my mum (wolfie) has always had rescue dogs and i wont denie its been hard work for her some have worked out some havnt but ive always had strong feelings for rescue dogs, as they all deserve a good loving home! i dont think i would get a pup personally.

i have decided not to buy another dog, but nex dog will be from the rescue. definately!

when we rescued our dog rocky, he was a pup and a gorgeous pup at that, rescues often have pups for rescue but sometimes you just need to be a little more patient until you find what you are looking for

on the other hand i also have a pedigree kc registered bichon frise, it just depends what you are looking for and your individual circumstances

hope this helps

Must admit it does give you a nice warm fuzzy feeling when you rescue a dog and look back at the state they were in when you picked them up and then look at how happy and contented they look now!
Can honestly say despite some patronising rehoming centres I'll always consider rescuing!

Intresting topic , I will share my story with you , sorry its a bit long I grew up terrified of dogs as my mother was the same and allways dragged me away from dogs telling me i would get bitten etc

A friend of mine bred Dobermanns and i was terrified of them im am embarrased to say i used to make him put all the dogs away when i went to visit, my ex husband loved dogs and when this friend of ours had 2 litters he nagged me to have a pup i was not happy about it but i gave in when one of the pups who they called white star because of a white star on his chest funnily enough, was no good as a show dog and had had to be resucitated at birth did not sell , i met him a few times and thought he was quite sweet so white star became Taz and my journey into the world of dogs began , i was still scared of other dogs when out with Taz and at classes but as the years went by i started to get used to them more and more , Taz was a fantastic dog and he taught me so very much about doggy behaviour that growling noises meant different things and that some dogs were fine and just wanted to play,Over the last few years i thought Taz needed a friend and i had just became involved in dog rescue but did not feel confident enough to take on a full grown rescue and i had allways dreamed of owning a Pyrenean Mountain Dog so last year on Taz's birthday i brought Akira home as a companion for him and i really had my eyes opened to how 2 dogs interact with each other Taz had the patience of a saint with this stubborn determined puppy that pestered him and jumped all over him , she tested my training skills to the limit sometimes but it was a great learning experience for me i can remember telling her quite a few times i am just as stubborn as you are madam lol

My lovely Taz took ill in december last year and he went to run free at the bridge on the 28th of january this year i still miss him now and was really upset when people asked me if i would get another dog , how could i ever replace my soul mate? Akira missed him so much and i felt awful she lost weight and pined badly for him she was so depressed that i thought i would give fostering a go , that way Akira would get some company and i would not feel like i was betraying Taz or being disloyal , the first foster dog i took in was a lovely greyhound called bart who came straight from kennels and had never lived in a house but he was such a sweet dog and so eager to please it was a plesure having him here and doing some basic traiining with him , but Akira was too full on with him and would not give him peace he started to get stressed with her and i knew i had to let him be moved to a quieter foster home , then came the lovely Storm as you will all realize i failed miserably as a foster mum with him and he is now here to stay , He was suppossed to be dog/food/toy aggressive and i thought i would really have my work cut out with him in fact the rescue turned me down at first as a foster mum as i had Akira and with his issues and things they were not confident this was the best place for him , but because i asked about him and offerred to go and do some basic training with him to give him a better chance of getting a good home after a lengthy conversation with them they decided that they would bring him over to meet Akira and see how the initial introduction went , it was fine and yes when i saw the size of him i did wonder if i had bitten off more than i can chew but thankfully things have worked out great and he is a real sweet , very misunderstood boy before i got Akira i had done loads of research into the breed for over 25 years but even then seeing her being her stubborn little self was interesting to say the least but i know that if i had not had Akira as a puppy i would never have had the confidence to give Storm the chance to be part of our family and what a shame that would have been , he is a fantastic dog and he still has some issues to be worked out but he has come so far in the 2 months he has been here it really is amazing to see him so relaxed and happy , and i know Taz would have loved him too , he is not a replacement he is a totally different dog and i love him for him but Taz will allways have a special place in my heart and i still think about him all the time .

As you all now in the rescue world there can be a lot of judgemental things said about how can you buy a puppy when theres so many dogs in rescue? etc But i know from personal experience that sometimes that is the only way to go and i would never judge anybody for doing what i did , i conquered a life long fear of dogs and i have given 3 dogs a loving caring home, so what if i bought 2 puppies? I had Taz for life , even though his life was tragically cut short by a legion on his brain Akira is here to stay and so is Storm who if he had gotten into the wrong hands god knows what could have happenned to him? In an ideal world there would be no need for rescue centres but with all the puppy farmers and irresponsible people around that wont change in a hurry all we can do is try to educate people about being responsible owners . I went to a breeder down in Lincoln to get Akira a nearly 700 mile round trip i broke 2 cars and had to hire a car to go and get her and yes i paid alot of money for her but she is a much loved part of this family and who can say i did'nt recue her from a life of breeding or worse in the wrong hands?

Fiona xx

I have had both rescue, second hand and dogs from breeders. If you want to show obviously you are going to want a dog with KC papers and not many turn up in rescues, but if you just want a companion or agility/obedience dog i think a rescue dog gives a dog that needs a home a good chance, you hear alot of bad stories about rescue dogs but mine have always rewarded me 10fold for rescuing wether they know it or not. Eva my pup i have had from a breeder is very well socialised and i do think thats a benefit of a breeder plus the health tests etc. But i would concider anothr rescue dog in the future.

As Metz has said, I've always took on rescue's/private re-homes. I have also been fortunate to have Storm from a puppy (she was from a rescue)

Rescue dogs can be very hard work, but also very fullfilling. To nurture an animal, some with appauling histories, to a confidant, healthy, well trained, loving dog is something you can't ever beat.

Wolfie has echoed my feelings exactly - Jesse my 9 yr old GSD is a re-home and Murphy is a rescue, and although at times he drives me demented I seriously couldn't be without him

It'll always be a rescue dog (or any other rescue animal) for me.

From a child we have always had rescue dogs and they have all been amazing! The dog my parents have at the moment was a rescue he is a amazing dog now but was a worry at the start as he was very protective of us all and wouldnt let anyone near us or in the house, there was no indication of this when we got him and for a family with young kids they would probably have taken him back because it would have been too much of a risk luckily my dad did a great job of training him and he has a great temperment now!

I want a puppy for my next dog as I have never had one and want the opportunity to socialise and train a puppy. Will get a rescue puppy if possible but if not im afraid will get one from a breeder

i would have had a rescue dog in a heartbeat and did look very seriously into it . but as my hubby tom ius terrified of the types of dogs i like i had really no n choice othere than a puppy .. tom was of the opinion that all rotties , dobes and mastive types were devil dogs .. but he just couldnt be afraid of a puppy , when hes used to actually having a molloser breed around ( he had a greyhound) ill look into getting a rescue dog again , have raised and fostered many a rescue in the past myself , just not with this husband .