hello all Hope you are well. Thank you for your replies to my first post the other day. Really appreciated Anyway so I'm looking for a pup, those who read my first post will know this already. I've been looking online at dogchamps, KC and breeders pages. I've come across a few adverts that have broke my heart. Please don't take offence but why do people get a dog without thinking it through thoroughly? I don't understand. Come hell or high water I would fight tooth and nail if anyone tried to take my dogs off me. I know each situation is very different and I completely understand if you can't keep your dog for health/injury reasons. I'm not saying I'm perfect far from it. But some adverts are appalling. For sale no longer wanted, or wasn't the dog I thought it would be or too much hard work for us. It breaks my heart. Some people just wake up one morning see a gorgeous puppy and go out and get one without thinking about the ins and outs of it. Sorry rant over xx No offence meant to guenuine dog owners. X
Funnily enough I was thinking the same thing earlier today. Someone I know put his puppy up for sale because it was just not what he thought it was going to be. Before he got it I told him it would be a big commitment and hard work but, of course, he thought it would be that cute puppy in a basket. I have three dogs and I could never have gotten rid of any of them and I can't understand how anybody could after making that commitment to their new family member.
Puppies can be a complete shock to the system, even after reading every last piece of information about what it's going to be like, nothing can prepare you for the upheaval! I thought I was prepared for my first puppy having read the whole of the internet (OK, maybe not quite all of it, but at least 95% ) but it still took me a bit by surprise. When Luna came along last winter, I thought I already knew it all, having been through it already, but it's amazing how quickly you forget! They are exhausting. They are bitey, needy monsters, who need to be watched every instant they are awake. It can feel never-ending. For anyone, I can understand why this is shocking. For people with young children, I can understand that it could be absolutely terrifying. We're so lucky having this community where we can find out that these things are normal puppy behaviour, to be given sound advice on how to manage it and reassurance that it is only short-term. Even so, we have members who feel at the end of their tethers and that they can't cope. In almost every case, those members are the ones doling out the advice and the support a few months down the line. But for people who don't have somewhere like this, I can easily see how they would think it's not something they can manage. I'm not saying it's right, far from it. But nevertheless, I can understand how someone without support might feel overwhelmed and unable to cope with the emotional rollercoaster that having a puppy can be!
To me, the more heartbreaking ads are for the older dogs that were once considered a family member, but get forgotten after kids, moves, divorce etc. I participate in a Lab Rescue locally, and many of these dogs have no issues, are trained and were once loved members of a family and given up at an older age for a variety of reasons. It is very difficult for me to understand, as I plan my life around my dog. In some ways though, it is better that people recognize when they are not meeting their dog's needs and they look to re-home to someone that can (hopefully through an organization that can vet people and find a legitimate forever home).
They are exhausting. They are bitey, needy monsters, who need to be watched every instant they are awake. It can feel never-ending. For anyone, I can understand why this is shocking. For people with young children, I can understand that it could be absolutely terrifying. We're so lucky having this community where we can find out that these things are normal puppy behaviour, to be given sound advice on how to manage it and reassurance that it is only short-term. Even so, we have members who feel at the end of their tethers and that they can't cope. In almost every case, those members are the ones doling out the advice and the support a few months down the line. But for people who don't have somewhere like this, I can easily see how they would think it's not something they can manage. Hi Snowbunny I completely understand and I don't mean it in all circumstances at all. I know there are many reasons why people can't legitimately keep a dog and it's for none of none of the reasons mentioned here. I think the one that really put the wood on the fire was someone who bought a dog who didn't turn out to be the best field dog in the world and wants rid, like it's a chocolate bar or pair of curtains. Believe me there were times when I cried and cried with frustration with Sadie and her naughty misbehaving and stubbornness but even then I remembered saying to myself, this will not break me we'll get there for her and we did. I know it isn't as cut and dry as this but you get my gist x
Exactly Quinn These are the ones, I've been through divorce and there was no way that cheating bugger was having her. Over my dead body. Plus I could tell she didn't really like him by the look in her eyes. I too plan everything around Shiko, people can say what they like. Dogs are my everything and if it weren't for Sadie who kept me strong and needed me I'd probably not be writing this post now.
We have a member who rescued a dog that was called "useless" (or words to that effect) by its previous owner, and is now out there winning awards. I guess if you have limited space and need a dog for a certain purpose rather than as a pet then moving them on makes sense if they don't live up to expectation. Not that I'm ever going to be in that situation, but if I were, I would definitely ensure that the dog was going to the best home possible. It is heartbreaking to see dogs that are simply discarded, though
@Tammy Cooke Although not a Labrador, in fact the polar opposite , we have taken on someone elses cast off dog . We have Sam, our Lab who is six years old and now have Nelly aged almost three, we rehomed her six months ago from someone who just couldn't be bothered any more . She wasn't physically abused , we don't think , but she was in the way , the owner just wanted her gone as soon as possible . This little dog is deaf ( we didn't know that when we paid for her ) , she has shocking back end joints , she displays some OCD behaviour but she is a doll , an absolute joy of a little soul and worth every bit of effort , their loss x P.S. The previous owner did not even ask for our address when we bought Nelly , she didn't have a clue where she was going , she was not spayed at the time ( is now ! ) so you can imagine what might have happened to her x
@kateincornwall honestly Kate, I can't tell you how happy it makes me that Nell came to you and is now safe and loved x
@Tammy Cooke I completely agree. I've seen this happen a few times with people who get a dog on a whim and expect it to be fully trained and obedient. And when it turns out to be a little more difficult than they thought then they just pass the dog onto someone else. It makes me furious too. Also :
I imagine it must be so hard for some people to give up their beloved pet for circumstances out of their control. Others however, seem to do it with such ease. I could never give Stanley up, not in a million years. He's my whole world. I could give up most things in my life if I really had to but I would not eat if it meant buying Stanley food. And not a chance in hell would OH get him in a divorce - I would take him through every court in the land! But my family or OH's wouldn't give Stanley up. He's a solid part of the family now. I know they would take him if necessary or do whatever was required to allow us to keep him. My OH's brother had a baby last year and he has a dog and there were questions like "what if the dog doesn't like the baby etc". And both my in-laws response was well she'll have to come and live here. She's important too.
Yes, this too. I was reading an article in a shooting magazine yesterday to the effect that "if you're lucky you can find a fully trained gundog at a bargain price from a gamekeeper who has lost his job" (and therefore has lost his tied house and can't house multiple dogs). I was just thinking what a horrible way to profit from someone's misfortune. I would be completely devastated if I had to give Jess up because I couldn't afford to keep her.
I know what you mean, but all our dogs have been cast-offs and I am so grateful we were able to adopt them and love them forever. I am not in a position to bring up a puppy, but I can give an older dog a loving home and a life.
As a trainer/behaviourist I get more and more depressed with our 'throw away' society and dogs are 'property' and therefore disposable if they don't meet our expectations . I'm currently working with 6 rescue dogs, all under a year old, given up by previous owners because they were among other reasons chewing, jumping or 'wouldn't listen'. In reality they are just adolescent dogs who have received no or little training. None were given to rescue for financial or family reasons. I would like to see it become much more difficult for people to buy dogs and for there to be restrictions on breeding to ensure that puppies produced are not only healthy and of good temperament but that they receive proper socialisation in those early vital weeks - and socialisation is a lot more than they have been raised with the hoover/washing machine/tv noises
It infuriates me to no end. "oh, let's get a cute little puppy for the kids!" A year later the poor thing is confined to the backyard, no one notices him except to yell at him when he barks, spends his whole life wondering why he cannot be inside with his people..... When we decided to get Murphy I knew it was going to be a 24/7 effort. My OH was traveling 4-5 nights a week for her job. My saying was "Whither I goest, thou goest." when it came to Murphy. Now it is to the point we have no interest in extended travels that would not include him. I just do not get it, at all. Murphy is a two person guy. When he is out with my wife gardening it is really heart warming to watch them. He sticks with her for the most part, he will go find one of his balls and bring it to her, she stops, washes it off and flings it for him. When she does anything he is there watching her every move. It is apparent he just loves being around people. He is a bit different with me. When I work in my wood shop he comes in, finds a place out of the way and either snoozes or keeps an eye on me. When I pause for a break he comes over to see what is up. If he gets bored, he leaves, finds a couple of his balls and brings them into the shop. Who could resist? Murphy and I meet lots of people on our walks. Many of them will mention that they would like to get a dog like him. I explain to them what it is like for us. We get out to play at least 5-6 times a day, he goes with us most places. He is always around. Then I tell them flat out "If you are busy with careers and want to travel a lot, don't get a dog, you will not be doing him or yourself any favors, they take a lot of work and time and every minute of it is worth it." Too many people grew up with dogs like I mentioned above, relegated to the back yard, out of sight, out of mind and they think that is ok. It isn't. We notice with Murphy that if we do not get him out for a walk where he can meet people and other dogs fairly frequently he starts getting bored just hanging around us and playing in the backyard. He needs fresh input on a regular basis. So off we go, to new adventures! Hey, Murphy? Whaddya think? Should we head over to that walking trail we saw the other day on the way to the beach or what? He is always up for the adventure. People expect that they can "crate" an intelligent dog up for 9-10 hours, then come home play with it for 5 minutes or so, then sit down to veg at the tube the rest of the night or play around on their computers and not have a dog that has issues. If anyone treated them like that, they would have all sorts of "issues".
