Chicken bald back

[jomaxsmith]

Hubby and I are debating getting a dog (if debate is what happens when one says 'I want' then sulks when the other one doesn't instantly agree ).

 

He is keen on whippets, I've not really met one in the flesh, apart from at country shows etc but I have this perception of them as nervous and neurotic (a bit too like me!)

 

_If_ I capitulate, I would really rather give a home to a dog that has had a bad start in life but I wondered how suitable a rescue dog would be for a noisy house with two hectic boys aged nearly 6 and 7 1/2 and for novice dog owners (hubby and I both had dogs as children but not since then). I would never forgive myself if the boys were bitten - but I suppose this could happen with a 'new' puppy just as easily if the boys didn't know how to behave around it.

 

Are dog rescue places such good judges of character that they can tell if a dog is able to live with children?

 

I'm in such a quandary over this - I really don't know what to do

 

Jo

[Snowy]

We've been going through this ourselves, first with Candy and again now as we search for a second dog. It is a little harder to find a suitable rescue that is good with children but not impossible and very worth the wait! Candy is brilliant and we have missed out on the sleepless nights, housetraining and nipping that a puppy brings.

 

Whippets are gorgeous little dogs, full of personality! My Mum used to have one - she used to sneak slurps of Mums home brewed lager then do circuits of the living room at 90 miles an hour, leaping over the settee on the way! Her fur was like velvet and she was surprisingly cuddly!

 

Choose a rescue that uses foster homes rather than kennels. That way you know the dog is used to being in a home environment and will have been fully assessed by it's foster carers. Quite often dogs are rehomed for very genuine reasons and may have come from a very good family home through no fault of it's own.

 

Good luck with your search!

[The Dogmother]

As you have said yourself, children are as likely to get nipped by a puppy (in fact more so) as by a mature or rescue dog. It all depends on how the children treat it.

 

Until I got Ruby last year, I always had rescue or foster dogs and can confirm that they are always matched to their fosterer or adopter's circumstances. Children defintely benefit from being brought up around animals; it teaches them respect and consideration, they also need to learn 'dog language', so perhaps you may want to consider (if you get a dog) having a couple of sessions as a family with a good dog trainer, so that your lads learn how to 'read and talk dog'.

 

Whippets may look nervy, mainly because they are so diddy and slim, but they are remarkably robust and gentle dogs which love children.

 

How about talking to a local rescue and taking some dogs out for walks at weekends, then move on to having one to stay for a few days and see how you get on? Then you coudl decide whether you wanted to think more seriously about getting one, and if it would fit in with your life too.

[Seagazer]

It really does depend on the dog. Our first rescue dog Sally was approx 18 months to 3 years old when we got her. My older 2 children were 6 and 3 at the time and we never had one bit of trouble with her and the children. She absolutely adored them and any other child that came into the house. I was a childminder at the time. She was a sort of staff x with a whippet/greyhound. Wonderfull calm soul she was.

 

After she died we tried another rescue dog. She appeared to get on fine with my kids then who were 19, 15 and 9. When my nephew (3) came round it was a different matter and she would attempt to chase him and would attempt to nip. She also did this with the cats and then later attacked me. She had to go back I'm afraid.

 

You should try and spend as much time as possible with any dog you look at. Take the dog out for a walk and see what the dog does when your kids muck around. As I've said before I had misgivings when we met the last one but was persuaded by the family to have her. Go with your instinct.

[Rhapsody]

A rescue dog has not necessarily had a bad start- Zeus for instance lived in a family that split up and neither partner wanted sole responsibilty for him. My old dog Metz was one of an entire litter dropped off at Battersea because she was the product of an unwanted union between a collie and a husky. Both dogs are fantastic with children- Zeus because part of his breed profile is that they were actively bred to love and protect children, and Metz because she grew up with my boys like any other puppy.

As has been said, the rescue homes are on the whole careful and selective about where their dogs go and you can expect lots of help.

Finally, can I ask why your OH wants a Whippet in particular? What is it about that breed that appeals to him so much?

[Jools]

It really does depend on the individual dog, but it's a very rewarding thing to do.

[The Dogmother]

My last incumbent was 3 when I took her in, she'd been very badly treated but grew up to be an absolute angel. Rosie grew up with her, toddled along holding onto Jezebel's fur. The dog would guard her carefully, and she was the gentlest ever. Equally, I have had fosters, which I had to send back as they were so disruptive.

 

As I said before, any rescue worth its salt would let you take dogs out and have them stay in your home before you made any decisions.

[jomaxsmith]

Thanks for all the info guys, I'm not sure fostering/a trial run would be possible as I can't imagine how heartbroken my boys would be if I decided I didn't want to go through with it after having a dog to stay. I need to be 100% sure before a canine crosses the threshold.

 

Finally, can I ask why your OH wants a Whippet in particular? What is it about that breed that appeals to him so much?

 

He likes the look of them (I know that's shallow, sorry ), the size is good - we've seen rescue greyhounds and they are enormous but whippets are not small enough to be a 'toy' dog. He's also read that while they like a good run, once exercised they are happy enough to snooze for the rest of the day and also that they are not keen in going out in bad weather (which would suit oh very well ) Also, of course, they seem to be good family dogs, not bred for aggression etc. The breed doesn't seem to have too many breed defects either. The short coat is good for me (not too much hair to clear up).

 

Jo

[Chucky Mama]

You would need a good history on the dog and as someone else has said rescues don't have to come from bad backgrounds. Some dogs are in rescue centres as home circumstances have changed like people emigrating, dying, allergies etc. Some will have come from homes with children and most rescue homes will advise as to whether a particular dog is suited to a home with children. Personally I have only rescued puppies as I didn't want to inherit any issues and as I had very small children wanted to bring them up and train them from day 1.

[bronze]

We've always rescued our dogs. Our last we got when she was 18 months old and our children at the time were 3, 20 mths and a baby who wasn't home from hospital til a month later. We made very very sure before we brought her home and though she has had her problems none of them have ever been aggression. We just have to be careful she doesnt knock them over as shes a big girl

[Ain't Nobody Here]

We rescued Riley about 9 years ago when he was about 1 or 2. They told us he was good with children (and steered us away from others they said weren't). They were right - my boys were 5 and 7 when he came to us and we had absolutely no problems. We couldn't have a nicer more friendly dog .

[poachedegg]

I agree with it depends on the individual dog - we have had Ruby for nearly two years - she came to us approx 8 years old with no history apart from she had been returned twice to the RSPCA because of being destructive.......destructive my eye!!! She lies around all day and the only time she ever barks is if the doorbell rings!

 

[Ain't Nobody Here]

.... with no history apart from she had been returned twice to the RSPCA because of being destructive.......destructive my eye!!! She lies around all day and the only time she ever barks is if the doorbell rings!

 

What a sweetie .

 

Those words could've been written about Riley . He was taken back to the Cat & Dog Home "because he chewed things" . He's never chewed a thing he shouldn't in 9 years .

[jomaxsmith]

*Update*

 

I've contacted Lurcher Link and a lady is coming to homecheck us this weekend. She's bringing with her a 4 month old greyhound cross who might become our dog if we all like each other

 

It's all moved from abstract to real very quickly!

 

This little guy has had a tough few weeks since being rescued and fostered - he was full of worms and succumbed to Parvo, his brother sadly died from it. He's on the mend now and the lady who is fostering him tells me he's gorgeous, very friendly and she can only bear to part with him because she needs the space for more desperate cases

 

I've got a feeling that life as we know it is about to make a dramatic change!

 

Thanks for all the words of advice!

 

Jo

[The Dogmother]

Great news I keep an eye on that forum, so be sure to post photos.

[Guest]

It really does depend on the individual dog, but it's a very rewarding thing to do.

 

absolutely! We rescued a 5 year old female yorkie, the first thing she did when we met her was roll on her back for her tummy to be tickled. It was love at first sight from that moment and she's proved to be the sweetest, gentlest dog and is great with kids.

[Guest]

*Update*

 

I've contacted Lurcher Link and a lady is coming to homecheck us this weekend. She's bringing with her a 4 month old greyhound cross who might become our dog if we all like each other

 

It's all moved from abstract to real very quickly!

 

This little guy has had a tough few weeks since being rescued and fostered - he was full of worms and succumbed to Parvo, his brother sadly died from it. He's on the mend now and the lady who is fostering him tells me he's gorgeous, very friendly and she can only bear to part with him because she needs the space for more desperate cases

 

I've got a feeling that life as we know it is about to make a dramatic change!

 

Thanks for all the words of advice!

 

Jo

 

ooooooooo, how exciting, good luck!

[Rhapsody]

*Update*

 

I've contacted Lurcher Link and a lady is coming to homecheck us this weekend. She's bringing with her a 4 month old greyhound cross who might become our dog if we all like each other

 

It's all moved from abstract to real very quickly!

 

This little guy has had a tough few weeks since being rescued and fostered - he was full of worms and succumbed to Parvo, his brother sadly died from it. He's on the mend now and the lady who is fostering him tells me he's gorgeous, very friendly and she can only bear to part with him because she needs the space for more desperate cases

 

I've got a feeling that life as we know it is about to make a dramatic change!

 

Thanks for all the words of advice!

 

Jo

 

 

[Seagazer]

Oh good luck, I hope you both fall instantly in love

[The Dogmother]

Once you've had a lurcher, you quickly get addicted!