sometimes , shopping, docs appt etc so dogs left at home maybe once a week, can I get a rescue? no I can’t, and have given up trying so my last few dogs have been puppies, all mongrels/ crossbreeds.. my friend who is one year younger than me was actually told her and her partner were too old so they also got a puppy when they lost their old dog. There are many good homes out there but it seems that rescues are not prepared to re home to us…. Also so many of the dogs in rescue have aggression problems and I feel that PTS would be better than staying in kennels or rehomed to someone who may get bitten or worse..

 

[Moobli]

Is the breed dying out through lack of popularity?

Sorry for replying to myself but I realised that was a stupid question! The question should have been why do you think the breed isn’t as popular as it once was?

 

[Smitty]

I would like another smooth coated terrier.
None of the rescues in my area have many in and those that are cannot be homed with another dog or are clearly not going to fit in with my lifestyle, and that's before I get a homecheck ...?.

 

[KittenInTheTree]

I think, especially in the current market, any dog in rescue which has bitten, more than ‘a nip cos I got sat on’ should be pts. Also anything over 10 years old. Anything with long term health issues. Anything that needs rehoming to a world with one severely agoraphobic adult who doesn’t have any friends or visitors.
I am sure lots of those could with work go on to be decent and rewarding pets but right now let’s just get numbers under control.
I don’t breed anyway but part of getting Ffee spayed was because I foresaw no market in the next few years so no point me even thinking about it as a maybe.

Horrible. Utterly horrible. Older dog equal dog doesn't automatically equate to dog that should be killed. Long term health issues aren't automatically incompatible with a decent life either - yes, some might be, but not all. One would presume that the rescues are capable of taking the advice of vets and other appropriate professionals in such decisions.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Until breeding and ownership are under more regulation it's probably going to continue being a big problem. Crap breeders aren't going to care, they just want the cash.

I was thinking about the state of rescues recently. I think it was spaniel aid who posted something like an average of 7 dogs per day being enquired about for them to help rehome (or 7 that they actually took on I can't remember now). That's just one rescue for one breed!

I often see posts for a rescue which seems to accept dogs that they don't have foster capacity for and don't have kennels. There's a frequently reposted ad for a staffy who has been 'rescued' from being PTS. I know it is really sad to put a healthy dog down but it sounds like something has happened (dog and/or human bite) and I don't understand why take on a dog which is not going to be easy to appropriately rehome into a foster home which can't keep it. I think fostering has its place (Ivy was in foster before we got her as she was stressed in kennels) but for these harder to home types the dogs could end up having multiple fosterers and being passed around which doesn't seem great for them either.

Something needs to happen about foreign rescues too. I know it can be hard to rehome UK dogs which could also be addressed but it just seems a bit wild for people's next step to be 'let's get a dog that's been rounded up off the street in a completely different part of the world and has had little to no human contact growing up'. Possibly a bit hypocritical of me as we have an Irish born Greyhound but she came to the UK via the racing industry (which is also generating a huge number of dogs in need of homes!)

 

[blackcob]

Is the breed dying out through lack of popularity?

It's multifactorial I think, although at its simplest I think most people just don't know they exist? Even dog people sometimes ask me what he is.

Other factors - most people interested in showing or being part of the breed club are older in years, there's few newbies coming in and sadly some stalwarts in the breed have passed away. Some that used to show more and run on more dogs are downsizing and reducing their entries due to increased costs. I've heard that some gave up breeding earlier than they might have done around the time of the docking ban, in objection - how true that is I don't know. As they're not a vulnerable native breed there's no extra support from the Kennel Club.

I suppose they are also a bit funny looking and not necessarily to everyone's taste! Mostly I do not think people would be willing to wait 1-2 years for a breed of dog they've never heard of.

 

[druid]

It's multifactorial I think, although at its simplest I think most people just don't know they exist? Even dog people sometimes ask me what he is.

Other factors - most people interested in showing or being part of the breed club are older in years, there's few newbies coming in and sadly some stalwarts in the breed have passed away. Some that used to show more and run on more dogs are downsizing and reducing their entries due to increased costs. I've heard that some gave up breeding earlier than they might have done around the time of the docking ban, in objection - how true that is I don't know. As they're not a vulnerable native breed there's no extra support from the Kennel Club.

I suppose they are also a bit funny looking and not necessarily to everyone's taste! Mostly I do not think people would be willing to wait 1-2 years for a breed of dog they've never heard of.

I could have written this about Mannies. We lack new blood showing, and with Champ show entries easily running into three figures for a few dogs, diesel accomodation....it's not hard to see why. It's such a pity we are losing these sort of breeds.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I could have written this about Mannies. We lack new blood showing, and with Champ show entries easily running into three figures for a few dogs, diesel accomodation....it's not hard to see why. It's such a pity we are losing these sort of breeds.

Ditto Lancashire Heelers . They are such great little dogs but people seem to all want fluffy little dogs now .

 

[splashgirl45]

Everyone seems to want anything crossed with a poodle, I would want nothing crossed with a poodle, I don’t like the feel of their coats apart from not liking the look of them , it’s another fad which has produced hundreds of dogs many of whom are in rescue because they are food and /or dog aggressive..

 

[TheresaW]

Horrible. Utterly horrible. Older dog equal dog doesn't automatically equate to dog that should be killed. Long term health issues aren't automatically incompatible with a decent life either - yes, some might be, but not all. One would presume that the rescues are capable of taking the advice of vets and other appropriate professionals in such decisions.

I don’t think Clodagh is wrong. We took on an elderly (11.5yo) when her previous owner died. In hindsight, I think it would have been much kinder to her to pts at the same time. We love her, would never pass her on again at her age (now 13), but I don’t always think she is a happy dog.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I don’t think Clodagh is wrong. We took on an elderly (11.5yo) when her previous owner died. In hindsight, I think it would have been much kinder to her to pts at the same time. We love her, would never pass her on again at her age (now 13), but I don’t always think she is a happy dog.

And keeping an elderly dog that has been used to sleeping on the sofa in front of the fire with lots of attention from a retired owner in kennels awaiting a suitable home is nit a kindness, neither is putting it into a foster hone and then dventualkt moving it on to another home. Pts at home if the family can't take it would be much kinder, IMHO.

 

[honetpot]

I bought a puppy last summer, because I couldn't get one from a rescue, we do not have a six foot fence, and the thought of paying perhaps over £250 for a dog with issues, and being grilled in the process, was too much of a negative for me.
I had one from Wood Green about twenty years ago, it had mange, a terrible problem with its bowels at the start, being a lurcher it had a mind of its own. The worst thing about it was the thought it was not really your dog, and explaining to the children why he had to go back if we failed the six month home check.
All the questions we had none that covered behaviour issues, which I think are perhaps more important, if you are looking for an ad perfect dog with a waggy tail, a rescue dog may not be the one for you.
There is a gate keeper mentality from rescues,if you do fit their profile of the perfect home, you have to be good enough for the dog, which makes people buy dogs.

By restricting supply you create the problem In the 90's there were so few donkey's for sale, the Donkey Sanctuary had bought most of them, so dealers started importing them. If you want to loan from the DS you have to loan two, and my elderly neighbour who had donkeys for over thirty years had to buy one, from a dealer.
https://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/faqs
I have no idea where they get the figure it cost £2k a year to keep a donkey for a year.
I stopped giving to animal charities.

PS. I went for a labdoodle, it hasn't got a fluffy coat, and is more like a rough coated lab, and has the labs love of water. Don't know whether its because its traveller bred but its a sensible obedient dog.

 

[TheresaW]

And keeping an elderly dog that has been used to sleeping on the sofa in front of the fire with lots of attention from a retired owner in kennels awaiting a suitable home is nit a kindness, neither is putting it into a foster hone and then dventualkt moving it on to another home. Pts at home if the family can't take it would be much kinder, IMHO.

I do totally agree with you. Unfortunately, I can’t bring myself to put her to sleep while she is still in really good health overall. She is only “a problem”’ when we are together in the sitting room. Out and about, she plays with the others. In the garden she’s fine. Bedtime she snuggles down with Luna. It’s hard, really hard.

She is noticeably worse when OH is around. I think she’s adopted him for herself, and just doesn’t want to share.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

And keeping an elderly dog that has been used to sleeping on the sofa in front of the fire with lots of attention from a retired owner in kennels awaiting a suitable home is nit a kindness, neither is putting it into a foster hone and then dventualkt moving it on to another home. Pts at home if the family can't take it would be much kinder, IMHO.

Agreed.
However, we have a very local niche rescue that soley has foster carers who take in the dogs into their homes. Absolutely no kennels at all, except to have an option of putting the odd suspect dog at a local excellent boarding kennels temporarily if dog needs urgent accom over the odd night or 2.
The rescue usually deals with smaller dogs, often ones from people who have to go into a home and obviously dog cannot come too. Plus also used by dog wardens for little strays etc too for the holding time.
In some cases they even fund meds for a pensioner dog, they are quite strict on rehoming but pretty sensible and grounded too., though they only rehome within quite local areas.
Its who I got P dog from. I happily help fundraise for them, they are brilliant.

 

[Clodagh]

My mums theory is that in 10 years ‘poos’ will be the only ‘breed’ available. She has a point!

 

[Morwenna]

Until rescues get a bit more realistic about who can give their dogs a home, people like me will have to buy puppies.
I do think that elderly dogs should not be put for re-homing. If rescues want to help then paying for the dog to be pts either at home or their local vets, preferably with the owner present, would be far kinder to the dog than the stress of kennels and a new home.

 

[splashgirl45]

My mums theory is that in 10 years ‘poos’ will be the only ‘breed’ available. She has a point!

I blooming well hope not, there are too many of them now, hardly any of them are trained and the owners have no idea how to manage them. It drives me mad
??

 

[Clodagh]

The rescue I got Red from is a brilliant and realistic person. They are out there. And tbh no one can say they need to adopt from abroad now, every thing is available here now with all the baggage of a foreign rescue and less of the disease risks.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I do totally agree with you. Unfortunately, I can’t bring myself to put her to sleep while she is still in really good health overall. She is only “a problem”’ when we are together in the sitting room. Out and about, she plays with the others. In the garden she’s fine. Bedtime she snuggles down with Luna. It’s hard, really hard.

She is noticeably worse when OH is around. I think she’s adopted him for herself, and just doesn’t want to share.

In reality my post was in response to one above that seemed to be saying that elderly dogs should be kept in kennels, if that is all that is available. It wasn't a criticism if your arrangements but I felt my post followed on from yours.