Would you get a dog from a dog rescue centre?

teddysmum

If you are concerned about the background of an older dog, then one of the smaller recues would be a good place to look. Many of these assess dogs while in foster homes, with children and /or other pets and often know the history as the dogs are owner surrenders.


Another advantage is that they are spending money on the animals and not feathering the nests of highly paid officials.


Dogpages is a good site to visit, as it has contacts with lots of rescues. Then, joining the forums of a few rescues helps you get to know the people running them and the dogs they have for rehoming (Fosterers report the progress of their charges, on the forum).

Bestthingsinlifearefree

Hi,

Thank you for all the replies, very informative and good to have different opinions. Just to update. All the family went to the dog rescue centre today. It was a good experience but different from what we expected. Bit of feedback below:)

1) The dogs are kept at kennels. Though I suppose this is obvious it is the first time any of us have been to Kennels and the noise and smell was an initial adjustment to make.

2)The rescue staff very professional, informative and gentle with us and were very conscious that we had a 7 year old boy and explained to him that when we went round the kennels some of the big dogs would leap at the kennels.

3) Virtually all the dogs were unsuitable for us, bearing in mind that we did not want a big dog or certain strong breeds staffie / pitbull), plus many dogs were very elderly and many others that were smaller / medium had issues that they felt would not be right to place with a family with a young child. So very little selection. Maybe two or three but none which we took a shine to. There was not one dog we felt keen to walk. There was one 9 year old dog my son liked but he is 7 and we want a dog to hopefully have some good years with him.

4) It was a good learning curve for me because medium dogs were bigger and stronger close up than I thought (my lack of knowledge) and dogs that looked small on their website at say 7 months now looked much bigger a few months later. Good to be reminded that puppies don't stay puppy size.

5) There were some dogs in kennels whose owners were on holiday etc and were not part of the rescue dogs one little fella was shaking with fear and it made me think twice about if we did get a dog would I feel comfortable putting it in a kennel whilst away etc

6) The other big point for me to think about was that the rescue lady said never let a hound dog off lead. Never. Now me in my innocence though you could train a Beagle or a basset to recall but she seemed to be saying never let it of the lead in public. Which made me think do I want a breed that I can't let off the lead in a field throw a ball to or play off lead games with it. Or maybe she was telling us to be cautious as we are inexperienced.

Overall we left a bit flat, none of us fell in love with a dog there, my son enjoyed it and grew in confidence near big dogs and it also made me think do I want a breed e.g beagle that could be awkward to let off the lead and maybe a small dog would be better for us.

Also I was amazed how high these dogs could jump ! Some were jumping to the ceiling off their kennels.

Glad we went. Lots to think about.:o

ariba10

adouglasmhor wrote: »

Spiteful vicious rubbish. Even a mistreated dog can be retrained in most cases so nothing like the majority.

Ask yourself. Why are they put there.

I would no more put a dog of mine in one of those places than I would a child.

catkins

Bestthingsinlifearefree wrote: »

Hi,

Thank you for all the replies, very informative and good to have different opinions. Just to update. All the family went to the dog rescue centre today. It was a good experience but different from what we expected. Bit of feedback below

There were some dogs in kennels whose owners were on holiday etc and were not part of the rescue dogs one little fella was shaking with fear and it made me think twice about if we did get a dog would I feel comfortable putting it in a kennel whilst away etc

The other big point for me to think about was that the rescue lady said never let a hound dog off lead. Never. Now me in my innocence though you could train a Beagle or a basset to recall but she seemed to be saying never let it of the lead in public. Which made me think do I want a breed that I can't let off the lead in a field throw a ball to or play off lead games with it. Or maybe she was telling us to be cautious as we are inexperienced.

My dog doesn't go into kennels, he goes to a dog boarder. It is not necessarily any dearer than kennels but means I know he is in someone's house and being looked after the way I look after him. My dog boarder is lovely - she has a massive completely safe fenced garden, a settee in the living room just for any dogs, only takes dogs from one home at a time, gives them long walks and genuinely loves them all.


Some dogs are ok in kennels but my previous dog hated them (tried lots) and I also found out that a few of them don't give any walks even though they say they do.


I have always had hounds all the books will tell you that they can NEVER be let off lead - they will run away, they will chase and possibly kill small dogs, cats, squirrels etc. Absolute rubbish. With time and patience all my dogs have been taught recall and I have been able to let them run offlead. My previous dog would even stop in the middle of running if I shouted "stand". He would then stand like a statue until I got to him.


I belong to several hound groups - greyhound, lurchers, afghans, salukis and most of the owners can let their dogs off lead although some greyhounds do have to be muzzled as they may catch a squirrel or rabbit if not.

lostinrates

I have sight hounds, have been brought up with sit hounds and have had them through out childhood, over thirty years. Not one hasn't been able to go off lead.

I do know some afghan owners who have struggled, some whippet owners and some ex racer greyhound owners, but to say 'all hounds' is rather silly.

All ours have had recall., all benefit from good off lead runs. I'd go so far as to say its almost essential for good quality of life in physically healthy sighthounds.

Fwiw, now we have a small Dog too I'd just point out in many ways I find out larger dogs easier. They don't get out as easily ( my little dog finds ways out of incredibly tiny spaces and climbs fences and gates!). Don't confuse a small dog with less exercise, it ain't necessarily so!

Bestthingsinlifearefree

catkins wrote: »

My dog doesn't go into kennels, he goes to a dog boarder. It is not necessarily any dearer than kennels but means I know he is in someone's house and being looked after the way I look after him. My dog boarder is lovely - she has a massive completely safe fenced garden, a settee in the living room just for any dogs, only takes dogs from one home at a time, gives them long walks and genuinely loves them all.


I belong to several hound groups - greyhound, lurchers, afghans, salukis and most of the owners can let their dogs off lead although some greyhounds do have to be muzzled as they may catch a squirrel or rabbit if not.

The dog boarder seems a better idea. At the kennels today the kennel with a lead on the outside meant that dog was there on 'holiday' / had a owner and the ones with out a lead on their kennel were rescue dogs. As I say one of the 'holiday' dogs maybe a Jack Russell was standing in the middle of its kennel, on the same spot (ie it was not shy) literally continuously shaking all over. As the kennels are in a semi rural area and it was a bit of a wind swept cold afternoon I asked the kennel lady is the dog cold i.e shivering and she said some dogs did not like being in kennels i.e it was scared / nervous. The poor fella was really scared yet its owners might be off on holiday thinking the dog is nice and happy in the kennels. Though the other 'holiday' dogs seemed quite happy.

Are beagles counted as hounds? I can understand if you have a dog that will not recall never let it off the lead but I had the thought that all dogs could be trained to recall.

Just wondering why the dog rescue owner made such a strong point about the hound dogs not being off the lead (is it to do with being in a public place with a dog out of your control) ie was she saying don't risk it.

Anyway lots to think about and it was clear that the rescue staff were very dedicated volunteers and had the dogs very best interests at heart and I left confident they would not let the 'wrong' dog go to the 'wrong' home and would also offer support and guidance. So I will keep an eye on their website for other contenders.

krlyr

lostinrates wrote: »

I have sight hounds, have been brought up with sit hounds and have had them through out childhood, over thirty years. Not one hasn't been able to go off lead.

I do know some afghan owners who have struggled, some whippet owners and some ex racer greyhound owners, but to say 'all hounds' is rather silly.

And to put another spin on it, neither of mind are hound breeds but have to be kept on longlines a lot of the time for various reasons (mostly prey drive and lack of social skills). So avoiding hounds doesn't mean you'll have a guaranted off-lead dog!

Katiehound

I have a beautiful scent hound- a trailhound. I can only let her off the lead in enclosed/fenced areas or at low tide at the beach as she still loves running and following a scent. However indoors she is a couch potato!!
My first trailie was Katie who I mentioned in a previous post above.
Trailhounds are generally known as "cuddle monsters"- usually brilliant with children. Probably not for a first time owner but have a look here:
http://trailhoundwelfare.org.uk/?cat=3

as also said by another poster small dog does not always equate with little exercise or no behavioural issues. Some small dogs think they are rottweilers or similar!! (oh and some small dogs yap- at least mine have a full throated howl!)

Kinski

ariba10 wrote: »

Ask yourself. Why are they put there.

I would no more put a dog of mine in one of those places than I would a child.

Unfortunately some people have no choice, I know quite a few dogs who have cone from rescues and the vast majority of them have had no problems whatsoever and have fitted in with their new families just fine. My first rescue a sheltie was 8 when I got her, she'd been a show dog and was no longer wanted, she was brilliant with everyone who met her, the first time I met her was when we travelled from Edinburgh to just before wales to pick her up. My bichon Ellie is a whole different story, she had never been walked, she had never worn a collar and lead, she came to me 3 weeks after being liberated from a puppy farm. Ellie had a few problems but with time most of them have been sorted, the only problem she has now is her hatred of men but seeing what she went through before I got her I don't blame her one little bit, she still barks at my oh but she no longer chases him, she is also so far very very good with children.

ariba10

The thing that frightens me is the number of posters on here (Gender unknown) that have dogs that they cannot let off a lead.

We could do with another Barbara Woodhouse to give some advice.