Wanting To Get My Own Puppy

[budgiew]

Not exactly sure how rescue works in other states,but from what i read on the rescue threads it seems that rescue groups take dogs from the pounds to rehome them.Here in Victoria i think once a dog goes to the pound;at least the ones i know;they are there untill they find a home.I have not heard of dogs taken out of the pounds to rescue groups down here.So they need to be adopted from the pound.

Let me tell you, there's no way in God's green earth I'd ever recommend a novice dog owner with young children take ANY adult dog direct from a pound into their home.

Puppies would be fine but there are too many risk factors with adults, even with a temperament assessment.

Sorry everyone;I did not mean to cause any discord here.I am fairly new to all this and can only offer advise from my own experiences.I may view things from a different angle but can take on board advise from others with more knowledge in these matters than me;like poodlefan and greytmate;as i am learning all the time thats why i am here.Sunday will be the 4 year anniversary of the death of my "pound' dog.I have been looking at her photo album and have been upset and am a bit touchy about the pound /shelter thing.

[poodlefan]

Sorry everyone;I did not mean to cause any discord here.I am fairly new to all this and can only offer advise from my own experiences.I may view things from a different angle but can take on board advise from others with more knowledge in these matters than me;like poodlefan and greytmate;as i am learning all the time thats why i am here.Sunday will be the 4 year anniversary of the death of my "pound' dog.I have been looking at her photo album and have been upset and am a bit touchy about the pound /shelter thing.

No need to apologise. This place thrives on debate!!!

The issue isn't about the merits of pound dogs but how a novice dog owner assesses that.

Someone looking at potential family dogs in pound runs isn't necessarily going to know the dog's history. They will not know the dog's level of bite inhibition, what its bite threshold is, whether its a resource guarder, whether its touch sensitive etc. They certainly won't know how to test that. Looking at a dog won't tell you how well its been socialised with small children (or not) and whether bite inhibition was taught and you only get a certain period of time to instill that in a dog.

Every one of those factors may influence a dog's suitability for a family with young children. Get it wrong and your child may carry the consequences for the rest of his or her life.

Many rescuers will also tell you that dogs can undergo significant behavioural changes when placed in their new homes. Novice owners not attuned to warning signals dogs are giving off about increasing dominance or discomfort around kids may inadvertently engineer an incident.

Edited July 15, 2011 by poodlefan

[Kelly_Louise]

Not exactly sure how rescue works in other states,but from what i read on the rescue threads it seems that rescue groups take dogs from the pounds to rehome them.Here in Victoria i think once a dog goes to the pound;at least the ones i know;they are there untill they find a home.I have not heard of dogs taken out of the pounds to rescue groups down here.So they need to be adopted from the pound.

Let me tell you, there's no way in God's green earth I'd ever recommend a novice dog owner with young children take ANY adult dog direct from a pound into their home.

Puppies would be fine but there are too many risk factors with adults, even with a temperament assessment.

Sorry everyone;I did not mean to cause any discord here.I am fairly new to all this and can only offer advise from my own experiences.I may view things from a different angle but can take on board advise from others with more knowledge in these matters than me;like poodlefan and greytmate;as i am learning all the time thats why i am here.Sunday will be the 4 year anniversary of the death of my "pound' dog.I have been looking at her photo album and have been upset and am a bit touchy about the pound /shelter thing.

I understand that - I'm very biased about rescue dogs too... I think they are the best

But I agree with Poodlefan - I wouldn't recommend someone without alot of experience and with small children get a dog straight out of the pound. Not to say it can't be done and that it couldn't be a perfect match - but it would be better to have a higher chance of finding the right dog for their situation from a rescue org or registered breeder that knows the dog well and has tested them in a range of different, everyday scenarios and knows their reactions.

Plus, one dog out of rescue makes room for them to save another from the pound - which is usually where they all come from anyway.

[Kirty]

budgiew, just to clarify. There is a difference between pounds and shelters. Pounds are where stray/dumped dogs end up. They do their 8 days, then they are either PTS, taken by a shelter/rescue group or adopted from the pound. Most Victorian pounds have contracts with big shelters (RSPCA, VAAT, etc) and many don't deal with the public at all. Dogs do not stay until they find a home. Pounds do NOT do temperament assessments. Sometimes volunteers from the general public will go in and do temp assessments (which is what you see in the DOL rescue threads). Shelters and rescue groups DO do temp assessments. Hope this helps.

[budgiew]

budgiew, just to clarify. There is a difference between pounds and shelters. Pounds are where stray/dumped dogs end up. They do their 8 days, then they are either PTS, taken by a shelter/rescue group or adopted from the pound. Most Victorian pounds have contracts with big shelters (RSPCA, VAAT, etc) and many don't deal with the public at all. Dogs do not stay until they find a home. Pounds do NOT do temperament assessments. Sometimes volunteers from the general public will go in and do temp assessments (which is what you see in the DOL rescue threads). Shelters and rescue groups DO do temp assessments. Hope this helps.

Thankyou Kirty.Now i have taken time to reflect on all the information i have a much clearer picture.Thanks again.

We got our dog from Animal aid- VAAT - when they where in Kilsyth; i thought they were a pound??so she came from a shelter then.?

Edited July 15, 2011 by budgiew

[espinay2]

An example of how it can work. A good friend of mine with a young family decided they wanted a dog (already had a cat) and after talking with me decided on a CKCS. I helped them locate an older pup from a breeder. Pup was 9 months old and had been 'run on' for show but did not turn out. While they still took thier new dog to training classes etc, having an older pup just took the pressure off their dual working couple family with two young children. That dog lived until 14 in a very well loved home. Just recently they decided they wanted to get a dog again. Children are both high school age but life is still busy and both parents still work. They still have a cat. Again it was decided that a pup would not be the best option. CKCS was also their choice the 2nd time around - the breed really suits them. They talked to a number of rescue organisations and also the Cav club/cav rescue. Through them they were put in touch with someone who needed to rehome two Cavs through no fault of their own. They took a trip to meet them and both of them came home with them. While the 3 year old dogs need a little bit of work learning to walk well on a lead and had to be taught to use the dog door (again they will be taken to training classes as part of their 'settling in' process) they have settled in very well with their new family without major issue. In their case taking on older dogs worked for their family and frankly they have not missed the hassles of the puppy stage

[Kirty]

VAAT is the council pound for Yarra Ranges and also a shelter. Some shelters are also pounds. They run the council pounds for whatever council and when the dogs have done their 8 days, if they are suitable, they go into the shelter.

Edited because I found new info.

Edited July 16, 2011 by Kirty

[April_Mum]

Thankx everyone for the very helpful advice , have spoken to my DH aboyt visiting a rescue shelter, and he loves the idea. Plus it takes some of th stress of raising a puppy away.will definitely keep you guys posted. Hope we find our furry baby soon

[Clyde]

You can also contact Cav breeders who may have an older pup available through the main page of this web site.

It's a lovely idea to rescue an older dog but with a 2 yr old at home I would pass at this time and look for something where you know the dogs history.

[Clyde]

After I typed this and I went and lit the fire and got my dog on my lap. I realised while my Shih Tzu was pawing at me that I did get her when my daughter was about 2 and the dog is a rescue. In saying that though, she has bitten my daughter a few times (altho' not in a long time as it's managed well and my daughter is now well trained ) and when we were playing this evening her dewclaw got caught in my knitted jumper, she screamed and tried to bite me in a frenzy :rolleyes: It took some time to unhook her without getting bitten .

Just be careful.

[budgiew]

I would also like to clarify,that Save a dog inc,that i mentioned in a previous post,is a registered animal shelter that combines this with foster care of the animals in the community.All animals are temp tested prior to adoption.I suggested them as an option;and was not meaning to 'guilt trip'' anyone about rescue dogs.

[percyk]

we have only ever had puppies introduced to our famliy

it all depends on a a few factors

what your family is like...are the kids a handful > what the dog you end up getting is like personality wise-

what sort of person you are...whether youre organised and committed to the raising of a pup cos the early months are crucial

but

we somehow have managed

it is mostly my doing cos im a dog nut and love them more than anything on this planet besides the fam

if however they just become a sideline then it may not work

my kids were easy...disciplined and i was strict with hygiene and the way animals and kids were supervised...i also was careful in the pup we chose...one didnt work out...a standard poodle who was very dominant and ended up taking on my young son....we gave him back and the breeder was very understanding...we did get a behaviourist in to assess him though.... and it was upon her advice we gave the pup back and chose a goldie instead

so yep mistakes can be made but if you get the right pup and the kids are good kids then the joy of having a dog grow up with them is a pretty fine one

i wish the cavs were a little less prone to all the health issues...id love to have one again before i leave this planet...they sure are sweet and my vet said they seem never to take on kids the way some breeds do... a safe choice ....but again...be careful in the choosing and then in the raising of that individual puppy

many a loaf has failed

when the dough aint

raised right