I picked up a 12 week old springer just after I had been to Sue Sternbergs first talk over here. The pup was totally manic, I couldn't get near it. The owners eventaully trapped it and looped a lead on it, I dragged it up the road and managed to get it in the car. I leaned over the crate to reach for something and it went for me big time.

I came close to taking it straight to the vets but took it home and a friend took it on. She took him everywhere she went to doggy events etc and he has turned into a lovely dog. He was very lucky, she worked really hard with him. I think had he gone elsewhere he may well have turned out differently, I would never have trusted him with children or grandchildren.

I don't know his breeding but I do know that he was treated very badly by the people who had him. The other dog they had that we aquired at the same age was Tassles Gabe---his reaction to the same treatment for the same length of time was very different. As was the other dog that was a staffie/lab cross that they had for longer.

Three dogs/pups who had all had the same treatment from the same family within months of each other, one a disaster the other two reasonable rehomeable dogs. It is interesting.

I don't think there is any temperament test which will really tell you how dog will react, but sometimes you can just look at a dog and know what it will do.

rune

Their pts figures were second to the RSPCA. Percentage wise. I can't find the stats I found on it---does anyone know where to look?

rune

That's why it's so sad So many dogs who are put to sleep have problems that can be worked on and resolved. But....how many rescues have the time, resources and money to do it? When I did my trial day at Battersea, I had 40 kennels to clean out AM, feed all dogs, clean out PM. I was knackered, I only had time to walk ONE dog in the whole day. So the kennel staff don't have time to do the training. Battersea don't (or maybe won't?) pay out for more specialised behavioural staff, so who solves the problems? You can't rehome a dog before it's issues are resolve for fear of getting sued! it's a no win situation and everyone loses

I know only too well having volunteered at DT, but my problem is on this programme dogs were being labelled as "problem" dogs without proper assessment. How can they justify assessing a dog as not rehomable because it was unsure of a doll? Not aggressive, not lunging, not barking, just not sure? I'm sorry but that's not an assessment, it's a cop out. Which is fair enough, if they only have money to rehome perfect specimens then that's the way it has to be, but don't try and pretend that the dog has issues!

Absolutely correct so does that mean we should not breed from the best?

Breeding only from hip scored parents does not guarantee that no pup will develop HD. Does that mean we should not bother testing?

What everyone is hopefully TRYING to do, is to MINIMISE risk in all areas, health, temperament and function surely?

I do see your point. I remember feeling quite upset watching an Animal Cops: Houston episode where a really sweet rottie was put to sleep because it reacted to a plastic hand going in it's food bowl. Now, I DO understand the issue, but I can't help but feel that repeatedly jabbing at a dog's food with a big plastic hand on a stick is probably going to p*ss off even a laid back dog and is asking for trouble. I don't feel that it realistically represented a person touching the food bowl, a dog would know the difference...equally I'm not volunteering to stick my hand in a dog food bowl for the sake of assessment either. And I don't suppose they were able to dangle a real child near that dog, so had to use a doll. Far from perfect but.....

Honestly, I just think everyone is far too afraid of getting sued in this compensation culture world and forces them to make big deals out of potentially minor issues, to cover themselves.

I do not think that civil suits are at the top of assessor's or rescues thoughts.

As has been said before not enough homes for all dogs.
Not enough money to keep dogs for an infinite amount of time
Not enough money to pay sufficient behaviourists and trainers to rehab the dogs
Not enough room to extend existing or build new kennels

The list goes on.

Then there are the issues of if it could be considered an illegal type/breed, then the home cannot rehome.

If only things were as simple as some people make out...........................

It really must be a case of being caught between the Devil and the deep blue sea. On the one hand, the assessment procedure is often flawed and can be considered overly cautious. On the other the very big risk that if the dog is being given the benefit of the doubt it can go on to be homed and seriously injuring a person/child.

I couldn't do it, but it is a job that needs to be done

Spot on. Is the sad reality of dog rescue

Battersea used to have a good behavioral section---have they closed/lost it now?

rune