question about getting a dog.....

[JenDaveBrendan]

Let me start by saying this would be my family's first dog - I had a golden growning up, but never owned one on my own. I also have a 5 yr.old son.
A woman around where I live is trying to find a home for her dog (2 yr.old, spayed,female golden - mom was purebred, dad was a golden mix) They are moving and can't take the dog with them.
I emailed her with some questions, since we are interested. Basically asking how the dog is with kids, is she trained, etc...
She wrote me back, saying no the dog is not trained, and she has also NEVER been in the house. She has always been kept outside.
So since I don't know much about dogs - would this be a bad decision for us?? We would want to keep the dog in (obviously take her out on walks, and we have a fenced yard to put her in), but at night and some parts of the day, we would want the dog inside.
Any opinions on this?

thanks!

Jen

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yes, this would be bad for you. I would consider this not a match. This dog will need someone experienced to train it and socialize it to a home.


As much as you love to "rescue" this dog, I am sure the Golden will be snatched up by someone else, trust me.

 

[bekkiz]

It depends on how much time you have to devote to this project. If you are going to be home for, like, 2-3 weeks and give loads of attention and training help, I don't think it would be bad. Pretty much any dog needs this. After those tough few weeks, I would imagine you could have a great addition to the family Crate training will be the toughest part, and you'll have to deal with whining/crying, but it is totally doable

I would read up on training, get some books etc. I would also enroll the pup in a class pronto, although, it may be worth your while to hire a private trainer to come to your house and help you there.

Here's a good link: http://www.canineconcepts.co.uk/ccp51/cc/dog-training/train-rescue-dogs.shtml

Here's a list of trainers in NC: http://www.thepetprofessor.com/pet_professionals/trainers/North_Carolina.aspx

or http://www.dogtrainingraleighnc.net/

however, if you don't have this kind of time, it might not be a good fit. good luck

 

[JenDaveBrendan]

Yes, this would be bad for you. I would consider this not a match. This dog will need someone experienced to train it and socialize it to a home.


As much as you love to "rescue" this dog, I am sure the Golden will be snatched up by someone else, trust me.

thanks - I was concerned about how the dog would probably not be socialized...

 

[ZachnElli]

I'd keep searching. Goldens are great dogs, but this one will be pretty wild and need alot of training. Do you have a Golden rescue near you?

 

[JenDaveBrendan]

I'd keep searching. Goldens are great dogs, but this one will be pretty wild and need alot of training. Do you have a Golden rescue near you?

It's funny, because we weren't searching for a dog, this kind of just happened - and when I saw it was a golden, my heart melted. I love goldens - this is the only type of dog I would get. But I think you're right about this one being too "wild" for us. As far as golden rescues around us, I am not sure. we just moved here from MA about a month and a half ago so I don't know the area too well yet, but I will have to look into that.
thanks

 

[Rajah]

With a 5 yo who doesn't have experience with dogs, I agree -- not the best of matches. Good luck!

 

[JenDaveBrendan]

bekkiz - thanks for the websites - they seem very informative.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Before writing the dog off I might would meet with them. I wouldn't say that our dogs exactly fit into the best mold of how they should have been treated in their early years and they have been wonderful, for the most part.

Our most recent dog was an indoor/outdoor dog, belonging to my sister. Sheena was never around children and I think she spent a lot of time outdoors. Not because my sister didn't want a dog inside, but her husband at the time thought they should be outside (my sister got rid of the husband, which is why Sheena came to live with us--long story).

Sheena was mostly housebroken, but not totally, or at least she did have some accidents when she came to us (I'm not sure if they were truly accidents or she wasn't as housebroken as my sister led me to believe).

Sheena hadn't been around children, and we had to really watch her around our children. Our youngest child was 4yo at the time. Sheena did wonderful with him, however. They are great friends. Sheena also hadn't been around cats and she had to prove herself before my sister left her with us (my sister drove Sheena from Idaho here to Maryland). Sheena did fine once she learned they are not toys.

Sheena gets along well with our dog. Her only issue is with other dogs, but we are working on that. And she has really improved.

Sheena wasn't socialized well as a pup and was allowed to bark at any and everything that went by her house (my sister had 3 older dogs who did this) and she was never brought out on a leash. She was either in their yard or in their house. Sheena loves to go on walks and if she sees the leash she gets very excited.

I'm not saying that this is the right dog for you, but I don't know for sure that it isn't without you meeting the dog for yourself. Of course since you don't have experience, if you do decide to meet it (and there's nothing wrong if you decide not to) you might want to bring someone who does "know" dogs.

 

[arminnie]

You really can't tell without meeting the dog. One of the really great things about the dogs from the rescue groups is that they can generally give you some information about the dog.

I got my Cody from a Cocker Spaniel rescue group (see picture below). Isn't he a cutie pie?

He was one year old when I got him and had not been socialized AT ALL. At first he had no interest in humans. He didn't know what a milkbone or a tennis ball or a dog toy was. He was not housebroken -although he did jump in the bathtub a few times to have his "accidents" so maybe someone taught him that.

But at a year old (vs 8 weeks) he was quite trainable. He is the sweetest dog and LOVES people - well maybe not as much as milkbones!

He almost never barks - except this little "woof" when he wants me to go get him a "treatie", and I am ignoring him. He has never snapped at anyone, and I can literally take food out of his mouth.

He's now 13 and deaf so he has no interest in dog toys anymore - as his only goal before was to kill the squeaker inside. He can't chase tennis balls like he used to either , but still likes a toss or two - he just can't do it forever as he gets tired.