Dog advice

Person_one

~daisy~ wrote: »

not really - just thinking from the mess perspective .....

also how do you stop your homes smelling of dog ??

I'm afraid non-shedding dogs can still be pretty messy, less hair, just as much mud, soil, snow, bits of twig and food scattered everywhere, they also still smell of wet dog when they come in from the rain. If mess really bothers you, get a decent hoover or get a stuffed dog.

I can tell you from experience that its a heck of a lot harder to find the right dog for you if you are limited to only non shedders, they don't come up in rescue as often and they tend to get snapped up quickly when they do.

elsien

I think sometimes there's a presumption that dogs are in rescue centres because of something they've done, which can be the case but isn't necessarily so.
One dog I looked at was fully trained and housetrained and good around people and kids. He was there purely because his owners were unable to keep him due to personal circumstances, so I'm sure you'll find something to suit.
Just ask all the questions you need to know - what history do they have, has the dog been assessed around other dogs and people? And remember that younger dogs can still be a bit chewy and teenage-like around the one year mark, so even if housetrained you might still get a few other behaviours going on.
All part of the fun of owning a dog.

Person_one

elsien wrote: »

I think sometimes there's a presumption that dogs are in rescue centres because of something they've done, which can be the case but isn't necessarily so.
One dog I looked at was fully trained and housetrained and good around people and kids. He was there purely because his owners were unable to keep him due to personal circumstances, so I'm sure you'll find something to suit.
Just ask all the questions you need to know - what history do they have, has the dog been assessed around other dogs and people? And remember that younger dogs can still be a bit chewy and teenage-like around the one year mark, so even if housetrained you might still get a few other behaviours going on.
All part of the fun of owning a dog.
You mih

I think its actually far far more often the case that the dog hasn't done anything wrong and that humans are to blame for the dog ending up in rescue. Some rescue dogs come with a couple of issues that need ironing out, some are more serious and need an experienced owner, but plenty are just perfectly lovely, normal dogs that people got fed up of.

~daisy~_2

just to clarify - its not us having a problem with a rescue dog - we thought they may have a problem with us do to home/garden issues

we are more than happy for a rescue dog

Person_one

~daisy~ wrote: »

just to clarify - its not us having a problem with a rescue dog - we thought they may have a problem with us do to home/garden issues

we are more than happy for a rescue dog

Sorry, I was off on a tangent! Whereabouts in the country are you? We might be able to point out some decent smaller rescues for you.

~daisy~_2

am in Bedfordshire and really any help is greatly recieved

Person_one

~daisy~ wrote: »

am in Bedfordshire and really any help is greatly recieved

This site - http://www.dogpages.org.uk - is a pretty good resource, although not comprehensive as some of the information isn't kept up to date. When I was looking I found the names of the rescues from here and the googled them myself for more recent contact details and available dogs.

There's a Dogs Trust in Uxbridge, which might not be too far depending on what bit of Bedfordshire you're from: http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/rehoming/searchcentres/london/default.aspx#.T0FlEGBJ90s

There are some rescues that rehome all over the country too, so don't always be put off by distance, I got mine from a place 4 hours drive away.

~daisy~_2

eekk - ive emailed about one we saw on dogs pages a little while ago....

ohreally

Another vote for a mini schnauzer - fantastic little character to share your family with.

UKTigerlily

Excellent advice as always from krlyr. When I decided to get a dog the first thing I did was look into breed characteristics & a CKCS came up as being ideal for me. I then contacted the RSPCA who didn't want to know due to their blanket policies & after that someone pointed me to a local rescue. I explained I knew CKCS didn't come up often & it was more that they appeared suitable for the home I could offer & i'd take any dog that'd be happy to live with me.

For me my requirements were that it must be good with cats, medium size; not a persistant barker as my neighbours live in close proximity & wouldn't have appreciated it, ok to be left for up to 4hrs eventually & that it be good with kids as even though I don't have any i'd worry too much else. I said I didn't mind gender, colour or breed - with the exception of working breeds of course as my place is far too small with no private garden - and that i'd like an older dog as having no private garden & living alone - so having to be home loads to toilet train - meant a Puppy wasn't suitable. Don't ask much do I??

I ended up with a then five year old Brindle & White Staffy/Staffy x who'd been there for about a month after being taken in as a stray with no history. I'd initially ruled Staffies out as I thought they'd probably be too boisterous for a small home & be bouncing off of the walls but as someone already said, even within a breed each dog is very much an individual.

Chaya has now been with me for three years & i've never wished i'd got a different dog. She only barks if i'm playing with her & she wants me to get on with it, can happily be left for four hours with no seperation anxiety; needs very little in the way of grooming & bathing, travels well; loves people of all types, walks well on the lead without pulling; is very loyal & affectionate & will take whatever exercise she gets - if I want to walk all day she'll happily come along, if I can only manage one 30 minute walk that's ok too.

In a long winded way i'm saying don't have any fixed ideas on breeds, concentrate on the characteristics & what would suit everybody & what you can offer a dog & then call any local rescues - or even not so local ones if you're willing to travel - and take their advice & see what they find you. I live in a flat with a communal garden that isn't enclosed & simply explained if playing in the garden I had a harness & horse lunge line for her so she wouldn't run off & that I live close to a park, fields & a country park & so walks wouldn't be an issue.

As someone also said, smaller independant rescues may be better than the RSPCA etc as they are often more flexible.

Alternatively, if you do decide a particular breed is for you, there are many breed specific rescues & also the breed club secretarys who can put you in touch with reputable breeders of your chosen breed. Sometimes they will have older dogs they have retired from breeding needing homes, sometimes they also run the breed rescue & will know of an ideal dog, sometimes they have waiting lists for Pups you can be added too.

Most importantly, take your time & make sure you post lots of photos. Good luck!