Rescue dog from abroad
Discussion
Sorry to hijack, but looking for good resources to research adopting a rescue.
First dog for us so need to do lots of research and make sure we can handle it. As a child had lots of family with dogs and some at our factory as guard dogs but never personally owned or been responsible for one but always wanted one.
Wife is receptive but needs to overcome nervousness as she had a bad experience as a child being chased by a dog.
Would prefer rescue to help give a dog a home and also looking for good training schools as it's our first one. Based greater London, north west if that helps.
Or is there another thread better for this?
First dog for us so need to do lots of research and make sure we can handle it. As a child had lots of family with dogs and some at our factory as guard dogs but never personally owned or been responsible for one but always wanted one.
Wife is receptive but needs to overcome nervousness as she had a bad experience as a child being chased by a dog.
Would prefer rescue to help give a dog a home and also looking for good training schools as it's our first one. Based greater London, north west if that helps.
Or is there another thread better for this?
I'm sure there are lots of online sites about it, plenty of other threads on here too, books on dog training and behaviourisum, it's pretty simple but conceptually requires putting yourself in the dogs shoes and some examples and explanations are good. A huge number of dog owners fail at the basics of seeing their actions from the ears of the dog, and reading super basic signs.
Depending on their background rescues can have some additionally challenges, but for a first time dog I would look to avoid anything complicated such as a dog which has been cruelly treated, and which point it's foulibles are unlikely to be ant worse than those that would be unwitting imparted on a puppy, plus ten weeks is more than enough to impart plenty of harm of the puppy comes from an uncaring or ill-advised source.
If you are specifically after advice on overseas or Romanian rescue then post here, else I have also built up a good list of contacts researching ours, and chatting with other rescue co-oridinators in the transport chat while they where being dropped off.
Daniel
Depending on their background rescues can have some additionally challenges, but for a first time dog I would look to avoid anything complicated such as a dog which has been cruelly treated, and which point it's foulibles are unlikely to be ant worse than those that would be unwitting imparted on a puppy, plus ten weeks is more than enough to impart plenty of harm of the puppy comes from an uncaring or ill-advised source.
If you are specifically after advice on overseas or Romanian rescue then post here, else I have also built up a good list of contacts researching ours, and chatting with other rescue co-oridinators in the transport chat while they where being dropped off.
Daniel
xerawh said:
Sorry to hijack, but looking for good resources to research adopting a rescue.
First dog for us so need to do lots of research and make sure we can handle it. As a child had lots of family with dogs and some at our factory as guard dogs but never personally owned or been responsible for one but always wanted one.
Wife is receptive but needs to overcome nervousness as she had a bad experience as a child being chased by a dog.
Would prefer rescue to help give a dog a home and also looking for good training schools as it's our first one. Based greater London, north west if that helps.
Or is there another thread better for this?
Others may disagree, but I wouldn't personally recommend a rescue from abroad for a first-time owner. I think they can be fine for those with experience of owning dogs and ideally already with a dog, because they can have their challenges. Some have only known life on the streets and a rescue centre, and not had very much human contact. They can be wonderful with other dogs, though.First dog for us so need to do lots of research and make sure we can handle it. As a child had lots of family with dogs and some at our factory as guard dogs but never personally owned or been responsible for one but always wanted one.
Wife is receptive but needs to overcome nervousness as she had a bad experience as a child being chased by a dog.
Would prefer rescue to help give a dog a home and also looking for good training schools as it's our first one. Based greater London, north west if that helps.
Or is there another thread better for this?
Again, others will probably have different views, but for a first-time owner I would start with the big rescues - Dogs Trust (who have a branch in west London), Blue Cross, RSPCA, Battersea. Even if you don't end up getting a dog from them, their websites, etc, provide good sources of information for new owners.
It would be as well to think about what type of dog you are looking for - but you also need to consider what type of lifestyle you have and what kind of home you can therefore offer. For example, what are your working hours/arrangements, what size garden do you have, how energetic are you?
One breed which is often overlooked, but can be a good first-time dog (as long as you are aware of their breed traits) is the greyhound. Still lots to be found in rescue centres and there are specialist greyhound rescues all over the country too.
It might be better to start a new thread for more responses. Good luck!
One other thing to be aware of (if you're not already) is that a number of rescue centres are not operating at the moment, or are operating different adoption processes. So if you are wanting a rescue, you may need to wait (or wait a bit longer than usual!)
Edited by moorx on Thursday 9th July 17:11
Edited by moorx on Thursday 9th July 17:11
moorx said:
Others may disagree, but I wouldn't personally recommend a rescue from abroad for a first-time owner. I think they can be fine for those with experience of owning dogs and ideally already with a dog, because they can have their challenges. Some have only known life on the streets and a rescue centre, and not had very much human contact. They can be wonderful with other dogs, though.
Again, others will probably have different views, but for a first-time owner I would start with the big rescues - Dogs Trust (who have a branch in west London), Blue Cross, RSPCA, Battersea. Even if you don't end up getting a dog from them, their websites, etc, provide good sources of information for new owners.
It would be as well to think about what type of dog you are looking for - but you also need to consider what type of lifestyle you have and what kind of home you can therefore offer. For example, what are your working hours/arrangements, what size garden do you have, how energetic are you?
One breed which is often overlooked, but can be a good first-time dog (as long as you are aware of their breed traits) is the greyhound. Still lots to be found in rescue centres and there are specialist greyhound rescues all over the country too.
It might be better to start a new thread for more responses. Good luck!
One other thing to be aware of (if you're not already) is that a number of rescue centres are not operating at the moment, or are operating different adoption processes. So if you are wanting a rescue, you may need to wait (or wait a bit longer than usual!)
Can't fault any of that, we have dropped on really lucky with our Oliver dog from Suceava Rescue but some can be the polar opposite. If you want a book to read "Charlie, the dog who came in from the wild" is a first hand account of dealing with a very troubled boy, but also a very practical and pragmatic guide to how to deal with bringing a stray/street dog into the home. Even if you dog is mild, the processes are the same.Again, others will probably have different views, but for a first-time owner I would start with the big rescues - Dogs Trust (who have a branch in west London), Blue Cross, RSPCA, Battersea. Even if you don't end up getting a dog from them, their websites, etc, provide good sources of information for new owners.
It would be as well to think about what type of dog you are looking for - but you also need to consider what type of lifestyle you have and what kind of home you can therefore offer. For example, what are your working hours/arrangements, what size garden do you have, how energetic are you?
One breed which is often overlooked, but can be a good first-time dog (as long as you are aware of their breed traits) is the greyhound. Still lots to be found in rescue centres and there are specialist greyhound rescues all over the country too.
It might be better to start a new thread for more responses. Good luck!
One other thing to be aware of (if you're not already) is that a number of rescue centres are not operating at the moment, or are operating different adoption processes. So if you are wanting a rescue, you may need to wait (or wait a bit longer than usual!)
Greyhounds and Lurchers make incredible pets. Family and couples, especially if you want a relaxed dog when in the house. Obviously still needs atleast an hour or so walk per day most days, but will also do a day without occasionally, and be very happy with 20mins sometimes. Our Toby is greyhound collie and absolutely the gentleman, great with kids, gentle with his food, and as said often overlooked so loads in the centres usually.
Daniel
dhutch said:
Greyhounds and Lurchers make incredible pets. Family and couples, especially if you want a relaxed dog when in the house. Obviously still needs atleast an hour or so walk per day most days, but will also do a day without occasionally, and be very happy with 20mins sometimes.
Yep, agreed, I've always found greys and lurchers to be very adaptable in terms of exercise. Most can cope with 2 x 20-30 min walks per day, but (providing you build them up to it) can also manage much longer walks from time to time - mine could do up to 8/9 miles as long as it wasn't too hot and they had occasional rests. So very good for people who work during the week but like to do longer walks at weekends or when on holiday.moorx said:
Yep, agreed, I've always found greys and lurchers to be very adaptable in terms of exercise. Most can cope with 2 x 20-30 min walks per day, but (providing you build them up to it) can also manage much longer walks from time to time - mine could do up to 8/9 miles as long as it wasn't too hot and they had occasional rests. So very good for people who work during the week but like to do longer walks at weekends or when on holiday.
Yes, Toby (greyhound collie) 6 when we got him, now 10, has good walks all year round including plenty with other dogs, and will do a full day in the lakes walking for 4-5hours covering 8-10miles as you say, half the day the next day, then another full day, which is as much as we would want to do to ourselves! He doesn't enjoy or settle to coming out with me on the mountain bike on or off road, so we don't do that. He has a half collie coat, but will get cold if there is a prolonged spell on-lead over winter so we have to be slightly carefully with a Peaks walk in December!
Obviously all dogs, and certainly crosses, are different and not all would want to do any of that, while others would love it.
Edited by dhutch on Sunday 12th July 09:11
spanner10 said:
Agreed, and research first.
Think your wife needs to be firmly behind the idea - if you have friends with relatively calm dogs spend time with them etc . When walking my dog I have met several women who say ' my husband/ kids wanted a dog and now somehow it's my responsibility '. Not all of them have taken to it either which is quite sad
Absolutely this, the whole household has to be onboard and get into the dog frame of mine.Think your wife needs to be firmly behind the idea - if you have friends with relatively calm dogs spend time with them etc . When walking my dog I have met several women who say ' my husband/ kids wanted a dog and now somehow it's my responsibility '. Not all of them have taken to it either which is quite sad
The reason Toby was up for rescue, having been a pet for 6years, was that the man (and ex-dog handler for the army) had taken longer shifts and the lady of the house couldn't cope.
She clearly wasn't a dog person, didn't get into the frame of mind, and so other than a 20min walk at 6am he was locked in the garage or garden, she even said herself "we try to keep him out of the house" which was two young children and a dog looked like a Barratt homes show house! Getting the dog home, he behaved well with me from the off, but as soon as I left the room, played havoc with my partner. Paws on shoulders, jumping on the furniture, running up and down stairs, he obviously ran rings around the poor lady. Sorted that in a few weeks, but it took months for him to be happy to go out into the garden on his own, sacred to be locked out long term, or carry on eating his breakfast if I went upstairs, scared he was being left. Couple of years on you would never know, and a combination of our walks and the dog walkers walks have done wonders to catch up with his lack of socialisation with other dogs in his first home.
Daniel
GT03ROB said:
So I've been home for 2 1/2 weeks now. First coupe of days she was very nervous of me, but has completely changed. A wonderful dog. So gentle & soft. But does all the doggy things naturally be it chasing a ball or plunging head first into a stream! Loves being about you. Her behavior is perfect..... you can sit in pub garden with her off the lead & she just lays by your feet. 
Given that we also have a bald Chinese crested she gets more attention from people that the pig-rat-dog thing. A lot of people have just been asking what breed is she. Whats more surprising is the number of those have also adopted from overseas.
Gawd knows what she is...but seems to have some corgi in there somewhere.... really couldn't;t have picked a better dog.
Oh wow! some great stories!! well done for rescuing, a dog needing a home is a dog needing a home.
I've got a Spanish rescue and also had 2 Spanish Fosters - ALL of them were/are ferocious hunters and inclined to bolt. The main thing I'd urge is a well fitting (escape proof) harness (not the Julius K9 ones because they back out of them), plenty of quiet gentle time to decompress slowly and readjust to a new life - like a good 3-4 months at least and a serious amount of work invested in recall and bonding activities with you. I've done some work with o/s rescues and you would be horrified at the amount of dogs that go missing in the first couple of months.
Seriously worthwhile though
Here's Neville 5 years after being dumped by hunters, shy of humans, rescued from the streets into a shelter then to the UK - he is now a Grade 7 agility dog.
I've got a Spanish rescue and also had 2 Spanish Fosters - ALL of them were/are ferocious hunters and inclined to bolt. The main thing I'd urge is a well fitting (escape proof) harness (not the Julius K9 ones because they back out of them), plenty of quiet gentle time to decompress slowly and readjust to a new life - like a good 3-4 months at least and a serious amount of work invested in recall and bonding activities with you. I've done some work with o/s rescues and you would be horrified at the amount of dogs that go missing in the first couple of months.
Seriously worthwhile though
Here's Neville 5 years after being dumped by hunters, shy of humans, rescued from the streets into a shelter then to the UK - he is now a Grade 7 agility dog.
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