To doggy, or not to doggy

[Drew Carey]

You and your lady are going through the exact same thing that Lily and I have been discussing over the past few months, we even looked after a friends dog to help them and to also see how we got on. It was amazing.....

You seem to have thought of everything to consider and like others have said it is more the worry of what may happen that is holding you back. You have given everything the correct level of thought and by the sound of what you have put you know already in your heart to go for it - but a small part of your head is niggling at you.

End of the day, only you can ignore that and decide what to do.

For Lily and I we would not be at home during the day - but Lily works close to the house and can easily get home to spend an hour every day playing and walking any dog if we did.....the only reason having gone through all the thought processes you have, plus considering pretty much everything everyone else has stated - is that Lily is off to university in September for 1 day per week for 2 years........for that one day we would have no-one at the house between 8am and 6:30pm.....this is too long and not fair on a dog in my eyes....hence we have decided not to carry on until after she has finished.....

That being said, you do not have this issue. Wish I was lucky enough to work from home. All the best with whatever you chose or do.

We have always had dogs from puppies (apart from the St Bernard that my parents were given as a wedding present, but that's another story).

I worked in a rescue centre a few years ago and ended up adopting a pretty much un-rehomable 6 month old American Bulldog x Bull Mastiff that was brought in from and had to be moved from the area he was seized from.

He wasn't house trained, lead trained, no call back, tried to attack pretty much everyone. This was all because of his previous upbringing. He was pretty much a status dog and we expect kept outside all his life and not a lot of human interaction.

I worked with him and he is fantastic now. One of the most laid back dogs you would meet (unless you are scouse and he hears your accent, but that's where he was originally from and we suspect he was beaten)

He is part of the family and is ours, it doesn't feel like we haven't brought him up from a puppy.

I'd rescue a dog every time if possible as there are so many in need of homes.

This is my Max when we had him home for his trial.



This is him now (he is very protective over me, which isn't a good thing really)

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by Fallout

But being my usual self I'm thinking, what if I have to start working away from home, or what if me and the mrs split up (god forbid), or what if we want to move abroad (which we possibly will in the future), and do I really want to commit to driving to a forest and walking, rain or shine, for the next 14 years of my life?! (We only have a passat saloon too)

Thinking like that means you will never do anything. If your heart still says YES after considering the above, then do it. You have considered the negatives but still WANT a dog, they will no doubt have a loving home. I work from home and having a dog around is great.

Originally Posted by Fallout

The only reason why I am reluctant to rehome a rescue dog is because I've seen what a dog can become if you bring it up from a pup. Dogs are the same as humans; we're all a product of our experiences. One of the dogs I grew up with had an amazing personality, and that was down to how we played with her as a kids. She would steal things and hide them, because I used to find it hilarious to encourage her to pick up my parents stuff and leg it. There is nothing as annoying as a dalmatian that takes the TV remote control and puts it behind the sofa, then comes to look at you with that "Guess what I've just done?" look. The only saving grace was, whenever I got close to the place she'd hidden something, she'd run to get it before me so I could nab it off her.

With a rescue dog, I think it's luck of the draw. You may get one with an awesome temperament, you may get one with some repressed issues, and you may just get a personalityless average boring mutt. My parents have rescued three dogs. One was probably beaten, and was very shy for most of it's life. One was a goodun. One had "Runt of many dogs" syndrome, and was single minded about food and nothing else, to the extend that he never really developed a personality, because begging was all he knew. The dog with the best personality was the puppy we bought and raised.

So I think rescuing dogs is a great thing to do, and perhaps if we got another one later in life, we'd rescue it. I'd just rather raise my old mate from a pup. It's kind of like a new project for me too, I suppose. I think I can do a good job at training it to be very obedient, but also have a lot of fun. I think part of the appeal. A new best mate and a new challenge.

We have just had two rescue dogs who have come to live with my old Goldie and they fit right in. Do not write off a rescue dog because they may have issues, you can work with that - especially as you are at home. Max is my son's dog and came to live here 2 months ago from the rescue centre after being a stray for some weeks. After some initial issues with stealing food at every opportunity he has settled to be a lively but obedient and friendly fella. He loves his new home because we love him. In fact Max has impressed us so much we took another little dog from the rescue centre a week ago, despite me having misgivings about the old dog being pushed out. Piper is an 8 month Staffie with a poor start (his owners kept kicking him out before tieing him up outside the rescue place) but he has settled and is coming on in leaps and bounds. They respond so well to love, care, consistency and firmness...

Go visit the dogs home and see if a dog chooses you and you choose him.

EDIT: as it seems the thing to do, photos of the dogs!

Red and Max, happily kipping in their beds



Piper, the baby doing the same

[fizzwheel]

We've got two Labs, It took alot of convincing on Liz's behalf for us to get them, what finally tipped me over the edge and stopped me dithering was Hovis passing away. It reminded me that you should live for the now and not worry about things that may or may not happen in the future. Which would be my advice to the OP.

They are alot of commitment and can be a tie when going on holiday but there are ways to work around and deal with that.

They are happy and loved, they are naughty occasionally, but I'd not be without them now.

[dizzyblonde]

Bob the dog is a perfect personal rescue dog.

I took him in off the street, after being continually 'forgotten' outside, 'forgotten' meaning...leaving the door open so he would trot off elsewhere.

From 12 weeks old, I have given an awful lot of time to bring on a fabulously tempered staff cross. The poor fella had serious health issues from an early age( I won't say here, as people may be eating their lunch)
Needless to say, we have a perfect family pet, although the cheeky blighter has never gotten into the habit of 'staying' when the door is accidently left open. Hes very sneaky and escapes often from the back garden!

Hes also a very cheeky food bin. Perfect height for toddler hand to Bob toast snafflng, but he does it so innocently, coz he thinks Oliver is sharing

If you want a dog get a dog.

[ophic]

Just remember big dogs are best!

Originally Posted by Fallout

there's the little matter of the £300-£500 it costs for a mutt

If you look on gumtree you can often find some free to good home.
We got our dog that way, he's a Collie x Newzeland Huntaway. Bonkers and full of energy but loving and great with our 3 year old.

Personally i'd go for a cross breed/mungrel anyday as they inherit the best of both parts of their parents and none of the typicall pure breed problems that are caused by the father being the brother and uncle at the same time etc (ie breeding for the sake of it) I also refuse to pay such large ammounts of money as it fuels the poor standards of breeding where people are breeding dogs just cause it makes them easy money whilst potentially still claiming DSA etc.

infact if you lived anywhere near cardiff I'd put you in touch with my neighbour who is trying to give away her dog as she hasnt the time for him.
He's loveable but needs training and walking. she got rid of him once but he came back as the new owners left him alone and he chewed a door and a passport, i'd say out of boredom.
dont ask breeding or age as i've no idea.

[tigersaw]

Originally Posted by Fallout

@Dave - Making the move this year eh? That will be trail bike heaven up there. My new mission is to make you my best pal before you leave so I can get annual invites up for ride outs.

I wish, but no, this is just my first holiday in years, so we thought what better than getting a cottage and just walking the dog, riding the pushbike and going to the pub for dinner!
However, keep encouraging me - I want that private woodland trail, and you'll be first to try it out!

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by collis

I also refuse to pay such large ammounts of money as it fuels the poor standards of breeding where people are breeding dogs just cause it makes them easy money whilst potentially still claiming DSA etc.

This was partially why I took Bob in, the owners left him to run off, as he wasn't a full staff, so not a viable income for their dole dossing top ups.
A staff cross Whippet don't look wellard to chavs