I can relate!

Well I wish you luck then. I always think fostering must be hard, I don't think I could bear to give them away and I'd just end up accumulating dogs But if you have the resources to foster, and can offer a space to a rescue dog, that can only be a good thing

Maybe it's just fate I wouldn't have taken Rupert on if I'd known about all his problems but then I'd have missed out on everything I learned from him.

Yep, went to the rescue and walked a different dog, he was more playful with Maggie so I'd decided on him...standing in the queue waiting to say I'd like to take him, then notice Reg following me with his eyes wagging his tail everytime I looked at him, right at the last minute I did a u-turn and went with my heart...thank god I did!

I'd be wary about fostering a dog with issues when you're still living with your nan. It doesn't sound like she takes much responsibility for her own dog, and has tried using your dogs as pawns in your relationship - I wouldn't involve someone else's/a rescue's dog into that situation, or even just a situation where the other people in the household aren't just as commited as you to the dog. It's one of the reasons I had to send my foster dog back to kennels, she wasn't getting along with my two but had it just been my OH and me in the house we could have worked to possibly integrate her with my two eventually but with my brother and his girlfriend sharing with us, I just couldn't put the dog in the situation where one of them accidentally left a door open or a babygate unlocked when I wasn't around. Can you trust your nan 110% with this dog, to fit to its needs and to not turn around a month down the line and insist you return it to rescue right now or you're out, or are you better waiting until you're in your own place? I think volunteer walking at a rescue might be better - your nan might see it as a good thing for you to be out socialising with other people too.

I can also relate For all his sins, I am sure I will be a far different (and hopefully better) dog owner in the future than I would have been without him, simply because he taught me so much. Sounds like dear old Rupes did the same for you.

Yup, for one thing chances are I wouldn't have converted from choke chains to clickers if it hadn't been for Rupert. I think I needed a dog I absolutely had to use positive methods with to change the way I thought about training and the relationship between dog and owner.

I'd agree.

I understand you want to do more, but bringing another dog into what already sounds a complex mix doesn't sound wise. I think you are better off volunteering, and save taking in foster dogs for when you have a place to call your own.

He looks very lurcher like to me, i wouldnt say he was a pure collie which is what they have him down as isnt it?

Jessie picked me at the rescue. I'd seen her in the kennels on previous visits and she never took my fancy. Then when we went back to reserve a dog we'd seen which it turned out had been rehomed, Jessie was out in the yard and did her little trick of nudging under my arm. Going on looks alone I would never have chosen her but she was so sweet and gentle and had obviously taken a liking to me that I decided to take her instead.

Yes he does seem quite leggy and tall, but that could just be the angle of the photo. Still gorgeous

As for the fostering... I just asked what people did when it came to getting their rescue dog or fostering. As much as I think this guy is gorgeous I know I won't be fostering him, just thought I would show my example of a dog picking me.

I am definitely thinking about doing something with rescues. Haven't spoken to nana about fostering yet, I think if she did she would still rather me stick to small dogs anyway.

I don't know if a dog can 'pick you' from a photo.

I saw Cooper on a rescue site and picked him by his pic, so I feel I chose him and he didn't get a choice in it.
The others we've got from the kennels chose us. Our Collie basically did a backflip and kept jumping at the door to get our attention, and my mums beardie x licked my mums fingers through the bars where as no one could get near her, I think they both chose us.

There as so many dogs I've seen that I think are lovely, but I know when the right one comes along I'll just 'know'. I was only browsing ads with Cooper and when I saw him I just had to have him.

I have been thinking about fostering but I'm not sure I would be able to give them up I have a plan that when we get our smallholding I will take in a few Dals for fostering and they will have a great time running around the fields.