Adopting an older dog - any tips?

THE_LONE_RANGER_4

hayleyc wrote:

Rescue centres are full of all sorts of dogs, not just mongrels but a large amount of pedigree dogs of all sorts of breeds. Perhaps if you were to go to a few rescue centres and have a look around then you might find this out for yourself!

"back yard breeders even these idiots do not breed mongrels" - lots of irresponsible people do deliberately breed mongrels/crossbreeds and pedigree dogs purely to make money.

In any case, your comments have no relevance to the original poster's question as they didn't even state what breed (or cross-breed/mongrel) their dog was.

Are you seriously saying that if a dog ends up in rescue and is over the age of two years then it doesn't deserve a home!!! Why do you assume that just because a dog is in a rescue centre that it has behavioural problems. Even if a dog does have some issues (usually caused by previous owners) then most of these can be worked through. Most adult rescue dogs will have only minor training issues, which are a lot less than the work it takes to raise a puppy

I suggest you have a look at http://www.oldies.org.uk/ or https://www.dogpages.co.uk and find out what dogs in rescue are really like.

I assume since you have bred dogs for 20yrs that you must like/love them. It doesn't seem so from your post.

Hayley

edited to add: To the original poster - if you have a look at the training and behaviour forums on the dogpages link then there is a lot of excellent advice which may help you.

i have visited rehomeing centres 4 which i would call local to me, all of them in general were full of mongerals i agree dogs come to rehomeing centres for many reasons but the main one is they have been dumped or are strays or have issues etc , i breed my dogs for money and i look after my dogs with the best of everything they are an asset and they sell up to 1k you will not find these dogs roaming the streets etc.
i stand by my original argument if a dog is over 2years the trouble /faults it has will never be removed .you cant teach an old dog new tricks was said for a reason many of these rehomed dogs end up right back ,the kindest thing would be to put the dogs down .

pboae

THE_LONE_RANGER wrote:

i have visited rehomeing centres 4 which i would call local to me, all of them in general were full of mongerals i agree dogs come to rehomeing centres for many reasons but the main one is they have been dumped or are strays or have issues etc , i breed my dogs for money and i look after my dogs with the best of everything they are an asset and they sell up to 1k you will not find these dogs roaming the streets etc.
i stand by my original argument if a dog is over 2years the trouble /faults it has will never be removed .you cant teach an old dog new tricks was said for a reason many of these rehomed dogs end up right back ,the kindest thing would be to put the dogs down .

Perhaps the rehoming centres you visited send their pure bred dogs to a breed rescue, many of them do.

You may know all there is to know about breeding dogs for money, but you are extremely ignorant about rescue dogs. There isn't a breed out there that doesn't turn up in rescue. The breed rescues are all full to bursting, especially with 'popular' dogs like labs, staffies, GSD, but also the less common ones like Great Danes, St. Bernards, poodles, etc.

My current dog is a St. Bernard, his original owners paid around £1,000 for him as a pup, but still got bored with him. They abused and mistreated him until he was eventually seized by the RSPCA. I took him on at 2+ with numerous issues, all caused by his past treatment, but I knew what I was getting into, and he came with full back up from the rescue in case we couldn't cope.

He's now nearly 4 and he is a different dog. We've worked through his fear aggression, resource guarding, house training, etc. He has passed his KC Bronze, and has learnt a couple of tricks and games as well.

My dog was one at the far end of the spectrum, he was taken on as much as a project as a pet, and if a dog like him can be turned around, there's no reason why the vast majority of dogs can't be retrained. Although, contrary to your stereotypical views, most dogs in rescue don't need to be turned around, because the initial problem was the owner not the dog.

THE_LONE_RANGER_4

pboae wrote:

Perhaps the rehoming centres you visited send their pure bred dogs to a breed rescue, many of them do.

You may know all there is to know about breeding dogs for money, but you are extremely ignorant about rescue dogs. There isn't a breed out there that doesn't turn up in rescue. The breed rescues are all full to bursting, especially with 'popular' dogs like labs, staffies, GSD, but also the less common ones like Great Danes, St. Bernards, poodles, etc.


He's now nearly 4 and he is a different dog. We've worked through his fear aggression, resource guarding, house training, etc. He has passed his KC Bronze, and has learnt a couple of tricks and games as well.

My dog was one at the far end of the spectrum, he was taken on as much as a project as a pet, and if a dog like him can be turned around, there's no reason why the vast majority of dogs can't be retrained. Although, contrary to your stereotypical views, most dogs in rescue don't need to be turned around, because the initial problem was the owner not the dog.

i said in the main customers of rehoming centres are mongrels , yes the pedigrees may have been sent out to breed centres but mongrels are the main issue here well done for turning your dog arround i would say luck played a large part in it . i disagree the bulk of dogs in rehomeing centres do have issues in the main that is the reason they have been dumped etc as you said your dogs owner paid 1k for him the type of people who dump there dogs etc no matter how much they paid for them are the type that turn up on jeremy kyle type shows so the dumpers come from a certain class of people ,

feesh

There is a really interesting book called the Dog Listener which my Dad randomly bought me for Christmas a few years back! I'm not a dog owner as I work full time, although I do dream of it.

I don't know if other people would poo-poo the ideas in the Dog Listener, I know how these approaches can be quite faddy, but it seems to make sense to me.http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dog-Listener-Jan-Fennell/dp/0006532365/ref=pd_sim_b_3/026-1739642-0796457

THE_LONE_RANGER_4

feesh wrote:

There is a really interesting book called the Dog Listener which my Dad randomly bought me for Christmas a few years back! I'm not a dog owner as I work full time, although I do dream of it.

I don't know if other people would poo-poo the ideas in the Dog Listener, I know how these approaches can be quite faddy, but it seems to make sense to me.http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dog-Listener-Jan-Fennell/dp/0006532365/ref=pd_sim_b_3/026-1739642-0796457

it is always good to listen and take on board new ideas then form an opinion im sorry to say i have little time for rehomeing centres and the rspca and there views in the main they try to do good and some times they do but there not always right with there views and the ageing and temperment assesments of some of there dogs they wish to rehome is is awfull

Eels100

Sorry to add to the flaming here but I cannot disagree more with THE LONE RANGER's narrow-minded, self-interested and wildly inaccurate observations on dog rehoming and training. And as for getting a grand for his Labs, I hope that's a price for a trained dog because if that's for a pup then people are dafter than I'd ever believed.

Rescues do contain problem dogs, many of which are mongrels because pedigree dogs are sadly easier to rehome. This is in spite of the endless genetic problems associated with many pedigree breeds, of which the Labrador suffers from multiple. But a good rescue will not home dogs inappropriately without suitable back-up, so my suspicion is that the rescues this poster has visited locally were of the all-too-common 'do-gooder' type, where the rehoming policies are poorly planned, poorly adhered to and poorly monitored, if they indeed exist in the first place. Many 'rescues' rehome wildly without any thought for the consequences and these give good rehoming centres a bad name - the ones which really do take the time and effort to ensure dogs go to a home for life and are not placed with unsuitable owners.

Importantly I note that THE LONE RANGER has openly admitted his breeding is for financial gain and so he has most certainly got a personal interest in promoting his lucrative business of puppy production. Why on earth would someone with such an interest advocate the ownership of mongrels from rescue centres anyway?

As a proud owner of two rehomed dogs who both have their quirks but are wonderful, easy and fun pets, I have no hesitation in recommending a rehomed dog to anyone, as long as the prospective owner ensures the rescue they are rehoming from is thorough and careful in its vetting procedures. I work with pedigree dogs on a professional basis and am all too aware that they are as likely to be problematic as any crossbreed. Indeed, of the Labradors I have met with temperament problems, they are among the most anxious and fear-aggressive of breeds when things go wrong. A pedigree is no more a guarantee of good temperament than a rehoming certificate is a guarantee of future problems, and anyone who sees dogs in such black-and-white terms is of questionable experience in my view.

THE_LONE_RANGER_4

Eels100 wrote:

Sorry to add to the flaming here but I cannot disagree more with THE LONE RANGER's narrow-minded, self-interested and wildly inaccurate observations on dog rehoming and training. And as for getting a grand for his Labs, I hope that's a price for a trained dog because if that's for a pup then people are dafter than I'd ever believed.

Rescues do contain problem dogs, many of which are mongrels because pedigree dogs are sadly easier to rehome. This is in spite of the endless genetic problems associated with many pedigree breeds, of which the Labrador suffers from multiple. But a good rescue will not home dogs inappropriately without suitable back-up, so my suspicion is that the rescues this poster has visited locally were of the all-too-common 'do-gooder' type, where the rehoming policies are poorly planned, poorly adhered to and poorly monitored, if they indeed exist in the first place. Many 'rescues' rehome wildly without any thought for the consequences and these give good rehoming centres a bad name - the ones which really do take the time and effort to ensure dogs go to a home for life and are not placed with unsuitable owners.

Importantly I note that THE LONE RANGER has openly admitted his breeding is for financial gain and so he has most certainly got a personal interest in promoting his lucrative business of puppy production. Why on earth would someone with such an interest advocate the ownership of mongrels from rescue centres anyway?

As a proud owner of two rehomed dogs who both have their quirks but are wonderful, easy and fun pets, I have no hesitation in recommending a rehomed dog to anyone, as long as the prospective owner ensures the rescue they are rehoming from is thorough and careful in its vetting procedures. I work with pedigree dogs on a professional basis and am all too aware that they are as likely to be problematic as any crossbreed. Indeed, of the Labradors I have met with temperament problems, they are among the most anxious and fear-aggressive of breeds when things go wrong. A pedigree is no more a guarantee of good temperament than a rehoming certificate is a guarantee of future problems, and anyone who sees dogs in such black-and-white terms is of questionable experience in my view.

This made very interesting reading as for the price of my labs prices are for fully trained up to ft level and they sell very well in the well known shooting magazines i have sold to two well known people and one very well known labrador breeder and i have sold abroad scandanavia, ireland, france, and many whos dogs have retired have come back to me .
The rehomeing centres i have visited are two rspca centres one canine defence league and yes one small centre but i hasten to add rspca approved .
yes i have made my living from breeding labradors and irish woolfhounds and yes both have there problems (genetic etc ) but im in contact with many of the people who have purchased from me over the years all very happy with no problems am i ashamed of what i do for a living of course not why should i be .
i do stand by my opinion that a dog who has issues which have been with that dog for a number of years can not be changed its yet to be proved to me .
as i posted earlier an associate who refuses to buy a dog went to local rspca they approved him and gave him a(after donation )rotti ive owned them in the past not a dog at 3 years of age would i dare bring in to a house with a 7 year old child, but the rspca said he was perfect with children ???? to say this is a disgrace no matter how many tests etc it should not have been given to a family not at that age you cannot trust it . since its arrival it has ripped the garden up , shown aggressive behavior to people the other side of the fence cannot be controlled on the lead , not social with other dogs this dog is in my opinion !!!!!! and should be put down the rspca told him he was friendly ,loving ,house trained ,walks well on the lead , when he pointed out the dog jumped about a lot on the lead pulled etc they told him oh he is just excited he will be fine at your home .
so i am a breeder and i consider myself a good one who gives the best to his dogs from vet treatment to food ,to homeing, homeing places ask for at least £50 to rehome a dog with you and i think in my opinion in the majority of cases give you a nightmare . i will not be so rude as to quistion the expertise of you as you did of me other than to say i wouldnt come in to contact with the people who go to homeing centres as many do not wish to pay for a dog. so to be honest get what they deserve , as my associate said i wish id never got him and as i said ,i quistion any one that puts a fully grown rotti with family you cant be 100%sure of its past or temperment. if you have children you should bring a pup in to the house there are plenty(free) many are mongrels available in the papers that is the safest way to bring a dog in to a family house .

hayleyc_2

THE_LONE_RANGER wrote:

as i posted earlier an associate who refuses to buy a dog went to local rspca they approved him and gave him a(after donation )rotti ive owned them in the past not a dog at 3 years of age would i dare bring in to a house with a 7 year old child, but the rspca said he was perfect with children ???? to say this is a disgrace no matter how many tests etc it should not have been given to a family not at that age you cannot trust it . since its arrival it has ripped the garden up , shown aggressive behavior to people the other side of the fence cannot be controlled on the lead , not social with other dogs this dog is in my opinion !!!!!! and should be put down the rspca told him he was friendly ,loving ,house trained ,walks well on the lead , when he pointed out the dog jumped about a lot on the lead pulled etc they told him oh he is just excited he will be fine at your home .
so i am a breeder and i consider myself a good one who gives the best to his dogs from vet treatment to food ,to homeing, homeing places ask for at least £50 to rehome a dog with you and i think in my opinion in the majority of cases give you a nightmare . i will not be so rude as to quistion the expertise of you as you did of me other than to say i wouldnt come in to contact with the people who go to homeing centres as many do not wish to pay for a dog. so to be honest get what they deserve , as my associate said i wish id never got him and as i said ,i quistion any one that puts a fully grown rotti with family you cant be 100%sure of its past or temperment. if you have children you should bring a pup in to the house there are plenty(free) many are mongrels available in the papers that is the safest way to bring a dog in to a family house .

Most people do not go to rescue centres because they don't want to pay for a dog! They go to a rescue centre because they want to help a dog who needs a home and don't want to line the pockets of money grabbing back yard breeders from the free-ads. How you can possibly recommend people with children to purchase a puppy like this is unbelievable. Surely as a so-called reputable breeder, you more than anyone should know the importance of getting a puppy whose parents have been chosen for temperament and health and who have been properly socialised and cared for.

As for your comments about the Rottweiler, this again is ridiculous. If this dog (or any other dog for that matter) has been assessed and shown to be good with children then why shouldn't it have a home with children. It seems to me that you're just jumping on the bandwagon of negative publicity that Rotties have had. The fact that it has had a few issues since moving into it's new home just means that there are areas to be worked upon. Not that it needs to be destroyed! The issues you describe sound fairly minor, and nothing to warrant PTS. If the person in question is saying they wish they'd never got the dog, then I would suggest they speak to the rescue and have possibly chosen the wrong dog for their circumstances in the first place. If they are not prepared to put in the training or feel that the problems are beyond them then they should return him to the rescue in order to find him a more suitable 'forever' home. Inevitably in rescue (as with people buying dogs from breeders) there will be times when things don't work out and the dog may have to be returned. No-one can get it right 100% of the time. It doesn't mean people should be put off getting dogs from rescue centres.

Like others who've posted here, I also have a rescue dog. He was a stray and I got him when he was approximately 4 years old. He is excellent with children and adults, good with other dogs and is the most affectionate an loving dog I know. He has never had any behavioural problems and everyone who meets him thinks he's wonderful. To say that he should have been put to sleep just because some horrible person in the past didn't look after him properly and he ended up on the streets is absolutely disgusting of you.

Please anyone, if you are thinking of getting a dog or puppy (pedigree or otherwise) do not listen to any advice telling you to get one free or cheap from the paper or free-ads. These are nearly always puppy farmers and back-yard breeders who do not have the best interests of the dog at heart. The best place to get your new dog is via a decent rescue centre. If it must be a pedigree puppy then ensure you go to reputable breeder who is not just in it for the money.

Hayley

THE_LONE_RANGER_4

absolute rubbish ill disregard ive never read such rubbish

Smashing

THE_LONE_RANGER wrote:

absolute rubbish ill disregard ive never read such rubbish

Now you know how the rest of us feel reading your posts in this thread.