I am afraid general rescues including the RSPCA do not have the specialist knowledge of a lot of breeds to fully understand the best home for them.

In addition many rescues will NOT hand these dogs over to breed specialist rescues who offer to help?

I fail to understand why and it is one of the reasons I do not give money to them. They should be giving the donors good value for money and maximising the use of their money and saving it when a specialist rescue offers to take dogs off their hands and assess and rehome

I did not know that SB!

I have to admit, I do question whether a complete no kill shelter is possible or viable.

I did spot a Kelpie on MT site,stunning dog

I must be blind because I looked through the dogs and didn't say anything labelled as a Spinone.

Oh, of course I'm not questioning that at all! I very rarely see some breeds on a daily basis but I think I'd still be able to recognise them. It doesn't make me any better or not at my job, maybe it's just because I'm a dog geek? Although we were made to learn breeds as part of our training because it annoys owners if you mistake their pet's breed!

But that is just it, in order to achieve what is best for the dog's welfare it is ESSENTIAL to understand and recognise the breed with which you are dealing so that it goes to the most appropriate home for it!

If people say "I like that dog because of its whiskers" and neither they nor the rescue understand that an IS is an HPR and thus probably have a strong hunting instinct, this could be a problem, for the dog and the home!

Yes but hopefully that dog would be fully assessed in order to determine the most appropriate home environment as well as taking into account relevant breed traits and characteristics?
I agree with you though that staff working in rescue centres should have at least a basic knowledge of dog breeds or at least a book to look them up in!

To be fair if I was given that dog, told it was an Italian Spinone and went out and googled the breed, I'd probably a) assume they came in black occasionally too and b) think it was probably a poorly bred example - especially if it came from a puppyfarm or BYB. Agan, if you're that concerned, contact Many Tears, I'm sure they'd be grateful for some more opinions on the possible breed(s) of it, they've taken into consideration comments on other dogs they've had, e.g. the two "Northern Inuits" they took in recently.

I know MT are a bit of a controversial rescue, I'm not particularly pro or for them because I can see both sides of the arguments but I think it's a bit petty to criticize them for making a mistake on the breed of a dog rather than just getting in contact to make them aware. My mum was homechecked and had to go to the centre when she adopted from them, was quizzed to make sure she was suitable and prepared for that particular breed of dog and had to sign to say she'd have her spayed when old enough, had follow up emails from them, etc. so I doubt this dog will just get chucked at the first home enquiry with no thought for its suitability.

It bothers me when people get breeds wrong, as then no research can be done into a breed or the cross. Breeders would get shot down for selling dogs as this breed or that cross if infact it was something different. I see it know different for rescues.
Italian Spinones can not come in black, and although it does look a little like our lad, I would say its most defo not. If rescues them selves dont have a basic understanding on a breed how can they offer potential adopters help and support

I shall look again but last night it defo said Spinone. I am also a believer in getting help from breed resuces where possible.

I don't know 100% what breed Kiki is crossed with - I'm told GSD but there's no GSD traits in there to confirm that. It hasn't hindered my ability to train or understand her. My mum's pup is a Collie x who knows what, you could never really guess, but again, it's not been a problem. Maybe this dog has lots of traits typical of whatever breed/cross it is, but maybe it doesn't, so putting a label on it may not be of any help anyway.
But as said, rather than criticize, why not help Many Tears ID what it actually is so they can update their webpage to be a little more accurate?
I don't think you can compare a breeder not knowing what they're breeding to a rescue not knowing, the former has chosen to get and breed those dogs, a rescue does not ask for a particular breed (expect breed rescues of course), can you really expect a rescue to perfectly identify every single one of their dogs when they get so many different types, crosses and purebred, handed in?

I havent said not knowing the breed will stop new owners being able to train or understand - but imo it will affect the advise and support a rescue can offer if they them selves have no knowledge or understanding of a breed - its alright living with a dog for X amount of weeks that does not give you an understand of the dog or breed/cross.

If its so important to you that I contact them and air my concern I shall - however that wasnt the point of the thread, my point was its sad to see rescues putting dogs down as a breed it can not be, due to lack of knowledge. To me thats a scary thought.