Silly me ,browseing a rescue site have seen & fallen for a boy,
My situation is I have two full boys 1 of 10 years old & 1 of 2 years next week,the one I am thinking of is a neutered 4 year old .
the boys I have older one is a very summisive lad,hasent a mean bone in his body,younger one is a sweet lad but is a bit more insistent ie after a ball.bone will go in very summisive ears down ,tail between his legs but always comes away what he has gone after ,
Do any of you think that I could introduce another into the mix or am I being daft even to think of it.These are all the same lg breed .
Any advice please .

so much depends on what the new boys personality is like. He might fit well or he might not fit in at all. If you are seriously interested you will need to find out a lot about the new boy and take the others to meet him.
Do your dogs usually get on OK with other dogs? is your breed known for getting on with others or is it a breed known for problems between males?

Most rescues insist you take your existing dog/s along to meet a potential newcomer, sometimes more than once, just to make sure they are all good around each other.

It would be a shame if they don't get on at first or second meeting, as it's often possible to introduce two dogs who dislike each other at first sight, more slowly over time (as I have done), but the rescues can't take any chances, and wouldn't want the upset of a dog being returned under those circumstances should the worst happen.

Depending on the rescue, some are reluctant to home to anyone with entire dogs of either sex (yes, I know!) but that's not a hard and fast rule, and it's usually more with regard to entire bitches.

My boys GSD's get on with all dogs in the family as I have my son's & daughters ,whilst the are on holiday & some times when daughter is at work ,apart from training class's were most are bitches so of cause my boys love them all, they dont socialise when out walking as they are not let off when others are around,Mainly because most people are afraid of big dogs being loose !! Their recall is pretty perfect ,but we do not take chances as others are not as nice .

I will not neuter my boys ,only if for a medical reason,
A GA for no reason to me is unacceptable .

> I will not neuter my boys ,only if for a medical reason,

Best to check out the rescue's policies, then. Whether we agree or not, some do insist (sadly).

> sadly

I don't agree. Since one of the main reasons that rescues exist is because of unwanted/misguided litters it is only right that they take what they see as appropriate measues to prevent dogs that they rehome causing further similar litters. I have no problem with people not wanting to neuter their dogs BUT they do so, hopefully, because they are experienced and understand fully the implications which IMO are much more serious than the less serious, IMO, possible results of neutering. I have two neutered dogs - one a rescue and one neutered as a condition on the puppy contract - neither of which have caused the dog any problem.

The dog that I am interested in is already neutered so that is not a problem,but do not want to put my 10 year old under a GA for neutering Also it could cause a problem doing my two boys who are fine together without being neutered(could cause behaviour changes)

It's a problem when rescues won't rehome an already neutered dog to a home where the resident dog is entire. What on earth is their problem? I wouldn't neuter (spay or castrate) an animal in order to get another from rescue.

I can understand if the resident  dog is dominate but surely they should take a summisive one on his merits !!

Your two year old GSD is just reaching maturity and may begin testing the waters around this age or a bit sooner. Personally, I probably wouldn't risk a third male, especially at this time. You also have the practiaclities of walking them to consider-- three big dogs, on leads since you say you don't let them off near other dogs, is more difficult than two. However, it's a shame for a rescue dog to miss out n a good home, so you could make further enquiries. If the rescue dog is extremely laid back it might work.

I don't agree. Since one of the main reasons that rescues exist is because of unwanted/misguided litters it is only right that they take what they see as appropriate measues to prevent dogs that they rehome causing further similar litters.

Yes but when some wellknown rescues won't rehome a neutered dog/bitch to a home with an entire dog or bitch in, there is no way on earth the rescue could be the cause of pups being born, yet they demand dogs they have nothing to do with be neutered. That's wasting good potential homes.

>That's wasting good potential homes.

Exactly. The only losers are the dogs needing a safe home, so whose side are the rescues on?

I don't agree. Since one of the main reasons that rescues exist is because of unwanted/misguided litters it is only right that they take what they see as appropriate measues to prevent dogs that they rehome causing further similar litters.

In addition to this, something I can never get my head around, is allowing rescued pregnant bitches to have and rear full litters, when the bitch could be speyed.     There are more than enough pups and dogs waiting for homes in rescues without adding to the numbers with newborn pups :(

Another waste of potential homes for the dogs and pups already in the rescues.

Have had a phone call from the rescue (for a chat)
their policy is all dogs/bitches to be neutered as expected.But no problems keeping my boys whole .
Next step is for them to contact my vets which they will do tomorrow

Would you take on a rescue from the same town as you live in ?
Rescue wants to viisit tomorrow with the veiw of this .
I am not so sure that this could work.What if out with dog you came across the former owner ?
I may not pass home visit yet ,just getting ahead of myself again !!!!

I wouldn't see a problem with it. After all, the previous owners gave the dog up and I've always found that the dogs never look back when they're in their new home. You might even find that even if the old owners recognised the dog when you were out and about, they might be too embarrassed to say so or would be pleased that the dog had found a good home. (Kids in the previous family might be a bit more upset but I wouldn't let the small chance of it happening put me off.)

Gutted & fed up,
I did not pass home check ,as their rules are only bitches to go to homes with neutered males.Told by one of them that is only guide lines not written in stone !!
Also (were they got this from I do not know) as my males are homopathacicly chemicaly castrated they do not think that is sufficant,they were told by me that I only boostered my boys that way not chemicaly.So their information is not correct.
Surely a home that knows the breed (having had them 45 years) is better than a animal being kept in kennels.
Am I wrong to think that 2 full males (laid back boys) would be wrong for a neutered male to join them ?
Pehaps I was wrong to even think that the boy I fell in love with on their site would have a loving home .

This is another of the stupid rule with no foundation, why would your males need to be castrated, now if you were offering a home to an intact bitch then there could be a good reason but as it is a castrated male I can't see a problem. Now if they had wanted to see how your dogs reacted to a strange dog both away from and in your home before signing it over I could understand it but this rules seems to me totally without foundation and is just robbing a dog of a good home.

What has upset me most is that I was told that this was only guide lines (not set in stone)
The people that came to do my home check were very pleased with my boys temprement.to each other & visitors
Seems that they would rather keep a dog in a kennel than see beyond the end of their noses.
As you say if my boys on meeting this other boy had a problem .then yes turn me down or work with me to overcome the problem .
All I can think is that they have so many homes ready for them that they do not require mine .

I have a friend who was turned down for the same reason - also told the rule was not set in stone so think it could possibly be the same rescue - lots of dogs on their books. Friends have entire BC's and a GR and are a very active agility home. Travelled a very long way to go and meet a pup in it's foster home having been told that having entire dogs in their home would not be a problem as the rest of their situation was perfect for this pup - on arrival were told that they couldn't be considered  due to having entire dogs!

They were unable to contact the rescue that day to query the change and when they finally got hold of them they were told their acceptance hadn't been noted down - by that time pup was reserved to someone else so friends decided to get a pup elsewhere. A brilliant home lost and they would't even consider using that rescue again so not only have the rescue missed out on a great home but also on a home for any future puppies/dogs.

I must admit that I feel the same way.
If I wanted just another dog I could go & buy one ,thought that I could give a loving home to one that really needed one .
Feel hard done by ,
My boys are as good as gold,just whole & I do not agree to neuter for no reason (would for medical reasons) but a GA that is not needed is beyond me .

As the long term owner of dogs, (males) always kept together both as a group and with bitches and
a/never had a dog fight although I had had a bitch fight and
b/never had an unwanted or unplanned litter
this sort of discrimination makes me very cross deprives a wanted dog of a good and caring home and they are obviously unable to do a home check and properly assess the situation - evidently also not prepared to spend time explaining themselves, very stupid people but sadly it is not unusual to find rescue staff that are so far up their own proverbial that they are unable to see an exceptionally suitable home when it is offered.

I have had to chase up twice for a answer about my home check,they say that they had emailed me ,funny how that is the only email that went astray + they had mobile number + home phone number so could have contacted me at any time & didnt
If that is how this rescue is run its understandable that so many dogs are still not rehomed .
No compromise ,black/white right/wrong.
No wonder that kennels are under so much pressure.
I know that they have to think of the dogs ,I understand that,But to keep people in the dark about the check & to turn me down  with out a phone call to see if any thing could /would change so that they could rehome with me I cannot understand.
Someone who dosent know me makes a dicision(sp) & thats it end of.

some rescues are so wide of the mark that it's amazing they rehome any of their dogs, a friend wanted to take on a pup but was refused by a rescue organisation - BUT I was told that if they went via someone that they'd have been able to take on the pup, a case of who you know not what you know :-(  This person bought a pup who's doing very well, but I don't know what happened to the one that was in rescue.

I wouldn't be 'approved' by most rescue organisations because I have entire dogs, I breed and I have more than a couple of dogs.... but I do have a rescue dog ;-)  She will be neutered, but as she's still growing she'll wait until she's physically (and mentally) mature

That is what I meant, they are unable to assess people and I am not sure I would trust their ability to assess dogs. It seems to be a regular feature with staff of rescue organisations that they are so into themselves they are totally unable to see beyond their own rather dubious feeling for homeless dogs. They seem to get fixed ideas and believe everything that is said by anyone they look up to, somewhere along the way they have lost all ability to make decisions using their own ability to see what would be best for the dog if, of course, they ever had that ability.

Ability aside they should still have enough manners left to let someone, who has invited them into their home, know why they and their home are deemed unsuitable, for all you know it may be the colour of your toilet paper but I expect the truth is they just don't know why and when asked to but it down in writing they realise just how pointless their inspections are.

Sending you a {hug} as I just do not understand this rule in this case at all.............

A neutered male living with other males, are they so silly to think that only physically castrated males will ever get on? Where did that come from? I'd love to know where they researched that.

All I can think is that perhaps that is not why..... and that they believe (although they do not voice it) that all with entire animals must be breeding and it may then cause hierarchy issues for any other dogs coming in? I guess it must be a lack of trust of anyone with entire animals as it can not just be a lack of understanding animal behaviour as neutered or un-neutered often makes no difference to dogs getting on.

All you can do is walk away....... it is not meant to be....... the sad thing is you will no doubt see 20 other dogs over the year that will also pull at your heart strings, once you start looking at rescue pages you always find another..... there are so many out there.

Sorry it has not worked out this time........... unfortunately, there will be many more. :-(

some years ago now, but one rescue organisation refused friends of mine to have a dog - the reason given was that they didn't have an 'enclosed garden'... these were recently retired people who have always had dogs, they live down a dead end lane in the middle of nowhere, they have a half acre garden, something like 10 acres of paddocks and 15 acres of woods... they have never had a problem with the 'garden' and ensure that their dogs don't stray etc..... they went elsewhere and gave another dog a  home from a more realistic rescue ;-)

Thanks for the {hugs} just what I needed at this time,feeling sorry for myself.
The home visit must have shown that I do not breed.
My boys are virgins LOL
My 10 year old came from the line of Lexicade Black magic ,a super shepherd.
but I never thought to breed from him.
Also my 2 year old comes from a very good line ,his breeder has at one time asked to use him  (will not as would need all health tests)and do not want to change his temprament .
so not in the least likely to breed as I do not show only do obedience with them.
I can understand not rehoming 2 bitches together as have had that myself (fighting) both neutered ,5 weeks in age apart.they got to approx 5 years of age then took a dislike to each other & would have killed each other given half a chance ,so neutering doent stop that !!.you just have to deal with it .
my dogs are my dogs for life ,If they get problems then I will deal with them.
With all the best will in the world things change .
But to be written off ,& treated like I dont matter is not the way to run a rescue.
they want donations ,will not be getting one from me .

LOL

I do wonder if sometimes some of these rescues are just a front. I know of one in this area that is always appealing in the local paper for donations and yet when people go to get a dog or cat they are asked to fill in a form but never hear anything.
They never get to see the dogs, and I know for a fact that people who have gone would have been ideal for a rescue dog or cat, no other animals, had experience and suitable homes, but they were never even allowed to view any of the animals.
I  strongly suspect that sometimes these people are running there own sanctuary and getting the general public to fund there lifestyle by making donations.

A friend of mine has been on to most rescue's .she has been in her breed for longer than I have had mine (45 year)She wants a older dog/bitch .she has had both in the past,but because she only has a 4ft fence around her garden,they will not even give her a home visit,She also lives in the country miles away from town .
Most older dogs do not jump fences ,most just want a warm bed & a bowl of food & human company + lots of love

The size of the fence depends on the breed, my breed, Elkhounds, could easily jump a 4 foot fence if they wished but they don't preferring to dig under (4 feet if required). So if it is a jumping breed or a strong attraction beyond, the need for a higher fence may be a reason to decline a prospective home but in many cases it is not, hence the need for an assessment ability in those who look at a prospective home and client.

Codysholasmum, I am upset for you and in your place I would be insisting they told me where and why I did not come up to their standards, saying I had intact dogs is just to good enough unless they tell you why that is a problem, personally I can't think of one reason why this would be seen as a problem, just what difference does it make if the dog is intact or neuter, whole or suffering from unnecessary mutilation, it is still a dog most of whom will live in happy companionship with any other live creature, they are not fussy, it does not even have to be another dog.

I have emailed the person that first contacted me,she has forwarded my email to the cordinator so perhaps I will be given a legit reason for failing the home visit .
I will not hold my breath.

You know, sometimes you just need to shake your head and walk away.  You were honest and genuine.  Rescue's are just far too caught up in the paperwork, no wonder so many dogs wait so long for a home!!
You should've lowered yourself to others.  Sent your dogs away and let them home check you with what they wanted to hear.  That's what the lady at the kennels told me to do! I was to 'pretend' I didn't have un-neutered bitches and send my daughter away on the home check day!!! For goodness sake. Obviously this was my word against hers so nothing I could've done but I did say that if it took lying to help a dog, then the world is truely messed up.  Turns out she was right!! I was refused.  I couldn't home this NEUTERED dog with my 2 un-neutered bitches???How do you breed with an unneutered dog? Or with my dog savvy kids as he had some severe mouthing issues???What pup doesn't at first? 
I shared the dogs photo/info on FB and within a month, he had been reserved.  Considering he had been sitting in the kennel for 5 months before I saw him, I'd like to think I helped in some way.

Funny, rescuers always say to rescue,not support breeders but then they impose all these ridiculous rules and it's the poor dogs that suffer.

Do you know that until I read your post I never thought to lie to them.
Perhaps I am too honest,but I feel that I am the better person in this .I laid all on the line & if my dogs & I are not what is required that is their loss.
Just hope the boy I wanted has a great home for the rest of his life & is loved by his new people as much as I would have loved him.,& he dosent end up in rescue again !!!!

saying I had intact dogs is just to good enough unless they tell you why that is a problem, personally I can't think of one reason why this would be seen as a problem, just what difference does it make if the dog is intact or neuter

Some one wrote into dogs today mag once about it as she had been turned down by a rescue as she had a intact dog. She asked why and was apparently told its because if she was to ever breed her dog the pups she sold would take away potential homes from rescue. The person had never bred a litter before and said they had no intention to. So nothing to do with the neutered dog she wanted to adopt or how it living with an entire May or may not effect it.
So the dogs sitting in rescues end up missing out, yet the rescue the person wrote about was on there site asking for more donations to help care for all the dogs they had. Perhaps if they were more sensible with there adoption rules they wouldn't have so many dogs waiting around.

It's the oversimplistic anti breeding attitude of many rescues.

Such a shame that you are not allowed to give this dog a home. Many many years ago I was turned down by a rescue centre because I had a child under 2 years (she was 20 months old) I already had a dog, my children were brought up around dogs. I was so disappointed I went out and bought a 12 week old puppy, a beautiful Whippet bitch, whom we loved and cherished until she left us for the bridge at 12 years old. I didn't even get a home check. :/

When I was associated with rescue the attitude was to assess a dog as quickly as possible and then to re-home to what appeared to be a home where that dog would be happy, nothing to do with the future of rescue the aim was to rehome the dogs they had in and would never thought of turning down a home for a dog that was needing one for any reason except it was unsuitable for that particular dog. Strikes me the people running and staffing rescue these days are too self-righteous and only interested in ruling their own little kingdom they have no interest in the dogs at all. I know this does not apply to all homing establishments but it does seem to apply to most, I have heard some stupid reasons given for turning down a home including that it was untidy, now dog friendly homes are often untidy because there is always something better to do than clean and tidy the house, when we were re-homing it was the tidy clean ones we worried about, what does a dog care how may cobwebs there are if the owner gives loving care.