Getting a dog from a rescue centre - would you?

[storme37]

im a sad sod my dogs not a rescue but he's my best mate

[Albert 888]

So you think that pet dogs do nothing do you all that I can say is you have no idea about dogs different people have dogs for different reasons who are you to say that your so called working dog is more important than.

 

An old ladies pet dog her husband has died the children have moved away looking for work I can assure you my fried that here pet dog as you call it means more to here than your dogs ever could as it would seem to me that you regard them as tools to use and throw away when they are of no further use.

I am of the same understanding,working breeds are working dogs not pets or surigate children.A dog is a tool and a friend.Like a guide dog,Alsation,long dog,terrier,sheep dog. all thease dogs have thier uses that they are bread for.If the dog fails to do what its intended for i wouldnt put it down just retire it from working and yes i would get another dog to take its place.

[SPARKIE]

i have 2 dogs one my lab and jr terrior 2 of the best tempered and behaved dogs you will come accross.....the lab was rescued at the age of 1 he had never been nr a gun hes now fully house trained and gun trained and so laid back its unbeleivable he never puts a foot wrong. my jr terrier was 8 week old when we got him he again has been shown love and dedication and again is a cracking dog so loving its untrue both dogs have been bought up with young children and i fully trust them both round my 2 month old daughter and other children......both live in the house and are family pets as well as working dogs and my best freinds they wont stab ya in the back or let you down like humans.

[Frenchieboy]

Albert888 - You say that your comment about shutting down dogs homes and putting the dogs down might have been a bit hasty! Without wanting to fall out with you or anyone else I would say it was more than a bit hasty, it was more like letting your fingers go wander across the keyboard before you put your brain in gear first! And I make no appology for saying that!

You are (To a certain extent) correct that there are many dog breeds that were bred to work but do not work, possibly more breeds than you realise, but the fact is that there are working type breeds that no longer work due to the fact that the work is no longer there. Take for instance the Dalmation - That was originally bred as a "Carraige Dog" and trained to run between the carraige wheels and protect against highway men etc. Or the Dachound(sp) - That was bred to go to ground for badgers. The list is endless. So by what you are saying then because these dogs are not able to work any more are you saying that they should all be put down?

Do you not realise that there are plenty of dogs that do in fact "work" in different ways and without them their owners might have a much lesser or poorer quality of life. How about these dogs (Quite often mongerels) that get rescued and trained to work as "helpers for the disabled"? How about the dogs that live with the elderly? - In a great many cases these dogs are the only company that some elderly people ever get and the only thing that encourages some of these lonely people to get out of the house for some fresh air and exercise. What about "PAT" ( Pets As Therapy ) dogs? - We have had several dogs that were registered as PAT dogs and have gone round to visit many Hospices and Homes where they have brought joy and pleasure into many peoples lives!

Quite often a dog can be working even if the work it is not doing is seen or recognised as work! To say that these dogs do not have a place in society (Quite often seen only as pets) is to a certain extent seeing things with tunnel vision so maybe you could try to see things in a broader picture and then put your brain is in gear before making any more of these "questionable" statements mate! Let's face it, these dogs did not ask to be brought in to this world just like the children that end up in "orphanages" or foster care because their patents could not cope.

As a final note what I would say is that it does wind me up a bit when you see dog shows like Crufts and there are dogs entered in the "Gun Dog" classes that have never seen a gun in their entire lives!

That's it, I'm down off my soap box now and ready to face the flack!

[Scully]

I did in fact try this some years ago at a rescue centre just off the A66(can't remember it's name) near Carlisle .They had in a quite young Springer but when I made enquiries and naively let it slip that I wanted a working dog,they refused to let it go!I couldn't believe it,and think they got rather annoyed with me for laughing at their reasoning.It was a very short visit!

Shame really,nice dog.

[lxtav]

Our first dog was a collie/lab cross from a rescue centre and he was brilliant and every body that met him loved him. Our current dog although not from a rescue centre was from a neighbour who due to health problems had to cut back on his shooting and was looking for a home for a 18 month old Jack Russel. As they knew whe had just had our last dog put down as it had suffered what appeared to be a stroke it was offered to us first. One of the best decisions we have ever made. Say what you like about terriers being yappy and nippy she is absolutly brilliant around kids and you what not believe what she puts up with.

 

So would I get a dog from a rescue centre, Yes I Would.

[Frenchieboy]

I did in fact try this some years ago at a rescue centre just off the A66(can't remember it's name) near Carlisle .They had in a quite young Springer but when I made enquiries and naively let it slip that I wanted a working dog,they refused to let it go!I couldn't believe it,and think they got rather annoyed with me for laughing at their reasoning.It was a very short visit!

Shame really,nice dog.

This is in fact a very true but sad point. There are many "Dogs Homes" that will not allow you to take a dog from them if you say that you want it to work! They really ought to realise that a great many dogs are much happier when they are "working" - No matter what type of work that may be!

At the same time I believe that many of these "Dogs Homes" would have a better chance of rehoming the dogs in their care if they did not charge such a high price from the people wanting to rehome them! Many of these dogs deserve a "second chance in life" but do not get it because of the extremely high prices charged.

I would not hesitate in getting a dog from a "Dogs Hoem" as a permemnet pet/worker but my wife and I both feel that we can help many more of these dogs out (Most of which are there through no fault of their own) by fostering them, assessing them and giving them a bit of training so that they can find a suitable "foe ever" home than we could by just adopting and taking on one permenent dog!

[kent]

Following this comment from another thread, 'And dont get a dog from a rescue center.in my opinion they should all be closed and the animals should be put down and not rehomed.'

 

It got me wondering, how many people have rehomed a dog with particularly good or bad results?

 

Would you recommend it, and if so why or not?

 

Would you take on a gundog that had been pre-owned and once again, why or why not?

 

 

I should declare that I am in the pro rehoming camp, but, I'd only really consider a young dog. My Ridgeback X was 16 weeks old when we got him from the RSPCA so hadn't really had time to learn any really bad habits.

 

 

I havent ever taken one from a shelter but i have taken one stray. A mongrel of about 6mnths and near the verge of death from starvation. she recovered and became a remarkable dog- loyalty was unquestionable in that bitch and she was far and away the easiest to train litrally she had only to connect the comand to the action just the once. She went on to work with ferrets, long netting and rifle. i always intended to include her in our lurchers but she died in a tragic accident in the field before that came to be.

would i choose gundog to train from a centre? no i wouldn't, not unless the dog was free and the intention was to re-home it again as a trained or part trained or the full working pedigee was known, which happens but those ones normally end up in foster homes with the particular breed society. I have yet to find a terrier that didn't want to work and the prices some now fetch...............

[UKPoacher]

I used to get dogs from rescue centres to be trained up as police dogs; German Shepherds, Springers and Labs mainly. Most of those selected went on to make good working dogs. I also have a rescue Springer at home. She has made a cracking dog in every way. Many dogs in rescue centres are there because of the failings of people around them, not the dogs.

[working dog]

I called RSPCA some years ago, enquiring about taking on one of their rescues but was told that they would not allow a dog to go to a home where it would be kennelled. Their loss.

 

I'm now more selfish and would not take a dog with an unknown background. Its commendable that there are people on this forum and elsewhere who make that commitment and put in the extra effort required with a rescue. I'd rather start training without the issues

[Robl]

A friend of mine has given a home to a retired Labrador gun dog.

The dog no longer works, it’s a pet.

Instead of a shared barn with the pack, he now sleeps in a warm kitchen with a daft young spaniel, get’s fed nice food, plays fetch in the big garden and gets walked a few times a day.

It’s a big happy lump of an old dog.

He’s the canine equivalent of a retired old Brigadier.

 

To all intents and purpose it’s a useless non-working dog.

And, if I read a comment correctly, some say it should be put down?

 

Frankly, that’s nonsense.

If a dog is loved and has a happy healthy life it does not matter if it works or not or has ever worked.

So long as the owners take care of the dog, clean up after it and exercise it then it’s going to have a great life.

It might be a different life to some other dogs, but there are many paths to happiness.

 

 

For rehoming a dog?

I’d happily take on a retired working dog myself.

I might take a puppy from a rescue centre – although I’d prefer one from a known family.

With the best will in the world, I doubt if I would take an older dog from a centre without knowing the history.

I’ve the utmost respect for those who do take on older dogs, but it’s not for me.

 

As far as I know the temperament of the dog comes very much from the breeding as much as the training (nature vs nurture).

[four-wheel-drive]

I did in fact try this some years ago at a rescue centre just off the A66(can't remember it's name) near Carlisle .They had in a quite young Springer but when I made enquiries and naively let it slip that I wanted a working dog,they refused to let it go!I couldn't believe it,and think they got rather annoyed with me for laughing at their reasoning.It was a very short visit!

Shame really,nice dog.

 

I think that there is two things going on here I have seen in the media stories about people owing sheep dogs and if they fail to *** up to the required standard they have been shot or they are mistreated add to this a lot of people me included think that leaving a dog on its own outside in a shed is not rite dogs are sociable animals and need company be it people or other dogs I think that this has a lot to do with why they do not like letting people have dogs.

[Thunderbird]

So you think that pet dogs do nothing do you all that I can say is you have no idea about dogs different people have dogs for different reasons who are you to say that your so called working dog is more important than.

 

An old ladies pet dog her husband has died the children have moved away looking for work I can assure you my fried that here pet dog as you call it means more to here than your dogs ever could as it would seem to me that you regard them as tools to use and throw away when they are of no further use.

 

You haven't understood my post at all have you? The reason I said that dogs should work 'one way or another' was precisely to cover the eventualities you mentioned.

 

Please point out specifically where I have stated dogs should be 'thrown away' when of no further use? Go on, please, as you seem to think your powers of observation are so immense.

 

I suppose growing up on a farm and personally training sheep and cow dogs qualifies me to have precisely no opinion at all, I should have known better.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, 'pet' dogs do do my head in, I'm not suggesting they should be slaughtered out of hand, or that they ought to do anyone else's head in, I am merely stating that they do mine in, and it's my head, not yours.

 

By the way your lack of punctuation makes your rant appear even more incoherent than it already is.

 

PS I am not your fried [sic], let alone your friend.

[shaun4860]

You haven't understood my post at all have you? The reason I said that dogs should work 'one way or another' was precisely to cover the eventualities you mentioned.

 

Please point out specifically where I have stated dogs should be 'thrown away' when of no further use? Go on, please, as you seem to think your powers of observation are so immense.

 

I suppose growing up on a farm and personally training sheep and cow dogs qualifies me to have precisely no opinion at all, I should have known better.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, 'pet' dogs do do my head in, I'm not suggesting they should be slaughtered out of hand, or that they ought to do anyone else's head in, I am merely stating that they do mine in, and it's my head, not yours.

 

By the way your lack of punctuation makes your rant appear even more incoherent than it already is.

 

PS I am not your fried [sic], let alone your friend.

 

It was'nt you, it was Albert 888

 

Unfortunatly you agreed with his post, probably not realising the full extent of what he said

 

He said "And dont get a dog from a rescue center.in my opinion they should all be closed and the animals should be put down and not rehomed."

 

When he replied with "I said that" you said" I agree" probably not meaning that you agreed with his statement of putting dogs down but agreeing with his comment about working dogs, working

 

Hope that has cleared it up a bit

Edited August 28, 2012 by shaun4860

[Thunderbird]

It was'nt you, it was Albert 888

 

Unfortunatly you agreed with his post, probably not realising the full extent of what he said

 

He said "And dont get a dog from a rescue center.in my opinion they should all be closed and the animals should be put down and not rehomed."

 

When he replied with "I said that" you said" I agree" probably not meaning that you agreed with his statement of putting dogs down but agreeing with his comment about working dogs, working

 

Hope that has cleared it up a bit

 

Thanks Shaun, it has.

 

Just had another look, I was agreeing with the working dogs bit.

[Robl]

I also think there is perhaps some confusion between exactly what is meant my rescue centre, rehoming centre etc.

 

There are place that take retired working dogs and try and get them rehomed.

Places that take failed working dogs, failed police dogs, stupid guide dogs, sniffer dogs with no sense of smell and dappy sheepdogs and try and find them a non-working home.

There are places that’ll take unwanted puppies for rehoming.

There are other places that take any stray and feral dog and try and find a home.

 

IMO there’s a massive difference between a pampered Spaniel that needs a new home because its elderly owner can’t manage any more compared to an Urban Gang Staffy who’s owner has been banged up for six months.

And then again a retired gun dog or a well tempered Golden Lab or a mountain rescue dog who’s just to old to hack it anymore.

[shaun4860]

I got my (working) Springer (Aged 7) from a bloke who decided that there was more money to be made breeding some little hairy dogs that sold for £800 a pup,

 

He said they wouldnt get on, so I took her with the intention of carrying on her working life,

 

Unfortunately back problems ended that side of things for me and she became a pet (already lived indoors)

 

She died in July after seeing out her days in what I would like to think was a happy home.

 

Not all working dogs make good pets but some, if not most do, and should be given a second chance

 

[Frenchieboy]

Robl has made a very valid point there. Just to clarify my take on things when I refer to the dogs that we have fostered and helped to get rehomed i am refering to Harpur Hey Dogs Home near Manchester.

I fully agree that there is a big difference between these sort of places that "cater" for all types if "waifs and strays" and those that specialise in rehoming specific breeds or retired "working dogs" such as Greyhounds or Spaniels for example! However all of these rehoming centres have their place and a great deal of these dogs really do deserve a "second chance" - Even more so if they are retired workers and have worked hard for most of their lives and are just that bit too old to "hack it" any longer.

[Peskyfoxs]

I'm a bit mixed about rescues, there are some that do a brilliant job and there are others that I think are a cash cow.

 

One centre I had brief dealings with (trying to help a friend) specialised in a single breed of dog.

 

The dog stays with the owner while they look for a home, all good so far, they find a home and charge the new owner £125 -£175 + fuel for the dog to be dropped off by a volunteer and the new owners have to sign that they will spay/castrate the dog (most rescues do this before rehoming the dog).

 

So the dog has cost nothing to keep as there are no kennel fees, the dog has cost the new owner between £300 - £500 depending on vet costs for spay and the rescue was boasting that they can rehome 10-15 dogs a week sometimes more. The rescue is run from someones home and they justified that the spent a lot on phonebills hence the adoption fee. They are getting arounf £9000 cash per month with no staff or kennel fees ... wonder where all the money goes ?

[Albert 888]

A dog is a dog like a cow is a cow and you dont get many cow recucue centers.The cow goes to the knackers yard when not producing enough milk.

China,dogs are bred for food like we eat pigs and lamb,i dont agree with the way some could have been kept or shown to be kept.But you have to eat.

So what im getting at is,why keep a dog as a pet.

I like foxhounds i wanted a foxhound,did i get one no because i couldnt justifiy having one.

At the moment i have two springers used for rough shooting,beating,flushing,picking up,wildfowling,fox drives,marking trees for squirrals,most recently on the grouse.So i would say i have good reason for having a dog.

[four-wheel-drive]

A dog is a dog like a cow is a cow and you dont get many cow recucue centers.The cow goes to the knackers yard when not producing enough milk.

China,dogs are bred for food like we eat pigs and lamb,i dont agree with the way some could have been kept or shown to be kept.But you have to eat.

So what im getting at is,why keep a dog as a pet.

I like foxhounds i wanted a foxhound,did i get one no because i couldnt justifiy having one.

At the moment i have two springers used for rough shooting,beating,flushing,picking up,wildfowling,fox drives,marking trees for squirrals,most recently on the grouse.So i would say i have good reason for having a dog.

So why do we not take it a step further mentally handicapped or physically handicapped people together with old people who no longer have a use they are just sponging off fit people who work to keep them so why do we not just kill them all off the mind boggles at people like you.

[Albert 888]

When my dogs are not up to scratch they will be retired not put down,and replaced by a new one.

People like me can see the need for a dog,not just have one because they want one,ie pet.

[djgeoff]

all my dogs have been rescue dogs, they deserve a life, not a life of hell and neglect, ok some dogs are for working and some for pets, so what! its your choice!

 

they do not deserve to be destroyed because they have been dumped, mistreated, unwanted, or because the working dog won't work. they are intelligent not like some owners who don't deserve to own animals.

 

in some cases animals may have to be destroyed due to ill health or even because they have turned nasty and cannot be retrained, as in the case of my last dog a cocker that just turned on me for no reason at any time.

 

i tried and tried to get it right but the 5th time of hanging from my right hand was too much and it had to go..... vet said best thing, you will never know reasons for what it did, i suspect it has a brain problem.

 

but my current rescue dog (Penny) although will never make a gun dog due to some idiot with a firework is the best dog i have ever had right from a puppy fantastic!!! 100%

 

daft as brush just like the owner i hear you say, who cares i say.... dogs / animals are intelligent, its some of the owners that need the training.

[subsonicnat]

Many years ago, I had an Alsation from a reputable dogs home, she had been left in WELP by the owner, who just ******** off and left her in a LOCKED Shed:: you could put your hands round her even when in WELP, She had the most beautiful Labrador puppy`s you could ever wannt to see: The owner said " If I was unscrupulas, I could sell them as PURE Labs, He did`nt though:

We Named her CINDY, and was the most careing Bitch you would ever want. she stayed with us for 12 years:::

When we first had her, you COULD NOT go Near her Food bowl.. Gradualy we got to moving it away, till you could take it out of her mouth if you wanted:: She was worried she would not be Fed again,,, thats why::: Kids Cried buckets when she died.,..

We WILL MEET AGAIN: (CINDY).

 

Would I get another From a Home>>::: YES.

Edited August 28, 2012 by subsonicnat

[four-wheel-drive]

This is all getting off the subject people have dogs for lots of different reasons who is to say which is right and which is wrong I would like to think that we all do our best to look after them.

 

Getting a dog from a rescue place has to be a bit of a risk as you probably do not now the comleat story as to why the dog needs rehoming in the first place I struck lucky when I got my JR yes he did have some issus with letting me touch his paws and tail but apart from that he was exactly what I wanted.

 

He is (not a working Dog ) ( but a pet Dog ) I love to go for long walks in the country and I have always found a dog to be the perfect companion as would I expect most of the people on this forum.

 

I would have thought that if you want a dog to do a specific job then it would probably be best to get a pupy and train it to do what you need it to do from the start other than that you are tacking a risk as a rescue dog may have not have been treated properly and you may or may not be able to overcome that also are you prepared to put in the extra time that it may take.

 

All of these things have to be taken in to account when deciding where to get you new dog from all that I can say is it feels good to think that I have taken my little Dog from the cage that he was in and given him a good home for the rest of his life.