Jack Russell

foreign_correspondent

LillyJ wrote: »

What? ALL rescue dogs have problems with dogs or people? Not true at all.

Especially since you can get puppies from rescues, and a huge number of the dogs there haven't ever been mistreated.

It is such a shame people have attitudes like this when there are loving, caring, children and pet friendly dogs in rescues across the country desparate for some one to take them home (and take them hiking on weekends!)

I agree, its nonsense and mis-information like this that leads to so many dogs being in rescues for ages, or worse, being put to sleep. It also keeps the (often unscrupulous) breeders in business and raking in the cash, as people believe a dog from a breeder wil somehow be superior!

When I am out with mine and my mums dogs, which are both incrediby friendy and chilled out, I often register people's surprise when they find out they are 'rescue' dogs - not at all what they expected, obviously!

orlao

The problem with the OP getting a rescue around the Rochford, Southend, Basildon area is that most, if not all of the rescue centers around here won't even consider them as they work.....the fact they live in a flat won't help either. The only rescue that I think MIGHT consider them is the Greyhound Rescue in Laindon, I don't think they homecheck but I might be wrong on that.

There are always "private" rescues, ads on dogpages, in the local papers but, tbh I'm not sure that I'd want to take a risk on that if I was a first time dog owner Not to say that all people are dishonest but often these dogs are being rehomed by people who took on a dog in the first place without realising how much work, money and knowledge was required so there is a very good chance you will get an animal that needs a lot of TLC and training as you would when you get a dog from a centre but without any hope of experienced help in matching a dog to your household or back up when you need help or advice.

However, I still think that 9 hours a day is too long for a dog to be left and if you were to go ahead you would have to budget for a dogwalker every day (£8 - 10) as IME you can't rely on neighbours forever! In saying all that:o I have 3 dogs and work full time but my dogs have free access to a secure garden and at least one, usually two visits a day M-F while I'm at work.Like elsien I would think long and hard about getting another dog and certainly wouldn't consider a puppy as my circumstances have changed since I last got a dog.

f1re_cr4cker

im inclined to think there is no way you should get an energetic dog as an energetic dog will go crazy on its own during the day and def not a puppy as they need a lot of attention.....

daisykinn1

JRT aren't easy going at all, don't be fooled by their size!! I have a border terrier, he doesn't shed but has to be stripped of his coat every now and then but he would go stir crazy if we left him all day.

Really an energetic dog wouldn't really suit your lifestyle, what's he going to do for 8 hours in the week? Could you get home from lunch for a quick walk everyday? It's a massive commitment.

Please look up a website called Oldies, all rescue dogs that need good homes and all have fantastic write ups so hopefully you'll find a middle aged dog on there than suits you.

~Chameleon~

Having just spent almost 3hrs trying to capture my neighbours escapee JRT today then all I can say is you better be bloody fit!!!! Boy can that little fella run, and also squeeze through the tiniest gap possible if it gives him an escape route! :eek:

Pleased to say we eventually captured him before he managed to do any damage to either himself or a member of the public, although he did give one poor old dear on a moped a terrible fright when he tried to eat her wheels as she drove by!!!! :eek:

I think I've aged 10 years this afternoon :rotfl:

Francesanne

tim_n wrote: »

I'm a cat lover - I freely admit that. I'm also allergic to most if not all sweet and fluffy things including dogs. However I do like them (I'm not a fan of being licked though). My fiance is a bit of a dog lover - I've converted her to cats but even so I'd enjoy taking a pet out for walks etc and you do get ever so many odd looks when you take your cat out for a walk.
So I'm considering dog ownership. I'm good with dogs, I've never had a problem getting them to do what they are told and I hope I'd be a good 'parent' to one.

Both my fiance and I work. I can probably face getting up early and taking it for a walk (5:30 am start anyone?) and we have an allotment which I visit twice a day to get veg, dig etc and they are dog friendly. I work on average about 8hrs a day and would be gone from 7:30 to 4:30 daily. We also live in a flat where I have a study which would probably also be the 'dog' room once I fit a new door on it.

You may therefore be suprised to hear I want a jack russell. Not particularly pet friendly especially with a dog which can be more than a bit to handle. Is this particularly unfair on the dog or should I be thinking of a different breed?
Ideally I want a fairly small dog, energetic as I'm out and about most weekends and also enjoy walking (hiking!). I run a scout troop and ideally it would have to be fairly sociable as it would be coming camping with me as well as short haired. Terriers are a tough breed and I've only ever really considered getting a jack russell because of their character and easy going temperment. Am I mad?

Similarly I'm hoping to make most the food myself and I'm also thinking as I'm not sure I want a puppy, I'm thinking rescue dog. Again, am I mad?

Sorry but really don't think it's fair on any dog to be left on it's on so long each day and to be stuck in one room isn't fair on any dog no matter if it's large or small. I would be very surprised if any rescue society would approve an adoption considering the length of time it would be left alone and you live in a flat without a garden. My neighbours took on a dog on a whim and the poor animal is left alone for the majority of the day and it really upsets me. Are you really prepared to walk a dog twice a day in all weathers? don't think you'll be very keen on a 5.30am walk in the middle of winter. Please think long & hard before you decide on getting a dog. When we lived in a flat we had two beautiful cats and when we moved into a house with a garden and then we got a beautiful rescue from Battersea (the 1st of our 4 dogs over the years). Good luck but please be sensible.

LillyJ

Francesanne wrote: »

Sorry but really don't think it's fair on any dog to be left on it's on so long each day and to be stuck in one room isn't fair on any dog no matter if it's large or small. I would be very surprised if any rescue society would approve an adoption considering the length of time it would be left alone and you live in a flat without a garden. My neighbours took on a dog on a whim and the poor animal is left alone for the majority of the day and it really upsets me. Are you really prepared to walk a dog twice a day in all weathers? don't think you'll be very keen on a 5.30am walk in the middle of winter. Please think long & hard before you decide on getting a dog. When we lived in a flat we had two beautiful cats and when we moved into a house with a garden and then we got a beautiful rescue from Battersea (the 1st of our 4 dogs over the years). Good luck but please be sensible.

Don't presume everyone is lazy. We get up at half 5 in the middle of winter to walk our dog. That is no barrier to getting a dog at all, plenty of people do it everyday. (well we see loads in the park anyway). It isn't that early, especially as a lot of people start work at 7am (my boyfriend included when he is on earlies).
At Cadbury (right near to us) the factory early shift starts at 6am and loads of people walk their dogs before starting.

thriftmonster

When we got our first rescue dog, we couldn't have anything under two years old as we both worked but they were happy to rehome an older dog. We got a 7 yo terrier cross - dh went home at lunchtime for the first couple of weeks - but it was obvious he was disturbing the dog's sleep, so in the end we used to leave him. He lived until he was 17 - so taking on an older dog still gave us loads of time with him.

We have two rescue dogs at the moment and both are great with kids and other dogs - however the JRT cross is death to other animals - did you say your neighbour had cats!!!! He is the most intelligent dog we have ever had (and I am used to terriers) with a huge personality - and probably not a dog for someone who hasn't had one before - he would be running the house in about 30secs. (and I love him to bits!)

Do consider a slightly older dog - the JRT cross was 4 when we got him and we just took on an 11yo collie retriever cross at Easter - dh says it feels like a dog's retirement home round here as the JRT cross will be 10 next month. But an age from 3-7 should still give you a (very) active dog.

Francesanne

LillyJ wrote: »

Don't presume everyone is lazy. We get up at half 5 in the middle of winter to walk our dog. That is no barrier to getting a dog at all, plenty of people do it everyday. (well we see loads in the park anyway). It isn't that early, especially as a lot of people start work at 7am (my boyfriend included when he is on earlies).
At Cadbury (right near to us) the factory early shift starts at 6am and loads of people walk their dogs before starting.

I certainly wasn't presuming that everyone is lazy AND I certainly didn't say that. Please don't twist my words. My husband use to get up at 4.30am for work and took our dogs out before work as do many owners. My main concern is for the dog being left alone for 8 hours a day plus being stuck in one room.

LillyJ

Francesanne wrote: »

I certainly wasn't presuming that everyone is lazy AND I certainly didn't say that. Please don't twist my words. My husband use to get up at 4.30am for work and took our dogs out before work as do many owners. My main concern is for the dog being left alone for 8 hours a day plus being stuck in one room.

Are you really prepared to walk a dog twice a day in all weathers? don't think you'll be very keen on a 5.30am walk in the middle of winter.