We are going to get a Cavalier having done a lot of research and spoken to breeders. My husband thinks it would be a good idea to contact the breed rescue and offer a home to a rescue dog. The possible wait is not an issue. The idea is attractive. What concerns me is that I have read that dogs are often given up because of behavioural problems. I wonder if I am running the risk of such problems quite apart from the initial settling in period. With children at home would a better option be to buy a pup from a reputable breeder and train it and socialise it ourselves ? Health problems in a rescue dog of unkown origin could be a problem too, or is the history and background of most dogs at breed rescue known ? I have no problems about caring for a sickly dog but would not wish to put my daughters through losing a dog young. Thoughts please.
Jackie.

Well if i was getting a dog from rescue, I would expect the unexpected to be frank
some dogs not all have had a real rough ride in their short lifes so be sure you want to take that on.But good luck

Pat

Patricia is right - expect the unexpected! Having had a rescue dog for 9 years myself though, you just cannot beat the feeling of having provided a needy and deserving animal with a second chance. Of those 9 years Zico was a darling for 7 of them. The first two were hell on earth! I wouldn't have changed a thing though :)

Linda

I've had rescue dogs for years now, got 2 at the moment, and to be honest you never know what you have until it's living with you. People never seem to tell the truth when they put a dog into rescue, so although the rescue people may have a history for the dog it doesn't necessarily mean it's the right one. They are a challenge and no GOOD rescue would let you take a dog of unknown origin with children, but once you have their trust and loyalty they are so rewarding. Ingrid

I'm actually getting slated at the moment for buying what all my colleagues see as a 'designer dog':D- because she's costing £400, when they say I could just go to a rescue centre. Fair enough it's a valid point but the breed I want is a German Shepherd Dog and since it's a large breed I thought it better to buy from a breeder- I know this may sound silly and well done to all those who do have rescue dogs- I'm not slating you in the slightest- it's just that I prefer the breed to any other dogs and by having my own I'm also fulfilling a childhood dream as well as a great many other practicalities, I have two children in my house ages 4 and 6 therefore I wouldn't want to run any risks (I realise it's not a risk in all cases) and think that one day for instance I could perhaps go to get the sweeping brush out and the dog lunges for me to attack because as a pup it was beaten with a sweeping brush or some other similar scenario:( A GSD's a big dog , I would say lethal in the wrong hands and one of those wouldn't exactly be the easiest of animals to get off you. On the other hand you could end up with a lovely dog- it's just not a risk I would take with such a large breed considering I'm 5ft 6 inches weighing in at 8stone 2lb- does anyone else like my chances;)? If I was going for a smaller breed that didn't weigh two thirds of what I do and wasn't quite so agile then I would most probably at least look for a rescue dog as there are a great many dogs out there all needing loving, permanent homes.

Sorry if this message has offended anyone that was most certainly not my intention- I was merely trying to state my reasons for not choosing rescue first but even that doesn't mean that because I don't think it's right for me that it may not be right for someone else:)

Stacey

Kash,I think you are right to get a puppie from a good breeder.
I really think you have to be clued up about any dog before taking on the rescues
so enjoy your nice GSD I meet a beauty last night all black and called Inkie but I don't know If you can show an all black one.? But what a nice temperament Inkie had.

Pat

Thanks Patricia- I was rather nervous actually at posting what I did for fear of being ate alive so to speak:) The breeder I'm having my bitch from has 7 altogether- 3 dogs and 4 bitches not to mention the 7 puppies- they all had outstanding temperaments- I couldn't fault any of them at all.

Kash Hi If the shepherds did not moult that would be the dog for me......".Love them"
but Zac is the next best thing Bouvier's about the same size the police in belgian use them so he is a great guard dog! loves the children and is always in trouble .let me know when you get your litttle bundle of joy....and the name you call the dog.

Pat xx

Stacey

You have every right to buy a dog of a breed that you want so that you are the one responsible for how that dog develops. Rescue dogs can come with all-sorts of baggage and I think it is something you have to be particularly careful of with young children. It is great that there are so many people who prefer to take a rescue on - good luck to them, but you have no fall-back if things start to go wrong. Getting a pup from a reputable breeder gives you re-assurance and a helpgin hand when you need it.

How many of your "colleagues" wear designer labels rather than buy good old Marks n Sparks, drink Chardonnay rather than Vin de Plonk? It's personal choice and as long as you are going through a reputable breeder and not a puppy farm then you are actually helping the breed you have chosen.

Good luck on your quest - hope you find exactly what you want

Pam n the boys

Thanks Pammy- like I said before it was a hard one to post;) I have always wanted a GSD but due to work commitments and the children being babies it was never possible before- now they're slightly older which will give me some time for one-to-one's with the puppy re training etc whilst my youngest is at Nursery also I changed my hours from 40 a week to 16 a week before Christmas so that I can pursue a night course to eventually further my career (pay packet more like;) ), I have no intentions now of going back to work full time until the children have left school, I've learnt the hard way- sad I know but I miss my kids and found that I had no relationship with the teachers in whose hands I placed my childs academic future etc. I have been looking for a GSD puppy since November 2001 and a few months ago I found a most reputable breeder with lovely dogs from whom I would love one of their puppies and luckily enough I managed to squeeze in and have secured a puppy (ready in exactly 4 weeks), they weren't even born yet when I found the breeder! I would never buy from a puppy farm or any other similar establishment. I've also done one hell of a lot of research into the breed including genetics etc so I know that my puppy has the best possible chance of reaching a ripe old age as there are no health problems to date with any of the progeny from these kennels (touch wood;) ). I have life long after sales care etc and this way I know all the pup's family and have been involved since they were born.

The way I see it is that a 'dog's for life' or all 12ish years of it- which is quite a long time- therefore I felt I had to get exactly what I wanted rather than accepting what I (personally) would class as 2nd best. That's why It's taken me 7 months to find a pup- it had to be exactly what I wanted:)

I have to agree! I wanted a specific breed of dog, and I wanted to be in at the start, so any mistakes made with upbringing would be my mistakes.

There seems to be a simplistic view in some rather pro rescue folks minds. It goes something like this it is wrong immoral to breed as then you are taking away homes from all these dogs that need rehoming. Bearing this in mind most responsible breeders keep their breeding down to a minimum that will advance their breeding program. The vast majority of dogs in Rescue centres Pedigree, and especially mongrel are the result of irresponsibility, and as these people are uninterested in the pup once it leaves them, thats the end of the matter for them.

Yes of course puppies from responsible breeding sometimes end in rescue, (for some reason the breeder cannot be traced or has died, or cannot do the rehoming themselves but will reimburse the rescues costs), or are rehomed via their breeder.

It is also unfortunate that many dogs in Rescues are not suitable for the average family who want a reasonably low problem pet.

My local dogs home appears to always be full of small male mongrels with a high energy level and sex drive, sired by like sires. They are often escapoligists and very determined and wilful. It is no wonder as most people do not allow their dogs to wander, but those real determined critters are doing the siring on likeminded bitches, the result pups with inbuilt wanderlust.

We get a lot of dogs home referals at our Training class, and the above type of dog can take 2 years of dedicated attendance to just have a reasonably calm attentive pet! Some of the new owners truly deserve medals, and sadly some of the dogs go back, as just being too much.

<as long as you are going through a reputable breeder and not a puppy farm then you are actually helping the breed you have chosen>

Well said Pam!

The one point that I've found about rescue dogs, is similiar to Ingrid. No one ever admits that they were a bad or careless owner. The problem is always with the dog. Rarely, if ever does one come out and say that it was a personality/lifestyle mismatch from the start.

The most important things, in my opinion to have when rehoming a dog is patience, calmness, & a sense of humour. Trying to look at things from the dog's perspective helps too. But having patience and being calm are tied to one other. The dog's already stressed. It can be a quiet & meek dog for the first week just due to exhaustion. Then the problems start. The one thing to remember is that it's not your fault they're there. He's not "doing it to get back at you." Don't get mad at the dog. If you do...walk away for a while. Few things are ever so important that you have to jump into correction immediately. Figure out how you're going to respond if it occurs again. Habits take a long time to correct.

To me, a dog that's successfully adapted to my life & household is worth all of the hard work & doggy psychology. I've yet to have a "rehomed" dog that wasn't grateful or appreciative of me. They don't take me for granted & I love their companionship. So it was worth all of the hard work ( for example: Samma -- two months to just walk nicely on a leash/six months to get completely house trained/ 3 years to get her to come off-leash) and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
good luck & let us know what happens :D
toodles

Eugohania, do you find the same as me that the rescue dogs are much more loyal then any you have had from pups, my 2 won't go out of my sight for very long when we are out walking, in fact the GSD just doesn't go far at all.
Kash, I don't see you are doing anything wrong, with young children taking on a rescue dog is always a risk whatever the size, my present rescue GSD at 9 1/2 stone weighs almost as much as me but luckily they are an easy to train and responsive breed, he has never shown any aggression towards anyone but then I have always been lucky with the dogs I have taken on. Ingrid

Hi Ingrid,
I've never had a dog that came from a breeder as a puppy. All were abandoned or rescued. They all needed me at the time. And yes, I do find them extremely loyal. After having Pepper, my 8 year old Yorkie for only three weeks, I found out how quickly she became attached to me.

In 1993, we were out on a walk on a snowy Feb. day. She was off leash & was investigating a ravine. The path I took curved up & around where she was. When I called her to join me, the echo made it sound as if I was in the opposite direction, even though I was only 15 feet away from her. She took off to come to me. Unfortunately, it was back the way we had come. I followed her tracks in the snow because I couldn't catch up to her. She ran all the way home & was waiting for me on the outside steps. It was over a mile and a half back through the woods. I was amazed how fast she had learned where we lived. There were other roads she could have taken & become easily lost in the houses...but she found the right one.

I think there's enough room on the planet for everyone... purebred fanciers, breeders, rescue workers, hunting/worker breeds, mutts, and older dogs that need new homes. It doesn't have to be an either/or situation. It's whatever the individual can manage & enjoy. Someday I would love to have a purebred puppy, but I don't know if it will ever be. It doesn't really matter, either way, I have lots of puppy love to enjoy :D :D It's not a dog eat dog world after all :D :D :D :D
toodles :coo:

I'm glad nobody has taken what I said the wrong way- like I said it was never my intention to hurt anyone;) You are all very lucky people to have found good rescue dogs who can become really good companions, the dog's are also really lucky to have found such good owners saving them, unfortunately in my position a rescue dog wasn't really an option but well done to all those who have;) I'm not really a purebred fancier or anything like that for wanting a KC reg pup- unfortunatly for me £400 seems to be the going rate for 'peace of mind' so to speak:) I'm not someone who spends lots of money on designer goods etc but I view it as like buying the kids toys such as bikes without the British Safety Standard Kite Mark- if you understand that:)

Stacey

Personally I would love to be able to take on dogs with problems and be able to give them the time and dedication to help them, or to be able to take on an older dog with health problems and give it a home to live out its days, but I know I can't do that. I don't have the experience, and my family circumstances wouldn't allow it.
My dog, Ben, is from Battersea, but was only about 10 weeks old when he was "picked up" as a stray. There are still things about him that I can't account for, even with that short time on his own, but at least at that age I had some influence in his development. We tried for months to find the "right" dog from rescue, and as Ben came down with a nasty bout of kennel cough and an abscess on his neck the day we brought him home, it wasn't cheap. We're expecting to pay a similar amount for the pedigree BC pup we're waiting for!
Battersea is full of dogs you'd fall in love with, but there are few you would be allowed to take home with young children, and I agree that you're wise not to risk it.
Your choice of dog has to be based on your personal circumstances. Only you know what you can cope with and what's going to fit your criteria. Don't feel guilty.
LynnT

Hi Ingrid is 9 1/2 stone and extra large one? and are the long coated ones heavier.
I can not praise enough the rescue people most do a very good job and most dogs deserve a second good life with a lovling home .I am only sorry I cannot rescue a Bouvier to go with Zac I would love to give one a good home and I would not mind if it was older.

Pat

Hi Patricia, I think the average weight for a GSD is somewhere round 45 kilos, my boy is somewhere between 65 to 75 kilos, sorry can't get him on the scales to weigh him till I get to vet. He is not fat, just very heavy boned, and has a superb large head, short coated variety. Whenever I meet up with someone who has heard me descirbe him they always expect me to arrive with a fat dog and the remark is always on what a BIG dog he is, and not at all what they thought he would be. He is a gentle giant and loves people and kids, I have had to work hard on his training because obviously he has to be under control at all times, no way could I use strength to hold him back, but he was very easy to train. Came from a local GSD rescue, he is not keen on other dogs till he knows them but happily shares home with the other two and any visiting dogs that come round. If you want to see a picture I'll send one to you. Ingrid

Ingrid would love a picture:) And you are lucky well the dog is lucky to have such a great owner ,Always loved this breed from a child .So many inferior ones about such
a shame but I blame that on folks just putting two dogs together breeding wrong types

Pat xx

Ingrid can I have a piccy as well, my shadow is also very large boned with a big head but long haired so he looks even bigger!!

Have sent you both some pictures, don't forget to send me some back of your dogs. I have loved GSDs all my life, the only thing I don't love about them is the amount of hair they shed but I'll live with it. Ingrid

You do have to have an open mind lot of love to give to a rescued dog. Molly as you all no is resuced, and my poor lass had been through such a hard time even over a year on we are still helpping her get over her past.

Julieann

Hi there we had a rescue cavalier about 9 years ago to keep our Cav. pup company and it was the best thing we could have done. We got to visit her before we decided to take her on but once we saw her we took her straight away. She had belonged to an elderly woman who had gone senile (she had been hitting her with sticks etc. when she miss behaved). We had to have almost all of her teeth removed and slim her down a bit but that little girl gave us so much love and didn't have a nasty bone in her body we had 3 small children at the time and she was totally trustworthy. We never knew how old she was but she lived with us for 5 years and we didn't regret a minute, so don't give up on the idea just find out what you can before you take one on.

Jackie if you would like to e-mail me I can put you in touch with some people who can answer all your questions e-mail thelushones@aol.com

Thank you. Have emailed you. Unfortunately mispelt address on first email so some complete stranger will wake up this morning to a message telling them their spaniels are lovely ! :o Sent an apology so hopefully they won't think I'm some sort of odd pervert.

for hugen :D :D