arrgh dilemma

zaksmum

I would go with the labrador. Couldn't be doing with the staffie growling at kids!

codemonkey

We've declined both which is probably the right decision even if I nearly burst into tears in the rescue centre. DH wasn't sure about the lab and they told us he'd need to sleep in our bed which we're not ok with and we feel the staffie will require too much training for us if we're out all day and the question mark over his behaviour with kids was a deal breaker.

Feel like the worst person on earth.

Person_one

codemonkey wrote: »

We've declined both which is probably the right decision even if I nearly burst into tears in the rescue centre. DH wasn't sure about the lab and they told us he'd need to sleep in our bed which we're not ok with and we feel the staffie will require too much training for us if we're out all day and the question mark over his behaviour with kids was a deal breaker.

Feel like the worst person on earth.

Don't feel like that, a dog is big commitment of potentially 15 years or more.

It can take a while to find the right one, keep looking, make sure the rescue centres know you're still looking for your dog.

3v3

codemonkey wrote: »

... they told us he'd need to sleep in our bed ...

They actually said that to you!? :eek: Bliddy cheek!

Mind you, for the future, if you find a dog you adore and know is for you and they lay down that kind of sanction, I would smile politely, say "Absolutely!" and once home, give the dog a bed where I want the dog to sleep

You're not the worst person in the world ... you simply haven't found the dog for you ... yet.

We're the forever home for my dog - 4th home within a year of his life. And I knew he was the one for us the moment our eyes met. He is perfect! For us

notakid

I remember when we got our best loved dog Buddy from a rescue, he was 8 and been returned twice, once at 4 and 8 because they had small children and he had growled at a child.

We saw him looking all forlorn, he wasn't a good looking Lab by any means, the assistant was nearly pulled over bringing him over to meet us, he barked the whole time, pulled my son over, started a fight with another dog. He was so strong and we were frankly quite scared of him, we had got used to not having a dog.

It was this time of year we got him and after passing over first choice of another dog that people were queuing to own we decided we'd have Buddy. He'd been there for 9 weeks as another couple had changed their minds over him. We used to go and visit him every day, my sister and BIL laughed at us as they had we were so scared of him and he seemed so dominant, it seemed we were doomed.

We had him until he was put to sleep at 14. He was a wonderful dog. Don't get me wrong he wasn't perfect, he'd run off and attack other dogs, or they would go for him. He'd even snap at other people, we needed to keep an eye at all times. But he was super.

I think you are being very sensible, but not let the worry get to you. You will know the right dog and he will know you.

MrsAtobe

Don't feel bad, CodeMonkey, you've made the decision for the dogs you've seen for very good reasons. You'll make some dog very, very happy, you just haven't met them yet .

zaksmum

I agree with the above. You will know when you see the right dog for you.

janeys

I am a great believer in you don't find a dog, a dog finds you. Your dog just hasn't found you yet. We have had 3 dogs all of them rescued but at the time, we were not looking for them. When the time is right you will know your dog. I hope they find you soon

Sagz_2

Don't feel bad about not going for either of these two, when you decide upon a dog you and OH have to be 100% sure. The rescues would rather you decided no now, than gave up on the dog further down the line.

Your dog is out there, you just need to find him / her, and you will x

and YAY! for taking a rescue x

codemonkey

Thanks for making me feel better about this.

In the end, the staffie pulling on the lead didn't bother us (if anything it'd be a good workout), but he'd only been left alone for an hour before and its a big jump from one hour to six, even if that six is broken by an hours walk.

We've registered an interest in another dog due to come in, in a couple of weeks - which is a spaniel cross type. But, saying that DH really has his heart set on a staffie (amusing as when I first suggested it, he said they were ugly) - he just fell in love with them. So I guess our weekends are going to be taken up with shelter visits for a while.