We've decided to go for adopting a waggy friend after missing out on three lovely dogs as we procrastinated too much.

We're going to start our last and final go at IVF in the summer (I want to lose weight first) and feel that we've lived our lives around it so much and desperately miss a furry friend in the house after our cat passed two Christmas' ago. It is this that has caused us to 'err' and 'uhmm'.

We have talked to some local people who are able to look after the dog when we go to hospital and we're being upfront with any adoption people so that any pet would be baby friendly. To be frank the possibility of it IVF succeeding is low - but in losing our pregnancies through miscarriage over several years I found that our cat gave me a reason to get up during the devastation and I feel that the concentration of a dog is good thing. We're committed to dog training classes and my husband is at home during the day so I hope we're okay for home testing.

Do you guys think we're approaching this sensibly? We've applied to The Dogs Trust and Animal Helpline in Peterborough.

It sounds as though you are thinking everything through and I wish you the very best of luck, with finding your perfect pooch, your diet and your IVF

Dogpages is a great resource and has many smaller rescues posting too.

Dogpages

Brilliant thank you, and thanks molliepops for the PM x

Oh I wish you all the luck in the world with your IVF and your search for a doggie!

I posted on here a while ago as we are also in the process of finding a new dog. Please don't be put off however, by some rescues who are really not too keen on re-homing pooches to families who have imminent events on the horizon such as a house move, a new baby (!) or a holiday coming up. I only say this because it seems to be a pre-requisite in all of their questionnaires and secondly (not sure if this is a common occurrence because it happened to a work colleague of mine who tried to rehome a dog), she said she had someone to look after the dog when she was at work or away on holiday and the rescue wanted to do a home check and full assessment on that person too, even though she would be coming in to my colleague's house to look after the dog!

We were told by one of our local rescues that it can be quite difficult to find a dog to be rehomed in a family with a child under 12 (they tend to go very quickly if they are available). We have a very mature 10-going-on-11 year old boy but we have already been flatly turned down by 2 shelters until he reaches 12. The lowest age of children that a dog could go to that I have seen anywhere, was a 4 year old and this was a Staffie but my husband flatly refuses to have a Staffie!

Anyway good luck .

Thank you JanieB

I think we've got to make a start with the search for a dog and see what happens. If they turn us down then at least we know and we'll try again after the IVF.

A well meaning friend told me that her sister in law adopted two dogs at the end of her unsuccessful IVF journey and I swore that wouldn't be me and it would work for us. I can still recall that conversation. Does it sound mad that I'd like to be doing this before the IVF so that I'm certain that I am not using the dog as a substitute for loss.

I can't see why the dog people need to know about your hospital visits? Just say no up & coming events but you would like a dog that is ok around children as you have nieces etc. They are checking you have a nice environment for a re-homed pooch, not mapping your movements or what might happen in the next 190 years.

A dog is great for getting you out & about. I love my second hand hounds couldn't be without them, even though it rained today

Shadow, can I ask you what you mean by applying to the one in Peterborough ?

My brother and I are thinking of going there for a look as he would like a dog. It would be very helpful if you could give me an idea of the process if you don't mind.
Thanks, and good luck with your search for a dog.

Hello Button62. If you go onto the website you can find two ways to apply. Look through the Chat Forum and reply to the messages if you are interested or call the mobile number on the message. If there isn't a mobile then call one on the main page. That's as far as we've got too date but they were very quick at getting back to us via the forum and email. I think you get to meet your dog, if you want to carry on then there's a home check.

Good luck!

http://www.homes4dogs.co.uk/#

Thanks very much for the information, I appreciate it.

Some lovely Lurcher pups on there at the moment !

Lots of lovely dogs!

We've finally made a decision on what to do. We're now roughly booked into IVF in April - we're going to go for it and sounds bonkers but the bank hols mean I can rest. We are going to look at volunteering for Hearing Dogs for the Deaf or working with the Cinnamon Trust in the future depending on how we get on after treatment. I feel much more relieved and positive today.

Both are fantastic organisations. I wish you all the luck in the world x