Hi, we are looking for a retired show dog that is trained. We currently have a Belgian T.he was a retired show dog. We purchased him and have given him the best retirement any dog could ask for. We have a family that treats him like one of us. He has lived his life inside and been treated better than some humans. He is 12 now and very close to death. My daughter (10) is devastated!

If anyone is interested in possibly selling us a retired trained dog that is good with children and other animals, in the age range of 3 -4 please contact us and we can give you any more information you would want. Thanks DEBMADI@aol.com

Why do people give away their retired show dogs, When all of mine 'retired' they lived with us. They are our pets first and showing comes a very distant second. Why not try a retired greyhound, now they really need a home. Our neighbour has just got one, a wonderful bitch, at some point she has had most of her ribs broken and has had ciggarettes stubbed out on her skin. She is a delight. Try finding greyhound rescue, they must be on the net somewhere.

In order to establish a viable breeding line you need to keep a minimum of 4 to 6 dogs, and ideally more. In this modern age many breeders nad exhibitors do not have the facilities to keep this many, and in order to keep their next young one are prepared to let an older one go to a carefully chosen Pet home, where they will be an only dog or just have one companion.

I have not been able to bring myself to let either of my retired girls go, after all they are mother/Grandmother grandmother/greatgrandmother to my current show girls. There is nothing wrong with this practice if it is done with the welfare of the dog concerned paramount, after all if it is homebred it will only be going to its first home from the breeder. In my breed breeders even retire their Champions on occasion to trusted (usually older) breed enthusiasts.

Well said Brainless. Couldn't have put it better myself!

i agree too-far better than having so many youve not got time or room to keep them right!!!

I agree with you, Brainless. In an ideal world, of course, all dogs would be loved and looked after all their days by the same person. However, sometimes it's not possible. Sometimes breeders find they are getting too old/frail or have an accident and cannot cope with their stock - and the best way is to find good, loving homes for them.

In the old days, when successful show people had large kennels they accepted that a veteran dog had been good to them, so it now deserved a rest home by the fire, with the one-to-one attention it so well deserved.

What's the difference between retiring a show-dog to a personal home, and, say, a retired racehorse? Better, surely, than putting them down.

A racehorse is very different!! For starters they are rarely owned & kept by the same person. Normally they are owned by several people and kept by a trainer. Even soley owned ones live with their trainer. Its common practice for horses to be bought & sold several times throughout their lifetime, and although there are always people who keep a horse for life, on the whole they are moved on as people grow out of them (size wise) or have new requirements (ie go from show jumpoing to dressage). The point I made (and I think its what others meant too) is that if you can't keep a huge number of dogs, then DON'T. no one was suggesting they should be PTS. As for your comment that they now deserve a fireside home and the attention they deserve...well they deserve that all of their lives, not just in old age. :(

Yes, Sam, of course they deserve it all their lives! But better late than never, surely? There are people who have commented on this board whose pet dogs live outside in kennels, not lying by the fire, and they only have one or two! They don't even have the excuse of numbers!

What ever happened to 'a dog is for life, not just for showing'. I had all my dogs at home, none of them champions, but certainly good enough to win at championship shows. They all grew old gracefully with us, I could never part with any of them. Indeed when we had a trade stand at the shows then the four that remained came to everyone with us in our caravan. Surely by giving away show dogs that have gone over the hill then you are bringing the show world into disrepute. Is owning a champion the holy grail and nothing must get in the way. I feel sorry for your dogs, I really do.
Karen

Was that to me, Karen? If so, I find it extremely hurtful. Why do you feel sorry for my 4 dogs (no, I only have 4, who live in the house, and are part of my family)? I can assure you they don't feel sorry for themselves - someone home all day with them, good food, plenty of exercise, and never seeing the inside of a kennel! And here they stay until they die (my last one to go was 15). The oldest one to be (re)homed was 9 weeks.

I would love to have another showdog, but I'm waiting till at least one of the older ones has passed on before I'll have room to even reach the fire!

There are several reasons why people rehome older dogs - but none of mine fall into any of those categories.

Edited for clarification.

To Jeangenie
I'm sorry if you took my remarks personally, they we're not directed at you but at the people who think that getting rid of dogs is an ok thing to do. A puppy going at 9 weeks is going to his/her new home hopefully for life.
I was in the same position as you, with 5 dogs all living inside there was no room for any more. They all got old together the last one leaving just days before xmas 1999. Now thankfully I have two more boys with just two years between them, both live in, both are shown, both will be here for life, win or lose.
In my profession I was privileged to met many top breeders, most had just a few dogs, yet when I photographed a new youngster many would remark on their 'grandmother' whom I had photographed many years previously and that she was still at home 'by the fire'. These breeders were among the very top in their groups, one, now a good friend, lost their last champion a few weeks ago at the age of 13. They like the vast majority would not dream of selling or giving away those that are past their best.
One thing for sure, the guest who started up this thread did not realise what a can of worms they would be opening!
But I will repeat A DOG IS FOR LIFE, NOT JUST FOR WINNING.
Karen

I agree gibbsy, it irritates me when people say "we are letting our retired show dog go to a home where he can have lots of individual attention". :( Well excuse me but the show dog deserved that from birth....not just after he had been of use to you!!!! :(

I agree to,
The dog should be first and foremost a family pet, you cant get rid of it just because it is past its due date regarding showing!!!!!!!
I know this isnt always the case but that dog has grown up with you since a little puppy and peraded itself infront of people just so you can win prizes, then you want to give it up?!
Sorry but thats just my opinion im sure everyone loves their dogs all the same its just the way i feel! :-(

Vikki

Sorry but I have to agree with Brainless we dont show but all of our dogs are working gundogs they all recieve the very best of care with us and are all my pets. But if they are to old to work any more they are rehomed in a good pet home if one can be found If we cant find a top class home for them they will stay with us till the end of there days,but i do feel it is better for a older /retired dog to be living in a one to one situation rather than in a busy show/work household

:( why Kate? You say they are all pets but then you move them on after their working life is over
All my hounds are working hounds but I wouldn't dream of rehoming them when they are past their useful working life.....what a dreadful idea.

Hi Sam,
Don't forget that Guide Dogs for the Blind are retired to pet homes when their working life is over. Nobody says that is a dreadful idea. :(

I DO !!
Dawn.

Sadly, Dawn, there are three choices facing an elderly guide dog: retirement to a pet home (sometimes the people who puppy-walked it), the rest of their life in kennels (warm, well cared for, but not what they've been used to), or PTS. Which is the best choice?

Er Actually there are 4 choices for some guide dogs One of my empoyees is a blind lady & she has her current Guide dog & the previous one too Who is now 14 & still going strong healthwise

Actually jean....I DO....i think its horrid :(

Really? I'm surprised. How would you solve the problem? Just curious.

I can see the problem facing guide dogs and fair enough to rehome them, they probably make really good pets,
However it is a different situation when it is a show dog, Surely they are a pet first? I dont see how people can live with themselves if they get rid of a dog when it is no longer winning well to boost their owners egos, it just seems very wrong to me
Vikki

These dogs live as part of a family for 7/8 yrs or so, then are re-homed once they can no longer work ??? and people complain about Greyhound breeders and Hound Packs, I call that double standards. Guide dogs are ideal family dogs, always been indoors, always part of the family, safe with other animals etc... they devote the best part of their lives to ONE person, then they are turfed out when no longer good enough to serve their purpose. I think they SHOULD live out their lives with the people who would otherwise have been very isolated without them.

As for ex show dogs, I have one, a Papillon, my sister had a Pom, both from "top" kennels, as much as we love these dogs and am delighted we have them, I would NEVER do it to one of mine.
Dawn.

It's not always possible though that the person that they work for has the space for two fairly largeish dogs. Also the person they worked for could be out of the house all day, fine when the dogs working because they would take their dog with them. So you want to see the retired one stuck at home all day on it's own? They still need exercising - more so if they are not working, there may not be the help available to help exercise and care for two dogs. All of the stimulation will be gone that it was used to in the past because the dog wouldn't be able to go out so often.

Many people keep their retired guide dogs, but also many just do not have the right circumstances to keep them. Also if people couldn't adopt retired Guide Dogs they would miss out on the pleasure of owning a dog, one of them being me. Dollar came to us when he was 6 and we loved him dearly, he died in November one of the worst days of my life. I have my own reasons for adotping a retired Guide Dog and I was very proud that I was chosen to be allowed to have Dollar come and live here and there's not a day that goes by that I don't miss him.

Also, sometimes if they do stay with their blind "owner", they get extremely distressed and jealous when they see the new 'interloper' doing "their" job with "their" person. In several cases this has led to otherwise avoidable psychological problems. :(

It depends on the individual blind person some(very few according to Margaret who works for me)use the dogs just as a tool for getting about & are really dog people These are usually the ones who do not keep the retired dogs

As for jealousy between the dogs Never noticed between Ebony & Dolly in fact Ebony the retired girl enjoys lounging around & being the "lady"of the house

Margaret actually had another dog between Ebony & Dolly but she HAD to be retired as when she was out of training she failed as a guide dog ! despite all the training & breeding from purposes bred dogs they dont all make it Poppet is now with Margaret's daughter & is just a very well trained pet

Hi Moonmaiden,
A friend of mine also has a 'failed' guide dog! After 2 years qualified work with a blind person, the dog got bored :( Occasionally he would just stop and sit down, wherever they were. So he now has a lovely home with ex puppy walkers, and gets taken for miles! He's landed in clover! :)

Hi Jeangenie

Poppet just didn't want to work(I know the feeling :) ) & she is a yellow lab, Ebony & Dolly are both Black labs They are both really well behaved unless they know I'm around then they insist on greeting me despite me ignoring them :D

I must just give off I adore dogs aroma

Victor (black lab) was excellent when he wanted to be! Delightful dog! :)

dawn--dont you think its hard enough coping with blindness, and having to cope and do your best for the guide dog you have, --without when that dog retires having it kept alongside the new one too--for god sakes theyre dogs!!!!!
my fathers blind and his dog retired 2 year back--he went to live with a lady who works at an old folks home, she has another retired guide dog too, so for the first time in its life the dog can enjoy doing what hed like to do, not having to think out for someone else all day long-go for rides in a car to the beach etc, i think some of you need to see the bigger picture-of course dad could of kept him, at over 70, had 2 dogs to look after, who are really meant to be there to make his life easier, -the old one could be left at home everytime dads out with the knew one, and how would he excersise two of them????

Hi Sam
This is a very sensative subject and I feel each case should be veiwed on it`s own merit I dont think it would be right for every show/working dog to be palmed off when he became to old but there are situations when it is best for the dog.
Three years ago we had a bitch that we bred returned to us because she had been hit by a car and damaged her shoulder meaning she could no longer stand up to a full days hunting we worked on house training her (she had been mainly kenneled) and then we found her a lovely home with a middle aged couple who were looking for a pet, we were lucky and the new owners were more than suitable and the bitch minus her shoulder injury was in very good health we did how ever agree that should any vets bills occur as a result of her previous injury we would pay them! the only other alternative for the bitch was to be put to sleep, sadly the people who owned her previously turned out to be very uncaring where this dog was concerned basicly because she couldnt work they didnt want her.
We had vetted these people very carefully so I thought but sometimes you just can`t tell.
I think it is lovely that there are people out ther who are willing to take on a retired show dog and i wish the guest the best of luck in finding one.
I do admire your principles Sam and it is lovely that you are such a caring owner if only there were a few more out there but I really do belive each case should be veiwed on it`s own merit
bye kate

Hi,
We used to have the policy of rehoming retired dogs until a recent bad experience.
Someone came to us via the breed club looking for such a dog to live with another dog in a pub. They didn't want a guard dog as such but just something large & noisy should any bother break out. Our dog has a lovely temperament with people & dogs but does like to bark on occassion!
Anyway, after much checking out of this new home, he went to them on a trial basis. (No papers were given).
Everything workied out fine and we kept in touch by phone for a while. When we went to visit him several months later out of the blue, he was well adjusted & well cared for.
About 9 months later I received a phone call at the beginning of a week from the lady to say that unfortunately she was giving up the pub business & moving to much smaller accomodation and didn't have room for the dog. I immediately offered to take the dog back & come and collect him. She said no & she would drop him back on the weekend as there was no rush.
After much thought, my husband & I decided that this answer was a bit strange & he decided to visit the home unannounced.
When he arrived a the pub it was boarded up with no-one living there. He went around the back to see if there were any notices re the whereabouts of the tenants & imagine his shock when he found our dog in the yard on his own. He had no water & his bed was totally soaked through. One of the neighbours explained that they had moved out months ago & visited every few days to feed the dog & take him for a walk. No-one knew where they now lived.
I immediately rung the phone number I had for the lady but it was a disconnected line.
My husband put the dog in his car & left a note to contact us urgently. I have never heard from this lady again & have no way of knowing where she is.
Luckily, the dog was in pretty good condition considering, although he stunk like mad!
This dog is now back with us & will never ever go from here again.

This has taught me a great deal about rehoming older dogs, and made me realise that the perfect home may not always be what it seems.
The only thanks I have is that the lady did phone me, otherwise goodness knows where he would have landed up.
Tiggy

I've been reminded that I have rehomed a dog, but there is a story behind it. Several years ago a man came to live in our very quite street. From the outset you could see that he was an 'authority' on dogs, although at the time he did not have one. A couple of months later a six month old ESS bitch was seen running around his garden. Then myself and our other neighbours noticed that he beat the poor thing on a regular basis. The RSPCA was called but he got away with that. She then got out and had a brush with a car that left her bleeding from the leg. I asked him if he intended to take her to the vet, his reply was that if I was so interested then why didn't I buy her off him. 'A hundred pounds will help towards my holiday' he said. So I did buy her. Problem was I had too many oldies in the house to put a six month old puppy in. My other neighbour tried her, but again she almost wrecked her house playing with another dog. Then out of the blue I had a telephone call from a friend who had dacshunds asking if I knew of any ESS puppies for sale for a friend of his. I told him the story and within hours his friend was around with his children and I gave the dog to him. He has sent photographs to us of a very happy dog. I was £100 poorer but at least the dog was in a safe and happy home. The bully got drunk and missed his flight and could not go on holiday, now that was a happy outcome. Next happy outcome he's moved.
Karen

Hi Guest :)

I think its a shame that everybody has ignored this guests question and turned it into a debate. Not one of you have offered any sympathy that she is losing her old dog! :(

Sorry to hear about your dog. In case I am way off is the Belgian T the Turvueren Belgian Shepard?) Sounds like she has had a very happy home with you. I hope you have some luck with your search. If you click on this link it will take you to the info on Champdogs. There is the contact details for the Belgian Shepard club of Great Britain.

Good Luck with your search

Ali:)

I`m sorry but I don`t think you can compare a guide dog being retired to a pet home to a show or working dog being moved on when it has out lived its usefullness.I thought most people who do this had said first they were pets, if this is the case there is no reason to move them on at the end of their show/working life as they continue to be loving companions even in old age.Appolgies to the lady who started the thread but there are hundreds of dogs in rescues through no fault of their own waiting to be adopted and loved ,they are not all problem dogs.