We are looking for a medium size family dog and can provide a home to a 1 to 3 year old dog/bitch. Must be calm temperament and happy with kids (aged 12 and 14) and an old cat.

We have a secure fenced garden and access to a large park for exercise. He/she would have to be able to be left for up to 8 hours twice a week but we will ensure that an early morning walk will be provided and we should generally be able to provide access to the garden when we're out.

Breed is largely unimportant and we will pay reasonable costs. We live in Hertfordshire but would be happy to travel a reasonable distance to collect.

Please contact Mark Bowles on mark.bowles1@btinternet.com.

Hi
If breed is unimportant, have you considered a rescure centre? There are always dogs looking for good homes there.
Maybe if you do want a breed, it would be a good idea to look into which particular one a bit more closely as they can all be very different. It would be much more advisable to know which breed you are after and to know a bit about it before you take it on.
good luck

We are registered at the Chiltern Rescue Centre but nothing has come up yet. The RSPCA don't want to let us have a dog because we have those two days when it would be left for up to 8 hours. I suppose they have a point but on that basis I suspect many people would not "qualify".
With respect to breed we do have some preferences but unless we are looking for a puppy it seems unlikely that we realistically have the luxury of being that specific. I'd love to be proved wrong however!

I suppose the RSPCA would rather have the dog pts rather be left twice a week :(

Just a thought (and probably not a popular one) but regarding rescue dogs in RSPCA kennels - I am pretty sure they are left in kennels a lot longer than 8 hours without very much 'one to one' attention (perhaps a bowl of food and a quick pat on the head) But with so many dogs to look after, probably not a lot more.
And then pts when no - one fits the guidelines!! I woud never promote the idea of leaving a dog alone for loads of hours a day, no way!! But sometimes it is the quality of the time you spend with your dog that counts a little more - I have known young mothers with two or three children and a dog, they have no 'time' for the dog - so, although they are at home all day, the amount of time they actually spend with the dog 'one to one' is limited to a couple of hours when the kids are in bed !! Shoot me down if need be - its just an opinion - thats all :)

Hi Dotty. Agree entirely with you. All those poor dogs who are put down; they'd rather be left twice a week for 8hours, with their toys, and the knowledge that their owner will be back soon. than waiting at Rainbow Bridge :( :(

liberty

I know what you mean about the RSPCA.There is a long thread on this board where people have posted their views, i think you might be interested to see that you are not alone in the way you feel towards them. It is a shame though that they are being so negative, I wonder how many of their workers have dogs and leave them during the day. I know 8 hours is a long time, but if it is only twice a week and you offer a loving home, I think that some dog could be very happy with you, and if it was up to the dog and not the RSPCA, I bet you would have plenty of them asking to b rehomed.

hear hear

Most pedigree breeds have breed specific resue/rehoming and tend to take rehoming on an idividual basis more. This is because they usually have more background on the dog being rehomed, and will match the lifestyle the dog is suited to.

Hi
if you go to www.pedigreedogs.co.uk they have rescue societies listed(under services) and also individual pedigrees looking for new homes under 'rehome a dog' section(on left hand side of page)
Good luck,Archer

If there is a breed you are interested in, most breed societies have a rescue section you could try, eg Lab Rescue have rescue centres in many areas

Hayley

(May also be worth asking if a neighbour or friend could pop in for an hour on the days you are gone for 8 hours, it is a long time to go without a wee!)

I agree with the last point. Friends of mine have a cocker spaniel and like you she would be left for long hours twice a week, but they pay for a dog walker to come in and take her for a walk during the day. Doesn't cost very much. If you tell the RSPCA or rescue that then surely they realise that is as good an option as you coming home in the middle of the day to walk the dog.

I have a cocker and I'm out for long hours on the odd day but I have a dog flap which leads in to a secure garden.

Don't be put off by the RSPCA as other rescues are a little more sympathetic to people's needs in the real world (and the dogs).

Try the Dog Rescue Pages forums, they have a forum for homes offered and dogs needing homes - they also have a big list of breed rescue if you're looking for a particular breed :)
http://www.dogpages.org.uk/forums/index.php

Annette

Mark
as suggested you can always get a friend , neighbour or professional dog walker in on the days you are unable to pop back home .
Unfortunately peoples situations do change within the 10 years or so that most dogs live . Are you supposed to rehome your dog if you suddenly find yourself having to return to work ? I dont think so .
I think its so wrong of the RSPCA to refuse on this basis alone . A dog would much rather have a loving owner that makes a fuss and takes him out and that has to work two or three times a week rather than be stuck in a pen waiting in vain for someone to pat him as they walk past.
Few people can offer the ideal home in which they are NEVER away from their dogs just as people with children also have to leave them for a while when they have to go out and work . Better to be alone for a short period and feel special than never have one to one contact
Lel

playing devils advocate here the dogs in rescue homes are a different kettle of fish to confident adult dogs who have lived their lives in one loving home. These dogs have often had a really rough time and are much more insecure. I agree it seems harsh to refuse a dog to someone who other than being out 2 x a week for 8 hours could provide a wonderful home but I guess the last thing a rescue wants to do is send out a dog who could only end up being returned to them because it was destructive or howling and upsetting the neighbours.

I have worked in the past at a rescue home and contrary to popular belief dogs were not PTS after a certain period, the kennel staff worked tirelessly to find every dog a suitable home. Every potential home was looked at on a case by case basis and I have to say that whilst we would probably would not have rehomed a young dog to someone who was out for 8 hours we certainly would have suggested an older, middle aged steady dog who could handle a lot of time on its own. 8 hours is a full day, a year old dog can be a hand full and whilst it doesn't need constant attention I personally feel that 8 hours at a time is too long to leave it.

Yes I can see that point actually and I agree with you but not every dog in a rescue home is a problem dog . Some are rehomed because children are born and the family feel they cant give the attenion to the dog now they have a baby or its owners emigrate , move home , ant afford to look after the dog or even die . They surely can be rehomed where someone may leave them twice a week .
Although I see your point entirely about insecure , abused etc dogs . Also very young dogs shouldnt be left .
Lel

Some are rehomed through rescues for showing what is perfectly normal behaviour for any dog, but the owners couldn't quite handle it and probably should've got a goldfish instead!

O how I agree Frankie-
like when people think they have an agressive pup because its mouthing or they expect it to know human language and be instantly trained by itself :(

I think the mouthing one is unfair actually. I did all my homework before I got my pup so thought I was well prepared for mouthing but even I was shocked by how hard they bite and how often!!!
I've still got the scars from my experience (literally)

but there are far too many people who have no idea what having a dog entails.
Three of our friends all had puppies in the pipeline but after looking after ours, in one case for only a couple of hours they have changed their minds. I suppose its good they did change their minds but it makes me angry they were even considering one in the first place.

I think the rescues though are too strict with their guidlelines. like I've said on numerous occasions having someone at home does not ensure the dog is well looked after. i think that people who can show they are experinced dog owners, especially if they've got one dog already, and it should be obvious whether that dog is happy or not, that they should be considered!!!
I want a second dog and desperately want to rescue but cant because I work all day. Even though I've proved with Darcy that I can give a dog a good quality of life. Now theres some dog in near isolation when it could be in a loving home with me and Darcy!!!!!

Rachael you didnt give your pup away for mouthing though did you . People do .
People give their dogs away because they dont go with the decor or they want a more fashionable breed .
:(

you're completely right about that!! it disgusts me the pathetic reasons some people give for getting rid of their dogs.

All I was saying is that if people havent got access to something like this board a concern about puppy mouthing is understandable.
I read all the books but it didnt prepare me for how much it bl@@dy hurts!!!! :D

Rachael - you are the exception to the rule... for every one of you who sticks it through and does whats right for your puppy, there are a 1000 who can't hack it, don't like it, and don't do what they say they are going to! Its no wonder rescues are cynical and jaded :(

again I completely agree with you!!!!! Like I said numerous of my friends have been put off having a dog after babysitting Darcy but surely if the family have already got a "happy" dog they've proved they can make the commitment! I dont think (although I have to admit I've never had 2) that 2 can be much ahrder than 1 if handled properly.

have a look at this dobe rescue centre

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