Oh, should add that doggy is "healthy" as in, wasn't malnurished or had a life threatening illness that they had to disclose. However, she has the most sensitive tummy/GI system EVER. If you look at her wrong she pukes in the corner. We have spent more on her, medically, than we have on our other dog, who we have had for twice as long. Just sayin.

We rescued a "young adult" dog who was housetrained and knew basic commands. Very sweet doggy.
However, once she got over her initial shyness some traits came through that we can only assume are related to her original owners. There are basic dog things that she doesn't understand. And the rescue org would not necessarily have known this (thus couldn't report) bc they had her for so short a time.
You will need to be prepared to get a nice, housebroken adult dog who will have "issues" due to the rescue. It's sort of like adopting a kid (says the adoptee). It's a crapshoot.

***perfectly healthy AND trained and wonderful***

OP, if you think that by rescuing an adult dog you will have no problems at all, and the dog will be perfectly healthy untrained and wonderful, then you are assuming something that doesn't exist. Puppies are a lot of work, but many rescue dogs are, too.

If he had dogs growing up and doesn't want one, then I think he should get veto pewter. This is a big decision.

I think you should keep working on him

1) How old are the kids? I think this makes a huge difference, if they are old enough to walk the dog around the block by themselves.

2) Is there a dog you can babysit for a few days to a week while the owner is out of town (or in town, just for the heck of it)? If he sees you (or the kids) doing all the work it might help.

3) My DH is allergic to dogs so we have to go with birds. We wanted to hatch a duck. DH was ok with it only if he did NO work with the duck, and no work of mine or the kids' because we were doing the extra work of taking care of the duck. It worked out, but it didn't feel very team-like at times.

4) If you do it, I think he should pick the dog, not you.

He's anti dog no matter the situation for now. I think it's great you can adopt a dog that is already trained and that you know is good with kids. He has never adopted so he had to do most of the training, walking, etc. He's so great with dogs too.

Is he anti dog or anti rescue? If the latter, maybe he will be reassured by a group that fosters the dogs so that their temperaments are known. we have had two dogs from GRREAT, a golden retriever rescue. One was a puppy mill mom, and she was very timid; had probably been abused. The other was from a loving family who couldn't keep him after their child developed allergies. That dog was perfectly trained and a complete joy.

He doesn't want a dog at all. He was the responsible one who ended up having to take care of them growing up. He was also a parentified child so I'm lucky that didn't turn him off from ever having children!

Does he not want a dog at all, or does he want a dog but not a rescue?

In his defense, he grew up with dogs, I didn't so just like before we had kids, you think you know what it's about, but you don't. So I just visit rescue dogs and I figure if I ever fall completely in love with a dog then I'll bring up the topic with him and see if he's willing to meet the dog with the kids before saying "no".

I always liked dogs, but never had this deep yearning until this past year. Anyone relate? I won't do anything DH doesn't want because it's a major change and we are a team, just hoping if I find "the one" he'll feel the same.