Rescue Rotties and Existing Dogs.

[MissMoose]

I'd really appreciate it if people could not tear me a new one over this

Just wondering if anyone had any relevant knowledge or experience of rescuing rotties when there are existing dogs in the home.

I've got two (currently pretty young) puppies bombing around my house (they were a buying-turned-rescue mission, hence 2 rather than one) and when theyre older i really want to rehome a Rottie. There's so many of them in rescues near me it absolutely breaks my heart, so i was musing over how practicable it would be to rehome an older dog into a home with two established dog.

Any thoughts?


Thankyou lovelies

[KathyM]

I dont think anyone can "tear you a new one" for wanting to rescue a dog. I think it is great that you're considering it and thinking about it before hand instead of acting on a whim like so many owners do!

I would say nothing is impossible, some people are very anti rescue and you might get the breed biased telling you it won't work, but every dog is different.

If you're intent on an older dog like you said, there are organisations that deal specifically with older/senior dogs, such as The Oldies Club who pool information on older dogs in rescue throughout the country. Senior rescues are often overlooked and can be very rewarding pets. I have gone down that route a few times and although time with them is invariably shorter than we would like, they have always been super special.

Oldies Club

If you're looking for a younger dog, I would highly recommend joining The Refuge and asking for some guidance there on how to go about it in your area - it's a great site where rescuers and owners get together to chat rescue dogs (and other non-rescue dogs are "welcome" on their board too unlike some fanatical rescue sites). I have adopted two dogs through The Refuge, one was Dharma, our current bullmastiff who we adopted as a puppy.

The refuge - animal welfare and rescue

[Schip]

I rescued a rottie bitch 5 yrs ago when I'd got a litter on the ground and my own show schips - it was me or pts so timing wasn't my choice lol.

I had no problems, even moved house 5 mths later with them all I just took sensible precautions such as introductions off my land, walked them in together with one on one basis. They interacted with me to supervise but never alone size was too much with the risk of rottie doing her legs in - I'd found her a new home then she did her cruciate in so it was another 6mths before she left.

Rotties are very laid back dogs compared to my schips and with a background in security work and obedience with GSD's it was brilliant to have a dog actually obey commands everytime not when it suited them!

[Mrs Dragon Wolf]

An old friend of mine years ago introduced a rescue Rottie into the home where he had 3 other dogs, it worked well, but he took time to introduce them away from the shelter and his home .............. all in all it was done over a month and he had several happy years with them

[Cockys Royals]

My neighbor rescued a rottie from our local ARAS center, ARAS give you 2 - 3 months with the animal and if neither get on then they take it back, thing is the neighbors wife couldnt bond with the rottie, no fault of the dog, so he ended up back at the center. Theres nowt wrong with sussing out the pros & cons & discussing before action. But find out from your center as much info about the dog & if there is a return policy, sounds daft but ours here have one, which I suppose keeps the animal safe.

[KathyM]

Having good follow up makes a good rescue, that reminds me of my other "stock" advice which is to never, EVER buy a dog from the council stray pounds. Dogs from pounds are unassessed and often have little or no history. Given council pounds are businesses where the funding is only given when the dog is either homed or destroyed, they most often offer no backup of taking the dog back should things not work out. Always pick a rescue that assesses dogs thoroughly, even better if in a foster home, and who offer backup if things do not work out.

Quite often people are tempted to pick the "easiest" rescue to get a dog from, but remember, if they don't check you thoroughly, they probably don't check the dogs thoroughly either. They need vetting as much as you do.

[MissMoose]

Thanks guys!

I'm quite excited now

[Schip]

Just like to add my rescue girl came from COUNCIL POUND shock horror she was amazing and is doing great with a family who think she's the best behaved dog they've seen bless lol.

Rotties in my experience are easily trained, want to please so much so I'm about to take on another youngster from a different council pound. If you are a confident and sensible owner you stand a good chance of a happy result from the experience.

[KathyM]

You've been very lucky. Personally I won't recommend it as it's taking too much of a risk, especially with a family with other dogs. I also don't know if there are children in the house which would absolutely rule out a pound dog with no history.

Nearly all my rescue dogs have been through the council pounds. The difference is they came out and into the care of an actual rescue who assessed them. For those wanting to save a death row dog, this is absolutely the safest option. I would never have an unassessed poundy risk my other dogs or children.

Putting the fact aside that pounds are not rescues, they also even in the better cases are set by certain rules. For example they can only provide veterinary care for the dogs if it will save their life, otherwise their hands are tied for the first 7 days. I know a council pound in Wakefield who left a dog with a badly broken leg for over a week. I know of plenty of dogs who have come out of council pounds with parvovirus, fleas and worms.

If people want to take the risk of an unassessed dog with an unknown history, poor health and parvo coming into a family with dogs, then that is their choice, but I wouldn't want them to do so thinking a council pound was some type of rescue when they are anything but. They are a money making business, nothing more and nothing less.

I'm truly glad it worked out for you, I really am, and wish you the best of luck with the next.