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[quote=Anonymous]We have a rescue dog, one who was terribly abused, neglected, and malnourished, and despite his tragic history, he is not the least bit aggressive or dangerous.  We do not worry at all about him harming our daughter.  He's a small poodle and I think it's a testament to the breed that despite his past, he still doesn't bite.

That said, a rescue dog like him would still not be a good pick for someone looking for the "best family dog."  Although he poses absolutely no danger, he is a LOT of work.  He has multiple health issues that require a lot of resources (both time-wise and finance-wise), and he has lasting emotional trauma that make him scared of strangers.  He loves my husband and me, but it was a long road, and he'll never be the cuddly, playful dog that he would have been had he been raised from birth by us (or another loving owner).  Poodles are such perfect family dogs otherwise that I would recommend someone considering one to get one from a reputable breeder.

So... rescue dogs are not necessarily any more dangerous than other dogs (that depends on both their breed and their particular backstory) but they can pose "risks" in that they may have special challenges.  However, it's such a good thing to do that I wouldn't want to discourage someone away from all rescue dogs.  Some are abandoned because of an owner's failing health, advancing age, or financial difficulties, and may be very well-adjusted.  It does pay to be careful and cautious, though, especially in a home with children (but then, that is true of any dog, rescue or not!).  We would not trade our chosen rescue dog for all the world, but we also probably would not have picked him had we been looking specifically for a dog who would be good with our daughter (he came along many years before she did).  [/quote]

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