Dear all

As you all know we have ben looking forward to the arrival of our new (black) pup for a few months now and she is due to be born on 31st March.  However, at obedience on Monday evening the instructor asked if we were still looking for a bitch to train for obedience and agility as she had been contacted about a 15 month old GSD bitch (black and tan) who had just failed her final Guide Dog test due to a high chase drive.
Now we are in a real quandry, do we stick with the puppy idea or go with the Guide Dog?  There are obviously plus points with the Guide Dog idea e.g. housebreaking, training, well socialised etc, but there are also disadvantages like not being able to raise the dog ourselves, no puppy breath :-( ! and also not knowing exactly what we are getting (e.g the chase drive).  I am also thiking about our current dog Ossie who is fine with puppies but occassionally can get a bit rough with older dogs until they put him in his place - we origianlly thought to get a pup so that they could grow up together and avoid any nastiness.

Has anyone else had any expereince with ex-Guide Dogs?  Does anyone have any opinions as to what I should do?

Cheers
Jayne

If you have been offered a failed Guide Dog most people would bite your hand off; there is usually a waiting list!  She probably has a high prey drive which can be channelled via a ball and therefore would be an excellent prospect for obedience or Working Trials as that is what we look for.  However you must take into consideration your present dog and whether you feel confident in handling an adolescent GSD bitch as well at the moment.

Jayne, I work for Guide Dogs, so see alot of the 'rejects'.  I'm surprised you have been offered this dog as there is a waiting list of a couple of years (less for a GSD).  I would be tempted to go for the trainee GD as like you say she will be well socialised and her obedience should be pretty good, although this is not always the case :)
I think the final decision must come down to circumstance, and whether or not you have the time to spend training a pup from scratch. 
If the only rejection reason for the GSD is the chasing you would be getting a fantastic dog. (I'm very jealous!) 

Having meet a "reject" guide dog as it happens a GSD, for the same reason I would say go for it, he is the most wonderful dog, I have had the pleasure of meeting. He goes to my agility class and is brilliant.

Karen

Rachel - did I see you live in Newport, Shrops? I live just outside there :)

Yeah I do!
And work for Guide Dogs in Telford

Thanks everyone for the opinions.  I can definitely see the plus points and I like the fact that we can offer a working home to her rather than just a pet home which may be less suitable for an active dog.

I am trying to be practical and make the best decision for us and for her but I keep thinking of puppies!  I think that we will arrange to meet Janny and her current 'owner' and get a feel for things.

Jayne

Hi Jayne,

I also have experience with GD's & my advice would be that only you can make the desision as to what is right for you & your family. There are negatives & positives for both options. Do you want a well socialised young GSD with a good level of obedience (hopefully), or a new baby to start from scratch with?  :)

Good luck with whatever you choose. :)

Hello Rachel, what do you do at Telford? I'm from Tollgate.  :)

Jayne
something to maybe think about...the trainee GD is a definate..shes here!! The pup isn't yet...the bitch may not produce what you want or at all.
not the most important issue but definately something to think about
Archer

good point Archer............. also the GSD could be with you real soon (providing home checks done etc)..... But you'll not get the baby until late May.  :)

Why not go and see the dog and introduce your dog and see how things are. This way you will have a better idea...Good luck :) I think I too would go for the guide dog...But you are the one that has to make that choice :) Good luck

I agree, i would see how your dog gets on with the GD and then you will have more to base your decision on :)

Llindsay

I'm support worker at the Telford team.
How about you?

Rachel, I'm a Brood Bitch Supervisor at the Breeding Centre (Tollgate )  :)
Do you know Helen F? I think she was based at Telford for a while (GDMI)

Helen left just before I moved to Telford, shes at Lutterworth now I think.

Hey I live in Market Drayton not far from Newport either - small world - I used to go to my bird club in Newport but now too sick to have the birds so don't do the club either shame as they were a lovely bunch.

Very small world- my sister is a policewoman in Market Drayton!

Ohh poor soul mind I suppose someone's got to be, she'll know a close PC neighbour who only lives literaly 1 min away from the police station, whilst I live all of 3!  My friends are always surprised at things that go on around here when they come from cities they wonder why I don't have an alarm on my house - tell them I've got schipperkes.