Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => Pets without Feathers => Topic started by: Lardman on January 15, 2013, 23:33
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I'm torn... I've been dithering over this for ages, asking locally hasn't help me make a decision either so I pose the question to the collective.
I'm looking for something med/small, short haired, none "yappy" with a medium exercise requirement. I'm home most days, have a 200ft+ secure"ish" garden and a park opposite, Im considering a staffie as they seem to tick all the boxes.There are lots of places round here which rescue staffies and I'm sure I can convince them Im not a thug - hopefully.
I was brought up with English Bulldogs and have always considered a dogs temperament to be nurture rather than nature, most of the rescue dogs are older and obviously have had problem pasts. It's been a very long time since I kept a dog and Im concerned that it wouldn't be fair to the dog (or me) if I was to take on something I couldn't cope with, would I be better starting with a 'clean slate' and getting something younger.
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Not all rescue dogs have had bad pasts. I used to visit a local RSPCA frequently and lots of animals are in there because their owners have died, had to move into rented accomodation where they are not allowed pets, cannot afford to keep them, had children and can't manage, or simply find that a dog requires more time and energy than they have. Many of them are very well trained and are lovely animals. (I have a rescue cat, he had been picked up as a stray, they traced his owners and they simply didn't want him back. He is the most gentle, good natured affectionate cat you could wish for and I cannot comprehend why someone would not want him).
And my local centre has a basic description of every animal for you to read as you go round, telling you its temperament, why it is in there, whether it is trained, if it will require a lot of exercise etc.
I am not saying don't get a puppy, but do go and take a look at the rescuue centres before doing so, you may just fall in love with a little treasure needing a new home. The only hard thing is sticking at one!! :)
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its nice to be able think you rescuing a dog giving it another chance as you stated most of the times problems arent the dog its the owner. but whats all ready ingrained in the dog from previous owner can be trouble ,an ex workmate took on a rescue dog from rspca when i saw it a told him hed have massive trouble(it was bullxgreyhound badly marked up face ) sure enough 3mths later it turned on him why tryin murder is auntys cat ,so my advice is puppy.just suggestion BEDLINGTON TERRIER ive had two both grown up with young children never had single problem great little dogs and they dont moult but need haircuts.
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please please do go down the rescue route and especially a Staffy or Staffy x. They used to be called the nanny dog and on the Staffy facebook site where I am an admin I could show you just why they got this name we have photos by the bucket load of happy staffies with babies through to old grannies. You do have to remember that they are highly intelligent and do need stimulation. They have strong jaws so when choosing toys go for things like the black coloured kong toys or the yellow and black tough toys from Pets at home and also large stag bars.
Before being allowed to adopt you will have to undergo a home check - this will include making sure your garden is secure - fences need to be high to prevent the dog from escaping, you will have to show where they will sleep - mine sleep in the living room. Get the address of your local vets so that you can show where you will be taking your dog for it's annual boosters and any treatment it will need.
Remember when you adopt a dog you aren't just rescuing that dog but freeing up a space for another dog thus in effect giving two dogs the chance of finding it's forever home :D
Here is a photo of my little Rosie after her speying operation when she was one (this was our birthday present to her - she no longer runs the risk of pyometra) - she was born in a rescue centre and is a Staffy x English bull terrier.
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for every bad report of a bull breed dog I can show you a bad report about another breed of dog.
I also have a Neapolitan Mastiff another dog that frightens people but she is as soft as anything and a Newfoundland x.
All you have to remember with any type of dog is that they are a pack animal and you have to let them know you are the leader of that pack.
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and it is also important to match the temperament of the dog to you in terms of energy levels. a young puppy might drive you bonkers, even though you love them dearly!
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All our dogs are ´rescue´ dogs- Lola, a Jack Russell cross, she came from a dog refuge, I went to look at an Italian Whippet but Lola insisted we look at her instead. Jumbo (a medium sized terrier type) was born to an abandoned dog out in the olive grove. Then came Charlie.a pure Labrador, he was at the refuge I help at, he had been hit by a car, ran off and was then found in a park terrified. He is a big dopey lump of a dog, he was terrified of even a dog collar being put on him when I went to put a collar on him, so we had to carry him to the car, he would not walk he just lay as flat as he could on the ground. What he had been put through before he arrived at the refuge I do not know. He is much better now, still nervous at times, like when I put a new name tag onto his collar last week and had to take his collar off, we had to chase him to get it back on, he again was terrified.
Then comes the last dog, Timón, a small terrier type, he too was at the refuge, he had been attacked by some big dogs, at the refuge, so he came here to recover from his bad wounds, that was last August/September time..... he is here to stay now.
So I am all for going for a rescue dog, as Joyful says, one dog re-homed is 2 dogs saved.
We once had a border collie cross, from a pup, he had to be put to sleep, he was forever being teased by our neighbours children as they ran along the path that went to the back of the other houses, in the end Sam bit one of the boys, but the boys mother said it was her sons fault. A little while later he bit my cousin´s daughter for no reason, so we went to see the vet about re-homing him and the vet said he was too ´damaged´ (he had also bitten the postman) so we had to have him put to sleep. I was expecting a baby at the time. Sam also broke a window once barking at people as they went by. He was a really mad dog. We had another border collie a few years later, and she was completely different, she was as daft as a brush and not nasty at all, they were as different as could be. So what I am trying to say is, even having a dog from a puppy can turn out to be not so good!
Pamela
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I too would support the rescue idea. There are so many dogs without homes that I fail to see why people keep breeding more!
If you really do want to go for a puppy then there are lots of litters available for rescue. There is one rescue, here in Ireland, which specialises in pups and sends them, by the van load, to England on a weekly basis. I'm sure you're aware of the time commitment and training required in raising a pup, and the possible shredding of a few possessions. :D
As Joy says - staffies are great dogs!
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I rescued my Spaniel from the local dog home 9yrs ago and haven't regretted it since. I was lucky enough to get him when he was young (9months) and although he does have a few attachment issues, they're nothing that would put me off getting another rescue. The only reason I wouldn't rescue my future dogs would be if I wanted to start breeding them but that would be a long way off if we ever decide to. There are so many homeless dogs out there its heartbreaking that more people don't go down that road and I can assure you that after you visit a rescue centre, you'll feel terrible not to help one. With Christmas just passed there is a good chance of unwanted puppies being left with a centre so it could be worthwhile visiting a centre a few times every week or two until you find the one that's right for you. Good luck with your decision and dog hunt and keep us updated (with photos) :happy:
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Contact the local rescue centres and visit the dogs, some might let you foster the dog before adopting it. They will also check you out as much as you check them.
Friend across the road has a rescue staffie which was a puppy when they got him, he is now 3. Someone else I know had a staffie which was recued by the police from a fighting gang and his staffie was fab.
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If you do rehome a rescue dog they will do follow ups and if the dog doesn't settle for any reason they will take it back. I know it is not ideal for a dog to be passed from pillar to post but it is not good for the dog or the owner if they are not compatable. As others have said they do get young dogs as well so it is always worth getting in touch. At the end of the day the rehoming centres have more experience than most of us so they should point you in the right direction.
www.rspca-worcester.co.uk/index_files/DOGSREHOMING.htm
Good luck with your search and don't feel you have to rush into it. I am sure you will know the right dog when you meet him/her.
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Its great your considering rescuing a staffie they are always over looked and make great dogs, I am studying dog psychology andvhave only had to work with one staff it was my frinends dog and it wasnt because she was agressive it was because she was scared of pretty much everythink :D not quite so scary. 2 of my own dogs have been attacked and niether time was it a staffie or bull type breed. Most rescues know the background of a dog and if not they assess the animal to a point of knowing them. And whatever people say you can teach an old dog new tricks with a good pocket full of tasty treats ;) lol. Im sure youll make a great owner and good luck with finding your new addition. Like Daamoot said after Christmas rescues are full of young dogs and puppies.
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Here is a list of 12 rescues in the Worcester area :_
http://www.rescuedirectory.co.uk/animals/worcestershire/page1.html
Please do not choose the first one you see but take your time and decide which will suit your situation best whether it is a pup or a golden oldie :)
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I don't do anything quickly ... it's taken a year to get to this stage.
Im at what I would consider the last point I would take on a puppy because of the commitment level, which is possibly making my decision more difficult. It's not the cute puppy thing that attracts me - but the bond created between dog / owner during the early stages of development.
I certainly don't consider staffies any more troublesome than any other breed - anything with teeth can bite ::)
All the local places are bookmarked and I check their sites regularly. I have a little bit of an issue with their ownership policy of the dogs but it's not a deal breaker.
I have no doubt I could work with an older dog, but I worry 5-6 years from now it might for a split second regress to it's former life and cause a problem.
It's probably my main stumbling block, I've talked myself in and out of the situation several times. :(
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Have you been to any of your local centres yet as u could arrange a visit and talk over your concerns and explain what you are looking for. I understand what you mean by a puppy and its bond with you and you being the one to model the doh you want but as for an older dog regressing to its former life i can assure you dogs live in the here and no. Once youve built a stong bond with an older dog you will be its new here and now. And dont worry im the worst person in the world for making a desicion and going round and round it drives my oh mad. I will say the fact that your taking your time and questioning shows that when you make a final decision it will be the right one :)
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It's not the cute puppy thing that attracts me - but the bond created between dog / owner during the early stages of development.
I had my first dog from a puppy until she died aged nearly 16. My current dog, now four, came to me in a badly abused state aged 15 months, having already had four homes. Although I loved my first dog dearly, she was much harder work than Bonnie is and I have a much stronger bond with Bonnie than I did with her.
Also, I know one family who got a puppy because they were concerned about the 'bad past' of rescue dogs, but the puppy became very aggressive, had to be put down and they found that it had a brain tumour. This isn't to say that you MUST get a rescue dog; it's just to point out that buying a puppy doesn't guarantee no trouble. Though I would encourage everyone to consider a rescue dog as the FIRST choice, and only look elsewhere after deciding a rescue dog isn't appropriate for them.
I agree with Dawnuss - would really recommend you chat to a rescue centre about your concerns - good animal rescue charities won't push you to make a decision in a hurry as the last thing they want is for an animal to be returned because the owner made the wrong choice in a hurry! Do you know anyone locally who has a rescue dog? Talking to them might be helpful as well.
If you decide you really must have a puppy, rescue centres do have litters sometimes so that might be an option.
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Another vote for a rescue dog here. You can visit and build a bond with the dog before you make the final decision to take it. You can never know what a puppy's behaviour will be until it is older and you are "stuck with it" so to speak. There are so many staffies in rescue centres and if you can help just one of them that would be fantastic. You are wise to be taken your time over this. It is a huge decision that so many people just take without any thought to the potential problems and responsibilty involved.
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Another word on the bonding issue -
Bessie, who has now been with us for a year, has formed the closest possible bond with both of us. I often wonder if she is even more appreciative of her home and all the fuss and love because she was alone for so long. All my previous dogs arrived as puppies while Bessie was probably 18-19 months, but she is the most devoted ever.
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Do you know anyone locally who has a rescue dog? Talking to them might be helpful as well.
That's where I started :D I met the several, from the overly bouncy boxer X to the malamute who was so timid it wouldn't stay in the same room as me, both of those had been adopted for over a year and I know the owners are experienced owners.
I haven't spoken with the homes directly yet I don't want to waste anyone's time as it would be 6-8weeks before I could really take any action.
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My husky is x malamute and they are very in your face dogs wish mine was a bit more timid lol. Well so is my dalmatian the chinese crested is placid as a sloth. All i got from puppies and they all have a close bond with me as i do everything with them as the oh works long hours. I agree with thrift though that a rescue would build a close bond through apreciation. I dont know if its the same where you live but our local centre are always full of husky types too and most very young. People buy them for their cute look but cant keep up with the personality. If you want a dog that wants to be where you are and do what you do they are great. Mine has to be involved when im cleaning the house, has to come and put the chooks away with me i should have really named him shadow and not Diablo :lol: only downside is the excercise and they dont care if its the worst possible weather they will be there waiting with there lead.
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Our Terrier came to us from the RSPCA at the age of 4 months, his fourth home by that age, and stayed with us until he was 13 years old. We only have the Border Collie at the moment which was a farm pup, quite frankly, because I wanted a Border Collie and bearing in mind our location the nearest rescue centre is at least 120 miles away.
The Terrier was cool, calm and quiet with the chickens when we had them, the Collie was a pest.
I find it really upsetting visiting the rescue centres, I think basically because you can't take them all home, because regardless of breed thy all need a home and they are all gorgeous. :(
I can appreciate your concerns about rehoming and older dog, so I'd advocate trying to rescue a younger one.
Some fairly random thoughts, which might be helpful. :)
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A young dog is probably a blank canvas you can mold to your own ways, but it's temperament won't really be known.
An older dog, may be more set in it's ways, but then again, it's basic temperament may be more evident to people at the shelter.
Only taken on rescue cats, not dogs, but one was really neurotic, but with time, she's a real character & the O/H's favorite.
Had 4 rough collies, 1st one a big puller, bit excitable (died young). 2nd one, really calm, caring loved all cats, not just our own. N0 3 Big, ploddy & happy go lucky.
The one my relative has now, (N0 4) would be destroyed if it ever went to a shelter, it's unsafe to rehome.
All bought as puppies, different breeders & raised the same way.
No 1 private breeder, council estate, parents poss from puppy farm
No 2 Private show breeder, no kids & cats
N0 3 Private breeder with kids, council estate
N0 4 Private breeder, council estate.
We are talking "Lassie dogs" here, only stated type of breeder & where they lived to show, it does not in my experience matter where the dog has come from background wise, it's down to individual temperament of the individual animal.
I'd just look at dogs you like the look of regardless of age or background, look at the temperament & who you click with.
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Do you know anyone locally who has a rescue dog? Talking to them might be helpful as well.
That's where I started :D I met the several, from the overly bouncy boxer X to the malamute who was so timid it wouldn't stay in the same room as me, both of those had been adopted for over a year and I know the owners are experienced owners.
I haven't spoken with the homes directly yet I don't want to waste anyone's time as it would be 6-8weeks before I could really take any action.
It can be a long haul depending on the dog's background. But I have friends who adopted dogs where the owner died or moved somewhere that wouldn't allow dogs and they have settled in really quickly. I knew mine would be a lot of work when I took her on, but felt I could deal with it. It's really just a case of matching your ability/confidence to the dog & trusting your instinct.
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A greyhound might be a good option. Ex racers are very used to adapting to new homes; they are a very affectionate breed, require little exercise and are very easy to handle; they are also short coated, so easy to keep clean.
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Good idea, Thrift. I've met loads of ex-racing greyhounds and they have all been lovely, very placid and easygoing. My Bonnie is part whippet/greyhound, judging by her build and she is certainly much less manic than a full collie!
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A greyhound might be a good option.
The house feels a bit small for that sort of size dog, which is why I ruled out labs -I also prefer something a bit more chunky.
I met another rescue yesterday - an older collie X with rickets, the owner does tend to pick charity cases though. Im sure its 6 vs ½ a dozen but my experience so far of rescue animals isn't encouraging.
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Well I had decided I was definitely not going to have another dog. If I DID ever have one it would be a)old, b)small c)not a private rescue and d)definitely not a collie. I ended up with a 15month old, medium sized, private rescue collie... :D :D :D
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I had a rescue Jack Russell who drove me nuts! He was a blasted nuisance and I can well imagine how he became to be dumped. He was thoroughly mad, bad and dangerous to know.
The experience wouldn't deter me though and I'd have a rescue dog again. I would choose a smaller dog I think as they're easier to handle. I walk a bulky dog at the moment and he is so difficult for me to handle, especially on snow and ice. So, given the choice I would go for a smaller dog any day :)
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Retired whippet? Thats' what I want, to complement my patterdale cross.
makes me broody to think about it :nowink:
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It is a case of go and look at the rescue places, they will respect your ´just looking´ visit. After all, it is not in their interests to let you take a dog that is not right. Would it be possible to have a dog on trial?
As I said previously, all our 4 dogs are rescue dogs (can you count being born in the olive grove as a rescue dog?) We have 45 dogs at our rescue centre, ranging from a daft Pit Bull to a daft terrier type. There is a dog that hates men, he barks at them all the time, but with women he is great, he has obviously had a bad experience with men. He needs a home in a convent!
We have a couple of dogs I would not give house room to and if had my way they would visit the vet for a one way trip! But we have some fantastic dogs, as will the rescue places close to where you live.
Give them a visit, just to look, you might be surprised at what they have there. Not all dogs are dumped because they are a problem with behaviour, some will have been dumped due to financial problems.
Happy hunting
Pamela
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So true. Rescue dogs are just as 'mixed' a bunch as non-rescue dogs. Another thing to bear in mind is that a lot of people tend to overemphasize how difficult their rescue dog was, either to excuse their dog's current bad behaviour or to make themselves look more heroic. Also, experienced dog owners often deliberately adopt a difficult dog because they feel it is their 'job' to help the very damaged animals - it is a wonderful thing to do, but it can give the impression that all rescue dogs are a nightmare!
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We took a big dopey Spanish Mastin : link (https://www.google.es/search?q=spanish+mastin&hl=es&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=ry4KUcuCBYyzhAeH6YG4BQ&sqi=2&ved=0CDcQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=643)
To the vet yesterday to be microchipped and get her jabs. Augustina is going to a new home in Cordoba province. She was so well behaved in the car, she sat at the back looking out the window. At the vets she lay on the ground and went to sleep. We are so happy she has found a home, she is a real gentle giant. The people who are taking her have a big plot of land and another Mastin for company for her. They are getting her sterilised too.
Pamela
edit to fix link
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oh my Pamela what a gorgeous hound, she would have been welcomed at my house any time.
A few days ago I managed to catch 1 of 3 dogs that are living rough near me and had to call in the dog warden. She was a lovely Norfolk terrier who was very smelly and muddy but also very friendly. Sadly I couldn't keep here as our Ollie is poorly with her arthritis (plus legally you have to call the dog wardens) but she will be going to a none destruct rescue - either wood green or the dogs trust and the warden said she would be re-homed very quickly as she is a small friendly girl.
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A Norfolk terrier! My goodness. Lovely dogs and hopefully a fan will rescue the dog soon. Good job you found her Joy. Well done :)
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she really was lovely but sadly not chipped. The warden was also going to contact the Norfolk terrier club to see if they could re-home her. I do hope so. Jim was surprised that I didn't bring her into the house for us to adopt her especially as he is working away :lol:. The other 2 dogs were a collie type and a JRT so I think somebody got caught rabbiting, lamping or hare coursing and fled leaving the dogs. They had been abandoned over a month cause I saw them before Christmas and had mistaken the Norfolk terrier in the distance as our Rosie (same colour and height) and called her - Rosie was in the house all along :lol:
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A greyhound might be a good option.
The house feels a bit small for that sort of size dog .
Another vote for the greyhound.They do not take up much space at all.We now have 4 rescue greyhounds ,ranging from 2 to 6 yrs :) and me and the wife prefer them 2 the kids. Good luck on your choice.
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We have 2 lurchers that are greyhound x Staffi, and would highly recommend them.
The statement about 40mph couch potatoes is true, they takle as much or as little exercise as they are given in a day, and enjoy the simple pleasures of a warm fire to lie in front of too!
Both are rescues and we made a point with the 2nd one of dealing with a rescue group that provides decent support- Greyhound Rescue West of England, who also deal with lurchers too.
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We formally adopted a three Year old Westie about 10 years ago when a married couple my sister in law split and they were looking for a home for him. He is my third dog, since the age of 8, the last two were Heinz 57's and they were all great in their own ways
I thought Westie's were to small to be a "real dog" - but he is great and such a character
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Our first dog over here in Spain was from PEPA (a Spanish rescue society). She was a German shepherd cross and 5 months young. She was soooooo adorable. She did not come with a "past" as we needed something that we could bring up our way as we have very young grandchildren. But, we still gave an unwanted dog a very happy home. Sadly though when Paddy was 16 months old we had to have her put to sleep. Her hip joints had not developed properly so she was in-fact disabled. It was agonising for us to see her suffer. There is so much in-breeding going on that it is the dogs that suffer. Our next dog, Rosie (my Avatar) was given to us by our next-door neighbours as a thank you gift for catching thieves at their house!!! She is a crazy English Setter born to a reputable breeder over here (our Spanish neighbour's friend) She was the "puppy from hell" but has now turned into a very loveable hound:) She needs lots of exercise as she is from a hunting breed and line but we can give her what she needs. So if you rescue a dog make sure you know what you are getting regarding temperament and have it health checked. We were heart-broken by Paddy’s death at such a young age. Rosie, well Rosie is just Rosie – fit and healthy and loveable, but crazy at times. She is so good with children from toddlers right up to “big kids”. Enjoy your “doggy hunting” and trust your feelings towards a dog/puppy.
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Visited one the local-ish rescue centres today... Met several of the dogs, such a shame I can only take care of one :(
I would have loved to taken the female brindle off their hands but she'd obviously been mistreated by a man, and would probably be better off with a family. I was taken with a longer legged stray, he seemed to have just the right amount of "bounce" to him. He was a little on the lean side but we can soon sort that out. Someone will call to arrange a home visit.
I did ask if there was anything I should be doing to prepare the house, but they didn't seem overly bothered :unsure: Other than putting the floorboards back down, screwing all the wall sockets back in and making sure all the tools are put away is there anything else I should do?
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Other than putting the floorboards back down, screwing all the wall sockets back in and making sure all the tools are put away is there anything else I should do?
somehow i think that would be a good start ;)
we will of course need photos - of the dog, not the floorboards :lol:
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Be worth moving anything chewable/breakable out of the way until he has found his way around and settled in - my Bonnie went through a chewy stage for the first couple of weeks, but it was just nerves and went as soon as she had settled in. Also, a lot of dogs are nervous of vacuum cleaners, so maybe avoid vacuuming the floors for the first few days! (What a great excuse!)
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Beer bottles to the recycling would be good - you don't want them to know too much about you first off. :lol: :lol:
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Beer bottles to the recycling would be good - you don't want them to know too much about you first off. :lol: :lol:
Those aren't beer bottles ;)
Be worth moving anything chewable/breakable out of the way until he has found his way around and settled in..
There's not really a lot of stuff to chew or break - it's rather utilitarian here ::)
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What a big, gorgeous, drooley dog, just the kind I love and would take home except we're already a bit crowded as it is :D Unlike Hyacinth Bucket's sister, we've no room for a pony.
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Watch out for electric cables, funny to think a dog would chew those, but mine chewed through a live 13 amp extension lead. :ohmy:
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For your home visit they will want to know that your garden is escape proof so a decent height of fencing will be needed also they will want to know where the dog will be sleeping, so if you are going down the crate method then show then where that will be or show them where the dogs bed will be placed. Show them the details of the vets that you use or will be using. Most of the things they will be looking for is just common sense really - good luck :)
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Fencing - Secured the best I can as far as 120ft with a gate to the rest. 5ft Wood panel on my side. 3-4ft dog wire/boards on the other it was JRT proof though.
Vets - I have details / contact numbers of my preferred and the closest.
Bedding - Causing me problems, should I crate ? can't say I like the idea, but would the dog feel better in a safe space?. Should I look at a material bed, plastic or a blanket/cushion ? I assume as it was a stray it will need toilet (re)training I was going to look at a gate for the stairs until things settled.
Probably not ideal I have the patio up at the moment rebuilding some walls is it ... and then there's the issue of the chickens.
Most of the things they will be looking for is just common sense really
Oh dear. :D
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My 3 dogs are all crate trained and yes like you i was put off by the idea at first but could not recomend it more now. As long as you get a comfortable sized crate and only use it as a nice place never as punishment it will become the dogs safe retreat mine eat and sleep in theres by choice and not cause i shut them in. It means you can go out knowing your dog is safe and not going to destroy anything or injure itself. Non of my 3 have anxiety issues when i leave and are pretty much always fast asleep in their cage when i return. Also great if you have kids in the house as the dog can get away if it wants to its cage my son and nephews know to leave the dogs when they escape the their crates. I study dog phychology and am a qualified dog groomer so if you ever have a question throw it my way i will be happy to help. Also forgot to say congrats on your new best pal i bet your very excited im sure you will make a great owner :)
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like you I was against the idea of crating but boy after you have used one you will see what a huge difference it makes. There is no stress of coming back to a house in shreds (been there and had several sofas shredded :( ) so you are happier and the dog will sense this so they will feel happier. you can get really nice comfy beds to go inside the cage. My dogs only use a crate until I can trust them but every time I get a new pup and the crate comes out they all want to be inside it (even Charlie who has never used a crate).
Depending on the dog and the dogs age they may thing 3-4 foot is not high enough (a young Staffy can jump quite high - Rosie can get over our stable door bottom half but now she is getting older (14 months) it is proving harder for her).
As for your building works they shouldn't be worried about that :)
Chickens are another thing. I have 18 - there was a few more but Rosie being a terrier has put paid to a few and it has taken quite a few months to train her to leave them. If your birds free range like mine (they do have a large run where they had to be confined for a while because of Rosie) then do not let your dog off it's lead until you are sure. You can buy training leads (far better than the extendible leads) which you can us for recall training and also to let the dog have more of a run.
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I've just been inspected.. :D
The height of next doors fence seemed to be the main concern, I'll put some extra netting up.
Other than that, I just need to arrange to pick him up. :D I'll give the centre a ring and find out what type of food/toys/treats to get I would imagine it's best to keep things the same for a while.
Better go and Gurrgle the best way to transport him home, another reason for a crate ?
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I've been looking at crates too for a new puppy - the soft crates are good for the car if he is not too much of a chewer, otherwise I have also bought a larger crate for sleeping in (the dog, not me!). One of the websites gives you the size of crate for the breed which is handy. My sister swears by using crate training and the dogs love them as it is their refuge. I've also bought a puppy pen - garden already looks like a prison camp with chicken and rabbit fencing marking out separate areas (lawn? What lawn?!)
Good luck with collecting him - I can't wait to collect mine but have as I have just had a back op :(
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Lardman yes a crate in the car is a good idea i have a dog guard as i wouldnt be able to fit 3 crate for my beast so they all hop in together. It can also depend what car you have. Dont worry about keeping everything the same as of course you will have your own routine that your dog will need to get used to and the sooner you do that the better. Dogs are very resilient and will soon start to fit into your lifestyle if you teach your ways from day 1 and be consistent you will soon have a happy dog that knows where he stands. I would suggest keeping the food the same for a couple of weeks and then if your want you can wean onto something that suits you ( he might have a bit of a funny tum for a few days from the change). Cant wait to see some pics :)
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I've just been inspected.. :D
The height of next doors fence seemed to be the main concern, I'll put some extra netting up.
Other than that, I just need to arrange to pick him up. :D
Really looking forward to seeing pictures of him. :)
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great news and glad I mentioned the fence so it wouldn't have come as a shock.
Like Dawnuss I have a dog guard in my van (it is actually a parcel cage) so my dogs all go intogether but a crate or transporter cage is best. You can though fit a harness to the dog and buy a seat belt attachment if you want the dog to ride on a seat.
Change the food over gradually but be prepared for trying a few types - what suits one will not always suit another :)
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This is purely my personal opinion and experience only. Our last dog died two years ago. After lots of talks we decided to buy a puppy. To cut a long story short we bought a Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso cross. He was 8 weeks old. From day one (he was born in one) he has been crate trained, to him his 'den' is his crate he adores it. He is now 9 months old, fully house trained and the sweetest, most obedient (most of the time hehe) loving little thing you could ever meet. We do have a garden but he never needs to go in it, he gets 3 walks a day, one being somewhere he is free to roam. Some days he has four. He has a harness that fits into the seat belt on the back seat of the car, he either lies down and sleeps or, looks put of the window. The reason I say all this is....we thought long and hard about a rescue dog but at the back of my mind was always the question.......why did his last owner get rid of him. With 6 grandchildren I could not afford to take the risk and find my answer. If anyone wants to pm me about my experiences please do so.
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with the exception of my Newfoundland x GSD all of my dogs have been rescues and none have been nasty tempered, all the dogs would be assessed at the rescue centre and most will cat test if you request. Most dogs are simply abandoned because the owners either cant be bothered or cant afford to look after them.
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In reply to Blooming Lovely My brother just got another rescue springer spaniel as his last one died of ripe old age :) The dog was handed into the RSPCA as the owners said he was too boisterous. They had no time for him and he was not being exercised, so bouncing off the walls basically. He had received no training either. My brother is very kind and patient so has been getting to know his new dog, and despite initial problems with recall which you'd expect, he and his new dog are now best pals and getting to know each other's likes and dislikes. He finds that the dog obsesses about things so he's patiently trying to divert his attention so he's not fixated, as it stresses him (the dog, not my bro :).
I think that often people have too high expectations from dogs. They don't think or rationalise like humans and are not mind readers, they don't speak English either, so you have to be super patient :)
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My cousin has had 3 rotties and a pinscher in succession, not at once! She trains all her dogs well and had all from puppies. 3 of the dogs had to be destroyed because they were aggressive and could not be relied on.
She now has a rescue lab, 2 years old. The previous owner gave her up because Bella barked a lot, in particular at other dogs. Within 4 weeks my cousin has trained her out of that, and Bella can be trusted not to eat their budgie when he's out flying. A lot of rescues are unfairly pre-judged because their owners don't have the knowledge or persistence to train dogs.
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You should always remember that rescues are usually in that situation, not through any fault of their own, but because the people who bought them as puppies were very often totally inadequate dog owners.
That is not the sole reason; many owners are unable to keep them due to personal or monetary circumstances and sometimes an owner has died or become ill. There are some lovely dogs out there awaiting loving homes - they should be given a chance.
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Totally agree - I know two people who had puppies from reputable breeders, and in both cases the dogs became very aggressive; in one case the dog was put down and in the second, the dog is only alive because her owners were prepared to totally rearrange their lives to create a secure environment for her where she can't endanger anyone else.
we thought long and hard about a rescue dog but at the back of my mind was always the question.......why did his last owner get rid of him. With 6 grandchildren I could not afford to take the risk and find my answer.
I think it is a little unfair to imply that those who rehome rescue dogs are risking the safety of any children they know. I would trust my current rescue dog far more around children than I would many dogs which have been with their owners since they were puppies.
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My brother has just got his second rescue springer, having got the last one as a young dog which lived with him and his family for many years. He bought him from springer rescue as it was there as a result of a marital split. The dog had been extremely well trained and was much loved. My brother said it was a joy to get such a dog and they shared many happy years together.
He now has a replacement. A boisterous young dog with no training from its previous owners. They "could do nothing with it". He has only had it a short time and already its a different dog and they are having some lovely times together out walking and getting to know each other better. He says it's touching the way the dog comes to his side for affirmation and reassurance before bounding off again to play :)