Am I being unreasonable?
Discussion
Our beloved GSD/Collie cross , a Dogs' Trust rescue, died in March of cancer.
We'd like to adopt a GSD now.
We live in a detached house with a half acre of garden in North Devon. We get about 15 cars a day at the maximum go past here. Our previous dog lived a great life with good food, lots of walks, runs on the beach, visits to the vets for routine stuff and immediate visits in an emergency. She never wanted for anything. I'd give anything to have her back.
Here's the problem, no re-homing organisation will even consider us as adopters because some of our walls/fences/hedges are less than 5 foot high. We can give a homeless dog a great life but we're not able too because a fence, A GSD will clear a 5foot fence, I've heard of police dogs getting over 10 footers.
The only solution, it's not possible to build a fence in one place, is to get one privately which seems a bit risky, or get a puppy which is against my principles.
It all seems stupid to me.
Ok, rant over.
BTW , anyone got a GSD they can't keep for some reason?
We'd like to adopt a GSD now.
We live in a detached house with a half acre of garden in North Devon. We get about 15 cars a day at the maximum go past here. Our previous dog lived a great life with good food, lots of walks, runs on the beach, visits to the vets for routine stuff and immediate visits in an emergency. She never wanted for anything. I'd give anything to have her back.
Here's the problem, no re-homing organisation will even consider us as adopters because some of our walls/fences/hedges are less than 5 foot high. We can give a homeless dog a great life but we're not able too because a fence, A GSD will clear a 5foot fence, I've heard of police dogs getting over 10 footers.
The only solution, it's not possible to build a fence in one place, is to get one privately which seems a bit risky, or get a puppy which is against my principles.
It all seems stupid to me.
Ok, rant over.
BTW , anyone got a GSD they can't keep for some reason?
Sorry about your loss. I know only too well how painful that is.
I sometimes carry out rehoming checks for a GSD rescue (not in Devon but that’s not to say we/they could not help).
The standard rule is 6ft but I always take the whole bigger picture into account - are the humans home all day, what’s outside the fence, whats next door, how experienced are they, etc etc. And then there’s the dog. Yes, some dogs could clear 5ft (I doubt my own fighting-fit 6 year old could, mind you) but there are others who just aren’t jumpers. Or there will be dogs who aren’t puppies (ie not quite as agile, inquisitive, etc) needing a home. I’ve definitely rehomed dogs into homes with fences under 6ft.
For this particular rescue they would generally want you to come to them for the first meeting, and they’re based in Surrey, but if you’d like to know more the drop me a PM.
I sometimes carry out rehoming checks for a GSD rescue (not in Devon but that’s not to say we/they could not help).
The standard rule is 6ft but I always take the whole bigger picture into account - are the humans home all day, what’s outside the fence, whats next door, how experienced are they, etc etc. And then there’s the dog. Yes, some dogs could clear 5ft (I doubt my own fighting-fit 6 year old could, mind you) but there are others who just aren’t jumpers. Or there will be dogs who aren’t puppies (ie not quite as agile, inquisitive, etc) needing a home. I’ve definitely rehomed dogs into homes with fences under 6ft.
For this particular rescue they would generally want you to come to them for the first meeting, and they’re based in Surrey, but if you’d like to know more the drop me a PM.
We have two GSDs. Areas of our fence are less than 4 foot, but they've never gone over them. When they want to yell at a passing dog, they do it from the ground - it never occurs to them to jump over the fence and have at it. I suspect it violates the prime dog directive of "never be above another dog".
I know they can clear 6 foot fences with ease because I've seen the older one do it with deer - if they are following something over the fence, then they will jump. If they aren't following something that jumps the fence, they won't do it.
We'd probably fail a rescue check - despite having 7 acres and someone at home 24x7.
Three options:
- just get a pup from a breeder. This does have the advantage of being trainable by you. Looking at most of the rescues, they state "cannot live with other dogs". With a GSD, this is an utter PITA. It is very, very difficult to train it out of them.
- Wait until you find a small rescue or local person who needs to give a dog up
- Get a 5 year old rescue - they tend not to jump like maniacs after about 3.
I know they can clear 6 foot fences with ease because I've seen the older one do it with deer - if they are following something over the fence, then they will jump. If they aren't following something that jumps the fence, they won't do it.
We'd probably fail a rescue check - despite having 7 acres and someone at home 24x7.
Three options:
- just get a pup from a breeder. This does have the advantage of being trainable by you. Looking at most of the rescues, they state "cannot live with other dogs". With a GSD, this is an utter PITA. It is very, very difficult to train it out of them.
- Wait until you find a small rescue or local person who needs to give a dog up
- Get a 5 year old rescue - they tend not to jump like maniacs after about 3.
We were in a similar position, we have a Westie that lives the best life ever, wanted a friend for him, tried every rescue centre and they all refused because we both work and the dog would be left for 3 hours a day on their own, as my wife works up the road and spends her lunch at home with the dog.
Are you looking at the big rescue centers i.e. Dogs Trust?
Have you tried any of the smaller rescue places that tend to have fb pages and lots of volunteers. My girlfriend does home checks for a spaniel charity and she always goes to see them to complete the check. Yes the fences are taken into consideration, but as another poster says its all about the bigger picture and what the family can offer that dog.
Never understood people being refused a dog to rehome due to a 5ft fence if they adopt a dog that cant jump that high or is more interested in chilling out.
Have you tried any of the smaller rescue places that tend to have fb pages and lots of volunteers. My girlfriend does home checks for a spaniel charity and she always goes to see them to complete the check. Yes the fences are taken into consideration, but as another poster says its all about the bigger picture and what the family can offer that dog.
Never understood people being refused a dog to rehome due to a 5ft fence if they adopt a dog that cant jump that high or is more interested in chilling out.
Challo said:
Are you looking at the big rescue centers i.e. Dogs Trust?
Have you tried any of the smaller rescue places that tend to have fb pages and lots of volunteers. My girlfriend does home checks for a spaniel charity and she always goes to see them to complete the check. Yes the fences are taken into consideration, but as another poster says its all about the bigger picture and what the family can offer that dog.
Never understood people being refused a dog to rehome due to a 5ft fence if they adopt a dog that cant jump that high or is more interested in chilling out.
I've tried every centre I can find. I even have feelers out with police dog trainers.Have you tried any of the smaller rescue places that tend to have fb pages and lots of volunteers. My girlfriend does home checks for a spaniel charity and she always goes to see them to complete the check. Yes the fences are taken into consideration, but as another poster says its all about the bigger picture and what the family can offer that dog.
Never understood people being refused a dog to rehome due to a 5ft fence if they adopt a dog that cant jump that high or is more interested in chilling out.
The dogs trust works the other way round from all the other centres I've contacted.
With the smaller centres you have to 'pass' the requirements first before they will entertain your interest in a dog. The Dogs' Trust want you to choose a dog and then go through the system.
I would like to thank everyone for their input and interest. You've all been a great help.
A lot of rescue places seem to operate on a 'computer says no' basis with no ability for any human input or common sense.
We generally prefer to rehome to people with fences but have on occasion given dogs to people with no fence at all. If the circumstances and the dog is right, why not? Yes I want a good fence if you live on a council estate or near a busy dual carriageway. I'm far less concerned if you live half way up a mountain with no neighbours.
You should go look at other rescue places and see what they say. Or consider changing which breed you're looking at which will presumably open up a lot more rescue places to contact if you've run out already.
We generally prefer to rehome to people with fences but have on occasion given dogs to people with no fence at all. If the circumstances and the dog is right, why not? Yes I want a good fence if you live on a council estate or near a busy dual carriageway. I'm far less concerned if you live half way up a mountain with no neighbours.
You should go look at other rescue places and see what they say. Or consider changing which breed you're looking at which will presumably open up a lot more rescue places to contact if you've run out already.
Algarve said:
A lot of rescue places seem to operate on a 'computer says no' basis with no ability for any human input or common sense.
We generally prefer to rehome to people with fences but have on occasion given dogs to people with no fence at all. If the circumstances and the dog is right, why not? Yes I want a good fence if you live on a council estate or near a busy dual carriageway. I'm far less concerned if you live half way up a mountain with no neighbours.
You should go look at other rescue places and see what they say. Or consider changing which breed you're looking at which will presumably open up a lot more rescue places to contact if you've run out already.
There is a similarity about the application forms which suggests the 5 foot fence thing is universal regardless of breed, certainly of large breeds. The conversations I've had with centres and email conversation with Cappo backs this up.We generally prefer to rehome to people with fences but have on occasion given dogs to people with no fence at all. If the circumstances and the dog is right, why not? Yes I want a good fence if you live on a council estate or near a busy dual carriageway. I'm far less concerned if you live half way up a mountain with no neighbours.
You should go look at other rescue places and see what they say. Or consider changing which breed you're looking at which will presumably open up a lot more rescue places to contact if you've run out already.
I'm going to wait and see.
Thanks everyone.
spanner10 said:
As suggested, try other rescues as attitudes vary .
I would urge you to consider carefully a puppy instead if you want a GSD. Some of the rescues will have been woefully under trained and poorly socialised when pups and bought by people to shove in the garden and leave . Not sure how this even makes them any use as a guard dog but does tend to screw up their minds . Sadly you may have years of 'managing' the dog rather than have a reliable companion to enjoy.
I hope you are successful
Best dog i ever had was a rottie that had been thrown out after being abused to an unknown extent, Could jump up onto almost any surface but never once jumped out of our low fenced garden, he was so well adjusted despite some scumbags best efforts. So don't always expect rescue dogs to be problem animals. I would urge you to consider carefully a puppy instead if you want a GSD. Some of the rescues will have been woefully under trained and poorly socialised when pups and bought by people to shove in the garden and leave . Not sure how this even makes them any use as a guard dog but does tend to screw up their minds . Sadly you may have years of 'managing' the dog rather than have a reliable companion to enjoy.
I hope you are successful
Johnspex said:
There is a similarity about the application forms which suggests the 5 foot fence thing is universal regardless of breed, certainly of large breeds. The conversations I've had with centres and email conversation with Cappo backs this up.
I'm going to wait and see.
Thanks everyone.
It would be worth joining all the GSD facebook groups you can find. Every so often people will ask about getting rid of a dog they or someone they know has. I'm going to wait and see.
Thanks everyone.
If you can get in quickly before the dog is passed to a shelter you could completely sidestep unreasonable requirements. But a bit like going private rather than buying a car from a dealer, you're going to have little to no comeback if it all goes wrong.
BoggoStump said:
Ive heard it before from someone else, getting a dog from a rescue was impossible for him, its stupid because dogs are being put down due to no room but then they keep turning away possible people who want a dog.
I've heard it too, but I've managed to adopt 13 dogs from 6 separate rescue centres. As a full time worker, I've met my share of resistance from rescues with blanket rules, but you just have to cross that one off and try another (and be persistent and prepared to show them you've thought it through). I remember being really upset at the reception I got from one local rescue, until my friend reminded me that they don't know me from Adam and don't know what type of home I could offer a dog. Rescues are also used to dealing with some people who are giving up dogs because they haven't thought it through or have unsuitable homes. Once they rehome a dog, they don't want it to come back again. I did end up adopting from that particular rescue in the end - two dogs. And I volunteered for them, dog walking at weekends.That being said, I wasn't set on one particular breed, didn't ask for dogs that I knew were unsuitable for my circumstances (puppies, high-energy/high-maintenance dogs) and was open to suggestions of dogs that might be suitable, including older/elderly dogs.
Good luck OP, I really hope you can find a suitable dog.
BoggoStump said:
Ive heard it before from someone else, getting a dog from a rescue was impossible for him, its stupid because dogs are being put down due to no room but then they keep turning away possible people who want a dog.
Aren't most animal "charities" especially the larger ones more about the money than their supposed aims nowadays.Your sentence tends to reinforce that view unfortunately.
moorx said:
BoggoStump said:
Ive heard it before from someone else, getting a dog from a rescue was impossible for him, its stupid because dogs are being put down due to no room but then they keep turning away possible people who want a dog.
I've heard it too, but I've managed to adopt 13 dogs from 6 separate rescue centres. As a full time worker, I've met my share of resistance from rescues with blanket rules, but you just have to cross that one off and try another (and be persistent and prepared to show them you've thought it through). I remember being really upset at the reception I got from one local rescue, until my friend reminded me that they don't know me from Adam and don't know what type of home I could offer a dog. Rescues are also used to dealing with some people who are giving up dogs because they haven't thought it through or have unsuitable homes. Once they rehome a dog, they don't want it to come back again. I did end up adopting from that particular rescue in the end - two dogs. And I volunteered for them, dog walking at weekends.That being said, I wasn't set on one particular breed, didn't ask for dogs that I knew were unsuitable for my circumstances (puppies, high-energy/high-maintenance dogs) and was open to suggestions of dogs that might be suitable, including older/elderly dogs.
Good luck OP, I really hope you can find a suitable dog.
speedyguy said:
BoggoStump said:
Ive heard it before from someone else, getting a dog from a rescue was impossible for him, its stupid because dogs are being put down due to no room but then they keep turning away possible people who want a dog.
Aren't most animal "charities" especially the larger ones more about the money than their supposed aims nowadays.Your sentence tends to reinforce that view unfortunately.
Donations/fundrasing are a different matter. No one has to donate to any charity.
Ive got to admit I don't understand that statement.
Surely it would make more money for a charity to farm dogs out as quickly as possible, get the next one in and out and so on ad infinitum.
I don't see how there is money to be made keeping dogs and housing them when they could go otu.
Surely it would make more money for a charity to farm dogs out as quickly as possible, get the next one in and out and so on ad infinitum.
I don't see how there is money to be made keeping dogs and housing them when they could go otu.
If you wanted to be dishonest, and have access to an unlimited amount of free "stock", you'd be better off taking as many donation fees as you can, cherry picking the new incoming dogs and repeating.
If you only took in healthy dogs you can run a profit as a minimum donation fee would be more than it cost to get a replacement dog ready to rehome.
For us all of our dogs already have all the money sunk into them - they're healthy as we can realistically get that particular dog (or we've committed to the meds/operations to get them there) and they're sterilised, vaccinated, chipped.
If I rehomed a dog today its highly likely the one I chose tomorrow to replace it would end up with various issues. At a minimum it'd need sterilising, chipping , vaccinations and a 20 euro flea collar. And then I'd be rolling the dice on something seriously wrong with it and a major bill coming.
We don't charge adoption fees but even if you did there's basically no money in it at all from that angle. The real money would be in the fundraising.
If you only took in healthy dogs you can run a profit as a minimum donation fee would be more than it cost to get a replacement dog ready to rehome.
For us all of our dogs already have all the money sunk into them - they're healthy as we can realistically get that particular dog (or we've committed to the meds/operations to get them there) and they're sterilised, vaccinated, chipped.
If I rehomed a dog today its highly likely the one I chose tomorrow to replace it would end up with various issues. At a minimum it'd need sterilising, chipping , vaccinations and a 20 euro flea collar. And then I'd be rolling the dice on something seriously wrong with it and a major bill coming.
We don't charge adoption fees but even if you did there's basically no money in it at all from that angle. The real money would be in the fundraising.
Even if you're 'turning over' dogs at pace, and only choosing dogs which are healthy and easy to rehome, any decent rescue will be spending money to get a dog ready for rehoming.
All my dogs have been neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and had any vet treatment required (eg dentals). The cost of these things alone would exceed the adoption fees I have paid for them. Then there are all the overheads associated with a rescue - staff costs (not all can rely on volunteers), electricity, disposal of waste, transportation costs if they collect animals from pounds, etc, insurance, maintenance. Those are just the things that occur off the top of my head.
All my dogs have been neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and had any vet treatment required (eg dentals). The cost of these things alone would exceed the adoption fees I have paid for them. Then there are all the overheads associated with a rescue - staff costs (not all can rely on volunteers), electricity, disposal of waste, transportation costs if they collect animals from pounds, etc, insurance, maintenance. Those are just the things that occur off the top of my head.
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