Save A Dog Organisation.

[becandcharch]

About 3 weeks ago we adopted our first rescue from Save a Dog! Heres my story http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=184622

I found them to be such lovely people on the phone and in person. They were happy to answer all of our questions and for us to spend as much time with her before we took her home.

One thing I was surprised at was their lack of questions for us. All they asked was if we had a fence. There was no yard check either.

They were happy for us to take our current dog along and let them have a play in a seperate fenced area.

Overall all I was really happy with them

[puggy_puggy]

Slightly off topic but if you would consider another pug we may be able to help you out.

We have Willie & Missy available for adoption and many more puggies in our care that will be ready for new homes in the near future.

Willie & Missy on PetRescue

[Kirty]

Awww they are so cute!! My BIL is always making noises about getting another pug, and I keep telling him about Pug Rescue.

[Pointees]

If your worried about getting another failure, and can't find a pup...

Sometimes registered breeders have to rehome some of their older dogs, this is sometimes due to needing room for the future pups to move up into the show ring.

Of course, this breeder would have spent a lot on the dog, and would want to check you out

Normally, all you would have to pay is for the cost of desexing.

You would know for sure that these dogs have great temperaments.

Always a thought.

[Akayla]

I believe the point with Pure breds is that you may have dodged the problems you incurred.

You havent given specifics so please dont see this as an attack but just some friendly discussion.

1) May have died from an illness that was handed down by the unknown parents.

2) Aggression and anxiety can be inherited from the parents and sometimes will not show till they are well and truelly an adult (particuarly when they go through puberty).

3)Again health issues of all sorts can be inherited. Its why breeders screen their stock and usually as they become an adult when things often become obvious. Dogs that mate just because often do so young when they themselves appear healthy aswell.

I guess Id be wary given your children of adopting a puppy. There really just is NO way to tell that these problems and others wont appear at adulthood.

However you can socialise a puppy the way you want.

If you went through a good rescue that did good temperament tests I would think you would have better luck with adults.

You can get pure breds from rescues. More likely as an adult but there are still plenty out there looking for homes.

If it were me Id get a pure bred just because although its true things can go wrong also you can "pick" what the dog will be like with your family and you will know the chances of inherited diseases is reduced. Only because you have young children who have already had a negative experience with a dog and I wouldnt want that to happen a second time.

My advice is to really REALLY look hard and as you said there is no rush. Im sure you will find something

[Ons]

that was my thought too pointees, have a look on the DOL breed pages for mature dogs. Certainly it's not a rescue dog but it's a dog looking for a loving pet home

i'm sorry to hear of the bad luck that you have had with your other dogs but i'm sure there is a wonderful puppy looking for it's forever home just around the corner.

[mita]

that was my thought too pointees, have a look on the DOL breed pages for mature dogs. Certainly it's not a rescue dog but it's a dog looking for a loving pet home

I'd only add....one well socialised with children.

[calypso]

I'm learning that I need to be careful how I word things, because they are being slightly misunderstood.

Our rescues did not work out through lack of caring or just not wanting to put the time in. We went for breeds that are known to be good, family dogs. Our pug x passed away far too young (heart related and not diagnosable and so no-one is to 'blame'). The aggressive dog was PTS. I got her from a collegue of my husband - she was going to be surrerened to the RSPCA because she killed one of their hobby farm chickens. She was 'raised' around a young (3yr) old child. She assured us that she was very stable and sound with children. 2 serious dog bites in 1 day and I called her and her response "oh no, not again - I was hoping she wouldn't do it there". She had bitten their child. Rightly or wrongly, I marched her up to the RSPCA and more than likely she was put to sleep becuase I had to write on that surrender form that she bit my child. I couldn't rehome her myself, because I was far too concered that she could be passed on again to a family with children. Our schnauzer, she was a puppy farm girl and we knew that she had behavioural issues and we were willing to put in the hard work to help her. We had a visit from one of the lovely behaviourist on here and would have gone to any length to help her settle into family life and would have worked with Judy for as long as it took (and she would be our first point of call if we every needed dog help again, she's worth her weight in gold!). But her hearing defecit (a result of no vetinary care while she was breeding and an ear infection left far too long) made her unsafe and unstable to have around young, impuslive children. She was rehomed caringly and appropriately.

I think that perhaps this may be the wrong forum to discuss this. I have been deemed, from my history, as someone who shouldn't adopt, regardless of circumstance. I'm sure that we will be able to adopt a puppy as a pet, that doesn't have to be pedigree. Geez, growing up our family dogs were all 'bitzers'. No papers in sight. Raised from puppies and all fabulous family pets - they were either neighbourhood giveaways or pound puppies.

I'll keep my eye out. I'm sure the right one will come along.

I have spoken to SAD organisation and got some helpful information. I'll wait, and watch, and if the right puppy comes along then we'll have a look.

[calypso]

Hi there,

I am rather concerned about the responses offered to you, and I am sure people have their reasons for their comments??

SADS is a great organisation who do wonderful work as do a lot of rescues and I am glad there are people out there like yourself that are still prepared to give cross breeds a home (we know there is no way we can stop cross breeds being bred). As for rescues last time I enquired there was NO Pug rescue, and this is the issue with a lot of pure breeds.

Good luck with your search for a new family pet, you deserve a pat on the back not a slap on the wrist

[schnauzer]

I'm learning that I need to be careful how I word things, because they are being slightly misunderstood.

Our rescues did not work out through lack of caring or just not wanting to put the time in. We went for breeds that are known to be good, family dogs. Our pug x passed away far too young (heart related and not diagnosable and so no-one is to 'blame'). The aggressive dog was PTS. I got her from a collegue of my husband - she was going to be surrerened to the RSPCA because she killed one of their hobby farm chickens. She was 'raised' around a young (3yr) old child. She assured us that she was very stable and sound with children. 2 serious dog bites in 1 day and I called her and her response "oh no, not again - I was hoping she wouldn't do it there". She had bitten their child. Rightly or wrongly, I marched her up to the RSPCA and more than likely she was put to sleep becuase I had to write on that surrender form that she bit my child. I couldn't rehome her myself, because I was far too concered that she could be passed on again to a family with children. Our schnauzer, she was a puppy farm girl and we knew that she had behavioural issues and we were willing to put in the hard work to help her. We had a visit from one of the lovely behaviourist on here and would have gone to any length to help her settle into family life and would have worked with Judy for as long as it took (and she would be our first point of call if we every needed dog help again, she's worth her weight in gold!). But her hearing defecit (a result of no vetinary care while she was breeding and an ear infection left far too long) made her unsafe and unstable to have around young, impuslive children. She was rehomed caringly and appropriately.

I think that perhaps this may be the wrong forum to discuss this. I have been deemed, from my history, as someone who shouldn't adopt, regardless of circumstance. I'm sure that we will be able to adopt a puppy as a pet, that doesn't have to be pedigree. Geez, growing up our family dogs were all 'bitzers'. No papers in sight. Raised from puppies and all fabulous family pets - they were either neighbourhood giveaways or pound puppies.

I'll keep my eye out. I'm sure the right one will come along.

I have spoken to SAD organisation and got some helpful information. I'll wait, and watch, and if the right puppy comes along then we'll have a look.

Hi slk,

An ex puppy farm schnauzer should never have been rehomed with young children.

I think buying a pedigree pug or mini schnauzer puppy from a good registered breeder would be a terrific choice for your family.

[Kirty]

calypso, not sure what state you are in, but there are several Pug Rescues that I can think of.

And people, she has decided she wants a rescue puppy!! Not a pedigree!! If she feels prepared for what that entails, then good luck! We should be encouraging her for choosing to rescue instead of going to a BYB or pet shop. Not everyone wants a pedigree puppy.

[puggy_puggy]

I think buying a pedigree pug or mini schnauzer puppy from a good registered breeder would be a terrific choice for your family.

Pedigree pugs do turn up in rescue.

[schnauzer]

I think buying a pedigree pug or mini schnauzer puppy from a good registered breeder would be a terrific choice for your family.

Pedigree pugs do turn up in rescue. :D

I also rescue a lot of schnauzers - but we do not rehome to families with small children unless the dogs have been brought up with kids.

[Di*]

just looked on SADS' website

and if I was looking for a puppy, I'd want more reliabilty when it came to breed identification - and yes I get it that they're a rescue and do their best

but I really don't think a family with your dog owning history (I'm thinking of your middle daughter who had a chunk of her middle lip bitten) should play 'pick the breed' (and therefore characteristics etc) when choosing a suitable puppy for their family.

as an example, (for their medium to large sized dogs, and I know you're looking at puppies)

http://www.saveadog.org.au/dogs/dogs_medlarge.asp

Leo is not a Maremma x

and

Ella is not a Lab x.

No lab in Ella.

Ella is an Anatolian x maremma.

And, you know this how?

Di

[Mr R & NR]

Hopefully you haven't gone away Slk. It is unfortunate the experiences you have had with your last three dogs. To answer the orginal point of your post I believe SADS to be a great organisation. I worked on the weekend for them as a volunteer for two years before they had their great new premises. They were good organisation and as far as I know the people in overall charge have not changed. They, like a lot of rescure organisations put a huge effort in to rehoming the dogs. I believe they did good temperament testing, they give you the opportunity to bring your dog (if you have one) to meet the adoptee on semi neutral turf. I never experienced them rehoming an aggressive dog. They also take the dog back if it doesn't work out. People used to say to me "how can you do that sort of work, I would just want to take them all home" like I was some hard hearted person. Well SADS was a great place to be, good people and lots of care and particularly given the awfully difficult physical premises they were in at the time. The word hovel springs to mind.

If you have decided to go down that route for your next dog/puppy, then I am sure you know, training and socialisation is extremely important. By the nature of the place socialisation will be have been taking place since the puppies arrived and you will need to continue this. If there is anything else I can help you with, please feel free to PM me.

EFS

Edited January 9, 2010 by Mr R & NR

[Cosmolo]

You may also want to consider AAPS- they have some lovely dogs and can assist you to find a suitable dog, even if there is nothing currently available that would suit. I have had good experiences with SADS, however i have had clients get dogs from there (and many other places) that were not what they expected. Ask lots of questions, ask to see a formal temperament evaluation and take your time. Ensure that you see how the dog interacts with another dog as well whenever possible.

[Muttaburra]

I'd just like to add that getting a puppy and raising it with the children, can have it's advantages but is no guarantee. The full personality of a dog doesn't develop for a while.

Sometimes it is better to get an older dog that has a history of getting along will with children.

I would recommend you go with a Pug Rescue, and get a dog that absolutely loves children. But please, supervise carefully, small children can be unco-ordinated and clumsy, and might inadvertently injure the dog.

[slk]

Of course I haven't gone away - I'm thicker skinned than that

I take all advice on board. And I would rescue an older pug in a heartbeat. Actually have sent a pm through. And we are willing to wait for the right puppy, or older pug.

Everyones advice is always welcome, I can weed through the comments and am happy to gain from everyone's experience, positive & negative. Thanks for all the input - it's going to be a slow and well planned, thought out process - my girls hearts have been broken 4 times in a row and want our dogs to be our forever dogs ....

Thanks again

[Kelly_Louise]

Just wanted to say best of luck with finding a new furry family member - I hope that it works out well for you.

Good on you for looking for a rescue dog - there are so many wonderful dogs looking for their forever families.

[Czara]

I think as a general rule, puppies are somewhat more unruly than adult dogs