Ex breeding dogs

*zippy*

I've been thinking about adopting an ex breeding dog for quite a while, we won't be in a position to do it until the summer as our pup will be a year old then. I just wondered if anyone has done it could share how they found it and if we'd be a suitable home as I work 12 hours a week and would us having a year old dog be too boisterous for a nervous dog.

We do have a elderly dog that was from a puppy farm and had a lot of problems, but we had her from a puppy so I want to be realistic on what taking on a older dog will entail.

Many thanks x

sangie595

If the dog comes from a legitimate breeder then it won't be nervous - a nervous dog isn't suitable for breeding and good breeders wouldn't entertain having one like that. They don't make good parents for puppies. Also, a legitimate breeder would be rehoming between the ages of 4 and 6 years at most, depending on breed and dog - so it wouldn't be elderly. If it is a good mom to puppies and at that age, she'll knock any rough edges off a one year old of any breed! My 17 week old border collie got a well-deserved nip and chased around the park by a mature spaniel half his size the other week. He got no sympathy because he deserved it. He was being annoying, and she'd warned him.

But do be careful - you are right to be very wary of puppy farmed dogs and puppy farm parents often have significant problems caused by the conditions and the behaviour of breeders. Make sure that any dog you are looking at comes from a reputable source, visit, and check them out, and then offer a home directly when a dog is available. If they are reputable, they'll be checking you out too, because they will want their dogs to go to a good home environment, and won't just be handing them over. A reputable breeder will also make sure they are spayed so that they cannot be bred from again.

Person_one

Responsible, ethical breeders don't get rid of their dogs when they are no longer profitable.

I assume the OP wants to take an ex-breeding dog that has suffered at a puppy farm in order to give it a second chance and a nicer life. I've never done it myself but its no small undertaking, and I'd probably suggest waiting until the pup is a bit older and is past any teenage tendencies, as the rehomed dog will likely pick up any bad habits!

Its a lovely instinct and I hope it all goes well.

*zippy*

Thanks sangie, I should have said I'd like to rehome a rescue ex breeding dog from a puppy farm. These dogs deserve some happiness and I hope we could offer a good home.

Sorry person one just seen you'd posted too, I agree, we nearly bought a pup until I found they got rid of their !!!!!es when they've finishing breeding them by going through all his old Facebook posts. He did find a home rather dumping in a rescue but it was a deal breaker for me.

SensibleSarah

Ex breeders from puppy farms can definitely have issues. Most have never lived indoors so you often have to teach house training from scratch as you would a puppy & many are terrified of normal household sights & sounds. Lots have never been walked either so the great outdoors can also be very scary for them. Most rescue centres who are experienced in rehoming ex breeders will recommend they are rehomed where there is at least one existing dog for them to learn the ropes from - but some would probably be fine as an only dog if their past experiences haven't been that extreme.

Potential issues aside, taking on a damaged dog is one of the most rewarding things in the world as you see them slowly realise the world can be a happy, safe & fun place to be. My current dog is a rescue who had a horrendous past and having had her for over 4 years now I've accepted that she'll never be 'normal' but she's fantastic & a perfect fit for me.

I have never adopted an ex breeder myself but know many people who have and they are usually the sweetest & most loving dogs after being given a bit of time to get used to their new lives Good luck!

sangie595

SensibleSarah wrote: »

Ex breeders from puppy farms can definitely have issues. Most have never lived indoors so you often have to teach house training from scratch as you would a puppy & many are terrified of normal household sights & sounds. Lots have never been walked either so the great outdoors can also be very scary for them. Most rescue centres who are experienced in rehoming ex breeders will recommend they are rehomed where there is at least one existing dog for them to learn the ropes from - but some would probably be fine as an only dog if their past experiences haven't been that extreme.

Potential issues aside, taking on a damaged dog is one of the most rewarding things in the world as you see them slowly realise the world can be a happy, safe & fun place to be. My current dog is a rescue who had a horrendous past and having had her for over 4 years now I've accepted that she'll never be 'normal' but she's fantastic & a perfect fit for me.

I have never adopted an ex breeder myself but know many people who have and they are usually the sweetest & most loving dogs after being given a bit of time to get used to their new lives Good luck!

I would agree - but I would add that I would not recommend bringing one of these dogs into a home with another dog and especially not a young and boisterous one. Their behavioural and social problems are usually such that they can act inappropriately - either the rescue dog will find it hard to live with another dog and become a problem, or they may become aggressive towards another dog. Their fight or flight instinct is strong - and "trapped" in a house with another dog, if forced to (from their point of view) they can injure or kill. Or be injured or killed themselves. In my experience they are usually best in single dog households where they have undivided attention.

You also need to think about other things. They often have health problems and behavioural problems - can you afford, or can you get insurance to afford, the consequences of potential; problems? Some insurance companies are reluctant to insure dogs with this kind of background because of the likelihood of claims which can be very expensive.

If you want to do this, I would recommend that you consider retaining the services of a qualified dog behaviouralist to support you from the beginning. Just selecting the right dog for you and your home environment and bringing the new dog home is a rather large step, and getting things right at the beginning can make a huge difference in outcomes. Yes, it means that it will cost more at the outset, but if you really want to give such a dog the best start in a new life, then it is worth it. You have time to prepare, and to make sure that you can cover costs such as this. If you have an accredited training college near you (or maybe even some students - some colleges do distance learning) you may be able to get some support from a student under supervision in exchange for the experience. I am currently doing one of these courses to retrain for my retirement, and I have an arrangement with my vet who refers people to me on this basis when they cannot pay for an already qualified professional. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of us around, but you may be lucky.

Whatever you do, don't let sympathy override common sense. It sounds like you are well aware of the risks of this, but it's hard to stay on track when you actually see a dog that needs a home. I volunteer with the Dogs Trust, and it's a big struggle not to end up with a house packed with dogs! Like you, I have a young and boisterous dog at the moment, and he is being trained by me to help with my work with dogs, replacing my old boy who died last year. The right dog can make a huge difference in the life of another dog, helping them to relearn social behaviours and gain in confidence. At the age of one year, I won't be adopting another - even with experience and support to train to do this work with dogs, he won't be fully socially mature for another year, and another dog can do more harm than good for both.

teddysmum

A particular rescue which specialises in ex-puppy farm dogs, usually insists that they go to a home where there is already a well settled dog ,but insist that this dog be gentle and friendly.


This is because many ex-breeders are nervous and are used to having other dogs around them, so need the reassurance of a gentle companion.

*zippy*

Thank you

Yes pup is in training, but really not gentle by any stretch like most puppies

What we have found is Lottie our 12yr old from the puppy farm we had to join our at the time one year old dog, she was a sweet dog who really looked after her, but we lost her a few months ago. Since having the puppy though has been the first time we've ever seen her play fight and be interested in toys, it is lovely to see and I can't remember where, but I did see a post somewhere that someone with ex puppy farm breeding dog found the same and their dog really blossomed with a puppy.

The health insurance does concern me as the company the rescue mention don't have a good reputation of paying up.

Thank you again, I think I'll wait 6 months and see how our pup is settling down and then have a chat about fostering or adopting, maybe it's something I need to wait a couple of years to do as I know they're really strict x