Ok, so we've been thinking for a while about adding another dog to our family. I've been hunting round the rescue sites for a few days, and have looked at literally hundreds of pages of dogs. I have not found anything suitable for our family. Our crime? We have children. That is, small children. Now obviously we know what it means to have a dog, we have a 2.5 year old daft GSD who we've had since he was about 8 weeks old. We have a VERY busy household, with 5 kids, 4 cats, a parrot and a load of rabbits. No, we don't live in a big house, we are limited for space at times, but we're not bothered about that. We're used to living on top of each other, and those of you who have seen pics of my dog can see he's well looked after, well loved, a little bit spoilt maybe but a happy member of our family. We feel as though we could extend that way of life to another dog. So what do we do? A) Foster the children out :hihi: or B) Go to a breeder, when there are so many dogs in rescue and we could help one of them? It makes no sense to me :(

If it was me i would be tempted to get a "mutt" from a rescue centre.

Why not PM Rainrescue I'm sure that she would be able to think of a suitable dog, for you or at least keep her ears open.
Did you have a particular type of dog in mind?

Keep looking in rescues SpeedDemon, dogs good with children do end up there for all sorts of valid reasons. Are you experiencing difficulties with a rescue's policy?

If it was me i would be tempted to get a "mutt" from a rescue centre.

Thats what i wanted to do wallace, but what I'm saying is most rescues won't rehome to us because we have young children, which pushes families like us into the arms of the breeders

Did you have a particular type of dog in mind?

Not exactly. I just want one that "gels" with all of us. The kids would love something like a springer or cocker spaniel. MrSpeedDemon wants another GSD but I've firmly put my foot down on that one, so he says he doesn't want just "any old dog" and with the amount of pedigree dogs in rescue there's no reason why we shouldnt have another pedigree :rolleyes: We're not in any rush, but I guess we're quite fussy, as i want to try and take ALL the families wishes on board & end up with one that we're all happy with. I want one that is fab with kids obviously, and also gets on well with other animals. Preferably a bitch about 4 years old. I know, i know, I don't expect much do i? lol

Sheffield Dog Rescue have a 2/3 year old Springer at the moment, a stray I believe, so it may be that there would be some reluctance to let him/her go to a home with children. The reluctance of rescues to rehome strays is as much for the protection of your children as well as the dog. BUT there are often dogs whose background is known because they've been relinquished through no fault of their own.

Do please stick with it.

I'm trying fishpole, really i am. I do understand why they would not home strays with children, but like you say, some come into rescue because of a change in the owners circumstances, divorce, longer working hours etc, and they even SAY they get on with children, but then say they would prefer a home with children over 7, or over 10, or whatever.

Sheffield dog rescue don't have a website do they?

I'm currently fostering a lovely GDS x girl for Rainrescue. She's a real cutie. She's about 2 years old. I don't know how she is with small furries or children but I can try her if you like. She's deffienitely a womans dog though. :hihi:

http://s170.photobucket.com/albums/u253/mushroomtwigs/?action=view&current=S4011195.jpg

Look at that face and tell me she's not gorgeous!

PM me if you're interested. :thumbsup:

she's beautiful but hubby definitely wont even consider a GSD x, for him it's a full GSD or nothing to do with GSD. I've said no to the GSD, am hoping for something a little smaller that my daughter can also hold when we're out on walks together. The kids seem to have got their hearts set on a spaniel as the neighbours had one, and everybody loved him.

Have you contacted Rainrescue and had a look on the site?

Try Rotherham Dog Rescue? There's a 4 year old spaniel in there.

http://www.rotherham-dog-rescue.co.uk/inf_03.htm

Gemima has been liaising with a forum member on getting the SDR website up and running but one of her cats has again chewed through her cable so she hasn't been online to sort it out.

I agree with you that there are some rigid policies in place in many rescues but I believe every case has to be evaluated on it's own merits. For instance, a friend of mine was shown the door because she works full-time but if taken care to find out that her husband works nights and so there is someone in the house almost 24/7, she wouldn't have gone to a breeder either. I was rather upset at the time because I was involved with the rescue and knew full well what a good home any dog would have with them, but it was too late.

This is why I'm saying don't give up and show what a good home you can offer to a rescue.

I was in a similar position to you SpeedDemon- I'm an automatic homecheck failure with most charities because I don't have a private back garden.

I still believe that I'm a good doggie mum and whether I share a back garden is irrelevant since Molly never goes out without one of us. I don't believe that sticking the dog out in the garden is an alternative to a walk so it has never even slightly been an issue with us.

I understand that the charities need to have rules and no-nos for adopting families- it just makes me sad when they can't have some flexibility with ages of children and the like. At the Shelter they don't state what age children can be, because some 4 year olds are perfectly sensible and gentle with animals, but some 8 year olds are total nightmares and to state that to adopt your children must be over 5 implies that all over 5s are suitable- and they're not.

We loved the one in rotherham rescue. Fortunately for her (not so lucky for us) she was due to go to her new home this weekend. She sounded perfect for us too. I keep looking on rainrescue. I'm not giving up yet, like I said, there's no rush. I just wish that rescues would look at each case individually. I'm sure my vet would vouch for the fact that all our animals are well loved and cared for by all the family, including the small people.

Have you contacted Rainrescue and had a look on the site?

Try Rotherham Dog Rescue? There's a 4 year old spaniel in there.

http://www.rotherham-dog-rescue.co.uk/inf_03.htm

Just look at Hollie :love::love:
Just make sure that you don't rely on descriptions though make sure in your own minds that the dog is what you want and all is as it seems.

Thats very true Medusa. My neighbours spaniel came from a family with kids ranging between about 4 and 12 and they were so cruel to him, whacking him with toy spades and stuff. He had a long and very happy 10 years or so with my neighbours until he had to be PTS last week at the grand old age of 16. My kids would NEVER do that to an animal, as they've been brought up to love and respect them. I've had animals since before they were born and they know how to treat them, but other people's kids who've visited have felt the sharp end of mine (and my kids) tongues when they've not been so kind to our furry friends.

Just look at Hollie :love::love:


Now SHE is absolutely beautiful! Although maybe a retriever would be a little too big. And i remember rainrescue telling me i should choose a dog older than the one i have

You see, this is what makes me despair. You seem to have your head screwed on but you're being overlooked when there are probably dozens of dogs currently in rescue that would thrive on an active household such as yours.

In my experience, it depends who you to speak to as to whether you'll get further than the desk wherever you look. It might be an idea for you to look around on your own, chat to staff about various dogs, let them get to know that you're not stupid and take it from there.

Good luck, I'd say you have a lot to offer.

I should also add that I wouldn't be afraid of dissuading you from adopting a dog that would be unsuitable either. Strays may be an unknown quantity to some degree but a small bit of information can be picked up on during their stay in kennels.

It's such a fine line.

Thankyou all, we think we have a lot to offer to the right dog too. I'll keep looking :)

What about bramble or bracken speedy? (off the roth dog rescue site)They are spaniel crosses and young dogs....

I really like the look of Bramble actually, but I'm assuming it's a dog, and we would really need a bitch to go with our pooch. I'm also adamant i don't want a pup, would rather go for something about 4 years old. My neighbours have got a 5 month old springer pup today - I found him for them on the net whilst looking for a dog for us and he's sooooo cute. I think we've got our hearts set on a springer bitch, but if anyone has any suggestions of other breeds that are generally said to be good with kids and cats, that would be good too :)

Have you checked the RSPCA website?

http://rspcasheffield.homeip.net/cgi-bin/makepage.py?menu=animalscode.dat&targetpage=animals/index.dat

Aren't staffies suppose to be good with kids?

I don't know if I've missed this info in your posts, or if you've not mentioned it...

... have you contacted the breed rescues directly? There's a collection of links on RainRescue which may have spaniels amongst them

yes, there is either nothing suitable or they won't rehome with young children. I really think we'd also fail a home check straightaway, purely due to how many kids we have, and the other animals

grrrr - this bugs me! Perfectly good homes overlooked for either fear of legal retribution or uppittyness!

Somehow I think I'd fail a homecheck

only other thing I can think of is contacting local dog pounds who are often a bit less pernickety with their criteria. See if they are able to put you on any sort of list or they may just ask you to ring each week until the right dog comes in

on the subject of which... they always say 'the right dog finds you' :thumbsup:

I've done LOADS of hunting around today, spent most of the day on the computer and can find plenty of young springer dogs (as i said, i managed to find one for my neighbours) but no bitches. My dog gets on with pretty much anyone (Except he seems to have a weird hatred for JRT's for some reason) but I'm worried that he may get dominated if we get a dog, as he's a bit of a softy. Is that likely, or is it viable to bring another male dog into the household?

lots of male dogs do actually rub along okay, but it's going to be hard to tell unless you try it

a bitch is probably more likely to be the dominant of the pair though

if you know your onions where dogs are concerned (and it sounds like you probably do going on your comments re-kids), then you shouldn't have too much of a problem assessing how your dog and another behave when they meet prior to making a decision, then maintaining that 'status' they naturally took upon first meeting

PS - I'm no behaviourist but come from a family who traditionally only have dogs, and for a large part in pairs :thumbsup:

I get the feeling Blade would not have a problem with whatever we bring into the house, but I don't want the big baby upsetting by a more dominant dog, as he's so good natured and placid. I wouldn't want him to change -other than maybe him havin his vocal chords removed :hihi:

there you go then!

can any experienced 'dual sex dog households' give their experiences here?

... and any 'two male' ones too :thumbsup:

I am sure you will find a dog to fit into your lifestyle.
However, just think though that the type of dog you are looking for is just what everyone else is also looking for. Out of the 10 phone calls I will receive in a day - 8 of them will be asking for a small to medium sized dog that will get on with other dogs and that is ok with children.

Little Meg that we have - has had about 7 or 8 phone calls after her we are just trying to find the most suitable home for her.

Ricky - on the other hand - a gsd mix that has lived in a family with children and is fine with other dogs - hasn't had a single call. Neither has DAX - the large mastiff x - again - a gorgeous dog - 100% trustworthy with everyone and everything.

When people say to me -I want a nice little terrier to live with my kids - my usual answer is - most little dogs aren't suitable to live with children. The majority of small dogs are terriers, and they by their very nature - are nippers - cos thats what they do. Its not that thats what they all do - but a lot do. Usually the medium to large breed dogs - are often more laid back.

Of course their are the staffy's who are usually fantastic with kids - but often (not always) not good with other dogs.

So - its a case of leg work around the rescues and the centres - and something will be just waiting for you - cos you obviously have a warm family to welcome something into.

good luck - keep trying

Well folks, it looks like we've found our new friend! Tilly is a 6 month old springer spaniel bitch who is having to be rehomed due to a change in her family's cirumstances, meaning she would be left alone for long periods. She lives with young children and has even younger grand-children visiting too, the youngest being 12 months old and she is great with them. I have watched her on the web-cam with the 5 year old and she is just fab, she follows the little lad everywhere! She's rather bouncy as you would expect of any pup, let alone a springer. Ok, so she's not in rescue but she could well have ended up there as the lady starts her new job in the next couple of weeks and Tilly needs to have gone by then. She's not been with cats, but being a young pup I'm confident they will all get used to each other. So, I feel I've done my bit by not going to a breeder and even though I wasn't planning on having a pup, at least she's more or less house-trained, just the odd accident overnight. We pick her up on thursday, then straight to the vet on friday for vaccinations. How long after the jabs do you have to wait before you can take them out? I've forgotten... Anyway, we're all very excited and will post pics when she's settled in with us :D

glad you've found your perfect friend :)

has she not already had her jabs? are you not able to have her vet record transferred?

I second what Jaq says (and if anybody is interested, Ricky has a thread from when we took him out. Search for 'Clumber'), that small dogs are often the most likely to nip, and in this current climate of hysteria over 'bites' (we used to know the difference between a bite and nip) way to many smaller dogs are coming into rescue with the stigma from their nips being interpreted as bites, but then they aren't 'suitable' to be rehomed with kids :(

Ricky is unbelievably laid back for a 6 month old pup, and was more than happy to be completely mauled by a couple of dog loving/savvy kids under ten when we took him out, and Dax is unbelievably obedient - and I suspect he's just made that way!

No, unfortunately she hasn't had any jabs so that will be the first thing I do. I would have thought most people jabbed their dogs these days but the neighbour's springer hasn't been jabbed either. So we'll all be off to the vets next week. Ricky is soooo lovely, I loved those pics of him and Brude. I would tend to think small dogs are more likely to nip than bigger dogs, but you can hardly get "mauled" by a yorkie! lol. I personally just have never been into small dogs - a cocker spaniel was about the smallest i was prepared to go, otherwise 6' 5" Mr SpeedDemon would have to have a very long lead when he walks them lol

hehe - that's the same reason we've got a beagle :D

same size as a spaniel, and Mr Strix is 6'2" - and they're a non-nippy breed too

BTW - I wouldn't be best pleased if a yorkie went for my child's face. They can still do damage :mad: The big problem with snappy yorkies is their owners lugging them round like handbags giving them the same attitude as Stuey on 'family guy' :suspect:

Mr Speedy was bitten when he was a youngster. He was sat in his pram minding his own business when a sausage dog lunged at his face and took a chunk out. He's still got the scars and needless to say, a passionate hatred for daschunds lol

Well done the speedies! Pics as soon as please!!!