Rescue dog?

[Mickey'snewestfan]

we went to our Humane Society. There is no other place I would get a dog. Lisa

Do you mean this literally (as in you'd only do the Humane Society and not the SPCA or a private rescue group) or only that you'd only do a rescue, not buy a pet.

Also, I was looking on craigslist, and someone was looking to rehome a dog becuase of allergies that seemed like it would be a really good fit for us. We can't take it because we haven't moved yet, but I wondered what people's experience has been with that kind of situation -- taking a dog before it becomes a "rescue".

 

[Aimeedyan]

Also, I was looking on craigslist, and someone was looking to rehome a dog becuase of allergies that seemed like it would be a really good fit for us. We can't take it because we haven't moved yet, but I wondered what people's experience has been with that kind of situation -- taking a dog before it becomes a "rescue".

It would not be my first choice - matter of fact, I simply don't look on Craigslist pet listings because they make me too angry

By going through a rescue, you are getting a dog that has been seen by a vet, is up to date on shots, is altered, and has a foster parent whose 1 desire is to find the perfect home for the dog. When dealing with people placing an animal individually, they are usually anxious to get the pet out of their house so they don't always take as much time ensuring the dog is a good fit. You also may be responsible for major vet bills, if the family did not keep up to date on the dog. Also, a rescue will take the dog back if it's not a good fit, you have an unforseen circumstance come up, etc. Can't do that with an individual. In addition, a rescue group wants more than anything for this dog to be yours forever. They are a point of contact if you need help in the future. They have resources that can help you.

My other reason for not wanting to go around a rescue/shelter is that rescues work tirelessly off donations and volunteers; when I adopt an animal from a rescue, that foster parent can take in another animal. My adoption fee goes to help another animal. It's an organization that I want to support.

You may be perfectly comfortable adopting this dog from this family but I would really do my homework before committing. You really only can go off of what the family tells you, and they may not be telling you the whole story. That happens a lot in rescue. A family trying to rehome on their own should be charging something for the pet but not near the amt that a rescue is asking.

Good luck!

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Thanks aimee,

I was actually looking on craigslist to see if they had any dog walkers ads (trying to get a sense of the price). I hadn't thought of it as a source for a dog, but there was an add from a family that was rehoming their dog due to allergies. They had pictures and the text said that they had all their vet records, and references from their vet. The dog was the right size/breed/age/ and if they were telling the truth temperment and had spent years in a home with kids.

It seemed like a situation where if I knew the family I wouldn't hesitate, so I thought it might be worth asking (except we aren't moving to a place that allows dogs for a month and hopefully he'll have a home by then), so I was wondering if people thought it might be a safe choice.

I agree that there were lots of posts about people selling dogs and calling it "adopting" with an "adoption fee", or other shady seeming situations.

 

[daisax]

As for getting a mutt, they tend to live longer and have less of the genetic problems associated with most purebred dogs.

That's not actually true. People throw "hybrid vigor" around as a reason to adopt mixed breeds, but take a Golden retriever with bad hips and breed it to a German shepherd with bad hips and you're going to have a mutt with bad hips. And people who allow their dogs to breed indiscriminately tend not to carefully screen them for genetic problems in the first place (or they'd neuter them)

Nothing wrong with mixed breeds at all, and shelters and rescues are good places to look for a dog and save a life. Rescues do have the advantage of fostering them in real homes (some dogs are basket cases in a kennel situation but just fine in a home -- you'd be surprised how many dogs' behavior makes them seem like they're going to need a tremendous amount of rebuilding, but get them outside the shelter into a "real life" environment and they're lovely pets. (Can't count on it, but that's why rescues are great -- they do that part of it for you)

Most rescue dogs in my breed (boxers) are adolescent males -- they just got too big (yes, folks, puppies grow up, and if you don't teach them manners, they won't have any). Generally speaking, a simple obedience course and somebody teaching them "house manners" results in some pretty good pets, because there was never anything wrong with them in the first place -- they just never had any guidelines to live by and their owners got overwhelmed or bored by them.

You could also volunteer to be a foster family -- you might fall in love with the dog you foster and be able to adopt it. There are all breed and mixed breed rescues.

Another source of a dog is a slightly older show dog. Often breeders keep 2-3 pups from a litter to grow them out, see how they develop, and retain the best one to go forward. So there are often pups from 8 mos to 15 mos or so that showed some promise, but didn't really develop the way the breeder had hoped. As far as a pet home is concerned, usually the difference is miniscule and not noticeable (a little too gangly, too much (or too little) angulation of the legs, etc.) Often it's a cosmetic thing that only real breed aficionados would pick up on (but which shouldn't be bred because there are already too many _____s with long backs/short necks/narrow muzzles/whatever the shortcoming is. There are plenty of dogs in the world who need homes, so only the best should be bred and breeders try to select the ones who resemble the standard of perfection most closely.

Also, there are dogs who just plain don't like to show, and breeders often look to find homes for them where they can be king/queen of the household instead of one in a crowd. Like humans, some dogs are homebodies! (Most showdogs adore it, however, and can't WAIT to get in the van/motorhome and go where the action is!)

Likewise, the pup may not have the health test results that the breeder needs to carry forward. There are heart conditions that aren't fatal for the dog, but if bred generation after generation get worse and worse, so a dog that shows the condition on an echocardiogram shouldn't be bred because its offspring may have a more severe form that WOULD affect lifespan. Similarly, a breeder looking to improve hips in her line would elect to keep the pup with the superior hips, all other things being equal, even if the pup she elects not to keep isn't likely to ever have any hip issues.

So you can always go to a dog show and chat with people in the breed you're looking for, asking if there are any older puppies or young adults somebody's looking to place. You're likely to get a dog that's house and leash trained, socialized and ready to step into life as a companion.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

That's not actually true. People throw "hybrid vigor" around as a reason to adopt mixed breeds, but take a Golden retriever with bad hips and breed it to a German shepherd with bad hips and you're going to have a mutt with bad hips. And people who allow their dogs to breed indiscriminately tend not to carefully screen them for genetic problems in the first place (or they'd neuter them)

Nothing wrong with mixed breeds at all, and shelters and rescues are good places to look for a dog and save a life. Rescues do have the advantage of fostering them in real homes (some dogs are basket cases in a kennel situation but just fine in a home -- you'd be surprised how many dogs' behavior makes them seem like they're going to need a tremendous amount of rebuilding, but get them outside the shelter into a "real life" environment and they're lovely pets. (Can't count on it, but that's why rescues are great -- they do that part of it for you)

Most rescue dogs in my breed (boxers) are adolescent males -- they just got too big (yes, folks, puppies grow up, and if you don't teach them manners, they won't have any). Generally speaking, a simple obedience course and somebody teaching them "house manners" results in some pretty good pets, because there was never anything wrong with them in the first place -- they just never had any guidelines to live by and their owners got overwhelmed or bored by them.

You could also volunteer to be a foster family -- you might fall in love with the dog you foster and be able to adopt it. There are all breed and mixed breed rescues.

Another source of a dog is a slightly older show dog. Often breeders keep 2-3 pups from a litter to grow them out, see how they develop, and retain the best one to go forward. So there are often pups from 8 mos to 15 mos or so that showed some promise, but didn't really develop the way the breeder had hoped. As far as a pet home is concerned, usually the difference is miniscule and not noticeable (a little too gangly, too much (or too little) angulation of the legs, etc.) Often it's a cosmetic thing that only real breed aficionados would pick up on (but which shouldn't be bred because there are already too many _____s with long backs/short necks/narrow muzzles/whatever the shortcoming is. There are plenty of dogs in the world who need homes, so only the best should be bred and breeders try to select the ones who resemble the standard of perfection most closely.

Also, there are dogs who just plain don't like to show, and breeders often look to find homes for them where they can be king/queen of the household instead of one in a crowd. Like humans, some dogs are homebodies! (Most showdogs adore it, however, and can't WAIT to get in the van/motorhome and go where the action is!)

Likewise, the pup may not have the health test results that the breeder needs to carry forward. There are heart conditions that aren't fatal for the dog, but if bred generation after generation get worse and worse, so a dog that shows the condition on an echocardiogram shouldn't be bred because its offspring may have a more severe form that WOULD affect lifespan. Similarly, a breeder looking to improve hips in her line would elect to keep the pup with the superior hips, all other things being equal, even if the pup she elects not to keep isn't likely to ever have any hip issues.

So you can always go to a dog show and chat with people in the breed you're looking for, asking if there are any older puppies or young adults somebody's looking to place. You're likely to get a dog that's house and leash trained, socialized and ready to step into life as a companion.

Thanks Daisax,

That's where I'm stuck -- is between a rescue dog and a dog from a breeder like you describe. I have friends who got a puppy that way, the breeder had kept him hoping that he'd be a show prospect (he's drop dead gorgeous) but his testicles never descended. He's a huge dog, kind of hyper and clumsy, but he came already crate trained, leash trained, house broken etc . . .

I've already contacted a few reputable breeders to try and learn more about breeds I like and two have mentioned that they have an older puppy or young adult that's been brought back to them, or didn't work as a show prospect that they're looking to sell.

I know that I'm making a more "generous" choice to get a rescue, and would love to do that. But I do wonder if a breeder would be a "safer" choice. The two I talked seemed really picky about finding the right owner for their dogs and asked me a million questions, which made me feel like they probably wouldn't lie to me just to sell a dog.

Of course, I have no idea what breed I'd want. On the breed tests some of the dogs that have come up are whippets (seem perfect, but probably too big. I want to stay under 25 lbs just because that's a common limit for apartments/houses if we ever have to move), shelties (bark too much? Too much coat care? Need too much exercise? I love shelties but I'm not sure), Cavaliers, Italian Greyhounds (too fragile for a house with kids?), French bulldogs (my son doesn't like how they look)? Any other suggestions for a mellower breed that doesn't go over 25 lbs?

 

[daisax]

On the breed tests some of the dogs that have come up are whippets (seem perfect, but probably too big. I want to stay under 25 lbs just because that's a common limit for apartments/houses if we ever have to move),

Whippets are pretty slim dogs -- I'd be surprised if they're more than 25 lbs. They're super narrow and all legs!

I like pugs, myself, and Cavaliers, but I'm not really a small dog person. Dachshunds are fun dogs -- the long haired ones tend to be mellower than the wire or smooth dogs.

Terriers tend to be small, but super feisty. I have to say that while I like the looks of shelties, I've never met one that wasn't an obnoxious barker.

You could look into brussels griffons, but if your child thinks Frenchies are weird looking, probably the brussels would be super freaky!

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Whippets are pretty slim dogs -- I'd be surprised if they're more than 25 lbs. They're super narrow and all legs!

I like pugs, myself, and Cavaliers, but I'm not really a small dog person. Dachshunds are fun dogs -- the long haired ones tend to be mellower than the wire or smooth dogs.

Terriers tend to be small, but super feisty. I have to say that while I like the looks of shelties, I've never met one that wasn't an obnoxious barker.

You could look into brussels griffons, but if your child thinks Frenchies are weird looking, probably the brussels would be super freaky!

He actually asks me all the time for a dog "but not one of those squished up face ones like YOU like mom". Or in other words, no Frenchies, Boston Terriers or Pugs -- which is too bad, because I actually those would be the perfect fit for us.

Next to biting my child (which is the only thing that would make me give up on a dog right away. Anything else I'd at least try and work on), barking and annoying the neighbors is my biggest fear. DS really likes beagles and I really like Shelties but I think they're both out for that reason.

The whippet information I can find says 25 to 45 lbs. Which is too bad, because they sound sooo perfect for us.

What I'd really like is a retired greyhound, but they're way over 35 lbs.

 

[Jockaroo]

Another source of a dog is a slightly older show dog. Often breeders keep 2-3 pups from a litter to grow them out, see how they develop, and retain the best one to go forward. So there are often pups from 8 mos to 15 mos or so that showed some promise, but didn't really develop the way the breeder had hoped. As far as a pet home is concerned, usually the difference is miniscule and not noticeable (a little too gangly, too much (or too little) angulation of the legs, etc.) Often it's a cosmetic thing that only real breed aficionados would pick up on (but which shouldn't be bred because there are already too many _____s with long backs/short necks/narrow muzzles/whatever the shortcoming is. There are plenty of dogs in the world who need homes, so only the best should be bred and breeders try to select the ones who resemble the standard of perfection most closely.

This is how we got our new dog. She is from a breeder with nearly 25 years experience with my chosen breed. My dog was 2 years-old and ready for her health testing, etc., but the breeder took a hard, honest look at her and decided she could not responsibly breed this dog. The reason: her tail has a curl to it. It goes against breed standard. We purchased her at a cost similar to a rescue and had a spay agreement. She is very clever. Her personality is wonderful. She came from the same breeder we got our 13-year-old male from as a pup. Pups are very hard work! I strongly recommend an adult dog.

My first little girl (my heart dog) came from an SPCA we found on Petfinder. She was a purebred Scottie and needed a home when her owner passed away. This little girl shared my life for nearly 7 wonderful years. I never had her history, but she did have many medical issues. We gave her the best life we could. Her passing broke my heart. I really wanted a rescue again, but there aren't any breed rescues in my state. Most won't adopt out of state even if you are willing to drive cross country. This is the reason we went with a dog from a responsible breeder. Know that if you go with a responsible breeder there will typically be a waiting list for pups. My breeder only has one litter every 2-3 years. She does occasionally have an adult since she will take back any dog that she has ever bred if the owners can't care for it. Rescues are wonderful. The adoption fees may be a little more than your local "pound", but some of the dogs in breed rescue need quite a bit of care and may have medical expenses in the thousands. Your adoption fee helps assure that other dogs get the care they need and are healthy when they go to their new home.

It sounds like you are doing your homework and know a dog is a lifelong commitment. My rescue brought so much into our lives. She was a treasure and there was nothing wrong with her--she wasn't broken or bad, just a victim of unfortunate circumstances. You will be ready when the right dog comes along. Good luck with your search.

 

[Pigeon]

We'd always had purebreds from reputable breeders, until we got our last dog from a rescue. I'll never get a dog any other way.

You can get good and bad dogs either way. We had a carefully researched purebred who was a total heartbreak.

With the rescue, we focused entirely on the behavior and personality, not on what the dog looked like. She was about a year old when we got her and she's the most normal, unneurotic, easy going dog I've ever had. She's also a funny looking little thing, but her looks grow on you.

The dog we got was about a year old and had been fostered for a few months, which was great because the guy fostering her told us her strengths and weaknesses. She was completely housebroken but hadn't had much obedience training and wasn't great on a leash. But she's so eager to please that training her is pretty easy. I just love her to pieces.

 

[kacaju]

I say go with a breeder.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Kacaju,

Any suggestions on a breed? I think one of the reasons I feel kind of ridiculous going with a purebred is that I can't actually think of a breed I'd want. I need the dog to be under 35 lbs as an adult (landlord requirement), and good with kids - those 2 things are non negotiable.

I'd also like a relatively mellow dog (so no terriers?), that's not a nusiance barker (no hounds or Shetland Sheepdogs?), and I'd rather not deal with a dog that needs a lot of professional grooming. I'd also rather not have a tiny breed like a Chihuahua, Yorkie or an Italian Greyhound.

Finally my DS just doesn't like breeds that he thinks looked "smushed' so no pugs, frenchies, or Boston terriers.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Kacaju,

Any suggestions on a breed? I think one of the reasons I feel kind of ridiculous going with a purebred is that I can't actually think of a breed I'd want. I need the dog to be under 35 lbs as an adult (landlord requirement), and good with kids - those 2 things are non negotiable.

I'd also like a relatively mellow dog (so no terriers?), that's not a nusiance barker (no hounds or Shetland Sheepdogs?), and I'd rather not deal with a dog that needs a lot of professional grooming. I'd also rather not have a tiny breed like a Chihuahua, Yorkie or an Italian Greyhound.

Finally my DS just doesn't like breeds that he thinks looked "smushed' so no pugs, frenchies, or Boston terriers.

You sound like the perfect home for my sweet foster dog, Ace. He's 20 pounds, 1 year oldish, quiet, mellow, potty trained, and cute as can be. He doesn't seem to shed much with a short, soft coat and is 100% mutt. He was due to be put down and I saw his face on a rescue site and went and got him 3 hours before his time was up.

There are tons of other Ace's out there that are put down daily. If you live close, I'd be happy to bring him to you for a visit.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Ohh, I wish I did live close to you -- he sounds really adorable, and just like the kind of dog we'd want. Unfortunately Texas is about a 3 day drive from here.

 

[Pakey]

I currently have one from a breeder and one rescue, both the same breed of dog, hairless Chinese crested. My rescue came from an owner who had passed. My breeder dog came from a reputable breeder who could not show this dog and I was required to have him neutered as part of the purchase so that his "off" traits were not passed on as their main concern is strengthening the breed.

I did a lot, and I mean a lot, of research prior to choosing this breed and the breeder. I was willing to travel across the country to get my dogs as there are no trustworthy breeders or rescues that I could find on this side. My rescue dog is laid back, loves everyone, and is honestly just grateful to have a home. My breeder dog is much more difficult, but I knew this going in.

Regardless of your final choice, I think the best advice is to be prepared and not take on a dog based on emotion.

 

[kacaju]

take a look through here
http://www.akc.org/breeds/complete_breed_list.cfm

I quickly looked and came up with this
http://www.akc.org/breeds/cardigan_welsh_corgi/

But to be honest I am a big dog person so I really know nothing about dogs that are under 35 lbs. Right now my two, a shep mix from the shelter and a pure bred collie from a breeder are both 65 lbs!!

How old is your son? Is he really into wanting the dog? If so, if you got a purebred he could learn to show it (most breeders will help you out)
We got our collie because my now 13 year ols dd wanted to show. She loves showing her dog.
Where do you live, I can help you find a dog show in your area. It is good to go watch them and talk to people.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I think that no matter what kind of dog you get or where you get him, the biggest thing that will assure you success is your own education re: dogs and dog behavior.

As a pp suggested, tune into The Dog Whisperer. See the dumb mistakes all of us make when we don't know any better. If you're going to read just one book, make it Good Owners, Great Dogs, by Brian Kilcommons and Sara Wilson. Don't take advice from people blindly - research things yourself. I've seen dogs "ruined" by people who took bad advice.

Leadership, training and consistency are the three things that will yield the best results in having a happy human-dog relationship. Training allows the dog and your family a means of communication you otherwise wouldn't have. Please, please, please put effort into this special relationship, you will not be sorry. The more you put into it, the more you get out of it.

Use common sense and don't allow the dog to bite when it's young, then expect it's going to know not to bite when it gets older. Best rule to follow: no dog teeth on human skin ever. Our other rule is no games with the dog that pit you against him. These, for us, have worked for preventing the learning of aggressive behaviors. Play fetch type games instead. Also don't allow anyone else to do these things with your dog. I've had people who supposedly know better come up to my dog, grab her by the neck and start tugging her back and forth while growling in her face. Not too bright.

 

[SandrA9810]

Kacaju,

Any suggestions on a breed? I think one of the reasons I feel kind of ridiculous going with a purebred is that I can't actually think of a breed I'd want. I need the dog to be under 35 lbs as an adult (landlord requirement), and good with kids - those 2 things are non negotiable.

A pembroke welsh corgie. Short little dog, tough and rugged. No smushed noses, no high squealy barks. The only downside is that they are herders and have a tendency to nip to get kids corraled... I guess that's one way to get them to the dinner table. But it's an easy trait to over come and train them. They're very smart, and you can't help but go aww when they sit on thier butts with their paws in the air. And there's no tail for pulling. There is a double coat, so there is some grooming needed or you'll see these little tuffs of fur coming out. But not an excesive shedder.
But pembrokes are a really good breed that you'll rarely ever find in a shelter. And even looking through some rescues, the seem more like terriors mislabeled than corgies.

 

[Hercules10]

I've got both. From breeder and rescue/SPCA. My only suggestion is to just go and let one pick you out. They seem to know better then we do.

 

[daisax]

Corgis are heavier than the OP's requirements. They're short, but extremely substantial.

Is it possible that your son might fall in love with one of the breeds you DO like (a frenchie, a pug, etc.) if he actually got to know one one on one? As the mom, you're likely to end up doing everything anyway, so frankly, you should go with what YOU want, and what fits best with your family.

Lots of people (especially kids) have preferences, but once they hold an individual dog in their lap and see the glee on the dog's face as it kisses their face, find they've fallen in love.

And you could work in a talk about how everybody needs to be loved and not judging people by how they look or snort

 

[Dee & Greg]

Best of both worlds... get one from a rescue group that has been fostered in someone's home. The Foster parent will know everything about the dog and their behavior. They'll be potty trained. They will have lived in a home and socialized with a family.
There are breed-specific rescues out there ( I do Great Pyrenees... huge white, fluffy Polar Bears, a little big for you!)
And there are rescues who have all kinds of dogs.
Try www.petfinder.com

My favorite? Beagles, or beagle mixes.. smaller, clean dogs who love children!
Beagles are known as the "class clown" of breeds! I have three of them! And, no, they don't bark or howl