We want to adopt a dog but buying seems to be so much easier…please help!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Puppies are exhausting. EXHAUSTING. Give me a mature, potty trained, crate trained dog anytime.

If you foster to adopt you can try before you commit.

I survived twins, so puppies are never going to happen. We never had success on finding a rescue willing to be crated, but getting a dog that is housebroken is so totally worth it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Describe the dog you’re looking for.

OP here. We are looking for a dog on the smaller side. We’re not very picky in terms of breed but definitely prefer smaller breeds. We are even open to adopting an older dog.

That isn't much of a description. I hope you are giving tje rescue more to go on than that. Do you want active/high energy or more laid back. Do you want a dog that is really human focused or more independent? Do you want a 'guard' dog that will bark at strangers or one that will approach anyone for pets ? Is it important that the dog has had previous training? What kind of training is desireable? Is a high prey drive a.deal breaker or desireable? What medical conditions are deal-breakers? What behavioral issues are deal breakers?

OP, this is what you need to do. With our last rescue, I was very specific: small, nonshed, housebroken, preferably older than two. Took a few months, but we were successful. So worth it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Describe the dog you’re looking for.

OP here. We are looking for a dog on the smaller side. We’re not very picky in terms of breed but definitely prefer smaller breeds. We are even open to adopting an older dog.

That isn't much of a description. I hope you are giving tje rescue more to go on than that. Do you want active/high energy or more laid back. Do you want a dog that is really human focused or more independent? Do you want a 'guard' dog that will bark at strangers or one that will approach anyone for pets ? Is it important that the dog has had previous training? What kind of training is desireable? Is a high prey drive a.deal breaker or desireable? What medical conditions are deal-breakers? What behavioral issues are deal breakers?

OP, this is what you need to do. With our last rescue, I was very specific: small, nonshed, housebroken, preferably older than two. Took a few months, but we were successful. So worth it!

Yes PP, you are correct. I was only focusing on local shelters but based on all the responses I've received so far, it sounds like the best path forward is to get in touch with local rescue groups (and breed-specific rescues too).

[Anonymous]

Some of you are spouting such negative stereotypes about rescue dogs. My family has two rescue dogs -- yes, small ones -- who have zero aggression and are full of love. There were some challenges, especially at the beginning, as is common (separation anxiety, etc.) but it was worth it. I also know of people who adopted dogs from breeders and ran into problems, including one that was quite serious. And BTW, plenty of dogs who end up at rescues were originally purchased from breeders by people who found that these seemingly perfect dogs weren't as trouble-free as they assumed.

Please don't cast such a dim light on rescue dogs because of some bad experiences. The answer is to work with a highly regarded rescue, which may mean being on a waiting list to get the dog that's the right fit (especially if it's a breed-specific rescue). Purchasing dogs from breeders is not the panacea you may think, and puppies are a LOT of work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are spouting such negative stereotypes about rescue dogs. My family has two rescue dogs -- yes, small ones -- who have zero aggression and are full of love. There were some challenges, especially at the beginning, as is common (separation anxiety, etc.) but it was worth it. I also know of people who adopted dogs from breeders and ran into problems, including one that was quite serious. And BTW, plenty of dogs who end up at rescues were originally purchased from breeders by people who found that these seemingly perfect dogs weren't as trouble-free as they assumed.

Please don't cast such a dim light on rescue dogs because of some bad experiences. The answer is to work with a highly regarded rescue, which may mean being on a waiting list to get the dog that's the right fit (especially if it's a breed-specific rescue). Purchasing dogs from breeders is not the panacea you may think, and puppies are a LOT of work.

[Anonymous]

I paid for a dog bring retired from a breeder. Sweet dog. Purebred. The breed I selected. No health issues. Create trained leash trained. 1.5 years old. What we paid the breeder we made up for in: no health problems. No behavior problems. Calm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I paid for a dog bring retired from a breeder. Sweet dog. Purebred. The breed I selected. No health issues. Create trained leash trained. 1.5 years old. What we paid the breeder we made up for in: no health problems. No behavior problems. Calm.

I walked in to the county shelter and for the price of her spay and vaccines (discounted) got a lovely, healthy, well behaved, house trained, cat, child and everything else friendly, young (maybe 1-2) dog who for all appearances is a purebred. 10 years on, she's still my best buddy and still healthy. My folks went with a retired show/breeder dog a few years ago and she is just as lovely. I'm not sure it matters where you get them, a good dog is a good dog.

[Anonymous]

OP, I have fostered SEVERAL small dogs through our rescue, and even have a 10 lbs. foster currently (she’s a 15 year old Chihuahua mix, and has specific requirements). There is another 8 year old Chi, a couple of 4-5 year old Affenpinschers, and even a litter of Cocker Spaniel mixes available, so lots of even smaller dogs can be found in rescue. Please keep looking, and be up-front and specific about what you’re looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are spouting such negative stereotypes about rescue dogs. My family has two rescue dogs -- yes, small ones -- who have zero aggression and are full of love. There were some challenges, especially at the beginning, as is common (separation anxiety, etc.) but it was worth it. I also know of people who adopted dogs from breeders and ran into problems, including one that was quite serious. And BTW, plenty of dogs who end up at rescues were originally purchased from breeders by people who found that these seemingly perfect dogs weren't as trouble-free as they assumed.

Please don't cast such a dim light on rescue dogs because of some bad experiences. The answer is to work with a highly regarded rescue, which may mean being on a waiting list to get the dog that's the right fit (especially if it's a breed-specific rescue). Purchasing dogs from breeders is not the panacea you may think, and puppies are a LOT of work.

Well said!

[Anonymous]

I ran into the same issue when I was looking for a dog last year. I also wanted an adult dog who was good with kids and could live in an apartment. I was searching for a unicorn. I couldn't find anything in shelters--pit mixes, German shepherds, cattle dogs, dogs with bite histories or unknown histories etc. I realized pretty quickly that I was going to have to buy a dog, but didn't want a puppy. I settled on a couple of breeds that would be a good match for me and emailed breeders within a reasonable driving distance. I asked if they had any adult dogs who were going to retire from the breeding program, and got two responses. The result of that search is snoring on the couch next to me, and will be heading to the beach with me later this morning. It's worth the search, but you might have to get creative and also be patient. My dog was pregnant so I had to wait for her to give birth and wean.

[Anonymous]

PP here--the cost was around the same as many rescues were charging for their dogs. $500 for a purebred adult, and most agencies were charging a minimum of $300 for mixed breeds. (Of course i've poured thousands into her since then with various vet bills, and breathing surgery because she's brachycephalic etc.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here--the cost was around the same as many rescues were charging for their dogs. $500 for a purebred adult, and most agencies were charging a minimum of $300 for mixed breeds. (Of course i've poured thousands into her since then with various vet bills, and breathing surgery because she's brachycephalic etc.)

Thanks for sharing your experience PP (this is OP). I never thought of getting a "retired breeder". If I can't get a rescue then I will look into that. It sounds like I just need to be patient to find our next dog!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, our next dog will be a purchase. I would buy a puppy.

Our current dog is our 7th rescue dog. He's a disaster and we were lied to about him, but we didn't return him because we didn't want to add on to his issues. Also, we were in a position at the time to care for his special needs.

When we rescued him, we were told that he was surrendered by his owners and had been in a foster situation. Did great with kids and all other animals. No bite history (because we always ask about this). Yeah, they kept all of his "special needs" hidden and we had to get very forceful to get access to his file.

His file listed that after he was surrendered, he went to 3 foster families and was returned by 4 different adopters all within a 6 month span. It also listed his severe separation anxiety and destructive tendencies when left alone, both crated and uncrated. Umm, understatement of the year!

He can't be left alone at all ever. He destroyed his crate the first time he went in it and hurt himself. He destroyed hundreds of dollars of items in the house when he was left alone out of his crate (all of this was before we demanded to see his file). He can't even be left alone while we use the bathroom or he'll constantly paw at the door.
Thank you for not giving up on him.
If we want to go out shopping or out to dinner as a family, we have to take him to doggy daycare. When we want to go out of town, we hire someone to stay in our house with. He can't get boarded because of his crate anxiety and issues with trying to escape to the point of hurting himself.

He's on medication for the anxiety but it just barely takes the edge off. He's tried them all and all had the same results. We've tried trainers and behaviorists and none could do anything with him.

And honestly, he doesn't even like us that much. He kind of just puts up with us and takes comfort in us always being there. His first owners must have driven a pickup truck because when he sees a pickup truck, he wants to go to it. He has to examine every pickup truck he sees. We have had him for 4 years and he's spent every moment outside of the house for the past 4 years looking for his original owners.

I have a very similar rescue. Extreme separation anxiety and destructiveness when left alone. Can't crate her or she'll hurt herself trying to escape, will scratch at doors and baby gates until she causes damage. Clever little troublemaker that figured out how to get into the refrigerator and open pill bottles. BUT, that was 7 years ago when we first got her. She was our second dog and has settled into the sweetest family dog and companion for our now senior first dog. No longer destructive, though you can't close her into a room or behind a gate, and calm and sleeping next to me right now. I think she was neglected (and left crated for long periods), but not actually abused, which made her emotionally needy, but not aggressive. I don't think after 4 years that PPs dog will turn into a dog like mine, but I also don't think you can assume that personality traits like that are permanent. For ours, it was puppy energy and learning to trust and feel confident in our family. It really wasn't THAT much different from the total chaos and destruction that our labs and all of our friends labs in the 90's went through for their 3 year puppyhood. My childhood dog ate through our carpet to the subfloor, for pete's sake. Any dog is a gamble, but buying a dog doesn't guarantee a better experience than (selectively) rescuing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, our next dog will be a purchase. I would buy a puppy.

Our current dog is our 7th rescue dog. He's a disaster and we were lied to about him, but we didn't return him because we didn't want to add on to his issues. Also, we were in a position at the time to care for his special needs.

When we rescued him, we were told that he was surrendered by his owners and had been in a foster situation. Did great with kids and all other animals. No bite history (because we always ask about this). Yeah, they kept all of his "special needs" hidden and we had to get very forceful to get access to his file.

His file listed that after he was surrendered, he went to 3 foster families and was returned by 4 different adopters all within a 6 month span. It also listed his severe separation anxiety and destructive tendencies when left alone, both crated and uncrated. Umm, understatement of the year!

He can't be left alone at all ever. He destroyed his crate the first time he went in it and hurt himself. He destroyed hundreds of dollars of items in the house when he was left alone out of his crate (all of this was before we demanded to see his file). He can't even be left alone while we use the bathroom or he'll constantly paw at the door.
Thank you for not giving up on him.
If we want to go out shopping or out to dinner as a family, we have to take him to doggy daycare. When we want to go out of town, we hire someone to stay in our house with. He can't get boarded because of his crate anxiety and issues with trying to escape to the point of hurting himself.

He's on medication for the anxiety but it just barely takes the edge off. He's tried them all and all had the same results. We've tried trainers and behaviorists and none could do anything with him.

And honestly, he doesn't even like us that much. He kind of just puts up with us and takes comfort in us always being there. His first owners must have driven a pickup truck because when he sees a pickup truck, he wants to go to it. He has to examine every pickup truck he sees. We have had him for 4 years and he's spent every moment outside of the house for the past 4 years looking for his original owners.

I have a very similar rescue. Extreme separation anxiety and destructiveness when left alone. Can't crate her or she'll hurt herself trying to escape, will scratch at doors and baby gates until she causes damage. Clever little troublemaker that figured out how to get into the refrigerator and open pill bottles. BUT, that was 7 years ago when we first got her. She was our second dog and has settled into the sweetest family dog and companion for our now senior first dog. No longer destructive, though you can't close her into a room or behind a gate, and calm and sleeping next to me right now. I think she was neglected (and left crated for long periods), but not actually abused, which made her emotionally needy, but not aggressive. I don't think after 4 years that PPs dog will turn into a dog like mine, but I also don't think you can assume that personality traits like that are permanent. For ours, it was puppy energy and learning to trust and feel confident in our family. It really wasn't THAT much different from the total chaos and destruction that our labs and all of our friends labs in the 90's went through for their 3 year puppyhood. My childhood dog ate through our carpet to the subfloor, for pete's sake. Any dog is a gamble, but buying a dog doesn't guarantee a better experience than (selectively) rescuing.

"Learning to trust and feel confident in our family" is key. I posted earlier about our rescue who was a real handful in the early months, including biting and nipping. Bonding may have taken longer due to the trauma of being abandoned. Our rescue still has some challenges about trust - doesn't always want to be picked up, even when for own good; absolutely rabid about food (more so than I have seen in any dog); possessive with me, etc. - but is fairly bonded to us. Never runs away when temporarily off leash, largely because, as my sister says, he knows he hit the jackpot.

[Anonymous]

Looking into private rehoming situations can be really fruitful too. I looked for months and occasionally an amazing dog comes around. The first few I inquired about were adopted before I could inquire (people are FAST to the draw) but we ended up with the sweetest, chillest, great with my kids, great with our cat, purebred dog that I could have imagined. Just a really freaking good dog. I also agree with the poster who said "a good dog is a good dog." We paid $300 for our dog, but lots of vet bills because he did come with some (reversible) health issues.