|
Post by CollieSlave on Apr 23, 2013 9:56:46 GMT
I have seen some criticism of rescue centres on the forum, relating to the difficulties of getting a dog from a rescue centre due to their requirements - Smokeybear has said that she would not be accepted to take on a dog from some rescue centres because of some aspects of her lifestyle, despite her undoubted abilities and qualifications. Obviously centres need to ensure, as far as possible, that their dogs go to stable, responsible owners who will cherish and look after the dog with enthusiasm and dedication.
On the other hand there are the rogue breeders, in it for the money, who would sell to ANYONE.
Our last two collies have come from rescue centres but a few years ago we considered taking on a pup from a Border Collie breeder. I researched carefully to find respected, registered breeders of pedigree Border Collies. I narrowed the field and contacted a few. I was very surprised to find that it would be easy to purchase a dog from some of these breeders - they were obviously quite prepared to sell me a dog with minimal investigations into MY pedigree (!), lifestyle, experience and so forth. There were far fewer formalities than those involved in getting a dog from a rescue centre.
Makes you think!!!
|
|
|
Post by Pawsforthought on Apr 23, 2013 10:27:47 GMT
Yes there should be more research done by breeders as a whole into the prospective owners of their puppies, but that is a problem with certain breeders, not all of them and not with buying from breeders in general. There needs to be some sort of process a new owner has to go through, I think, but it's tricky to implement something like that without the risk of being prejudiced or being TOO picky.
The experience you have with rescue centres very much depends on the individual one you go to. Like I've said many times, we were due to get a gorgeous blue staffie pup before Monty existed, and they told us we couldn't have her because we were asking too many questions about the breed. Which is ridiculous, they don't want someone owning one of their dogs who is interested in learning about the breed they are acquiring? :/ That was the Blue Cross, and our experiences with the RSPCA when looking for a dog have been very different in a good way.
So there are bad and good centres just as there are bad and good breeders, but there are more breeders and there is money involved, which automatically sets up the dog breeding profession to be a problematic one. There should be more governing of dog breeders, but it's really hard to do all this without becoming too controlling and not allowing some people the right to have a dog. It's such a tricky route because the more we control things, the less freedom we have and while that would help eliminate SOME ill behaviour, it would affect everyone else too and may cause other problems, like the DDA making some breeds MORE desirable to the wrong people.
|
|
|
Post by johnl on Apr 23, 2013 15:05:16 GMT
Most reputable breeders, myself included, will ask purchasers many questions but we can only accept the answers given. In many cases the purchaser is known to the breeder so they will know where the pup is going and what it will be used for, especially if going to working or show homes. Rescue centres do have strict guidelines, some may say too strict, but they are trying to ensure a rescue dog (or cat) will be found a suitable long term home, and they have the advantage of being able to carry out a home check, something most breeders cannot do. But I agree, there are breeders who will sell a pup to anyone with the right money, no questions asked.
|
|
|
Post by chantel on Apr 23, 2013 15:24:13 GMT
Well it took us a while to find a repitable breeder when we decided the breed for us was a rough collie we did loads of research we even rang around rescues but was told rough collies don't normaly end up in rescues they are returned to the breeder. But when we did finaly find a breeder registered with the kennel club we had to explain our situation and tell her why we had decided on this breed.she had a lot of questions for us and having said that we had ad many questions for her,so i think it works both ways.
The breeder needs to know that the pup would be going to a suitable home.
And we needed to know that she was a reputable breeder and the pups would be health checked and you would be supplied with a crrtificate to certify this.
|
|
|
Post by tonib on Apr 23, 2013 15:58:41 GMT
Interesting that the experience of rescue centres & breeders of dogs matches that of cats.
I've not had any bad experiences of rescue centres and we did have a home check before we got our first rescue cat from a local rescue centre (not one of the national ones). We also had good advice from them when we got our 2nd (a pair). Our 4th was a private rehome but of an original rescue cat.
There are a couple of breeders on this forum & they take care in assessing the suitability of their kittens future owners. In fact you might have seen one of them posting about turning down prospective owners.
|
|
|
Post by Rubyroo11 on Apr 23, 2013 16:10:22 GMT
I got Belle from a reputable rescue and I had to undergo a homecheck and all the usual stuff and it was so nervewracking waiting for that decision if I was allowed to get her or not...I did not feel upset that somebody was taking the time to judge my family and I and our ability to care for a dog even though we were very experienced Staffordshire Bull Terrier owners.
I have heard some horror stories about rescues refusing people dogs due to not ticking certain criteria that in todays economic environment is not conducive to being a good dog owner....i.e. can not work full-time (some people have to and if they did not how could they afford vet bills!!)
I also have to be honest that from personal experience of certain Scottish rescues that people who are making these decisions have little to no experience (in particular for breed specific rescues) of the dogs in general or even sometimes don't have their own dogs!!!!
I personally would prefer to rehome a rescue in future but will not rule out having the option nor feel bad for thinking about buying a puppy from a reputable breeder if I see fit.
|
|
|
Post by BorderTerrier on Apr 23, 2013 18:45:35 GMT
I think it is a fine idea to check the house and surroundings plus check the family and routine etc before a rescue is brought home just for the health, welfare and happiness of the dog, like you said rubyroo, you didn't mind too much about that.
I personally have had no self experiance of anything to do with rescues/rescue centres.
A responsible breeder is someone who takes care in what home their dog goes to and taking consideration in the welfare of the dog for the furture.
The breeder simply needs to know a good home is for the dog before it goes, end of basically!!
|
|
|
Post by gladys on Apr 23, 2013 19:29:14 GMT
I was one that said about it being hard finding a rescue. I never got as far as the home check or anything as the ones I had tried online had the dog should NEVER be left for more than 4 hours rule!! Hubby and I work from home and have a large completely enclosed garden but I could never agree that for the rest of the dogs life I would always be home within the 4 hour period. Cooper on average is only left a few hours a few days a week but there are times when it could be over 4 hours especially at Christmas when the large city is over 45 mins away and you have the crimbo shop to do. I have made sure Cooper can cope with being left on his own whether it is for 30 mins or 4 and a half hours etc I didn't see why this makes me unfit to take in a rescue?? As for breeders, I would never buy from one who didn't ask lots of questions, or didn't show an interest in where I lived and what I do for a living. And who didn't want details of my local vet. But not everyone is like that??
|
|
|
Post by caz2golden on Apr 23, 2013 21:16:34 GMT
When I was looking for second mutt I did look on a few rescues but they all had strict rules of not leaving dogs for more than 4 hrs (I work full time so unable to comply though I come home at lunch time for 1 hr). So I went no further.
Many also insist you neuter a pup (if you take a pup on) at six months which I am not a fan of, I like my pup to be physically mature so would have wanted to wait till its a little older.
So I went via a breeder. I provided details of the leave I was taking and help from family so that pup was not left till she was settled and a little older and she knew I worked full time. I was grilled by both breeders I have had pups from, guess I was lucky that I came into contact with the correct people.
|
|
|
Post by chantel on Apr 24, 2013 8:53:46 GMT
I too went down the road of a rescue dog ,i only work part time hours over 4 days but we decided by getting a rescue dog it may have been quite stressful even leaving it for just a few hours as some rescues just don't like being left alone. So we decided to opt for a puppy from a breeder so that it would get used to being left a lone for a few hours a day.
When we got Riley me and my hubby arranged 4 weeks off between us with Riley being so young and getting him into a routine. We left him a lone for short bursts and he was fine. He is now left alone until dinner time then my hubby manages to pop home at lunch time due to riley still being on 3 meals a day. And i am lucky that my mum only lives around the corner to pop in if needed. But riley is doing fine being left for a few hours. But if i wasn't working a would love to get a rescue dog maybe in a few years time when Riley is older and it would be great company for him whist i am at work.
|
|
|
Post by charlottte on Apr 24, 2013 9:23:51 GMT
We had a very bad experience with a rescue centre who DIDN'T ask questions and quite happily signed over a Collie x who had 'been handed in from a home' to us. But we have also found other rescues we looked at extremely unhelpful and even uninterested (Dogs Trust was one of these!) We had Holly for a couple of months before unfortunately we had to have her put to sleep. I am deeply ashamed of having to give up but she should never have been rehomed to us when we had such little knowledge. She had numerous problems (fear aggression towards everything) with kids, men, women, cars, bikes, dogs, cats. We worked with a behaviourist (who she bit in one of the sessions when she saw another dog) and she made a tiny amount of progress before she attempted to bite my niece who was 18 months old at the time. We tried to get her into collie rescues where she would be rehabbed as a working dog but they all had waiting lists of over a year. The behaviourist said she was prepared to work with her if the rescue centre were willing to provide accommodation but they said only if we took her back no matter what after so long, I cant remember the time length. They also said that if she went back to them, she would be put to sleep as she had a bite history. On this phone call they then told us that she in fact was a stray and had been stray for months, not in fact a hand in from a family which explains her fear aggression. When Holly attempted to bite my niece my mam decided that she couldn't trust having her around and as Holly was registered in her name, any repercussions would fall to her so she chose to take her and have her put to sleep. We decided that we would rather do it than have her taken back into a kennel and have it done there. Holly was the perfect example of why checks need to be done. If she had gone to someone who knew how to deal with the breed and problems, she might have had a fighting chance. So understandably, my parents had no interest in going back to rescue centres after that, which is when we got Buddy. My work friend of my mam's had a brother with Lab puppies, we knew the family, they knew us so it was the perfect set up. We had no problems that way apart from a lack of early socialisation due to Buddy being an only puppy and again, my lack of knowledge. So after we lost him we were going to look for a Toller pup, when Jasper came along, he was a rehome from a home and he's been spot on. I would never rehome from someone I didn't know as I wouldn't like to trust that the dog was completely fine, well socialised etc then get home and find out it has numerous problems/illnesses. In the future I will look at rescuing/rehoming but I also know that I'll get a puppy from a reputable breeder as well (Tollers don't end up in rescue very much ) A long as it's done right and the dog and owner lifestyles are a good match, it should work well either way.
|
|
|
Post by SarahHound on Apr 24, 2013 9:40:34 GMT
I have no problem with good breeders, but I personally, would never go to one. It's a personal choice really. I'm the sort of person who feels guilty about the rescue situation. Even though its not my fault, and I've never bred anything! A few years back, I found a Deerhound breeder near me. It's a breed I have wanted for a LONG time, and I spoke with her, reserved a female, paid a deposit towards my £650 puppy. I was sent photos and even named her. BUT. I felt guilty. The second I said I would have her and sent a deposit, I thought of all the poor lurchers and greyhounds sitting in the rescue centre, one possibly staying even longer because I was getting this puppy. I made myself sick with it, I just couldn't get it out of my head. I battled with myself for a week, but it was then I realised I would never be able to enjoy my puppy knowing there's still homeless dogs. So I will never use a breeder until the rescue centres are empty. In the end, I came home with a beautiful 2 year old black greyhound, and she was the BEST dog I have ever owned. She was wonderful in every single way and I am so glad I didn't get that puppy. Still want my Deerhound, but if its meant to be, she will turn up in a rescue centre
|
|
|
Post by CurlyCub on Apr 24, 2013 17:02:19 GMT
It's all personal choice, if you want a pedigree you usually go to a good breeder. However, if you want a cross or mongrel and feel you can give a rescue the love they deserve than a rescue centre is for you. Personally I prefer rescues as Jess is from one and look what a lovely dog she's turned out to be
|
|
|
Post by orpheous87 on Apr 24, 2013 20:18:08 GMT
I can't say I would never use a breeder, but I would expect to be asked a lot of questions by them for sure. When we got Ellie from Dogs Trust, we had to fill out a lengthy questionnaire and give details of things like how often the dog would be left at home alone. I have to admit, we bent the truth slightly as we did say that she would never be left home alone for more than 4 hours (despite us having Pepper, who was used to being home alone for most of the day while we were all at work) because there was four of us in the house who all worked full time, but in different shifts. In reality, it usually works out as being about 5 hours that they're left alone although it's not every day. They're used to it and they're happy enough. However, I think it would be a different story if we ever had to leave Ellie completely on her own as she's not keen on that (she was left one day for literally two minutes when I took Pepper to training and my dad had to come out to move his car and when he got back in, she was crying and shaking on the stairs ). I can understand rescue centres being cautious about who they rehome dogs with, but there has to be some kind of compromise sometimes. Dogs Trust didn't actually come to do a home check on us. They allowed us to take photos of our garden and show them those to prove that both of our gardens are well fenced and secure.
|
|
|
Post by teegiebear on Apr 24, 2013 21:12:55 GMT
My last Labrador came from sspca. He was fab, very strong but great natured dog. Can't believe how lucky we were with him. E had him for 10years. about 15months after he was put to sleep (tumours and old age etc) we started to look for another dog. We tried dogs trust and they wouldn't rehome any dogs with us as living here is me (28) my sister (25) and my mum (she'll batter me if I say her age lol) but my nieces and nephews visit regularly ages from 4-16 and even though they grew up with dogs and have one of their own they said they couldn't rehome dogs with young kids even the ones at 4/6 months that we were looking at which was a shame, we even offered to take on 2 dogs that were not to be separated. I can understand they need to cover their backs but they wouldn't even house check us or even go into detail about kids.
Sspca on the other hand would let us home but they only had kennels full of staffies and my mum isn't fond of them and that is the kind of breed that especially round this area I'd like to know a bit of background since my nephews and nieces visit.
That's why we ended up going to a breeder. We called one in Glenrothes and she was extremely rude on them phone and very unhelpful. Wen we found the family breeders we eventually got Enzo and dexter from they couldn't have been nicer and more helpful, yes it has been hard having two pups and I have heard people since say you should never have been allowed 2 pups from the same litter but I wouldn't change them for the world.
It's a shame cause its really lowerd my opinion of dogs trust the experience we had with them
|
|