Out of the blue about 10 days ago I had an email from one of my owners from our first litter (June 2010) basically asking if I would take the dog back due to various reasons. Of course (being responsible) I said yes and the said dog of 2½ years old is coming back to me tonight.
He is castrated which I am glad about as I just have bitches - it could have been a nghtmare if he was entire.
I am unsure how the others are going to accept him into their home?

Does anyone have any experience of this? My mentor has had just 1 puppy back before and she was only 1 year old at the time so a bit different to a 2½ year old.

If he is socialised I am sure the girls will love him, may be best to introduce them away from the house unless your girls are used to having strange dogs walking into their home. (Could you arrange for them all to meet at a neighbours or relatives home)?

So much depends on the breed and what they generally are like with other dogs. I had an entire dog back aged 20 months, he was fine with all my others for a year or so, then suddenly turned on my neutered crossbreed male and almost killed him -after that the entire dog has had to be kennelled as he also is not safe around cats.  Bitches he's perfect with. A year ago I had a 14 month old bitch back, she was accepted within 24 hours and she gets on with any dog, any time, but then suddenly after 3 months her mother went for her and bit her quite badly (leg was so swollen vet could at first not tell if it was broken or not -thankfully it was not) so then I separated them instantly, not wanting to take further risks. That bitch now lives with my toydogs and her grandmother (I have two totally separate groups of dogs) and they get on great. But these are Malinois, not the easiest of breeds when it comes to mixing with other dogs.  Had they been papillons I don't think I'd have had any problem at all.

In your case, with a castrated dog and ONLY bitches I'm willing to bet you'll have no problems!

Well done you standing by your breeding by having this boy back.

Agree with the others re a castrated male fitting in with bitches but depending on the breed there maybe someone who would be delighted to re-home him.

Not everyone wants a puppy, others for various reasons prefer to get an older dog.

Your breed society may know of any enquiries they have had from people looking for an older dog.

Good luck with him whatever you decide.

I've recently had one back at 3 same situation. Told that he is funny with other dogs but he's been a star with my girls. Wish I could keep him but sadly can't. I did keep my old girl away from him for a few days as she can be funny at times with other dogs but he's just fitted in. Good luck with your boy.

I am actually quite excited to have him back and looking forward to seeing how he is. We shall be going to the local point to point on Sunday to see what he is like with people. They are usually a very docile breed. I am secretly hoping my husband will fall in love and we can keep him!

I think / hope my bitches will be fine - one is full sister from the same litter and the other is a Jack Russell. If I have an issue it will definately be with the Jack! My main problem I forsee is two adult gundogs trying to play in my house!

Nearly three years ago I took back a 10 year old. I asked that he was castrated before he came back as I have some entire bitches. As he was an only dog it was a culture shock for him to come into a multi dog household but the girls keep him in line and to be on the safe side he is kept seperate from my other males.  His former owner still visits occasionally and hes ok with that. Ironically I wasn't sure how long he'd last (gone way past breed average) so didn't rehome him. I guess you need to think ahead about keeping or rehoming him if he doesn't fit in or suit you as in my case I can only keep so many.

We recently introduced a castrated male to an all girl house and a few grumbles as he learnt who was in charge and it settled down within days. They are all as think as theives and madly in love with each other and also love playing all the time even in door so three gun dogs are fine although best to keep your feet off the ground !!

Last year I had a 4 year old entire male back a week before his sister had puppies, everyone accepted him happily, but mine are used to dogs visiting and are very social. 

Thankfully no one came in season during his stay here.  That is my worst nightmare a full male returning at short notice while girls are in season.

It's my worst nightmare too ! Over the years only 4 have returned but I have to say that three arrived at the worst possible time -family crisis ( here ) and the day before we were due to go away .We coped and lovely homes were eventually found but it sure was stressful. Trouble is, if I were to have asked them to hang on, there may have been the risk that they disposed of dog/puppy without my involvement.

Yep most of the ones I have had back it has been short notice.  The best ones are the ones I have been able to put old and new owners onto each other for minimal disruption for the dog.

Well he is back and I have to say he is a lovely dog, extremely loving and seems like he will be very loyal. He is very big though compared to his sister! Inca (his sister) & the Jack have taken to him very well and other than being a bit barky and chasing the cat out the cat flap he has been very good.
He has eaten well and been out for a lead walk with the others this morning.
I found the process of him being delivered back to us fairly distressing though I have to say and it is not something I could do.

I am trying to get hold of his veterinary history and then the process of finding him a lovely forever home will begin. I am going to hold out for the right person to come along as I think he would benefit from an experienced owner.

If you know his previous vet then your vet can request the medical history, that's what my vet did.

Glad to hear its gone well so far but it'll take a while for him to fully settle so you might not see all his character yet.

Yes I now have his veterinary history - seems he has been in kennels a fair bit since a young age as lots of occurences of 'diarrhoea after staying in kennels'. Poor lad :((
He is getting on great with us still - much more affectionate and loving than his sister. I know that he will have no troubles settling in with someone else.

Good on you Gema for having him back.  I'm curious as to why they wanted to send him back as he sounds lovely.  I always think it a bit odd to have a puppy for that length of time and then send them back to the breeder but then again I suppose the breeder would have a better idea of the character of their breed rather than having the dog dumped at a rescue centre.  Good luck!

He told me that he has had to send him back as his father has died (lived a very long way away) and he is now having to travel up country a lot to visit his mother who is elderly, he was having to put him in kennels a lot which was no longer affordable.  He was married and hasn't mentioned his wife at all so not sure where she has gone - I have my suspicions that she may have left him (but he hasn't said that)?  When they bought the dog from me as a pup they had another dog as well - not sure where that is either??
 
He is a fairly big boy and the Vizsla takes about 2 / 3 years to mature so quite bouncy and playful. It is not something I could do - I don't have any kids but to me it is like giving up a family member...

I am extremely glad that he read the contract and did as I originally asked - i.e. any problems the dog comes back to me the breeder and dosen't get passed on to a rescue / friend / other family member etc

Glad all is going well for you and the returned lad, I find that in general the dogs are more affectionate than the bitches and often more biddable.

> I always think it a bit odd to have a puppy for that length of time and then send them back to the breeder but then again I suppose the breeder would have a better idea of the character of their breed rather than having the dog dumped at a rescue centre.

Most good breeders have this as a part in the contract as they will want any puppies thay have bred coming back to them if the owner can not keep the dog.
Breeders will have links or even know of people who are looking for a older dog and the breeder will vet any new owner to be suitable for the breed. I would be devasted if one of my babies ended up being rehomed somewhere without my knowledge or worse so put in rescue kennels!

I do indeed have a couple of people in mind for this boy. I have to admit the timing is not amazing what with the small matter of Xmas fast approaching! I am keeping him for at least 2 weeks for a couple of reasons:

1. Getting to know what he is like so I can rehome him properly and to the right people. I would hate to out the poor lad into the wrong situation again. This should give me time to get him into a variety of situations including seeing what he is like out shooting this saturday
2. I have given the prev owner a 'cooling off' period as advised by someone else who has had problems with a prev owner / returning dog.  

I don't want to keep him for much longer than 2 weeks if avoidable as we will all get far too attached to each other :(

I think the cooling off period is a good idea as the owner to me has shown that he cares greatly for this dog, he did kennel rather than send him off to a rescue so obviously he has tried to keep him, but realises it is an unfair life for his dog, who was not happy in kennels, (not many are :-( )

He has then contacted you, rather than trying to sell him on to goodness knows who, sounds like he has the dogs best interests at heart. It's a hard and sad situation for his previous owner by the looks of it, so giving him a chance to think is a good call, I feel very sorry for him, he is trying to do right by the dog.

Trouble is unless he moves near his mother you don't know how many weeks, months, years this would need to go on.

He sounds a lovely friendly dog, wishing you all the very best in either re-uniting him with his 'owner' after a period of time or in finding him his next forever home. :-)

Well after 2 weeks of being with us the boy has found a lovely new home. He has just departed, all very sad and the other dogs are looking for him :( I know that he has gone to a great forever home where he will be given all the love and attention he deserves.

Great news, I hope he has a long happy time in his forever home :)