Adopting a dog from Petfinder

So for those of you who have read my thread "I have a puppy problem!" you all know my situation.

Now i have been looking at petfinder and havent really thought of adopting a DOG not a PUPPY.

I think taking care of a dog will be alot easier than a puppy and it is already trained and such. I already have a dog in mind that i want to adopt on there.

I have also found a resolution to the dog being home alone for 6 hours. Since the dog will be trained and alot more calm, unlike a puppy I could drop it off at my grandmother's house until i get back from school.

I think it will be a great family dog and am really considering adopting.

I just want to know if you guys think it is a better idea to adopt a dog than a puppy in my current situation.

EDIT: The dog that I looked into is from a rescue organization near my house but is still living with his owners b/c the owners are moving and they cannot care for the dog and need to give it up.

He is not agressive or anything of that sort and he is definately house broken.

Have you considered an oldie?
(I haven't read your other thread yet, sorry)


Having read your original thread, I'd suggest you wait until you are self sufficient, whereby you can care for and finance the dog yourself without the need for your parents help. JMO, but in the long term, I do think its best to wait for the sake of yourself and the dog.

Sorry...I agree with cumbriannlass ( i just read through your last post again).

It sounds like you desperately want a dog....have you thought about or checked into a local rescue centre, I dont know how they work in UK but this works well in US and Germany, a lot of them rely on volunteers to get the dogs out for daily walks, some volunteers just go to walk about half a dozen dogs on their day off others have their favourites and will go in daily or a couple of times a week and its not just that they walk them, they brush them, play with them....just generally spend time with them. It great for people who for one reason or another may not be able to have a dog at home and the dogs really benefit from it, just getting that one on one attention can really make a difference in their attitude and (I believe) in their health as well.

Having read your situation and the desperate want for a puppy, if that is now the route in wish you decide to go, then I wish you all the very best x

Hi PuppyLove, I believe for your situation an older dog would be more suitable. Good choice

I think this really is the best option for you at the moment. If you truly want to do the best for a dog then you will wait until the time is right. I personally have waited nearly 10 years to get a dog.

Helping out at a local rescue centre (I am sure that there will be one near you just desperate for volunteers) will give you acess to some dogs and you could really make a difference to some if not all of them.

whilst I commend your desire to adopt an older dog - its not necessarily the easier option. no matter what the details on the dog are.

I adopted a rescue dog at 2 years old and whilst yes he did not wee on the floor or destroy my house, he already had learned behaviour that wasnt acceptable. Its hard work rewarding but hard taking on a rescue. Alsoi an older dog may experience seperation anxiety if left alone, it may be destructive, dependent on its situation there are no guarantees its housetrained etc - so have a real hard look at this as its not necessarily easier than a puppy.

I adore my rescue dog - but it doesnt change the fact that he can be difficult and has undesireable bevhaviour on occassion. Also not knowing his full background gives you grey areas where you wont know how ur dog will react.

To be honest I agree you shouldnt get a puppy but neither should you rush into getting a dog either especially bearing in mind that your family dont want you to so you have to accept that you cant have everything. What happens when you want to go out after school college, but your dog needs walked/fed/ etc and you cant do both - are you always going to put your dog first - because you should regardless of what other things are going on.

Also should you have to give up the dog due to committments considering this will be a rescue dog - its not fair to put it from pillar to post.

This probably sounds really harsh - but I truly believe a dog is for life - regardless ....

dani

Puppylove, you are obviously desperate for a doggy friend and I think that's lovely

We probably sound like we're pouring water over your plans but we're just asking you to think very carefully.

I've just lost my two babies this year, and as time goes on I'm less and less inclined to have another dog at this point in my life.

You see, while we have our own house, a good garden for a dog, can afford dog minders during the day, I still won't do it. The responsibility of looking after something for another 14-18 years is frightening. I'm actually worried that I'm not up to it and don't want to make any mistakes.

I have these doubts in my late 30s, with a stable life and everything else in place. You need to think very carefully.

And I still come on dogsey and enjoy the doggie chat.

I mentioned before about you helping out at a local dog rescue centre to try and give you a 'fix'. You're yearning for a dog and there are other ways to satisfy your need. good luck

I think it's lovely that you would consider getting an older dog.
I think it would be better though if you checked out rescue centres though They will be much more able to find a dog that will suit you and your family. Just because an advert on the internet says the dog is well trained and can be left doesn't mean it is true Also there is a chance the dog would just not get on wih you and your family.

If you are so set on getting a dog now, check out the rescue centres. There you can meet the dog you are interested in and get to know it before it comes home. The dog is likely to have had an assessment too, so you will have more of an idea what you are getting.

Older dogs are not necessarily an easier option. Many are not trained and can't be left either. They will also need a settling in period so I would have thought someone will need to be with them all the time for the first few weeks.
No matter what we say you will probably still go and get a dog So good luck!

Hi there,

I completely understand your desire for a dog, however, I would listen carefully to what people hear say.

Your parents aren't doing it to be mean, they have their reasons for not wanting a dog, and most rescue centres won't rehome to a family who aren't all in favour of having a dog, for good reasons.

Have you actually asked your gran if she can take this dog during the day? She may want to go out too?

Also, we recently got a rescue dog, who at 11 years old we were told was good with other dogs, good offlead, and on. However, we've needed to do a lot of training with him.
I'm having to socialise him with other dogs and this takes a lot of time and commitment and we had to train him to come back to us which we still can't rely on him to do but most importantly, he pulls on the lead.

Just because it's already trained, this dog may still pull on the lead, and then your gran may not be able to control it.

I think it's wonderful that you want a dog, but if you really want to help a dog, why not go to a local rescue as the others say. You could make a real difference to a doggy-life and you never know, if your parents see how committed you are to volounteering at a rescue, they may agree to having a dog. Things will be a lot easier if you have the support of your parents behind you.