Advice on buying a dog.

[Mattk]

We may take the plunge in the near future and get another dog (bitch).
We don't want a puppy this time round but I want to get one thats as young as possible but has been trained and had all the vet trips i.e. innoculations speying and such?

Thanks.

[Prudie]

I'd contact a resue centre then, they have all their pets fully sorted before they let them go. They do usually have a rigorous and extensive vetting of prospective owners though, including a home visit.
Otherwise check local paper-/gumtree/freeads etc although I'd personally be a bit wary.

[shivvy]

Please, please consider rescuing a dog instead of buying Mattk. The animal shelters are usually bursting at the seams with all sorts of dogs just waiting to be rescued.

[Mattk]

Don't worry it would be a rescue! Although last time I visited one it was full of greyhounds and nothing else!


Thanks both.

[DTCwordfan]

Oh gawd, I need to go to Specsavers to buy glass wipes as the minimum. I read that thread as "Advice on Burying a Dog" and I was going to make some inane comment like "dig a big hole."

Enjoy your new hound and may I suggest a local animal rescue - be patient and you will find the right dog for you......

[Zeuhl]

Contact The Blue Cross

all their dogs are sorted out for medical and behavioural issues.

[rsvp]

definitely an animal shelter but make sure it's a reputable one - you should come to you health and behaviour tested, speyed and vaccinated and maybe a month's free pet insurance. Plus you should get information as to the best way to care for the beastie. Give a lot of thought to your life style, family, other pets, location and the financial implications of pet ownership. I'm sure I'm just stating the obvious to you but you would be amazed at the amount of people who want to adopt a specific breed of dog rather than one suited to their lifestyle conditions. A lot of shelters have stopped rehoming now until after Xmas. Lots of luck and brilliant you are giving a rescue dog a home.

[danchip]

To be honest rehoming centres are their own worst enemies, there are 2 near where i live who are unwilling to let my family adopt a dog off them because i could not guarantee that we would walk the dog a minimum of 2 hours each day, the 45mins in the morning and 45 mins at night and several visits to my 2acre back garden throughout the day aren't sufficient!

There was also an issue with the fact that both my wife and i work and the dog would be left alone without company for 3 hours three times a week(2 other dogs apparently dont provide company)! Theres no wonder these places struggle to rehome their animals when they go on like this!

[divegirl]

If you have a particular breed in mind, look at that specific breeds rescue sites. Just type 'blah blah breed rescue' into Google! That will rule out the Greyhounds, though that said they make a lovely pet.
Most breed rescues have a nationwide team of homecheckers so don't be put off by the rescues actual address.
Then you can tell them what you are looking for and sit back and wait.

Lisa x

[lankeela]

Most of your requirements will be fulfilled by the majority of rescues, however you must realise that a lot of rescue dogs are in rescue for a reason, and the perfect, fully trained rescue dog has yet to be taken in! They do often have problems and new owners must be willing to accept that fact or they will either end up very disappointed or sending the dog back. Some dogs take months to settle, others settle but after several months undesirable behaviours can surface. One rescue that I homecheck for has a notice on their website saying that you should expect it to take maybe 6 months or more for the dog to become fully used to your lifestyle and if you are not prepared to give the dog time then you should reconsider.

[woofgang]

what lankeela said. Especially these days, many perfectly good dogs end up in rescue through no fault of their own but they have often been treated in such a way that they will have "issues" and even going into rescue kennels can be traumatic. They will ALL need some patience and understanding. I haven't heard of that "six month" warning before but it sounds very sensible and realistic, maybe optimistic.
Vet trips are a given throughout the dog's life. They may well have been neutered but will need regular vaccination and will also get minor illnesses and injuries that will need vet care.

[marg14a]

Mattk - what is wrong with greyhounds, they are wonderful animals and make the most marvellous pets. Do not need miles of walking they are quite a couch potato and are exceptionally loving - go for a greyhound

[lilacben]

I took on my dog, rough collie, from some one who wanted to get rid of him at five months, as they wanted the money,! In one way I wish I hadnt gone and seen him , as I just had to take him home. But now 12 years on I love him dearly but he has always had terrible issues. Barking at anything,keys,doors being closed, me standing on a ladder, being some of them. I have paid out about £500 on two dog Whisperers. Hundreds more on different collars and other things to stop him, But still he barks, His background in only 5 months was enough to do this to him for life. Brenda xx

[Prudie]

danchip I agree with you. I recently wanted a new resue cat but every one listed at my local sanctuary said 'I must be the only pet'. My neighbours have a rescue dog. She is particularly pretty and they were apparently chosen from 47 applicants! They had all sorts of tests to pass including being watched while they walked the dog! Yet you can buy a puppy off the internet or from a man in a pub and no-one gives a monkeys!

[danchip]

Prudie, thats exactly what my wife said, we bought our other 2 dogs from a top breeder and when we decided to get another dog we thought rather than go back to the breeder it would be good to get a rescue dog but everytime we have spoke to them they have had yet another reason why we aren't suitable! They obviously only want to give their dogs to people who are retired or on the dole!

[FredPuli43]

Frankly, a breeder should ask the kind of questions a rescue centre will ask about lifestyle of the buyer and so forth. Only difference is the breeder is selling a puppy and not a grown dog with a history.

If you have a breed in mind, please find out what it was originally bred for. It won't have been changed all that much by being bred as a a pet. Dogs bred as guards will still guard, sight hounds will chase and so on. You have to be sure that the breed suits you however cute it looks.

Breeders sometimes have pups which they have kept back, which are therefore a good deal older than 8 weeks, and are willing to sell. The breed secretary may know; see the Kennel Club website for names and also for breed rescue secretaries.

[woofgang]

We tried to rescue three times, twice got refused and the third time the dog had such dreadful problems we had to take her to be PTS...they rescue said we could or they would have her back and do it, at least with us it was done as gently as we could. Have had 4 dogs from the same breeder and our current two are from another lady who didm=n't intend to breed, they are the product of an accidental mating. In every case, including the last we were given the third degree over our knowledge, plans expectations and lifestyle and quite right too.

[owdhamer]

Buy one that deters pikeys

[Mattk]

Thanks all and there's nothing at all wrong with Greyhounds!
I was just commenting that the breed selection was a little limited to say the least!

[lankeela]

Mattk think you will find now that its 95% Staffies in most rescues. Sadly they are being bred indiscriminately because people think they will be able to sell them but usually end up giving them away for next to nothing. They are then often dumped - look at your local council website where they often have a 'found' dogs section - 9 out of 10 will be Staffies or Staffie crosses. Such lovely dogs if brought up right. Virtually all breeds have a rescue scheme so if there is a breed you are interested in contact the breed club for details. They are just as needy as dogs in general rescue homes although usually you get more information as the breed rescues know what they are dealing with.