Well I don't like that idea

[cobgoblin]

So you definitely wouldn’t apply? Ever? Even just as a back up? So if you were desperate for a cockerpoo you wouldn’t even fill a form in saying that’s what you wanted?
On that basis you couldn’t contact a breeder either, if you didn’t know at all what you were after?

No, I wouldn't apply under those conditions. One of the joys of actually seeing dogs in a rescue is that sometimes you fall for a dog that you wouldn't have considered, this is especially true of mongrels.
If I was desperate for a cockerpoo I would definitely go to a breeder, as you never know what would be available at a rescue, whereas I could be certain with a breeder.

 

[Jenko109]

I suppose the problem is that people normally have a lot of boxes to tick.

So it isn't just 'I want a springer spaniel'

It's 'I want a springer spaniel. It must be a bitch. It must be good with other dogs. It needs to be suitable to living with a 10yo child. I do the school run so needs to be okay to be left alone for a few hours each day. We have a cat, so needs to be cat friendly...' and so on and so on.

I imagine it isn't unusual to have to look through a number of different charity websites before finding a dog that you think may be a match.

 

[Bellaboo18]

No, I wouldn't apply under those conditions. One of the joys of actually seeing dogs in a rescue is that sometimes you fall for a dog that you wouldn't have considered, this is especially true of mongrels.
If I was desperate for a cockerpoo I would definitely go to a breeder, as you never know what would be available at a rescue, whereas I could be certain with a breeder.

See, I think one of the joys of being paired with a dog is you fall for a dog that you wouldn't have considered.

 

[tristars]

if i wanted another dog rescue, i would be looking for a little person, in the way i look into a horses face and know who they are

if a dog "spoke" to me that would be the first thing on the list, although i would only be looking at J R T s

 

[cobgoblin]

See, I think one of the joys of being paired with a dog is you fall for a dog that you wouldn't have considered.

How do you know that you wouldn't have preferred one that you didn't see?

 

[Bellaboo18]

How do you know that you wouldn't have preferred one that you didn't see?

Your question makes me think we see dogs differently and I suppose I'll never know but I can't imagine loving anything more than her! When she came home, I said to my husband something along the lines of 'how do dogs do it, she's been here a day and she's already the most important thing in my world' and yes more important than my husband!

Eta. even if you saw all the dogs in that centre, how do you know you couldn't have found one even better somewhere else?

 

[Indy]

This is how my grandad got his little dog many many years ago. I can't remember the rescue but it was somewhere near Northallerton. He was adamant he wanted an Jack Russell. Me, my mum, brother and grandad thought we were just going to look round and pick a dog but we sat in a waiting room, filled an application form in, answered an hour's worth of questions to an interrogation panel with my grandad insisting it was a boy Jack Russell or nothing at all. Mum was determined he was going home with a dog whether he liked it or not.

Anyway eventually they came back with this little ginger and white girl who was definitely not a Jack Russell, she trotted in and grandad absolutely fell in love with her, we all did. We took her home, called her Peggy and she was the best little girl, grandad doted on her, we all did. We got her because grandma had died and grandad was lonely and Im sure if we had just walked round to pick ourselves we would have overlooked her and just looked at jack Russells.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Depends as others have said if it is done correctly, however, it would put me off as I would only ever take a staffy. If your generally not fussy on what type of dog then it may work out well for the person

 

[cobgoblin]

Your question makes me think we see dogs differently and I suppose I'll never know but I can't imagine loving anything more than her! When she came home, I said to my husband something along the lines of 'how do dogs do it, she's been here a day and she's already the most important thing in my world' and yes more important than my husband!

Eta. even if you saw all the dogs in that centre, how do you know you couldn't have found one even better somewhere else?

It is possible to get lucky!
To answer your second point, if I was rehoming from a rescue I would look around.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Bit like an arranged marriage, then? Surprisingly they often work out (the marriages, about the same long term stickability as love matches, apparently). I suppose it might work if people are extremely specific in their application, but I always know when I see the right dog, and it’s often not the dog I thought I was looking for.

Lol, which is how I ended up with the now late P dog who was a Shih Tzu, not my usual choice of yard dog, but completely delightful in her own way
I don't think I'm being unreasonable in wanting a bitch, nor about size. The latter is because I have a smart car and cannot safely crate anything bigger in the car as there is simply no room.
I'm not changing my car, but had I been thinking of it, then my dog-wish would be another GSD or Rotter I think.

 

[Clodagh]

Depends as others have said if it is done correctly, however, it would put me off as I would only ever take a staffy. If your generally not fussy on what type of dog then it may work out well for the person

But you could put that you wanted a staffy in your list?

 

[Clodagh]

It is possible to get lucky!
To answer your second point, if I was rehoming from a rescue I would look around.

Tbh I’m not that invested either way but just a question, if by looking round you scared a nervous dog and made it hide or bark you would probably then ignore it, so only dogs that are super well adjusted to noisy kennels and wagged happily at the front would get chosen? Whereas many dogs are lovely one to one but hate kennels and don’t show their true nature, which you might see in a quiet meet and greet session?

 

[Clodagh]

How do you know that you wouldn't have preferred one that you didn't see?

There’s thousands of dogs in rescue, you could search forever! As I’ve always taken dogs from the pound, in my rehoming days, I’ve never expected an instant bond of love, I’ve anticipated having to work for it.

 

[Wishfilly]

Don't most people who want a specific breed start looking with breed rescues?

I can see the upsides and downsides- it definitely won't work for some people, but it may well work better for some dogs (dare I say it, the less photogenic ones?).

At the moment, it sounds like a lot of admin work for the charity, wading through applications for specific dogs which may be unsuitable, and maybe having 4-5 applications from the same person etc. If it reduces the admin load on their staff, it will ultimately reduce costs, and may enable them to help more dogs?

 

[cobgoblin]

There’s thousands of dogs in rescue, you could search forever! As I’ve always taken dogs from the pound, in my rehoming days, I’ve never expected an instant bond of love, I’ve anticipated having to work for it.

I always had an instant bond with the dogs I chose from rescues.

 

[Clodagh]

I always had an instant bond with the dogs I chose from rescues.

Fair enough, I’ve always taken the traumatised so tended to only see their bum!

 

[Wishfilly]

Also, if it encourages some people to rehome from smaller charities, isn't that arguably a good thing?

 

[ester]

Last time I had anything to do with the dogs trust about 10 years ago they didn't allow walk ins/visits everyone had to apply online first.

 

[cobgoblin]

Also, if it encourages some people to rehome from smaller charities, isn't that arguably a good thing?

Do you mean people will pass by the dog's Trust and go to others? possibly, but I doubt that's the intention.

 

[Wishfilly]

Do you mean people will pass by the dog's Trust and go to others? possibly, but I doubt that's the intention.

A good thing for the dogs at the smaller charities!

I also somewhat doubt it's the intention, but equally if they know they are getting 10-20 applications for certain types of dogs, then actually it's a better use of resources if 5 of those people apply to other rescues?

If, for example, the dog's trust don't get many cocker spaniels (random choice), but one comes in and 20 people apply (and wouldn't accept another dog), it's potentially not a good use of resources to go through all those applications, invite people in etc, and then find a good match. Whereas if 10 of those people now apply to a breed specific rescue or another rescue, actually the Dog's Trust have lost nothing and another rescue has potentially gained.

 

[Barton Bounty]

But you could put that you wanted a staffy in your list?

Yeah i could, both my dogs were rescues from sspca , the two before were bought as puppies.

I wouldn’t hold out much hope though as half the time these places never get back to you,

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Don't most people who want a specific breed start looking with breed rescues?

Not sure about most people but our experience was our local breed rescue was really harsh in their policy about people working. A further away breed rescue was less strict on that but in the time it took to sort out temp fencing (via the power of HHO!) and research dog-day care (which the dog we have would absolutely hate) they wanted from us, we had visited and brought home our lovely Ivy via Battersea. Some would argue that process was a bit lax but we've kept her safe and reasonably happy for two years now.

 

[cobgoblin]

A good thing for the dogs at the smaller charities!

I also somewhat doubt it's the intention, but equally if they know they are getting 10-20 applications for certain types of dogs, then actually it's a better use of resources if 5 of those people apply to other rescues?

If, for example, the dog's trust don't get many cocker spaniels (random choice), but one comes in and 20 people apply (and wouldn't accept another dog), it's potentially not a good use of resources to go through all those applications, invite people in etc, and then find a good match. Whereas if 10 of those people now apply to a breed specific rescue or another rescue, actually the Dog's Trust have lost nothing and another rescue has potentially gained.

I suspect that the dogs trust think this will help them rehome the breeds that most don't want. I think it's more likely that applicants will make their request more specific to avoid being offered one of these breeds.

 

[Clodagh]

Yeah i could, both my dogs were rescues from sspca , the two before were bought as puppies.

I wouldn’t hold out much hope though as half the time these places never get back to you,

Just thinking that they’ll have more time to answer everyone.
I won’t be rescuing again until shooting is banned so hopefully not for years yet.
Last time I went to one (RSPCA Wethersfield, looking for a lurcher) they had the most gorgeous brindle staff. I did enquire but she’d bitten a child so I couldn’t risk it.

 

[Wishfilly]

I suspect that the dogs trust think this will help them rehome the breeds that most don't want. I think it's more likely that applicants will make their request more specific to avoid being offered one of these breeds.

Potentially yes. However, there is also a thing about people being less likely to rehome black dogs regardless of breed (and black cats)- I do wonder if this is because they don't always photograph as well, or it's harder to see their expressions. I also have a theory that less photogenic dogs and cats probably spend more time in rescue.

Equally, if people are very specific about what they want, then that's potentially not a bad thing. Reading between the lines, I wonder if a lot of the applications they get are totally unsuitable e.g. home with young children for a dog who can't live with them etc.

I do think the way people look for rescue dogs is sometimes quite odd. With horses, generally we have a job in mind that we want them to do, so we try to find a horse to fit the job. With dogs I guess it's more about aesthetics and breed preference etc. But I still think if you want that breed and no other *and* it's a breed that doesn't come up often in rescue, then surely a breed specific rescue is the place to start.

To me, going to a charity and saying "This is what I want/need from a dog, do you have a dog who will suit" seems like a sensible approach!

 

[Barton Bounty]

Just thinking that they’ll have more time to answer everyone.
I won’t be rescuing again until shooting is banned so hopefully not for years yet.
Last time I went to one (RSPCA Wethersfield, looking for a lurcher) they had the most gorgeous brindle staff. I did enquire but she’d bitten a child so I couldn’t risk it.

Well, this is what I am now thinking, I am of the age where my children in the next few years will be having grandchildren and I need to know it is a safe dog so be better to train it yourself.

As much as I love staffies and have over 30 years experience with them, I wouldnt take on a staffie that had bitten anyone either. I have shared my experience before my own staffie bit my son at 10 months old it was utterly horrific.
Still would never put me off the breed still a very sad situation to be in.

 

[cobgoblin]

Potentially yes. However, there is also a thing about people being less likely to rehome black dogs regardless of breed (and black cats)- I do wonder if this is because they don't always photograph as well, or it's harder to see their expressions. I also have a theory that less photogenic dogs and cats probably spend more time in rescue.

Equally, if people are very specific about what they want, then that's potentially not a bad thing. Reading between the lines, I wonder if a lot of the applications they get are totally unsuitable e.g. home with young children for a dog who can't live with them etc.

I do think the way people look for rescue dogs is sometimes quite odd. With horses, generally we have a job in mind that we want them to do, so we try to find a horse to fit the job. With dogs I guess it's more about aesthetics and breed preference etc. But I still think if you want that breed and no other *and* it's a breed that doesn't come up often in rescue, then surely a breed specific rescue is the place to start.

To me, going to a charity and saying "This is what I want/need from a dog, do you have a dog who will suit" seems like a sensible approach!

Funnily enough I rehomed 3 black dogs, but was able to choose them in the kennels.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I will probably get two puppies together, from separate litters. That way they have company when we are out, my mum loves my dogs and always lets them out anyway she is 5 doors away comes in really handy

 

[SilverLinings]

Maybe other charities will have to start using this method to rehome too, as I've posted on the other thread (https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/another-fatal-dog-attack.826095/page-99#post-15392859) Battersea and The Blue Cross have said they will continue to rehome XLBs post-ban, and that they expect there to be 50,000-100,000 of them, so they will need to encourage the public to take them somehow

I think the idea could work in theory (ignoring the XLB issue) if potential adopters were allowed to be specific on their form about what they want, and if (where possible) they were then shown a choice of two or more dogs that met the criteria, so that they could assess their personalities etc for best fit when visiting the centre. This would stop people who aren't that serious from 'dog shopping' or only rehoming because they spot a particularly cute one, but would still give serious adopters a say in what sort of dog would fit into their life. I'm not sure how successful it would be if they look at a simple list of the adopters details and then choose one dog for them and say that's it; IMO they will get lucky a few times, have other ones returned, and have quite a few people not like the offered dog and go elsewhere or buy a puppy.

 

[honetpot]

For me its like getting a boyfriend, if you do not fancy it, your less likely to overlook it chewing your coffee table or sh!ting on the kitchen floor. The daughters dachshund was a shotgun wedding, not what I would choose, with multiple problems, we now have a dog that has a body like popeye and can jump in to the back of 4X4, but its been a labour of love for my daughters sake. Now the labdoodle has been easy from the day we got him, love at first sight.