Rehoming a dog

[Tedx]

Does anyone have any pointers on rehoming a dog?

I've never had a dog before (always cats, which have come to us either via strays or unwanted kittens). But we haven't had a cat for a few years now....and now now we're kinda feeling an animal is missing from our lives.

There's always someone home these days and the missus enjoys running and I enjoy walking. We have an enclosed garden and a van for getting around.

I refuse point blank to buy from a breeder. I'd rather get an unwanted mongrel that needed a home. I've had a quick look around the internet and there are a few places locally and they seem to vet (pun not intended) people as well as looking for a donation/rehoming fee (which is fine). Most of them come chipped / neutered / vaccinated and I'd prefer a smaller dog and don't really mind an older one either.

I guess I've answered most of my questions, but if anyone has some additonal comments they are much appreciated.

Thanks

[clissold345]

I've owned a dog for ten years (bought as a puppy). Adopted dogs sometimes have major behavioural problems. I suggest you decide which behavioural problems are OK, and which are not OK, for you. In my case I wouldn't adopt a dog that I couldn't let off lead in a safe place away from traffic.

[Tedx]

Yeah, 'recall' (as I think it's called, is turning into a big thing for us, the more I read. We have some wide open spaces, beaches, woods etc wher I would love it let it off the lead...but I need the thing to come back.

Im actually thinking more towards an older dog that's quite happy bimbling along beside me. But we shall see.

I've put the feelers out to some countryside living friends that may know of unwanted puppies or failed working dogs that may need a chance....so it may be young and active in the end....

[monabri]

.

I refuse point blank to buy from a breeder. I'd rather get an unwanted mongrel that needed a home. I've had a quick look around the internet and there are a few places locally and they seem to vet (pun not intended) people as well as looking for a donation/rehoming fee (which is fine).

+1 rec.

[didds]

Congratulations on already binning off the use of breeders. IMO anyway.

WRT shelters/homes etc - be prepared for some quite intrusive and rigorous questioning if you apply for a rescue. Despite having a history of dog ownership, we have been rejected in the apst becasue our garden (1/8th of an acre space outside, surrounded by 120 acres of farmland) didnt have six foot high fences.

Its true rescue dogs often come with some neuroses and issues etc etc - but there's no guarantee that a puppy bought from a breeder wont come with them also of course, or with horrible things wrong with them, so don't be put off by that. Most homes run a sort of "returns policy" if a rescued dog really doesnt work out within a few weeks, and often they offer "free" vet cover for a small while also - its not uncommon.

One answer may be fostering dogs as a sort of half way house between shelter kennels and a forever home, but it comes with its own heart aches I am led to understand (ie you get attached to the dog and then it goes off! - though you can always fully adopt them of course - a friend did this ) - and its probable you may need to demonstrate experience of dogs of course . And it wopuld almost certainly a large committment to training the fostered dog - on repeat as one leave and another arrives.

Good luck.

Didds (currently on our 5th rescue in 20 years or so ! Including 3 at one time at one stage!)

[UncleEbenezer]

I expect there will be animal rescue homes near you. An information source like google might find them.

But I'd suggest, ask around, particularly among dog people. If you walk, you'll bump into plenty of dog-walkers, and I'd expect many to be happy to share their experiences.

[88V8]

Does anyone have any pointers on rehoming a dog?
...I've had a quick look around the internet and there are a few places locally and they seem to vet (pun not intended) people as well as looking for a donation/rehoming fee (which is fine). Most of them come chipped / neutered / vaccinated and I'd prefer a smaller dog and don't really mind an older one either.

I would deffo get one from a rehoming centre. It will come with its health problems addressed or at least identified, and they'll give you pointers on its behaviour.
Taking one from an owner, such as through Pets4Homes would imho be much more of a lottery.

V8

[Hallucigenia]

I refuse point blank to buy from a breeder. I'd rather get an unwanted mongrel that needed a home...if anyone has some additonal comments they are much appreciated.

The classic "unwanted" is a retired racing greyhound, they're complete couch potatoes at home as long as they get some exercise during the day.

If you've not seen it then there's five series of The Dog House on Channel 4 to get through - based at Woodgreen near Cambridge it follows a well-trodden formula of first potential family isn't right, then the right family comes along and saves the cute little fluffball so it does get a bit repetitive but along the way it does give you a feel (and some hard info) on what works and what doesn't.
https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-dog-house

[brightncheerful]

The Dogs Trust is always looking for new owners. I think their selection process is strict, but at least the dogs would've been well cared for while waiting to be rehomed.

https://www.dogstrust.org.uk

Our dog is from a breeder - but reputable (apart from profiteering during lockdown). The breeder doesn't normally deal with the public; instead, supplies assisted dogs, guide dogs for the blind, etc. Puppy (now dog) will be 4 years 2 months soon and continues to run rings around us, despite Mrs Bnc's training (gun-dog style.

Mrs Bnc would recommend gun dog training. The dog doesn't have to be an actual gun dog, but the training method differs, including the fact that the dog doesn't need to be taken for a walk once or twice daily.

[DrFfybes]

We got an old dog (about 13 years) from the RSPCA - with an acre of garden there was no way we were meeting the Dogs Trust requirements.

We got a baby gate for the kitchen so the dog didn't feel trapped, and left it open the first few nights. When she took herself off to bed at 8:30 on the third night we decided she was settled.Being old she needed little exercise, was incredibly well housetrained, we really didn't realise how lucky we were. She was underweight, antisocial with virtually every other animal (not just dogs), but very loyal (a Staffie Cross).

She died in Feb, and we are now going through the process for fostering Trainee Guide Dogs. Whilst we loved having ours they are extremely tying, and wth Guide Dogs there are respite carers for holidays etc. You drop them off in the morning and collect in the evening and have them at weekend. Being a working dog things are very different to your own pet (like don't throw balls for them to chase as it is not a desirable trait when working), but it might be something you'd want to consider.

Also retired Guide Dogs are extremely well behaved.

Paul

[oldapple]

I’d second Hallucigenia’s suggestion of a greyhound. We rescued Lizzie as a two year old mix of greyhound and suspected Irish wolfhound (I wrote about her years ago as crossed with a goat). When on a lead, I often had to check she was still attached as she followed like a ghost, never tugging. She was a gentle, undemanding, usually cowardly dog who surprised us by her bravery when a fox fancied our hens. And she loved wide open spaces to really take off at speed, those beaches would be ideal. Her only dangerous vice was that she hated cats. My current labradoodle has twice ‘felled’ me on a lead.

This clip is of a very well loved and pampered greyhound let loose on a Cornwall beach.

https://youtu.be/ZhA2S7WXp_Q?si=dD9zWn8_RejG3Ihp

[Tedx]

Thanks all.

We're both now in full browsing mode - there are so many dogs looking for a home!

We have put some feelers out and I think we're going to pop along to a local shelter out in the countryside over the weekend. She has about half a dozen dogs on average (to be honest it looks like she's more than happy to keep them all as pets rather than rehome them!)

There are 2 failed working dogs (collies) there as well as a spaniel and a Labradoodle. Normally I have an aversion to these 'doodle' dogs that are so popular these days....but the dogs doesn't know its a doodle does it? My granny had a succession of collies and I pretty much spent most of my holidays with them and friends we know have always had (semi) working collies.

I like greyhounds. My mother wanted one for precisely the same reasons as H mentioned. My neighbour has 2 Jack Russells. Yappy things, but so curious and affectionate. I also have a friend that foster Boxer dogs but they really are bouncy (and slobbery).

There doesn't seem to be such a think as a Heinz 57 mongrel anymore? Sign of the times maybe.

[Hallucigenia]

Her only dangerous vice was that she hated cats.

I think one thing with sighthounds in general is that they have been bred to have a high prey drive - so they do tend to disappear at any sight of a rabbit, squirrel etc when off-lead, but generally come back as they have a pretty keen sense of "pack" which can verge on being a bit clingy. Beaches are great as they tend not to have small furry things other than other dogs.

I like greyhounds. My mother wanted one for precisely the same reasons as H mentioned....

There doesn't seem to be such a think as a Heinz 57 mongrel anymore? Sign of the times maybe.

I saw something that 40% of British dogs are crossbreeds of some kind, although I guess that would include "doodles", lurchers etc.

If the requirement was for something smaller, then a whippet is like a baby greyhound in most respects, but doesn't have the redundant-after-racing angle. Very chilled around the house, few health problems, and would love a beach. Actually thinking about it, given that lurchers are most often whippet/collie crosses, that might give you some collie-ness whilst also having the advantages of whippets.

[UncleEbenezer]

Her only dangerous vice was that she hated cats.

I think one thing with sighthounds in general is that they have been bred to have a high prey drive - so they do tend to disappear at any sight of a rabbit, squirrel etc when off-lead, but generally come back as they have a pretty keen sense of "pack" which can verge on being a bit clingy. Beaches are great as they tend not to have small furry things other than other dogs.

If they're ex-racing they've been trained precisely to chase small furry things running away, meaning they shouldn't share a house with cats/etc.

Lambs presumably could also be an issue!

[didds]

There doesn't seem to be such a think as a Heinz 57 mongrel anymore? Sign of the times maybe.

i cynically suspect somebody realised that a mongrel has a sizable price tag of you can instead call it a summat-doodle instead of a heinz. Aided and abetted by the kennel club.

[Gilesyb27]

You sound like you're on the right track. Here's a few pleas/pointers from a practicing vet....

-be VERY cynical of hard luck stories on the websites. more often than not the reason they are getting rid of the dog is not the thing they are telling you, an underlying and expensive health or behavioural condition is common.
-ditto be wary of "rescuing" a dog from eastern europe, many are just cheap puppy-farmed masquerading as rescues ( I really doubt there are many purebred golden retreivers on the streets of bucharest) or are true street dogs and should not be converted to live in a home, bad for them and for you.
-rspca, dogs trust or other local rescue centres always worth a try. believe them when they say they dont have anything suitable and be patient. A project dog is not what you need as a first time owner. cinnamon trust rehome dogs from aged or deceased owners, worth a try although normally an older dog too.
-doodle crosses are in fashion, like any fashion you have missed the true interesting/cool phase and are now seeing the long tail of charlatans. Crossing a poodle into nearly any other breed diminishes it, poodles being neurotic, unhealthy and often aggressive. (yes people will jump in to say that their mongrel is an angel, and maybe some are, but those of us who have to handle these wilful, spoiled, little specimens bear the scars).
-MOST of all, when you have a possible option, go and talk to your vet BEFORE you fall in love with it. Most will happily give free advice, check over listings for obvious falsehoods, and warn you of the inherent risks of that breed/situation. Remember, if they advise you against it they are probably doing so to the detriment of their bank balance. So, if a vet says "I wouldnt have it in my house" that is a pretty strong recommendation!!!

good luck