My world has caved in

goose my last four dogs have been rescue dogs, all taken on as adult dogs and without exception, they have not had any problems. In fact the one dog that I did have quite severe aggression problems with was a pure bred pointer that I had as an eight week old puppy. I came to the conclusion that he had been inter bred as I later learned that others in the same litter were also problem dogs. So I believe that he came from a bad breeder. Although his pedigree papers were excellent. Unfortunately it's the breeder who puts the information on the pedigree details and I don't think in this case that she had been entirely truthful about his parentage.

Anyway - what I meant to say was that there are hundreds of rescue dogs looking for homes. Each breed has it's own rescue society so do a Google search for border collie rescue. (If you're in the South East I could give you a contact name and number).
Not all rescue dogs come with problems, my latest one is a delight. Loves the DGC, walks, agility classes and is wonderful company. He came from one of the smaller rescue societies (again a Google search will have lots of contacts).

Lots of rescue dogs come from Ireland where they have a different euthanasia policy to us in the UK. Dogs there are only held for seven days and if not claimed or rehomed then they are put down. Several smaller rescue societies bring these dogs to England to be rehomed here.

I looked at dozens of dogs till I found "current dog" and as soon as I met him something just clicked between us.

One of our collies was a rescue dog. The main problems she had were that she was always desperate for food, was terrified of loud noises and could be aggressive with other dogs, although she loved our other collie. She was a darling thogh and we never regretted having her. An old family friend had a collie from Battersea and they became absolute soul mates. I think it must have been him that first put me on to Border Collies.

Absent,so sorry,you put tears in my eyes.Ive cried over many a cats death.I now also have a dog and I didnt realize what I had been missing. Animals are priceless!

Goose

I have never had a rescue dog personally but a friend of mine had one and they come to look at your home / garden before allowing him to go there.
They do ask you to attend a talk about looking after dogs and I have heard some dogs can have problems as they have been ill treated etc.
My friend was lucky to get a dog from an owner who had died.
The dog was a little unsettled after being in the kennel environment for about a month.
The dog which my other friend got never went in to a kennel and was just walked from one house to another and he was unsettled we think due to the loss of his owner.
Both dogs however became the best dogs in the world however within a very short time.

Frank

Everyone who has ever owned and loved a pet has their own sad story of grief and an awful sense of loss when they have had to say goodbye because our beloved dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits and even mice, hamsters and goldfish live shorter lives that we do. My beloved Maximumdog died on my lap as I held and stroked him. In December last year two days and four days respectively after Christmas, two of my cats were so ill that they had to be put down.

What stays with you is all the joy that your dog, cat, gerbil, whatever brought. My particular memory is to do with the fact that I hate New Year and feel a failed, second-rate person when it comes around. I have tried to join in the parties and celebrations but always had to leave before midnight happened – and then I would sit at the bottom of the stairs and cry. Who comforted me – my lovely loyal and caring dog. With his paw resting on my lap, he let me sob damply into his fur while I was being pretty silly. He died on 2 January, having been very ill with a series of strokes over Christmas, a few years ago. My husband truly believes that Maximum just hung on in there to see me into the New Year. Maybe he was right.

Goose I lost my 12 year old collie 3 years ago and still shed a tear when I look at her photo-she saw me through a horrible time.I had always had Border collies but waited a while before I bought another puppy.I saw an add for Springer spaniel pups and just went to 'have a look'....and came home with Ollie! Best thing I've ever done-he makes me laugh out loud everyday

We lost our beloved Westie 4 years ago, which was absolutely devastating. We have since had a dear Cairn come to live with us but Thomas will never be forgotten. I thought that Duncan the cairn would never replace Thomas but he has wangled himself into our hearts just as much as Thomas did.

Goose

There is a collie in the close which I live in and he is a friend of Andie.
I suppose I should say Cairn Terriers are best but the collie is certainly very friendly.
He certainly loves his walks and sometimes goes for a walk with Andie.

Frank

Dear Goose, it seems to me a collie pup would be a splendid choice and a perfect fit. Stick with what you know and love. Imagine all that fun you'll have training a little un and they are cute as. Get looking do have to big up the whippets thou, my nana adopted them,beautiful little dogs inside and out with a lovely happy nature. I expect a collie is much the same.

absent

You are correct.
I can remember somebody in London who had a dog and a cat.
They took the dog for a walk and the cat followed behind and tended to get a bit upset.
The owner got him a collar and lead and took him a walk with the dog.
It probably looked a bit odd to a stranger but if it made the cat happy so be it.

Frank

Goose I know that you are sad but I have to tell you that you are mistaken. You can take a cat for a walk. When Maximum Dog went for his bedtime lampost patrol, Mozzarella, a tortie tabby cat invariably came too. Years before that my Magellan used to walk down the road with me from our flat to the common where I would read and sunbathe while he played tigers and then home again at the end of the afternoon. If he was tired, he would climb up my leg and sit on my shoulders for a ride.

Oh I forgot to mention he is now the best dog in the world and equal to her previous dog.
Andie is the second best dog in the world to her I think along with the other dogs in the area.

Frank

Goose

I can remember a lady who said she was going to wait for a while.
After about a week another dog appeared at the house. She said it was too lonely without a dog being there.
Oddly enough a Scottie passed away and she could not find one anywhere.
She finished up with a westie.
Oddly enough he came from Bedford not far from where Andie came from.

Frank

Goose . It is heartbreaking to lose a much-loved pet - especially when it all happened so suddenly. Here's sending you sympathetic thoughts.

Goose we used to Foster for the rehoming centre and over the years we had a vast amount of unwanted dogs pass through our home,some came because their owners had died or could not look after them if maybe they had gone into residential homes,some came because of mistreatment by the owners a right mismatch of reasons.
We would have them stay for a month and a day the legal time for assessing their temprement before being available for adoption,during this period we could tell if they got on with children/cats/visitors etc and if they where properly trained in other social activities. Of course over the years many stayed including a shitzu and a poor old thing called rags for obvious reasons (he looked as though he had an electric shock ) but he was so so loyal to mr.G.So the charities really do try and socialise these poor animals prior to re-homing and not all of them have social problems just sad lives.We have always had dogs of our own and found that the foster dogs copied behaviour from our own dogs and soon settled down whilst they holidayed with us.
Barney has lived with us now for 4yrs+ and came from the pound he is a Jack Russell very long haired and very very close to mr.glamma he was very quiet when he first came but soon got used to home comforts and is a joy.So take your time looking and offer to walk some of the dogs at a Homing Centre for a day or two and you will surely find your new friend waiting for you. sorry to go on for so long.glamma x

I do wonder if collies, because of their intelligence are more of a problem if rescued from an unhappy life and do need training from an early age, just as they can go a bit barmy if they aren't exercised mentally and physically? Just a thought, Goose; if you tell us timewise when you're taking Mystery to her last resting place [mine go to a rocky part of the beach at Bamburgh] we can all think of you at that time and you'll feel our support ...

Thank you all again. After reading all the supportive responses on GN, I've decided I'm going to make myself wait a little while before getting another dog...I'm inclined to rush into things and then regret it afterwards (my last husband was a good example. I do want to get another Border Collie, they're what I'm used to...I think us dog lovers/owners all end up with 'breeds', be they pedigree or Heinz57's, that we get used to cohabiting with. Seems to me the world's (generally speaking) divided twixt predominately cat lovers or dog lovers, my cat lover friends shudder at the idea of my having another dog and are trying to persuade me to get a cat - but, well I enjoy the walks round the park too much - and you can't take a cat (or a goldfish) for a walk.
I'm still very interested to learn of other people's experience of Rescue dogs, and how difficult/easy it is to 'qualify' for one.

Goose All Gransnetters who own and love a pet, will understand your pain. I'm so sorry to hear your sad news.

HUNTERF I think that is the very first time you have posted about something of which you didn't disapprove.

Goose

A man near me passed away.
He owned a dog and by coincidence a dog passed away belonging to another person at the same time.
Obviously the person was sad to lose his dog but when he realised the other dog may have gone to the kennel he went and got him immediately.
OK the dog was sad for a time but within a period both the dog and the new owner was happy again and the dog was re homed really before he became homeless.

Frank

Greyhounds are nearly always "retired" at quite an early age - 3-4 is normal and I have been lucky to have dogs which have always been house trained (although Grace had to learn to "go" on grass, as she was lead trained and there is a limit to how many walkies an owner can face) I walked all my greyhounds before theycame to live with us and we were also "checked out" by the Retired Greyhound Trust. Greyhound lovers are very supportive and friendly - probably because our dogs can be "characters" with the occasional foible , but always gentle giants without an ounce of aggression in them - except to electric hares and the occasional squirrel in our case. They are bred for performance not looks so do not usually have some of the health problems of show dogs. I am sure you will not let yourself be rushed, but when yhou are ready you might like to contact your local trust people and meet some greyhounds at their local kennels.

Goose bear in mind that most rescue dogs have a problem area – for example, they may not be safe with children because they have been victims of merciless teasing or they may frightened of all men because one man il-treated them.

My Maximum Dog was a rescue and his problem was food. He wasn't just greedy like any old dog, he was obsessive if he thought there was anything to eat. He would even drink the cats' water in preference to that in his own bowl. This was because he had regularly been left alone at weekends and had obviously eaten all his supply of food on Friday night and then had nothing left until his owner returned on Monday evening. However, he was fiercely loyal and when I was away from home for a few days, the poor boy wouldn't even eat rump steak.

If you feel that you want a new canine companion, go ahead and find the right one – or let him/her find you. Good luck.

I can't add anything to the good advice already given, so will just send you a virtual hug x

Goose {{{hugs}}} Only you know when the time is right.

A lot of like minds here. I have pm'd you goose, but not saying anything very different from the good advice here. In my case, scattering my dog's ashes on her favourite walk was the point where I felt I could move forward and as I said in my pm, found myself trawling the rescue dog websites. You are not "replacing" Mystery or being disloyal to her, so go with your own feelings. When the time is right, there is something so uplifting and healing about a wagging tail. Mystery would not have minded! hug