Rehoming an Akita Dog? Should we... Could we... Maybe...

mrcol1000

alleycat` wrote: »

Firstly from me you get a big thumbs up for looking to take on a rescue dog.

Now for the slightly negative bit:-

I will be surprised if they would let you have the dog if you both work full time (this was the first thing we were asked).

Quite a lot of dogs don't get re-homed (into very good homes) for this reason.

I find this a crying shame as a lot of it is dependent on the people and the dog as to whether or not they will be fine for 4 hours (or more) at a stretch or not.

If the rescue center know who you are they may be prepared to waive this or they might be prepared to do several home visits over a period of time to see how the dog settles (sort of a half way house).

We have a rescue dog (greyhound) and it took him quite a while to get used to spending just a few hours on his own (partner works part time).

It was incredibly stressful for the first few months with some of the destruction due to seperation anxiety but worth it in the end.

It is worth it though.

The reason that decent dog rescues don't let dogs go to homes where no-one is home during the day is that there is a good chance the dog will bark all day, destroy the house and go to toilet everywhere inside out of loneliness. Then the dog is returned due to its "bad behaviour". Obviously some dogs don't mind being home alone and there isn't a problem.
To be honest there are dodgy rescues and dodgy breeders who will let you have a dog and be glad to get rid of it who don't care if your working full time or not. It still doesn't make it right though.

shoppaholic_returns

Hughesy84 wrote: »

You need to look into the characteristics of the dog to see whether or not they are ok on their own for long periods of times.

Akita's are generally fine on their own - however they do require good amounts of exercise. So ideally a good walk in the morning (before you go to work) and then a good walk at night should do.

It probably wont take to well to the guinea pigs as usually they are not keen on other pets.

The Akita is probably THE BEST gaurd dog you can buy, and is also very loyal to its owners.

If Akitas are introduced to the pets they should be fine, guineas are caged anyway, Daisy my Akita lives with 1 bengal cat,1 heinz 57 cat from cats protection and a 15yr old blind cat I rescued from cats protection, who she washes and protects from the other cats!! The blind cat uses her as a cushion/step off the sofa etc! Trust me the cats are the bosses of her.

I would say it depends on the individual dog as to whether it gets on with other animals or not.

alleycat`

Totally take your point mrcol.

Dogs getting returned every couple of months (mine was returned two or three times before we finally took him) is never a good thing.

I've also seen dogs that nobody will ever take because they have gone almost "mad" in kennels and it is the most soul destroying thing to see.

They literally bounce from one side to the other or cower in the corners.

I'd rather a dog go to a good loving home and have to be on their own a few hours a day (if they are the right kind of dog / owners) than literally be institutionalized and never have that chance.

Very hard judgement call for the rescue places to make.

Hughesy84

shoppaholic_returns wrote: »

If Akitas are introduced to the pets they should be fine, guineas are caged anyway, Daisy my Akita lives with 1 bengal cat,1 heinz 57 cat from cats protection and a 15yr old blind cat I rescued from cats protection, who she washes and protects from the other cats!! The blind cat uses her as a cushion/step off the sofa etc! Trust me the cats are the bosses of her.

I would say it depends on the individual dog as to whether it gets on with other animals or not.

I agree :T- BUT Akitas have a past history of not getting on well with other pets. Its part of thier background and most advice sites will tell you the same.

Yes it can be different with some, but usually only if they have been brought up with other pets.

I know a lad that had an Akita, it had never been with any other pets, it went into a house and spotted a cat - needless to say the cat is no longer here.

You have to be very careful....its too late once its happened.

loulou123

My great grandparents had an Akita and it was certainly very loveable, but was also very demanding and in to everything-one memory that springs to mind is the dog crawling under a table to investigate something and standing up with the table on her back knocking everything flying!

She was a gentle dog, but very well built and once knocked me flying (and i was 17 at the time) jumping up at me.

As someone who has always had rescue pets, i would also be surprised if the centre is keen on rehoming to full time workers. My last rescue dog suffered badly from seperation anxiety and literally destroyed our kitchen, the 1st time he was left alone, and this was only for half an hour.

Personally (and it is just my opinion) i dont think its very fair to leave a dog everyday on its own, i even feel gulity about leaving the cat tho! As they are pack animals and most dogs do prefer company. Although i also agree with the point that even being on there own all day is better than being in kennels.

Also with a middle aged dog, remember that there could well be more vets bills to pay and insurance would be higher. (agan not trying to put you off, i rehomed an older dog myself and she gave me several years of fantastic memorys, just thinking practically.)

Maybe join some on-line forums for the breed, and see what others think.

suki1964

mrcol1000 wrote: »

If they are a decent rehoming centre they probably won't let you rehome the dog if your both working full time.

And this is according to whom?

Even Battersea will re home to a working household as long as provision is made for the dog. But then I dont suppose they are a Decent rehoming centre??

valkirn

At the end of the day if its what you and your partner want then sit down and chat about all the ins and outs of owning a dog and then go and see the rescue manager or whoever you need to see and discuss your arrangements with them if they see you put into practice everything that you say you can and will do then i don't see why they would object to you taking the dog on.

I have to say as an owner of and Akita cross you have made a fine choice they are wonderful dogs and are very loyal and are surprisingly quiet..
My dog was bought (i had been around re homing centres but they wouldn't re home with a young child my daughter was 2 at the time) while i was a single mum as i decided i wanted my daughter to grow up with a pet and i had always had dogs as a child and my dog has seen a new man come in to my life and 2 more children + 2 cats and he just sits and takes it all in his stride... though he does still insist on sharing the bed with me once my other half has got out of it lol x

mrcol1000

suki1964 wrote: »

And this is according to whom?

Even Battersea will re home to a working household as long as provision is made for the dog. But then I dont suppose they are a Decent rehoming centre??

If your talking about the famous dog rescue home in the Battersea area of London I think your find Battersea Dogs home ram home the point that dogs shouldn't be left alone for more than 4 hours at a time. Unless there is another Battersea your talking about.

There a lot of small rescues and some are great and some while they mean while do more harm than good. As I have said in another post if your turned down by a rescue for a dog instead of looking at trying other means to get a dog maybe you should consider why you have been turned down.

suki1964

mrcol1000 wrote: »

If your talking about the famous dog rescue home in the Battersea area of London I think your find Battersea Dogs home ram home the point that dogs shouldn't be left alone for more than 4 hours at a time. Unless there is another Battersea your talking about.

There a lot of small rescues and some are great and some while they mean while do more harm than good. As I have said in another post if your turned down by a rescue for a dog instead of looking at trying other means to get a dog maybe you should consider why you have been turned down.

And where does the OP say the dog is being left for more then four hours a day?

You constantly post making broad sweeping statements as if they are fact - they are not, in this case implying that any resuce that will give this couple a dog are not reputable

shoppaholic_returns

mrcol1000 wrote: »

The reason that decent dog rescues don't let dogs go to homes where no-one is home during the day is that there is a good chance the dog will bark all day, destroy the house and go to toilet everywhere inside out of loneliness. Then the dog is returned due to its "bad behaviour". Obviously some dogs don't mind being home alone and there isn't a problem.
To be honest there are dodgy rescues and dodgy breeders who will let you have a dog and be glad to get rid of it who don't care if your working full time or not. It still doesn't make it right though.

Im afraid we cannot make these sweeping judgements until the op clarifies how long the dog would be left and futher details of their situation.

Akitas wouldn't bark all day, they are quiet dogs as others in this thread have mentioned, they would bark IF they heard or saw someone on their territory.