where did you get your dogs?

the two i have now were given to me.
Buddy, a miniature JR ;), a friend was given a bitch that turned out to be pregnant, she gave me one of the pups (there were two) because she knew i was looking for a JR type.
Alfie , a friends son was emigrating and couldnt find anyone to have the dog, he popped by the yard (we thought to say goodbye) and after about 15 minutes of shuffling his feet and uming and arring he asked if we could take the dog...he must of known we would say yes as he had him and all his stuff in the car!!
 
1st dog we ever had was one that had been dumped or kicked out. She was a young Jack, with sore bleeding paws. Phoned around everywhere, put posters up in the pets shop etc, but nobody claimed her. Funny as we all worked full time, the garden wasn't secure and Dad hated dogs. 17 years went by before she went heaven.

My next dogs were from KC breeders through recommendations but they had waiting lists. One is 10 and the other is 13. Luckily no serious health problems.
And I did a lot of research through books, as there was very little info on the Web then.
 
Of my four current dogs, 3 are from Greyhound Rescue West of England and one is from Cayla :D I will also be getting my next one from Cayla (remember my order C? :p)

I haven't had a puppy for years and now I must admit that I really wouldn't want the hassle even if I was at home all day :D
 
My 1st dog is coming from a friend 5 weeks tomorrow :D

In the future when the circumstances are better we may get another from a rescue, but at the moment we don't have a secure garden, previous 'own' dog experience, etc, etc, etc.
 
First from labrador rescue a boy, our next two we wanted bitches as boy was lovely but quite strong minded and the bitches are undoubtedly easier in our experience. No bitches 2 or younger from labrador resuces so we bought direct from the same breeder each time. Wanted a young dog as we had two very active children so wanted dog who needed lots of exercise!
Would have a boy now children are grown up so able to give more time to dog! But quite telling that mostly boys in labrador resuces up for adoption again just in our experience.
 
Dog #1 came from a free ad, was a private rehome, only a small amount of money changed hands. We'd been turned down by several rescues because we don't have a garden. She was an utter nightmare and I would never, ever do that again, however well she has turned out now!

Dog #2 came from Siberian Husky Welfare and it couldn't have been an easier process, we were matched to him and vice versa. He's a whingy, leaky, cowardly custard of a dog but somehow he was exactly what we needed.


Alec Swan said:
Ask yourself this, "If they are such wondrous and loveable creatures, then why have they been dumped upon a very well meaning, but swamped, re-homing centre"?
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Because the humans that bred them, raised them, bought them and trained (or didn't train) them are complete bumholes? It is the failure of the human, not of the dog. They all started as blank canvas puppies. Some numpty along the way made them what they are.
 
KC reg breeder on a hill farm on the Welsh border, proper working parents, middle of nowhere. The latest two were from Romford! Byb, I was clueless, soon learnt when I came on here.

I would rescue, but it would have to be a springer and I think I'll be too old and lacking in energy to have a handful of a dog next time round :eek: I would probably refer to my gun dog trainer for the next lot. :D
 
Our jrt came in exchange for my OH shoeing a horse as a puppy (he's 9 now), we got a retired greyhound 3yrs ago when she retired from racing at the age of 6 until she very sadly died from cancer just before Christmas last year. We have another greyhound now, not an ex-racer, an abandoned old bitch that was prob used for hunting/coursing by the state of her, covered in scars/missing dew claws & lame, the rspca were going to put her down :( so the people that found her took her to a local retired greyhound branch that took her in luckily for her. She is the most lovely dog, I would always look to home a rescue dog rather than buy a puppy & encourage unnecessary breeding.
 
3 rescues..

One Collie x Spaniel dog used as a bait dog for fighting (rescued by my partner not an actual rescue)

Another Collie x bitch shut outside 24/7 ignored for most of her life rescued by both me and my partner

A Border Collie dog rescued by a friend, shut away in a conservatory for 6 months with very little interaction, starved and muzzled 24/7 for no reason

Then my Staffie x bitch who was given to us one night by a neighbour of some friends at their house who wanted her 'out of the house' that night so god knows where she would have ended up

My partners Staffie dog who was bought for him as a Christmas / Birthday present from his brother who also kept a bitch from the same litter for himself, bought them from a breeder

And last but not least my mums Yorkie bitch (who was supposed to be mine!!) bought from a breeder when I was a kid as our first dog - she is still alive today (13 years old) although is mostly deaf, blind in one eye and almost blind in the other. She still lives with my mum!

The ones with us now are the Border Collie dog, My Staffie x bitch and the Staffie dog. The Collie x Spaniel bitch was rehomed to my best childhood friend and has enjoyed a lovely life with her for the past few years! The Collie x Spaniel dog was sadly PTS a couple of years ago - I did post his story here as it was heart wrenching and we'll never ever forgive ourselves for rehoming him. These two were both rehomed due to issues mentally and physically which could not be trusted around a child and found out I was pregnant about 5 months in so it was a VERY tough decision to make and wasn't made lightly. I still see the Collie x Spaniel bitch on a regular basis and she has never forgotten who got her out of the situation she was in and who actually loved her for the first time in years :)
 
Alec Swan said:
It isn't my intention to be controversial, but I would tell you that most of the dogs which end up in re-homing centres will arrive on your doorstep with their own agenda and their own set of specific problems. I'm sorry but that's the truth. Ask yourself this, "If they are such wondrous and loveable creatures, then why have they been dumped upon a very well meaning, but swamped, re-homing centre"?

The most experienced don't generally want to take them on, and why should they, is it really worth the grief? If I'm looking for a dog, then I will buy a puppy. I like to think that I have a rough idea what I'm doing. If I, in my admittedly pompous world (:o), find the dogs which are misfits, to be a struggle, then what chance do those who are first time owners, and blissful in their ignorance of the canine mind, stand?

All so often I read on here of those who with the best of intentions, have taken on the fruitcakes, and then told us that after NINE YEARS, the bloody thing's starting to calm down.......... It just goes on, and on.

Those of you who work for the greater good, I applaud you. Those of you who are looking for a dog, do your research, buy your puppy, and if you make a mess of it, sort it through sound advice, or put it to sleep, rather than dump it on those lovely people on here who continue to give false hope, to so many.

I wont wear my tin hat. I mean what I say.

Alec.
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For every fruit loop there are probably 3 dogs in rescue without issues that basic training will not solve (pulling on the lead etc) which you would have to train a puppy to do anyhow.

Many many many dogs end up in rescue because humans see dogs nowadays like everything else- a disposable commodity :mad:

Dont tar all rescue dogs with the same brush, as actually it is simply not true. Same way a litter of puppies will all turn out differently, all rescue dogs have a different story/history.
 
Out of the back of a van, cos they were getting ready to put a bullet in her brain. An oldish whippet x greyhound with no prey drive. Then, ten months ago, a neglected, very thin and hopeless dog, now a grinning, whirling, leaping creature, who is a brilliant companion, nicely trained and loves everone she meets, animal and human. She's fabulously fit, muscled up and will go for miles over the Downs. Grippets Rule! :)
My previous three dogs, who lived to a pampered old age and had happy lives doing their job of keeping me and the horses safe, were GSDs. I got them all as puppies. I researched their lines, investigated and visited breeders, trained every day via fun and had them insured to the hilt. I wld not get a GSD from a rescue as I am no longer strong enough or have sufficient time to put in all the training and stimulation a young GSD needs. So, after my last GSD died last March, I wasn't going to get another dog. Fortunately, the grippet found me, and she is just ideal and I love her to bits - so, fortunately, do the horse and The Cat Who Rules The World!
 
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First one a mongrel from a rescue and the second one was a Dalmatian from the RSPCA.

Third one from a farmer whose pony I broke in, lovely Springer pup.

Fourth one from a breeder,he got stolen by the gypsies when he was 5 again a Springer.

I have had 4 more Springers all from the Springer rescue, and at the moment I have 4 Springers that have all come from their rescue society's .

I would always go to a rescue for my dogs.
 
Stafford Welfare. Another who doesn't agree with Alec, majority of rescues are simply not like that. Normally agree with the majority of what Alec has to say but not on this occasion. Dogs in rescue are nearly always dumped because of idiots and people who just do not think about having a dog. There is stafford puppy who has just come in. He has a (healed but had not been treated) broken leg, broken skull and another broken leg. He is only 4 months old. What did he do wrong? I have found that a lot of the rescues will not rehome a dog with real issues, they simply can't afford to do so. If its a case of training or time, yes but a dog who is proven to be aggressive etc will not be rehomed. There are exceptions but this seems to be the rule for most rescues now. If you are looking, then look at different rescues, look at the breed specific welfares as well. My first stafford was kept solo as I could not have 2 dogs, when I lost her, I waited for 6 months then had another bitch through welfare. The dog was chosen by dint of my lifestyle. Same when I later had another dog, they suggested a different dog from my original choice as my lifestyle is fairly active and didn't think the older dog I had looked at would be the best choice. Last one, welfare helped again with really helping me ensure that all mixed in well and we certainly took our time to ensure all 3 were happy with each other. All staffords, all great fun!
 
All my 3 were from a rescue center and all the dogs have ended up there through the failings of the owners and nothing to do with the animals having problems.

My 2 BM's girls were chucked out breeding bitches and are the most lovable fantastic companions. Bulldog boy the same, came out as an entire from a breeder, rescue sorted him out physically ie castrated, chipped and fed him and he has no issues at all.

Alec I think the view that rescue dogs have problems is so damaging and some people may now not adopt a dog and go to a back street breeder instead as any puppy no matter its origins is better than an older rescue dog with supposed issues.

In fact rescue dogs are better for people in that a reputable rescue matches dog to client and works on things like lead walking, socialisation and manners whilst waiting to be rehomed.
 
lexiedhb said:
.......

Many many many dogs end up in rescue because humans see dogs nowadays like everything else- a disposable commodity :mad:

Dont tar all rescue dogs with the same brush, as actually it is simply not true. ..........
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Para 1. How I agree with you, and your thoughts would prompt the question, "Why did they buy the dog in the first place"?

Why is it that most of those who keep the rescue centres "supplied" with dogs, have been of the view, that if things don't work out (and with that approach, patently they often wont), then all that we have to do is seek out "That nice lady from the charity, and she'll make us feel better about the fact that we are idiots".

I am NOT knocking the rescues centres, except to say that their very presence supports the previously mentioned idiot. Say what you like, you're the answer to the idiot's prayers, and when they've dumped their misfit upon you, then they feel so much better about themselves. Then, quite clearly, their failures were the result of the breeder, or the dog itself (;):rolleyes::mad:), so what do they do? Yep, you've got it, they go out and try, yet again.

I'm genuinely pleased to hear that there are those on here who've been successful with rescues. Honestly I am, but you have to admit that all so often, as the previous damage has been done, the puppy grows to maturity with a learned and often entrenched view of life, other dogs and people, and when the well intentioned "innocent" wanders in to a rescue centre, do the bulk of them know what they're taking on? Obviously not, which is why we see so many dogs which have been re-homed, more than once, and some on multiple occasions.

I'm not knocking the rescue centres, but they are all so often, a salve for those who being the wrong person to own a dog, have quite coincidentally, chosen an entirely inappropriate breed.

My sympathies don't lay with those who buy the wrong dog, for the wrong reason.

Alec.
 
2 dogs from 2 different rescues :D

I alway insist on rescuing a pooch thats less than 6months old though.

I know that's harsh as there are lots of older dogs i could take on. But at the same time centres do get a lot of mongrel puppies too. Like Alec said above with the dangers or rescuing someone elses problem. I don't mind young mongrels that you can train your own way though, rather than re-train.
 
BBH said:
.......

Alec I think the view that rescue dogs have problems is so damaging and some people may now not adopt a dog and go to a back street breeder instead as any puppy no matter its origins is better than an older rescue dog with supposed issues.

........
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I suspect that you may well be right. I would always prefer to start with a puppy, rather than try and unravel the nightmare of the previous owners errors. I would also advise others to follow the same path.

There's a parallel, those who go out, find a very pretty TB filly which is just out of training, and "Save" it from the knackers yard. They save it alright, it's as week as a lamb when it arrives with them, they pour food in to it, and lo and behold, in a month's time, they find that they have a potentially dangerous maniac on their hands, and don't say that it is a rare occurrence, it isn't, it happens daily.

Alec.
 
I do see both points of view. There are plenty of dogs in rescue that are there through no fault of their own and could perfectly slot into most pet homes.

But I agree people need to be educated as to what happens after they give their dogs up. And indeed cats.

There are circumstances like death, job/home loss etc that cannot be helped, but I have read the booking in book from a rescue I support and some of the reasons given are laughable. When there is a fall back and people are assured that a healthy dog is never put down, rescue can become a fallback.
Maybe if people knew that cute pup that grew into an annoying adolescent that they now want to give up, might end up in a bodybag, they might work a bit harder.
Or maybe they wouldn't.

There is also a staggering amount of people who either don't know or don't care that surrendering a dog to a council pound, can that dog a 50:50 chance of being dead within a week.

I've given a cat to a rescue (she was elderly, we had a resident cat and the dogs already hate it, we live beside a very busy road and have lost around ten cats on it already) we know the people who run the rescue and she was rehomed within days. I would never give a dog to a rescue - I would rehome privately or PTS. And have done.

I like Picklenash, can't be annoyed with baby pups, they can be a right pain in the jacksie :p
 
Alec Swan said:
Para 1. How I agree with you, and your thoughts would prompt the question, "Why did they buy the dog in the first place"?

Why is it that most of those who keep the rescue centres "supplied" with dogs, have been of the view, that if things don't work out (and with that approach, patently they often wont), then all that we have to do is seek out "That nice lady from the charity, and she'll make us feel better about the fact that we are idiots".

I am NOT knocking the rescues centres, except to say that their very presence supports the previously mentioned idiot. Say what you like, you're the answer to the idiot's prayers, and when they've dumped their misfit upon you, then they feel so much better about themselves. Then, quite clearly, their failures were the result of the breeder, or the dog itself (;):rolleyes::mad:), so what do they do? Yep, you've got it, they go out and try, yet again.

I'm genuinely pleased to hear that there are those on here who've been successful with rescues. Honestly I am, but you have to admit that all so often, as the previous damage has been done, the puppy grows to maturity with a learned and often entrenched view of life, other dogs and people, and when the well intentioned "innocent" wanders in to a rescue centre, do the bulk of them know what they're taking on? Obviously not, which is why we see so many dogs which have been re-homed, more than once, and some on multiple occasions.

I'm not knocking the rescue centres, but they are all so often, a salve for those who being the wrong person to own a dog, have quite coincidentally, chosen an entirely inappropriate breed.

My sympathies don't lay with those who buy the wrong dog, for the wrong reason.

Alec.
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Sorry Alec you just dont get it, those idiots that hand into rescue if its Cayla for instance will go away with a flea in their ear:D. If there was no rescue they would just dump their dog. How many dogs have you taken from rescue to have come to the conclusion you have. Breed rescues are experts in their breed and will work hard to match the dog to the new owner, dogs with severe problems will never be rehomed but quitely pts. If the owner of an unsuitable breed had bought their dog from a reputable breeder the breeder would take the dog back but if it was a reputable breeder they wouldnt have sold them a dog in the first place. Most rescues have access to behaviourists to help the transition from kennel to home another plus in my book. The only downside I can see with rescue as in Dobermanns is I have no idea of the long time health of my dogs as their parents were not health tested as far as I know.
 
Alec, my dog is a rescue but he's not a misfit! Honestly, that is so flipping rude. Anyone would be lucky to own a dog like him. Any blips we had were down to me - not him.
 
I do agree that a lot of people think of rescue as some fluffy option, unlimited funds with a horde of people eagerly waiting for said dog.

Reality is. Rescues are all charities, struggling for money, frequently being forced to leave very young and healthy dogs in pounds as they have no space. Predominantly run by volunteers, always struggling. Pounds will PTS after 7 days. They don't have an option, they may try to work with rescues but the absolute horrific reality is ... too many dogs pouring in.

I didn't have to compromise on what sort of dog I wanted. My only regret is I didn't get the puppy and someone else had my dogs for a bit but I was really specific about what I wanted, firstly, due to my lifestyle and then due to my other dogs. In reality, had I gone out to purchase a clean sheet, i.e puppy, I would not have really known how it would have all turned out. Working with a reputable rescue (Stafford Welfare) meant I had all the support and options I wanted.
 
Getting a pup is no guarantee of an easy ride either - pups which go into the most well-meaning of homes can still end up pulling on the lead, not having any recall, chewing the furniture, howling and digging, being arsey with other dogs, through genetics or lack of training/socialisation - just like a dog from a rescue. Look at the forum posts, people who have had pups from day one still have problems, like anyone else.
 
Alec Swan said:
I would also advise others to follow the same path.


Alec.
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Why? It just encourages more poor breeding. An owner with a puppy who has NO clue, IMO, would be better off with an older rescue, who's been there done that. Rather than creating yet another "problem" dog because they lack the knowledge to train a pup to be a good citizen.
 
Across many breed rescues the top reason is "too boisterous" ie. lack of planning, training or misguided expectations.

Or sometimes outright lies about the nature of the breeds by the con men selling them.
 
Ronnie was from a local dog rescue.

We'd done our research and decided that a greyhound/whippet/lurcher would suit our lifestyles. At the rescue, they were honest enough to advise that the lurcher that we'd actually gone to see wouldn't be suitable for us, but suggested instead a 6 month old Bedlington lurcher pup who was one of a dumped litter found and handed in, was re-homed, then the new owners decided a dog didn't fit their lifestyle at all, so back he went to the rescue.

Thanks to honesty on both sides, we've ended up with the most wonderful and happy little dog, perfectly suited to us. Obviously, as the litter was originally dumped, Ronnie came with no parental history or KC checks - and it turns out that he has a (mild) luxating patella. I understand we won't ever know if he's predisposed to any other problems in the future - that's the chance we've got to take, but even so, we count our blessings every day to have little Ronnie in our lives!
 
Current 2 dogs are both rescues, previous 2 dogs were re-homed (not rescues as they were ex-breeding/ show dogs I got as adults from the breeders). I quite deliberately avoided getting any puppies, as I don't particularly like them! hmmm...maybe there's something wrong with me?
Anyway, the 2 rescues have been very hard work, but I love them to bits. The 2 re-homed dogs were absolute angels, go anywhere, do anything, confident dogs. I have no children and therefore have the extra time and energy(!?! hah) for the extra chores that a rescue may bring with it, and will always go down that route now.
 
My little beagle came from a breeder (10 years ago now! :eek: ) aged 8 weeks old.

We lived in Bury St Edmunds at the time and ventured up to Snetterton to the Dogs Trust centre there but after 5 mins of looking my mother went back to the car and refused to get out again, saying it was 'too upsetting'.

Me and my father persevered but were refused a home check as we lived in a flat above the shop they ran (it was a very large flat and we had a garden plus numerous fields behind us).

Still, my beastie is the best dog ever and I'm glad we were refused a check. He's such a loyal creature and has been my rock for the past 10 years :)
 
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