Gems

Hello,
The kids want another dog, ok ok me too.

We had a pedigree dog before we came to OZ, but we couldnt bring him with us.

Anyway our previous dog we got as a 8week old puppy, and so he was great with the kids.

However Ive been looking and most of the dog breeders are over the other side of Austalia. Dog breeders in WA are few, and not really the type of dog we want.
Also noticed a lot of weird breed mixes like labradoodle
Ive contacted a few breeders but got huge waiting lists.

So been looking at dog rescue websites and saw a few small dogs we like. However they are all about 2 -4 years old.

Ive never had a rescue dog, or got one that was not a small puppy.
Anyone bought or given a dog that was 2years or older? Did it fit in with the family ok?
Anyone got a rescue dog, and again did the dog fit in with your family?

I think the dogs look ok on the rescue websites, and only want a small dog.
But unsure about an older dog, as have kids.

Should I wait for a breader or go for a rescue dog thats 2-4yrs old?

Gems

annqldau

We also left our dogs in UK for reasons we are quite happy with and they had an excellent new home and settled in well. But as we liked both the breeds we had in UK for temperament and fun once we were totally settled here and had our own home we bought the same types of dogs.

If you want a larger dog, go to the breeds Australian website and they often have links to breed rescue for their sort linked on there.

It's not unusual in Aus to have your dog flown from elsewhere.

We live in QLD but one of our dogs came from Canberra via a local breeder who'd had two sent up to pick the best one to show, we took the cast off as we had no intention of showing.

Also our other dog was flown up by us from Melbourne as that was the only place with the breed of dog we wanted at the time. He landed at Airport without any problems and settled well after his fight no pinning at all.

jad n rich

One rescue dog, hes an absolute champ too, loves kids, loves everything really, except cats and they told us that.

They made sure we went for a dog good with kids, kids had to go in spend half an hour with him etc. They do as much as possible to try and make sure the dogs are rehomed to the 'right' home.

Certainly worth a look and a bit of time invested to find the right dog.

Centurion

Please please please get the rescue dog. You will be giving a dog a home in a country where we simply put to sleep vast numbers of unwanted ones.

And on the plus side of things, think about not having any wee or poo in the house for weeks to match your stolen phones, remotes - thanks to your already house trained new dog!

marvinc

Depends on the breed you want Labradoodles' aren't a breed but basically a cross breed that twits are selling for big money and people are buying!

Contact the Australian Kennel Club, they will give you details of your closest breed club for the breeds 'you' are interested in, then you can speak to the club secretarys' and they will let you know which reputable breeders have puppies or puppies planned depending on your breed. To find a nicely bred, well reared puppy you will generally have to wait and repsonsible breeders will health test and want the best homes for their puppies.

'All breed' Rescues do often have unfortunately have puppies in, so you could always check to see. Rescues mostly will home check you and will take into account your circumstances ie, children, size of garden, working hours etc and will match you with a dog/puppy.

There are also 'breed' rescues run by many of the breed clubs (info from Oz Kennel Club) contact the ones in the breeds you are interested in, breed rescues are just for their breed and they know their own breed inside out, again you will be homechecked and a puppy/dog matched accordingly, if they have nothing suitable it's a matter of waiting until they have the right dog for you.

spartacus

Can't speak for Oz rescue dogs / societies, but we had a rescue dog in the UK and we brought her across here with us. We should really have taken one from a rescue kennel, but my wife fell in love and her family were emigrating. So Lucy arrived in our family and she's been briliant. Kids love her, she no bother at all, and being a whippet / staffy cross comes in handy catching the mice and rats.

We might even be getting another dog to keep her company. Possibly a rescued racing greyhound. Make great pets, and don't require the amount of exercise you'd probably think. IF you're interested here a link:
http://www.greyhoundsaspets.com.au/

gobbyjock

We have had our Blue Heeler since she was 6 months old,(we`ve had her for nearly a year now) we got her from the K9 dog rescue in Mandurah and are very happy with her, She had been badly treated before and has a broken tail but with some training and a bit of love she is a very happy and loving wee dog. We too left our 9 yr old boxer with friends in the UK, we`d had him since he was a pup but our house felt so empty without him we decided to go for a rescue dog and can honestly say we`ve not regretted it. There seems to be so many dogs in rescue homes in WA lots of pedigree dogs too.

busterboy

I would go for a St Bernard complete with brandy barrel. Useful for the amount of snow up your way.

ohippy

Please go for a rescue dog/puppy, so many over here are put to sleep every day because it is such a huge problem. It's heart breaking.

There are 33 centres for dogs in WA including some specialist breeds and also don't forget the pounds. If you are after a particular breed and age - just ring round, I know loads of people who have picked up pups from rescue centres. A lady I met yesterday had got a Beagle pup from K9.

Every rescue centre I know has the dogs vet checked and most check as to whether they are child/cat friendly too so you generally know what type of temperment they have and they will do their best to match you.

beebopaloola

We have a rescue dog - he is fantastic.
we " rescued" him from RSPCA shelter where he had, had behaviour tests etc and we socialised with him first,we have a daughter age 9 and they are best chums... he fiits in great and we would not be without him now he will be 1 year next week and is a Staffy / Kelpie cross so has plenty of energy

eddie007

The best dog we ever had was an RSPCA rescue... Mutley

She was a one eared Rottie cross who had been rehomed twice already by the RSPCA and we were her 'last chance'

She was totally mad when she first arrived... didn't know howto negotiate steps... 9 months old... really awful history of abuse.. she had broken toes, tail and a missing ear that someone had tried to point... not a 'safe' bet at all

But She became the best natured calmest most obliging dog ever... inspite of her hideous start in life ...
a real Nanny to our little ones as and when they arrived, best friends with the cats etc etc etc

No such thing as a bad dog.... just bad owners...

Reedy

We watched a feature on the news this week about an animal shelter in Melbourne on the NSW border where they put down 150 healthy animals a week - a woman goes there once a week and rescues about 10 animals....

There were healthy kittens and puppies killed by injection, put into refuse sacks and tossed on the tip...

It broke my heart!!!! I got my kitten from a Petshop and felt a bit guilty when I watched that programme - trying to convince my OH to let me have another kit - problem is I'd want to save them all

ohippy

You can only do so much but every bit helps. I got two cats from death row and my mate another one, a few weeks ago - 27 cats were killed that day and that was just one day at one sanctuary. Got to stop the pet shops selling puppies and kittens.

perksy

We've got a rescue dobbie here in the UK and can only say she's a cracking dog. When we first got her we had problems with seperation anxiety and nuisance barking but we got someone in to put her straight. Our dog wasn't in a home, my brother caught someone stuffing her in a postmans sack ready to drown in the local canal.

Rach25

My hubby had two gorgeous dogs (maltese and an australian terrier x), both from RSPCA in Adelaide and they were really good natured and well behaved indoors. they usually let you spend a lot of time with the dog before you decide, its economical and most importantly you'd be saving healthy dog from being put down. Gd luck