I always had dogs when i lived with my parents, and am thinking of getting my own.

Between my partner and i there is only 2-3 hours a day when they dog would have to be by its self, and thats only weekdays, so its not going to be stuck indoors all day.

I was thinking of going to a dogs home as it makes me feel sad all these dogs without a loving home, but a few friends have said i could be opening my self up to a whole load of problems that way, and its just better to get a puppy, saying i could end up with big vets bills, and a dog with issues if i get from a home.

Should i be put off?

It's Horses for courses you can have big vet bills with dogs from breeders as well. Good shelters will health check their dogs and match them to a good home. So no don't be put off. Both my Dogs are Pedigrees with good lines from breeders but that's not right for everyone. You can get great healthy and fantastic dogs from a Shelter.

You need to ask yourself do you want an Adult or a Puppy? A puppy is hard work so going to a Shelter and getting an Adult dog may be easier for you you. Do your research listen to others advice but make your own mind up about what is right for you

13 years ago, I went to the city dogs home to look for a dog. I found Bob, he was a puppy.

Earlier this month at the age of 13 years old, I had to have my dog put to sleep, as he was getting old, struggling with life and the vet suspected a tumor around the bladder area.

It was a very difficult time when I had to do this, but for the last 13 years, he has been a member of the family and a massive part of my life. He is greatly missed and I keep remembering all of the wonderful times over the years.

So, in short, don't be put off, a dog from a dogs home, whether a puppy or an older dog can give you years of fond memories.

Have you ever thought about a retired racing greyhound? They're fantastic pets

do you have the time to train and socialise a puppy you say it will be left alone only 2 - 3 hours but does that include actually getting your time for the rest of those hours or will you be officially working?

you can end up with problems either way depends how much experience you have of training and socialising a dog?
what breed are you interested in how much exercise do you plan on giving the dog?

i would firstly narrow down the type of dog you want size wise and exercise wise and then start asking more questions

We are getting a dog Holly. We're definitely going for rescue dog and there are several reasons why:
- puppies are hard work. In 2-3 hours they'd get up to all sorts - chewing, peeing, pooing. My grandmother and I had 12 to contend with years ago and whilst rewarding you do have to commit to them. Rescue dogs are usually a wee bit older and often are house trained already.
- Breeding of puppies is questionable. Many Tears Rescue rehomes poor breeding bitches and it's heartbreaking. If you really must get a puppy do ask around on The Dog Pages for a reputable breeder.
- Rescue dogs are so rewarding. You pay a third of the price for one as you would a puppy which goes straight back to the charity and it also frees up space for another poor dog to be taken in.
- not all rescue dogs are perfect but they're often used to crate training and, barring a settling in period when they may have a few mistakes, they're used to homes.
- charities will carefully match you to the right dog for you.

I hate to say it but it sounds like you're putting your own feelings ahead of the dog just to save you going to look the kennels. Try to be a bit broader minded and think of what a great home you'll offer a hound in a pound.

I really hate the assumption that a rescue dog means a problem dog. It simply isn't true at all.

I would recommend a greyhound. They sleep most of the time so are fine if you need to pop out for a couple of hours. We got our dog from a pup although she was a rescue and also a greyhound. We would never have a puppy again. They are a nightmare!

If you aren't a fan of any particular breed, a rescue dog will be ideal although of course you can search the pounds and charities for the breed you like. Some of my best dogs have been rescue dogs. They certainly won't have issues if they are a puppy and if they are a bit older they will love you to death for rescuing them. You can form a very special bond with a rescue dog that you don't even have with a puppy you have raised.

Puppies are a pain in the bum. I have just bought my second pug and she cries a lot, farts, pees on my bed and bites me. My older pug gets jealous and snaps when the pup comes near her toys. I can easily see how so many 6 month old dogs end up on Gumtree because the owners just can't cope any more. You must be very dedicated, patient, safety conscious, willing to get up in the night, and not too attached to your possessions to raise a pup. And even then you will make mistakes.

I would always go for the rescue dog before a puppy.
There is no guarantee with a living creature that it won't get sick. In fact you have better chance with health by getting an adult dog. A Puppy may not show signs of an illness straight away but you won't know for certain of any genetic anomalies until it starts to mature. If you get a pedigree puppy it could develop inherited issues or if you get a mix you might not know the history anyway and it could have been inbred.
With a rescue dog the rescue should have done extensive health checks and as an adult would have already shown signs of any major health issues beforehand if it had any. Of course you won't know it's medical history but that's the way things go.

My dog Sammy was a rescue With no history. I got to have her for 17 years! She did have health issues towards the end but at the age she got to it wasn't much of a surprise. I have neber had such a perfect dog in my life before. I will never ever ever have a relationship like that with any other dog or pet ever! When you rescue a dog it's the most wonderful feeling in the world and you could end up with a fantastic animal.

The only pets I've had who've cost me a fortune in vet bills are the dog and cat I got as a puppy/kitten. My dog was a result of terrible breeding and poor research on my part. I don't regret having him for one second..... health problems aside he was a wonderful dog and companion, but I regret lining the pockets of someone who was more interested in money than her dogs well-being.

A good rescue shelter will have health and temperament tested a dog before putting them up for rehoming, just as a good breeder will only breed from health tested dogs who don't have any behavioral problems.

Whether you decide to rescue, or buy a pup, just make sure you do plenty of research first. With a shelter ensure the dogs are vet checked and temperament checked and with a breeder research the breed, find out any common health problems associated with that breed and ensure the Parents were tested for these.

Hi Holly. I also wanted to suggest that you could put your name down for a retired guide dog. You could have a young dog (not a puppy) that has been trained but just not made the grade. Some guide dogs have been taken from the owners through no fault of their own and are awaiting good safe loving forever homes. x

Another vote here for rescue dogs.

I've had my current dog for 15 years and she's been the most amazing companion for all that time: calm, obedient, funny, and (until a couple of years ago) very, very healthy. She now has a couple of age-related problems but that's only to be expected.

Before you consider a pedigree dog, you might want to watch Pedigree Dogs Exposed: Three Years On. It's a follow up to the original documentary and looks at the health situation for pedigrees now. It's on BBC 4 at 9pm tonight.

+1 for rescue dogs.

All of my dogs have been rescued from Battersea. Never a single problem with any of them. All lovely dogs.

If (and that is a big If) you do get a dog from a rescue home that has problems this will not cost you anymore in training.

Trainning a new puppy can be just as expensive as it will need Essential socialisation classes, Obedience skills (sit, down, recall) Lead work.

And if you get a good trainner they will go into Nutrition advice and how food can affect behaviour. They will give you Grooming and general handling techniques, the one I went to even tought me some Tellington TTouch Training techniques. So even a good trainning regime for a new puppy can be going into the 100 pound mark.

So I wouldn’t rule out rescue dogs because you may get one that has a few issues because if a new puppy doesn’t get the correct training it can become one of those dogs with issues.

This is the route I took. I've never had a dog as an adult and about 2 years ago started to really "crave" a dog but wasn't up to training a pup and was worried about a rescue dog having "emotional baggage".

We got friendly with a couple who had a retired greyhound and fell in love with his great placid nature. We now have a 4 year old retired racer called Ernie who is very happy to lounge around the house for hours and equally happy to go on a long walk.

In general they have such lovely temperments. I say in general because there may be a 'problem' greyhound out there somewhere, I've just never actually met or known of one. I think people assume they require a lot of energy, but besides going for a walk, they're pretty lazy! And they love a good cuddle

OP - I feel like I should back up what the other FMs' are saying about puppies, because it's all true. The bit (bit... it's a bloody essay ) in quote below is my experience with puppies if you want a read.


I know this must feel like rescue dog propaganda! I've just seen a few people get a shock when they get a puppy.

If you do chose a rescue dog, here are a couple of good sites, one for retired greyhounds and one for retired blind dogs (good idea, avasgranny!), both are brilliant if you want a rescue dog but worry about 'issues'.

http://www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk/
http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/aboutus/...ning/rehoming/

If you don't want either of them, it's still worth a look. Loads of information and details of requirements, and what's expected from you when taking on a rescue dog. You'll get an idea of the process, too.

Hope that's been helpful

Those sites are not really rescue dogs sites though are they? If I was holly I would get a puppy rather than a dog that you don't know the history of, its just not worth the risk.

You can never guarantee the health and temperament of a puppy either. Believe me, I have learnt that the hard way. Rescue centres have to be completely honest nowadays with prospective owners, and dogs are usually thoroughly assessed before they are put up for rehoming. Rescue centres cannot take the risk of rehoming a dog with a suspect health or temperament history and not informing the owner. The risk of litigation nowadays is too high. Dogs (and, quite often puppies)are in rescue centres for all sorts of reasons, marriage break-ups, changes in employment, death of owner. My own rescue found himself in kennels because his owner, after 12 years, got a new boyfriend and he didn't like dogs. At the age of 13, through no fault of his own, he had to find a new home. You couldn't find a more placid, well trained dog.

There is nothing wrong with a puppy from a reputable breeder but it is wrong to think that rescue dogs more often than not have 'baggage' or there must be something wrong with them. The reality is that, in the vast majority of rescue dogs, there isn't anything wrong.

Eh I will tell my dog that then will I? She was a working guide dog but was badly abused by her owner, hence her being rescued by the gda and us having her back. She is now 14 but has been the gentlest most loving dog ever.

When you get a dog from a rescue organisation you are vetted as much as the dog! They are very scrupulous in ensuring that you are the right family for the dog and they make home visits to make sure you're not telling pork pies about where you live. The Scottish Greyhound Society made us build a bigger fence in our back garden before they would release Ernie to us.

Yes they are.
and yes it is. - read the big bit in quote I posted