Wood Green rescue centre

Froglet

After a lot of thought and debating we are now finally sure we want to take on another dog.Hubby is now retired apart from a few hours voluntary work and i only work weekends.I am now more able to get around after two ops on my feet for arthritis which prevented me walking very far previously.It is 5 years since we lost our last dog.We have had two,both lived to over 15 and were rescued.Wonderful dogs,much loved and missed.

Wood Green is the largest and so has the most choice and is not too far away from us.Have people any experience of adopting a dog from there?We don't want a puppy but one maybe up to about 3 or 4.

Any advice or tips on choosing/ adopting would be great.Open minded but know what we DON'T want rather than what we do.We are lucky in that we are surrounded by countryside and some lovely walks,but as there is a lot of wildlife don't want terriers or lurchers that are likely to chase and even kill rabbits,etc.Everywhere seems to have mainly staffies but not keen there either(relative had a bad experience with a rescued one)

Sally_A

Go with a breed/cross breed that you are familar with.

My personal preference is to take on a rescue around 5 years old with collie/spaniel/lab/gsd breeding as they are the breeds I have previously had. Must snore (I love the sound of a snoring dog), and have a deep rough bark rather than a yap. I take previous "problems" with a pinch of salt; they are usually made up or exagerated problems by the previous owner as an excuse to get rid, as was backed up by a vet that unbeknown to me had treated the dog when he was in the dogs home, and was amazed at him and how he trusted me so much within 2 weeks of rehoming, and how much he had calmed down.

You say hubby is retired, and you've had arthritic probs - if you are happy to keep a dog on a lead and have good upper arm strength, maybe a greyhound would be ideal, surprisingly they don't need the excercise that their body shape would suggest. However, I have heard they can fart for England.

Froglet

I am just beginning to build up the amount of walking i do and hubby has retired early so is fitter than me at present!

Our last 2 dogs were cross breeds but mainly labrador and we would not hesitate to have another.Our last one was a real tearaway but we got her trained quite quickly not to go running off!

Wouldn't a greyhound have the same traits as a lurcher though?

Sally_A

Just had a look at their website, Bruce, Jack or Brewster are my hot favourites. But if it was me, it would be Jack that I ended up with, slightly older, needs reassurance - I love bringing a dog out of it's shell.

Sally_A

Many of the greyhounds in homes are there because they wouldn't chase the hare - and those are the lucky ones.

In the past I've walked greyhounds at the home, some are so laid back and lazy and don't give a stuff about anything other than getting back to their warm bed, others have sighted a squirrel and gone crazy, dragging me over the soggy ground like a water skiier, similarly daughter aged about 6 at the time was dragged into a barbed wire fence hanging onto the lead (fair play, she didn't let go). On another occasion she was pulled over, let out a shriek and the errant hounds came back to make sure she was OK (phew...to lose a dogs home dog on a voluntary walk is a major sin). They truly are gentle and caring dogs, lazy as heck - but worth connsidering as an option.

Sagz_2

Froglet wrote: »

Wouldn't a greyhound have the same traits as a lurcher though?

Yup:

• sofa hogging
• not wanting to walk in the wind/rain/snow
• excellent cuddle givers
• little feet that don't track much mud
• short coats that don't shed much
• love a quick sprint, but will walk for miles - but don't have to
• did I mention the cuddles?

My first dog was a lurcher and I've not been without one in since (25+years), and hope to never be without one! Mine have always been easy going with dogs and have lived with my cats happily (although will chase them in the garden given the chance, just for the fun of it:D)

As for Wood Green, the best bit of advice I'd give anyone going to a rescue is to be led by the staff - they know their dogs and want to match them to a home where both the dog and owner will be happy for many years to come.

Good luck - and please remember we NEED to see photos of your new friend!

andfear_2

I would ask how they rehome - I know from my 2 local centres they suggest suitable dogs rather than have you walk around and fall in love. I'm indecicive about how I feel about it but maybe green wood do the same - match you rather than you choose.

I wanted an big powerful dog for marathon training and dog agility. I just so happened I fell in love with him on my way to see another dog.

Good luck. :T

sairy2010

I have had two german shepherds from Wood Green and my advice is take care and be flexible. Do not believe everything they tell you. After all dogs are in rescue for a reason.They seem to knock a few years off the ages for a start.
The last dog we had had many faults but we loved him to bits. He didnt like other dogs and wasnt keen on people until he got to know them either. However he was a great guard dog and got on well with our cat.
We had to have him put to sleep two years ago and I havent been able to replace him yet.
Adopting a dog is very expensive now and keeping them is not cheap either. Make sure you can afford to give them the best you can.
There are lots of dogs out there looking for homes so look at the smaller animal rescues as well if you cant find what you want at Wood Green. Good luck

andfear_2

I know from our experience that Max was a nightmare - 18months in kennels and he had a court case attached to a seizure case.

In hind sight I would want to ensure my next dog had been part of a family, be wary if they say they will only rehome if you take said dog to dog training (as was stipulated to us)

I wouldnt rule out staffies tho - my staffie mix is precious. My disabled mum walks her daily, she sleeps with my cat, she excelled at dog training and agility the distance obediance is on a par with gun dogs and she is the most loving dog ever.

krlyr

Bear in mind that dogs don't necessarily show their "true" behaviour in kennels though. Yes, I'm sure some rescues will lie about a dog's behaviour (or even age - but remember that lots of the time they have to estimate or may have been lied to by the owner too - and anyway, it can benefit to have a dog down as younger than it really as your insurance will be cheaper anyway!) but also it can be that they've seen one set of behaviours in the kennel yet you see another once the dog has settled in. A dog may be overwhelmed in kennels and not come out of its shell - making it look quiet, good with other dogs, good on lead, etc. yet once it's settled in its own home it may find a new lease of energy, it may display reactivity to dogs now it's comfortable enough to express that fear, it may pull on a lead simply because you're taking it to much more exciting places and so on. Doesn't mean the rescue were lying, just that it's the gamble you take with a living, breathing thing - they're not as easy to quantify as a second hand car or a house.

Sally_A

I'd recommend walking the dog a few times before you take them on. The circuit I took was about 2+ miles - and being a filthy smoker, would stop at the halfway point for a puff. This gave me an extra chance to see the dogs reaction to a bit of quiet time, and if they cwtched (welsh word) up to me for a bit of fuss or a tickle ear, it meant they felt relaxed with me: and believe me if dogs are having fun and take to you - they do grin, and you do bond after a very short time if you were made for each other.

At the end of the day - your next dog will pick you.