should i rehome a rescue dog?

[Guest hyperion]

i know they can tie you up in all sorts of red tape but ive seen a dog in a rescue centre in hertfordshire that i would like to adopt! there not rspca and seem happy to rehome him with a working home once ive completed the home checks! he is only ten months old and a cracking looking dog but is it worth the hassel of having to tie myself to the rescue centre with adoption contracts ect to own a dog thats good looking but might turn out to be a chocolate spanner!

[skycat 6,174]

That is your choice at the end of the day, regarding the adoption red tape etc.

 

As far as whether the dog will be any good: can you not take it into a safe fenced in area: throw a couple of things for it to chase and retrieve? Tie a long string to a toy/dummy and whirl it round you almost at ground level, let the dog chase and grab it. Does the dog just go bonkers trying to grab it or does it learn quickly that the thing is whirling round you and does it then stop and try to intercept the toy rather than just chasing it round in a circle?

 

In other words, has it got a brain, does it have the sense to try and figure things out?

 

Also, does it respond to you when you speak to it? Does it give you eye contact? Is it trying to interact with you or just divvy about like a lunatic? Does it seem nervy/highly strung or nervous in any way? Will it accept restraint from you? e.g. Can you throw the dummy/toy and hold the dog back without it going beserk?

 

Can you handle it all over? Feet, ears etc. I know its only a pup and probably won't have had any training, but there are signs even in untrained pups that you can look for which would indicate that there is potential.

 

Lastly, is it soundly made physically? Not too narrow in front, decent feet, well set on head, good bend of stifle etc.

 

At the end of the day it is your choice as I said, but if you feel it is worth a go, and more importantly you feel there are the seeds of a relationship with the dog and it responds to you, you are half way there IMO.

[Guest hpool_hunter]

That is your choice at the end of the day, regarding the adoption red tape etc.

 

As far as whether the dog will be any good: can you not take it into a safe fenced in area: throw a couple of things for it to chase and retrieve? Tie a long string to a toy/dummy and whirl it round you almost at ground level, let the dog chase and grab it. Does the dog just go bonkers trying to grab it or does it learn quickly that the thing is whirling round you and does it then stop and try to intercept the toy rather than just chasing it round in a circle?

 

In other words, has it got a brain, does it have the sense to try and figure things out?

 

Also, does it respond to you when you speak to it? Does it give you eye contact? Is it trying to interact with you or just divvy about like a lunatic? Does it seem nervy/highly strung or nervous in any way? Will it accept restraint from you? e.g. Can you throw the dummy/toy and hold the dog back without it going beserk?

 

Can you handle it all over? Feet, ears etc. I know its only a pup and probably won't have had any training, but there are signs even in untrained pups that you can look for which would indicate that there is potential.

 

Lastly, is it soundly made physically? Not too narrow in front, decent feet, well set on head, good bend of stifle etc.

 

At the end of the day it is your choice as I said, but if you feel it is worth a go, and more importantly you feel there are the seeds of a relationship with the dog and it responds to you, you are half way there IMO.

 

great advice said ,

[Guest hyperion]

sorry ive tried to upload some pics but i cant figure out how to do it!!

[bill88 6]

Nothing wrong with rehoming any rescue dog,and there are plenty about,however if you want the dog purely as a worker thats when it gets complicated.What would you do if you took the dog on and it was useless? would you keep it regardless? if you are happy to give the dog a good life whatever its abilities then id say go get it,but i hate to see dogs passed from pillar to post because they didn't make the grade All the best whatever you decide,Bill

[Guest hyperion]

well ive got a lab collie cross thats as daft as a brush and mostly used as a door mat for the last thirteen years, and im sure hes happy! only a fair question to ask though and one i will have to give some thought to, but i think it would be unfair not to stay commited to a dog once you own it!

[Guest hyperion]

thanks for the soud advice skycat! does any one know how to upload pics so that they apear on my posts?

ive put some pics of the dog up in the members gallery now under rescue dog if any one fancies a look! id welcome any ones oppinion on him!

Edited August 24, 2008 by hyperion

[bill88 6]

well ive got a lab collie cross thats as daft as a brush and mostly used as a door mat for the last thirteen years, and im sure hes happy! only a fair question to ask though and one i will have to give some thought to, but i think it would be unfair not to stay commited to a dog once you own it!

 

Thats a commendable attitude mate,but lots of folk out there who wont give a failed worker food or kennel space,which is the point i was trying to make.Having looked at the pic of the dog,its a fine looking animal,obviously saluki in his make up.Certainly looks the part.

[Guest smashygadge]

its great that you are intrested in rehoming a dog .and if you dont want all the red tape their are many thousands that dont make it that far .and lots that need good homes.nice to see somone trying to give somthing back.ive taken on 2 in the past year and with a little tlc they normally like to please and make good.so if it suits you best of luck with the decision

[Guest hyperion]

well ive got a lab collie cross thats as daft as a brush and mostly used as a door mat for the last thirteen years, and im sure hes happy! only a fair question to ask though and one i will have to give some thought to, but i think it would be unfair not to stay commited to a dog once you own it!

 

Thats a commendable attitude mate,but lots of folk out there who wont give a failed worker food or kennel space,which is the point i was trying to make.Having looked at the pic of the dog,its a fine looking animal,obviously saluki in his make up.Certainly looks the part.

no worries chap! its probably for that reason that there are so many dogs on lurcher links! makes you want to spit!

[smudge1901 1]

I rehomed a whippet/ saluki bitch many years ago....She was fantastic. Didnt look much when I went to fetch her to be fair, cowered and wet herself, but turned in to an excellent hare dog.....Still got her picture up on my wall, was much missed when she passed away.

Did try it again with a large lurcher dog, but he was very agressive and bit my ex girlfriend ( perhaps he wasnt so bad after all)...He had to go back as just too agressive, I think he ended up being one of those that couldnt be re-homed, shame, but you have had some good advice. Good luck with him...

[Guest hyperion]

cheers smudge! and thanks all for some great advice! better get my arse in gear now and get a home check sorted and then hope i can bribe one of me mates to take me up to look at the dog if all goes well!

[ianm 2,594]

I really couldnt be bothered with all the bullshit and bollocks that comes with "adopting" a dog these days. In my opinion they should be gratefull someone is willing to give a dog a home and leave it at that. However as with most things now "someone" wants to control every aspect of what you do, i think you are leaving yourself open to interference from people that dont share the same values as you. Its your choice of course, but i just couldnt let someone dictate to me what i do with my own dog, then again it will never be your own dog it will allways belong to them. What if it makes an absolute cracker ( long shot i know ) and you want to breed, oh thats right you cant. Like i say your choice, personally i would buy a pup that i have complete control of and let the rescue types go their own way, which incidentally is not the way of most of us.

 

Good luck.

[Guest hyperion]

I really couldnt be bothered with all the bullshit and bollocks that comes with "adopting" a dog these days. In my opinion they should be gratefull someone is willing to give a dog a home and leave it at that. However as with most things now "someone" wants to control every aspect of what you do, i think you are leaving yourself open to interference from people that dont share the same values as you. Its your choice of course, but i just couldnt let someone dictate to me what i do with my own dog, then again it will never be your own dog it will allways belong to them. What if it makes an absolute cracker ( long shot i know ) and you want to breed, oh thats right you cant. Like i say your choice, personally i would buy a pup that i have complete control of and let the rescue types go their own way, which incidentally is not the way of most of us.

 

Good luck.

you have just voiced some of my greatest worries about rehoming a rescue dog ianm!

[bill88 6]

The red tape is ridiculous with adopting a pet.There was a young girl on here who had kept lurchers and greyhounds all her life,yet she wasn't allowed to adopt a dog because she lived in a flat and didn't have access to a garden surrounded by a 6 foot fence and yet she was at home all day and had a good knowledge of the breed.However a "dog novice" with a garden could adopt a dog and leave it by itself all day and walk it to the toilet and back Whole situation stinks with some of these organisations