Hi, I have been asked if I would take a six year old dog from a family who have no time for him. He has only ever been walked on a lead to the end of the street and back and even then only occasionaly. He is not properly house trained as he is left in the house alone most of the time and he is not neutered. Can anyone give me some advice on what I would be taking on?? I realise that this is a desperate situation for this little dog who must be very unhappy and if I don't think I can keep him myself I will do all I can to find him a loving home. The dog comes from a home with 2 small children and cats and is as far as I am aware very good natured...just very unloved!

Hi,
I'm new to posting but can give an experienced answer as I have mainly had rescues/fostered dogs. My first was a collie x corgi bitch, my 11th birthday present, who had seen a lot of abuse and I am now on my 10th.
They are very rewarding and can make great pets but sometimes are very hard work depending on the dog and what it has gone through. In this case it sounds as though it maybe a straight forward case of going back to the basics.
If you have the time and love and are willing, go for it. There are some good books about taking on a rescue if you need advise, alternatively pm me and I will help as much as I can.
Good Luck.

Cara

If the dog is good natured, and more importantly if you have the time, then I agree with Mud Mops you could have the most rewarding time of your life.

You will need to teach this dog as you would a pup, everything will have to be learnt from scratch and you will need plenty of patience.

The great thing is the dog does not sound to have any character or personality issues, (Big thumbs up!) that is 3 quarters of the battle and darn hard work to re-socialise, the quarter left which for you just sounds like toilet training, recall, freedom to run free on walks all being taught with praise and reward is nothing more than just consistancy.

The neutering may or may not be an issue, if he is going to be the type of dog to run off searching for bitches, (which you don't know at present as he is always on lead) then personally I would have him castrated as you will have enough on just teaching him basic recall.

If you are happy to re-home and love this dog then save him and give him a good life as every dog deserves.

Let us know what you decide and remember we are all here to help you with any advice. (I feel like rescuing him myself :-(  )

Thank you! I already have a lovely girl who is very well behaved...I would need to make sure that they get on and she hasn't been spayed so he would have to be neutered for that reason if nothing else. I am waiting to hear from the family so will let you know!

My sister's chocolate girl is a rescue and she looked like she came from a puppy farm. She didn't know what grass was, had sores on her elbows, didn't play much and was very overweight, probably from lack of exercise. She's perfect. :) Our Princess Pea is such a fantastic dog. It didn't take long under my sister's roof before she was a normal, bouncy, playful lab. I wish you the best in whatever decision you make.

Both of my dogs are rescues and they are lovely (bearing in mind that, unlike you, I had no experience of owning a dog and I was very reluctant at first).  I am sure that you will soon sort him out and the day will come when you wondered how you ever lived without him! 

We took Timmy on at the age of 7 or 8 we think, he was a toy poodle, lived with a old blind lady who had standards he was the only little one, he had a bell around his neck so she could hear him but it didn't stop him coming to us with broken ribs. He was so scared and worried when he came home but MabelSW it was the best thing we did, lots of patience and love he gave us 10 happy years, he did not know how to walk on a lead or play but he was my dads best friend and when we lost him last year you realise what you can give them is nothing compared to what they offer you.

Good Luck

I have no experience of rescuing but wanted to say what a great person you are to consider taking him - I hope it works out! :-)

Thank you for all your advice and help. However, having decided as a family that we would like to take this little chap on, the owner has decided that despite the fact she ''hates him'' it would be too disruptive to her children to let him go. As you can imagine, we are devastated....he deserves so much more. Have kept the channels of communication open and am hoping she will change her mind....I really really want him to know what its like to be loved and looked after and I know we could do that for him.

Could you offer to share the care of him? Perhaps suggest that you look after him in the day time when they are unable to and walk him with your dog.

I find it very hard to understand how someone who hates the dog can possibly keep him on. If her children still want contact with the dog, perhaps that would be possible, with you taking him round on visits, to see them.
It seems so sad that he is not getting the care he should.

Yes, am trying everything I can.....maybe it is just a knee jerk reaction that she wants to keep him and hopefully given a little time she will change her mind. I don't know the family well but they know I would like him and how to contact me.....fingers crossed!

thats so annoying, she is being very selfish and not thinking about the dog at all.! I hope she changes her mind.

Aargh, how annoying! If you say the kids are welcome to visit and point out he's only living a few doors away perhaps that will help.