Rescue not allowing dogs off-lead?

timbobs

timbobs

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Having a browse on FB I came across a terrier rescue I got sucked in to take a look at the dogs available!

I had a nosey at their page and policies and they won't rehome to you if you won't commit to keeping the dog on a lead at all times- is this normal?

Their reasoning seems to be that terriers can't be trusted off lead and you will essentially be killing them by letting them off!
 
Sounds a bit extreme to me but I know some people just expect dogs to come to call and truly don't understand when they don't, I am very lucky with my terrier she has never been one for not coming back, she is far too worried about where I am but I did train recall from a young age.
 
I very much doubt the rescue thinks you will be killing the dog if you let it off the lead - they are probably more worried about what the dog might kill 🙄

They know the dogs and their individual temperaments, if that is their decision I would have no problem with it.

I’ve had a rescue dog that I never let off the lead because she had zero recall.... and when I had to re-home her due to my divorce she ‘got out’ in her new home and killed two cats in separate incidents because of that same zero recall.
 
Isn’t it your dog once you have rehomed it ? I’m sure people will say whatever the rescue wants you to say but once the dog is signed over then it’s out of their control ?
 
I totally get that you can’t let all dogs off lead safely and that it depends on the individual dog, but it seemed a bit extreme to say if you rehome a dog from them you commit to not letting it off lead.
 
I found the rescue on line, and I think that their policy makes sense. They make it clear that the dogs they have in have already acquired some issues. It’s one thing training recall in a dog that you’ve had from a pup, and something else altogether if it’s already learned to bog off at will.

I am still boggled that a terrier needs a min 6 foot fence in the garden of its prospective new home, though. Terriers burrow through/underneath fencing surely, they don’t jump that high, do they? That’s us as a rehoming fail then, our fence is only 4’ tall, even though we’ve had terriers for over 25 years.

https://www.terrierrescue.co.uk/adopt-a-terrier/
 
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timbobs said:
Having a browse on FB I came across a terrier rescue I got sucked in to take a look at the dogs available!

I had a nosey at their page and policies and they won't rehome to you if you won't commit to keeping the dog on a lead at all times- is this normal?

Their reasoning seems to be that terriers can't be trusted off lead and you will essentially be killing them by letting them off!
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I think their policy makes sense. They explain it very clearly on their website. It doesn’t say that by letting them off the lead you will be killing them! It’s not ‘the norm’ but as they have explained they take last chance dogs, unlike regular rescues.
 
My parents rehomed a dog from a fairly large rescue. That was their policy too, along with harnesses. It wasn’t mentioned, just written in the conditions. My parents made the judgement when they got to know the dog (terrier) and I’d be totally shocked if he ever wandered away from my dad! Nobody has ever checked what’s he’s doing.

I think it’s a sensible rule. Some people who rehome aren’t experienced owners and need to be told things that are obvious to the rest of us.
 
Tiddlypom said:
I am still boggled that a terrier needs a min 6 foot fence in the garden of its prospective new home, though. Terriers burrow through/underneath fencing surely, they don’t jump that high, do they? That’s us as a rehoming fail then, our fence is only 4’ tall, even though we’ve had terriers for over 25 years.

https://www.terrierrescue.co.uk/adopt-a-terrier/
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Mine would jump a 5ft fence if chasing a cat easily! Next door but one has 5 cats so a 6ft fence is essential for us.
 
I think its a fair enough policy, I *occasionally* let my terrier (and previous one) off lead, but only when with one of his pals with excellent recall, and guaranteed no livestock anywhere near, so pretty rare in Derbyshire! His training is great but recall is hit and miss and non existent if he gets scent of something, and that's with having him from a pup, going to training classes etc, never mind a rescue terrier.
 
Tinkerbee said:
I think its a fair enough policy, I *occasionally* let my terrier (and previous one) off lead, but only when with one of his pals with excellent recall, and guaranteed no livestock anywhere near, so pretty rare in Derbyshire! His training is great but recall is hit and miss and non existent if he gets scent of something, and that's with having him from a pup, going to training classes etc, never mind a rescue terrier.
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Fair enough, I may be a bit naive and lucky with my dogs recall. As I’ve said, I was just a bit surprised as I’ve not seen it as a policy before but it’s good to learn new things!

I think other people may also be surprised as they mention people being unhappy with the policy.
 
it is perfectly possible to train recall into older dogs.
Our beagles recall was awful/non existent when he came to us.
He now does most walks 90% off lead (he is on lead when near a road or livestock) and can even be recalled to me when I'm on horseback.
 
conniegirl said:
it is perfectly possible to train recall into older dogs.
Our beagles recall was awful/non existent when he came to us.
He now does most walks 90% off lead (he is on lead when near a road or livestock) and can even be recalled to me when I'm on horseback.
Click to expand...

Agreed, it is possible but it can be hard work to retrain a dog who has so far lived a very self rewarding existence.
 
Tiddlypom said:
I found the rescue on line, and I think that their policy makes sense. They make it clear that the dogs they have in have already acquired some issues. It’s one thing training recall in a dog that you’ve had from a pup, and something else altogether if it’s already learned to bog off at will.

I am still boggled that a terrier needs a min 6 foot fence in the garden of its prospective new home, though. Terriers burrow through/underneath fencing surely, they don’t jump that high, do they? That’s us as a rehoming fail then, our fence is only 4’ tall, even though we’ve had terriers for over 25 years.

https://www.terrierrescue.co.uk/adopt-a-terrier/
Click to expand...


We had a JRT that was a climber, the most memorable occasion was when a Ford Fiesta was parked next to an outbuilding, she climbed up the bumper, the bonnet, windscreen, roof, jumped onto the building roof went over the top, down onto the wall at the other side and away across the field. Her sister was the digger and made holes under all the gates. A friend booked her JRT into boarding kennels and was asked whether it was a digger or a climber, so that the kennel knew which was the best run to put it in.

I am never having another terrier!
 
Well with the number of rescues bogging off from their new owners, I'm not surprised they have this policy. They're dogs, not robots, they don't know 'who you are' in the first week, or even the first few months, unless you're lucky.
I have one dog who I can recall from a cat a few metres away from him, I've only had him just over a year, I have another who just wants to run as far and fast as he can until he disappears over the horizon, I've had him since he was 14 weeks old.
 
blackcob said:
This is also the policy of the Siberian husky rescue I had Ricoh from - for good reason in that specific breed!
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Luna had brilliant recall until she turned 2. Now the prey drive is sky high. She has only ever been let off in secure areas anyway, but now, you can see her up and down the fence line looking for ways out to get to the rabbits she knows are there. The husky groups I’m in on FB don’t advocate off lead for them at all.

She has caught a couple that have been on the wrong side of the fence, and plenty of mice.
 
CorvusCorax said:
Well with the number of rescues bogging off from their new owners, I'm not surprised they have this policy. They're dogs, not robots, they don't know 'who you are' in the first week, or even the first few months, unless you're lucky.
I have one dog who I can recall from a cat a few metres away from him, I've only had him just over a year, I have another who just wants to run as far and fast as he can until he disappears over the horizon, I've had him since he was 14 weeks old.
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There's one near us that has been posted on Facebook on at least 3 separate occasions for help finding it after it has abscondered from the fosterer, it's generally missing for a week or so, I have to question why it is still in the care of this particular Foster???
 
There are these amazing things called long lines and 10m flexis. Plus I walk very fast, don't I, Lev :p
I remember giving my dog a run on the flexi before getting on the boat a few years back and some Canadian tourists stopped their bike and asked what I was doing. I was literally standing still and the dog was galloping in circles around the beach like I was lunging him :p
 
CorvusCorax said:
There are these amazing things called long lines and 10m flexis. Plus I walk very fast, don't I, Lev :p
I remember giving my dog a run on the flexi before getting on the boat a few years back and some Canadian tourists stopped their bike and asked what I was doing. I was literally standing still and the dog was galloping in circles around the beach like I was lunging him :p
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Yep my JRT never goes off lead. She even has a 20m line for big open spaces and lunges better than my ponies 😂
 
Their dogs, their rules, although how a rescue would ever police it would be another matter. I suspect it's more to do with law of averages. A HUGE amount of people walk into rescue centres or contact breed rescues expecting to adopt a perfectly formed family pet and don't appreciate some of these dogs are bloomin hard work.

Within the first 24 (or even 2) hours they will have let the dog off the lead, only for the dog to bog off and for the rescue to be contacted in a panic, or worse still, the dog to end up dead under a bus!! So them saying the dog could end up dead is not an exaggeration I don't think.

If, by the law of averages, making the lead issue 'law' if you like, makes at least 50 extra people stick to this rule; at least for the first 6 months of ownership, then this in turn will help the dog stay in its new home.

My newbie Willow is only just being allowed off lead and she's been with me over 12 months now. I still wouldn't do it however where there are lots of dogs or people about because she's an overly friendly nuisance :oops:
 
We found Hector, who is a terrier type.

For the first year he was on a lead unless in he very secure stable yard.

He now does the horse chores in the fields with us, but is always on a lead when not on our own property.

He has selective deafness ;):rolleyes:

He is at least house trained and easy on a lead, but seems better at training us (sofa, bed, food etc) than we are at training him (no sit, stay.....).
 
I wish more people would keep their dogs on leads all the time!

Mine is always on a lead-she is tiny, has survived a nearly fatal dog attack (she was on a lead, the other dog was not...) and has 'selective' recall. So for her own safety, she is always on some kind of lead, long where possible but short in busy places!
 
When i worked in Lockinge in a racing stable, i had a Young female basset hound. She used to bugger off in the forest every morning and come back with a pheasant. The forest manager say that he was going to shoot her if he saw her again running loose....
I didn't want to tie her up or leave her in the car so i used an electric collar that i rented...
I used it only once and she came straight back, after that she never left the yard again...
I am not proud of using the collar but it worked.
Here in Switzerland it's against the law, i am not sure about the UK ?
 
jainque said:
When i worked in Lockinge in a racing stable, i had a Young female basset hound. She used to bugger off in the forest every morning and come back with a pheasant. The forest manager say that he was going to shoot her if he saw her again running loose....
I didn't want to tie her up or leave her in the car so i used an electric collar that i rented...
I used it only once and she came straight back, after that she never left the yard again...
I am not proud of using the collar but it worked.
Here in Switzerland it's against the law, i am not sure about the UK ?
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They are going to be banned and for very good reasons; they are vile things. There's no excuse to use one, you should have tried a lead.
 
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