Best option for new dog

Pthree

My geography is pants so if its too far away I apologise in advance but is Bucks too far away?

Stokenchurch Dog Rescue are pretty darn good, my Aunt adopted her dog from there and even after 3 years still gets a an odd phone call from them to see how things are going!

http://www.stokenchurchdogrescue.co.uk/dogs/1477 <<<<< I want him!!

cepheus

I was stumped a bit when he asked me how much insurance would cost. So I guessed between £10 and a £100 a month depending upon the policy and age of dog. He replied that's a wide range which one? 'Depends on age' I said, 'it increases a lot with older dogs.' He replied 'it would never cost anything like the higher figure, and doesn't increase much with age.'

Looking at this link it seems I was not far off the mark!

Anyway, I will probably take the advice on here, and look round the dog forums a bit for now.

Revel

Here's another labrador rescue - http://www.labrador-lifeline.co.uk
They're Buck, Berks, Hants, Surrey

I suspect they are fairly strict on their rules for adopters/fosterers though.

krlyr

cepheus wrote: »

I was stumped a bit when he asked me how much insurance would cost. So I guessed between £10 and a £100 a month depending upon the policy and age of dog. He replied that's a wide range which one? 'Depends on age' I said, 'it increases a lot with older dogs.' He replied 'it would never cost anything like the higher figure, and doesn't increase much with age.'

Looking at this link it seems I was not far off the mark!

Anyway, I will probably take the advice on here, and look round the dog forums a bit for now.

I don't think you're too far off - I know of a dog owner on a forum I use who's insurance for her Rottweiler ended up at £122pcm (starting at £37) - and no doubt would have increased but sadly she developed bone cancer. She'd made several claims for conditions like cruciate ligament issues I think, but the dog was only 6 when she passed away so not exactly an OAP. I think the policy had only been in place 3 years too - it had nearly doubled each year but it was still more economically viable for the owner because they amount they were claiming exceeded the premium. Maybe not the norm but still possible, so a bit poor for this guy to brush off your answer.
Do you know if he actually works for the Lab rescue, or if he was just a nominated homechecker? I have done a homecheck for a rescue before and I tried to remain quite inpartial and not give too much advice because I didn't feel it was my place. I stuck to the questions on the form I was given, and gave *my* experience when asked, but I wouldn't have spouted information I couldn't possibly know was true, e.g. what your insurance premium may be in 3 years time! Maybe it would be worth informing the rescue of your experience - if he's not a major player in the rescue (i.e. likely to delete your email himself if he takes it personally) then they may appreciate knowing that he's putting off potential owners with his attitude.
Sounds like you've had some rotten luck with rescues but don't rule them out from your bad experience, I know of some lovely ones who's staff are on forums I'm on, so they do exist!

cepheus

He also suggested a specific insurance company, can't remember which.

I think he used to work for lab rescue as a contact but is an unpaid volunteer now. It was the lab people who contacted me before and after so he is definitely genuine. I think some people who like dogs prefer to weed out the 'not sure owners' so perhaps it's a good thing.

hethmar

Petplan seems to be about the best insurer but of course, you pay for it. Ive got one terrier on M and S and his insurance has recently gone up to about a tenner a week :eek: but he does have a life time condition which needs medication, so I cant move any where else. Other boy is with AXA but Ive never needed to claim on him and his cost is about £5 a week at the moment ..............

rising_from_the_ashes

lostinrates wrote: »

I know peoe do cope without secure gardens (living in flats etc) but I personally would not want to. The ability to pop mine out in the garden knowing they are secure and safe for five minutes or so while I vacuum the room (mine dislike the vacuum) or for the afternnon on a lovely day (I have one sun worshipped and one who loves to sleep in the shade of trees witha breeze running over her). And just to let them play.

Would agree with this - Maisie is terrified of the hoover and I do the same and pop her into the garden (with a treat ) while I'm doing it, knowing that she's perfectly safe out there. In the summer, she will happily lie out there for ages (as long as the door's open!)

She's been staying with my Mum (I've not been well) and her garden isn't secure so every time Maisie's needed out, Mum's had to put her collar & lead on and take her out - which has been a bit of a pain

Dollardog

cepheus wrote: »

I was stumped a bit when he asked me how much insurance would cost. So I guessed between £10 and a £100 a month depending upon the policy and age of dog. He replied that's a wide range which one? 'Depends on age' I said, 'it increases a lot with older dogs.' He replied 'it would never cost anything like the higher figure, and doesn't increase much with age.'

Looking at this link it seems I was not far off the mark!

Anyway, I will probably take the advice on here, and look round the dog forums a bit for now.

What he said about the insurance never costing anything like the higher figure is rubbish.
My dog was insured with Sainsbury's, it started off around £29 per month with first three months free and a £70 excess, he was on the top cover which was for £7000. It went up at each renewal. When his renewal came up and he was 9yo, the monthly payment went up overnight from £60 odd per month (still £70 excess) to £130 per month and an excess of £125 or 15%:eek:
Personally, I would never insure with them again. I know of people with dogs that had claimed far more for their dogs who were also older than him who paid far less with Petplan who start off being more expensive but don't seem to put the costs up so much each month.

To get back to the point, the man was totally wrong to give you advice about how much the insurance would be likely to cost, it depends on the age and existing conditions and the company etc.

cepheus

They did get back to me, understood my concerns, and would be happy to consider me fostering a dog, then taking it on for good if I was happy. However, they still wanted me to take a 4yr old pedigree. I expressed interest in the cross-breed in the photo above with similar dominance problems with its mate, but they have not got back to me a second time.

My friend had so many physical hip and behavioural problems with their pure bred (puppy farm) lab.

krlyr

Just bear in mind that a crossbreed can have hip problems too. It's poor breeding, not pure breeding, that causes inherited problems. Cross a Labrador with hip problems with any other breed and you're not going to have puppies with fantastic hips - if the other parent has particular good hips, it may give the pups a better chance but just being a crossbreed doesn't guarantee anything.