We're meeting 5yo black lab Mason tomorrow. We would be adopting him from his owners who apparently own a lot of labs. She didn't say exactly how many. But she said something in our texts about "that's the breeding life". So that leaves me wondering, but i figure i'll ask her in person. But anyway, i was wondering if you guys had any suggestions for questions to ask about Mason or about them being breeders. We're looking to adopt a calm older-ish dog. as long as he's calm.
Hi Meg, In adopting a dog of this age you are choosing to obtain your dog in a different way to the 'normal ' Forum recommended manner.Pippa goes through some of the important considerations here .... http://thelabradorforum.com/threads/thinking-of-getting-a-puppy.3045/ There is also a link to the main site in this article and don't be put off ,,these points are all important to adopting an older dog too. As he is currently with his breeders and not in a rescue establishment I would want to determine that they do actually own this dog .....sorry to sound suspicious but you hear about unscrupulous breeders. It's hard to know what to expect until you've seen the set up of Mason's current home. There is no saying what information you will be able to obtain from his current owners.Our dog is our first dog so I haven't a lot of experience but I would say assessing his temperament and how he will suit your life and home is very important.He may be wonderfully trained or he may not,either way he will take some settling in to your life and routines and that can take a fair investment of time . I also don't know how much experience you have but I'd also say really be sure that you can manage Mason and his needs before you take him as it would be heartbreaking if he had to go back because you felt out of your depth .Good luck with the meeting ,I hope he is suitable and I am sure you will love him and give him a wonderful new life with you and your family Best Wishes Angela
It's not uncommon for breeders to re-home dogs that have finished their showing/competition careers. But I would talk with the breeder about why she is re-homing him. One thing to consider is that Mason will probably have spent his life in the daily company of other dogs. If you do not have any other dogs already this will be a big change for him. If he is a laid back type who is happy having humans for his company then things should be fine. But if he is anxious about being isolated from other dogs or left alone with no (human or doggie) company then it could be trickier. Be prepared to test the waters here. Might be a good idea to talk to the current owner about having him for a trial period to see if your situation and him will be a good combination. Like Angela, I hope it all works out really well and that you are a great match for each other
From the pictures you posted, I'm afraid I don't believe that he is coming from the best home. He's obviously not had his care needs addressed. So, if they're breeders, then I'm fairly confident that they're, at best, back yard breeders and, at worst, a puppy farm. That doesn't mean you shouldn't adopt him, but be on high alert for any behaviour issues. I'd also be seriously concerned about health issues; if adopting from a reputable rescue, they normally have a policy that covers any existing health issues, and the dogs will have all been thoroughly vet checked before being rehomed. You likely won't get the same assurances from this owner. Try to look at him with impartial eyes and a cold heart (easier said than done) and decide whether he's the right fit for you.
In addition to all the previous suggestions it would be useful to walk him on a lead to see if he is calm then. Let us know how you get on.
I think one question I would ask is if he is walked every day and what his lead walking is like. Sometimes if breeders have a lot of dogs their exercise time is playing in the garden or field with the other dogs that are kept there. I would check about reactivity towards new dogs and how well he has been socialised. I hope all goes well.
@Dexter they were in this thread: http://thelabradorforum.com/threads/underweight.16946/ Very long claws, obviously a bit of a messy yard and probably doesn't get walked....
Thanks Fiona .....ah yes ,bless him ,it's hard not to make conclusions just from the photos and the sketchy details ...but I think adoption could greatly improve his quality of life ....
One important question, I think is does he have good recall or even a basic one to work on. If he doesn't that's a lot of hard work. Although from the looks of his nails it doesn't look like he's been walked much if at all. Poor boy looks so sad Impossible to see him with a cold heart I really hope he's the boy for you. x
Sending very good wishes for your visit with Mason tomorrow. From the photos he looks like he could really use your help. Your biggest challenge may well be trying to remain objective and not throttling his current caretakers. It would be even more difficult if you find him in poor condition yet the breeder wants you to pay more than a very nominal adoption fee. It would rankle me to hand over money if he's not been well treated. On the other hand, that would make you want to take him more. It may be a day of tough decisions for you! I've looked at a few adult or adolescent possibilities so far and the below is what I've kept in mind. Just giving you my list in case it can help. What is the dog's history from birth to now? Why are you giving the dog up? (sadly people will often lie about this, but the lie can also tell you a lot about the situation) What do you know about the dog's sire and dam? Did the dog have any early illnesses, has he/she been spayed/neutered, tested for ED/HD or genetic diseases? How would you describe the dog's socialisation (good with cats, kids, loud noises, farm animals, public transport, etc)? What are your training methods? What other dogs does this dog play with? Is he used to interacting with unknown dogs of either sex? How does he react/play? What does the dog do when meeting strangers (people and dog)? Is the dog used to going on walks? On/off leash? With other dogs? In urban and/or rural settings? How much exercise and what kind does the dog need to be happy? How do you know when he's happy? What is he afraid of? How do you know if he's afraid? What does he do when he's tired (curl up on the couch with you, sit next to you, go to another room and sleep, etc.)? Do you keep the dog inside your house or in kennels? Where does he sleep? Is the dog used to riding in the car? How often do you take him outside the home? What do you imagine would be the perfect home/family for this dog? Then get him out for a walk, preferably in a couple different environments and somewhere where you'll run across dogs to see his reaction. I also like to sit on the floor/ground, call the dog over for pets and see what he does. Not to do if the dog seems aggressive as you risk losing your face, but I really like to see if the dog will engage with me, how confident he is, where the eyes go, etc. Best case would be one who plonked down in my lap. I figure if I ever find THAT one and he's for adoption, I'm a gonner.
