Adopting a puppy

[veggiechicken]

Adopting/rescuing is a lot different to going to a dealer/breeder and buying one. The adopted ones are basically unwanted and unloved and come from all sorts of backgrounds.
If you want a particular breed, you would expect to go for a breeder for it - if you don't mind a cross-breed or a Heinz 57 you rescue it. You still have to pay for them, whether they're from a rescue or a breeder.

[veggiechicken]

I agree Potty. We used to work all day and the dogs were home alone for 6-7 hours - they just slept. Even at weekends and holidays, they still slept all day. But a lot comes down to the breed of dog - I wouldn't dream of having a big, energetic dog and leaving it - I've always had lazy dogs

[Newton]

Sorry VC. Is rescuing and adopting the same thing....?

[veggiechicken]

More or less, Newton. The lady that my two dogs came from "rescued" them from puppy farms, then I adopted them. She calls her place an Animal sanctuary.

[VirginVegGrower]

Puppies do sleep a lot but need watching that they don't chew and swallow stuff they shouldn't. It's a shame that dogs are missing out on good homes, remaining in kennels but a young pup does need someone around to do the weewees and play/training duty. There is no right or wrong answer here, just the disappointment of a young child and a puppy or two in kennels

[Feral007]

We've always had dogs and cats too.

Thinking about this, it seems to me that I usually try to get an animal when I'm going to be on holidays so that I am there initially for a couple of weeks. Get the dog/pup, cat/kitten feeling comfortable and safe. Then give them increasing times spent on their own. So go out and do things in the paddock first up, so I am back fairly soon to check, then away again. Once they are ok with that, then go out for a couple of hours. And increase the time. I've found that as soon as we leave (even if we're int he paddock) the dog will stop barking and go to sleep, until it hears us in the paddock and then immediately wants company.
We don't crate train, but will put a young dog in a safe room if we are leaving them alone.

Are your 3 days together Mikey? I would have thought if you had to work away only one day at a time that it would be manageable.

Not sure how old your daughter is, but would adopting a slightly older dog work? They are still very cute and my kids fall in love with anything covered in fur, no matter how old they are.

[SlugLobber]

How about considering an older dog, Mikey? Take a few days off and tie it in with school holidays, too, so daughter gets to spend lots of time with her new friend.

Or would your employer be willing to have the dog in a crate near your desk? Not ideal, but I can see that after a few days they'd be willing to have your pup loose in the hoose. How sad that they've gone back on their word. It does annoy me when people do this, especially when kids are involved.

[out in the cold]

SSPCA have a rehoming centre in Glasgow, near where I am from.

When we decided to get a dog, we decided to get a Staffy, but because the tenement building where we lived (flats) had children, they wouldn't allow us to take a SBT... To say my ghast was flabbered is an understatement. Especially considering as Glasgow is about 90% tenements, most of whom have children. No wonder they had more that 100 SBTs in the kennels. They obviously don't have a clue about the breed.

I find it really strange that they let us rehome a BT cross

[WendyC]

We had a staffy when I was a child. She was great with us. So sad they have got such a bad reputation.

[veggiechicken]

I've just read this - BBC News - Traffic light leads for Hackney's stray dogs

[spanish_gardener]

Another JRT lover here. I adopted mine two years ago. She was an adult, I didn't want to adopt a puppy because I work full time. I come home in my break and I have a dog walker, but I considered it wasn't enought and fair for a puppy. Mine has all issues, allergies, she can't be trusted off the leash, etc. but she is the most wonderful dog I ever had.

And well done for adopting instead of buying!

[spanish_gardener]

I agree Potty. We used to work all day and the dogs were home alone for 6-7 hours - they just slept. Even at weekends and holidays, they still slept all day. But a lot comes down to the breed of dog - I wouldn't dream of having a big, energetic dog and leaving it - I've always had lazy dogs

I agree. JRT are small but they are lots of energy and I believe is a breed for active families.

Mine sleeps lots during the winter, but she become active with the good weather. When I work mornings, I have to wake up one hour earlier so she gets a long walk. I come during my break and she has a one hour walk with the dog walker. She has two filled Kongs to be busy, among other stuff. I have filmed her and she spend hours playing with a ball in the stairs, going up and down. Every afternoon we walk to the park for a couple of hours or she goes to run with my partner with a hand free waist jogging lead, plus she gets a short walk before go to bed. To be honest, I could not manage without my partner and the dogwalker, because I am used to have Greyhounds and they are not so demanding.

[spanish_gardener]

They came back and said what I thought they would, due to our circumstances we couldn't be considered for adoption. Daughter is at home in tears, but its all probably for the best.

Silly me, I missed it and I didn't know they told you no. I am going to PM the details of a rescue who brings dog from abroad, such Romania, Greece, etc. Today they posted a picture of a wonderful stray puppy looking for a home.

[Glutton4...]

One of the reasons there are so many healthy dogs and cats in rescue homes, is that is far easier to go and buy one, than to jump through all the ruddy hoops the 'rescuers' place in the way.

There's a rescue centre near me, run by a 'very eccentric female person' (that's as polite as I'm going to get) who hates to part with them. If you turn up and she doesn't like the look of your ruddy car, she won't even answer the door!

I'm not saying they're all like that, but their rules and expectations are often unrealistic.

[Mikey]

Well we have a new addition to the family. Max, he's a very handsome boy as you'll see.

He's a field springer spanial, through a passing conversation with a fellow allotment holder who owns his father a lovely dog, we met up with the mum who also lives in our village. She'd had a litter of 5, 3 of which the owner are keeping for themselves.

After a long chat and a couple of visits, and a few tears he's now ensconced in our kitchen fast asleep at my feet. He's just over 9 weeks old and totally adorable, but then I'm biased.

I've had to change everything to suit the little bundle of joy but he's worth it.