Why import dogs?

Ethical reasons to get a dog from Eastern Europe or Bahrain:

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Ukraine has a stray dog urgent emergency where there are homeless dogs whose families have been killed ,

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Romania has a street dog emergency because rapid urbanisation supervened on a mostly rural population. Street dogs in Romania are at risk from people who shoot them at random and with cruelty, starvation, cannibalism, and unlimited reproduction. Some Romanians rescue these dogs but are hard pressed to care for so many.

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Bahrain apparently has people who abandon small 'designer' dogs who are picked up and saved by rescuers there who try to find homes for them.

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Dogs and other animals don't recognise national boundaries.

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It is more ethical to get a stray dog from overseas than to pay British breeders who more often than not are puppy farmers. Dog breeding for profit must stop except for specially bred working dogs e.g. police, guide dogs, hearing dogs, assistance dogs.

Personal reasons to get a dog from abroad:

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There is a huge selection of intelligent dogs from abroad, all ages and sizes ,to chose from.
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Choose your rescue kennel carefully , and someone there will will match you with a second -hand dog that suits your personal circumstances. I aged 93, (with my sons) was matched with a Romanian and he is the easiest , calmest, dog I ever had,

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It suits some dog owners to know they are making the world a better place while at the same time pleasing themselves.
Some dogs are disabled e.g. amputees and make perfect pets for the right owner.

I think we have enough dogs here. No idea why people import them.

Homestead62

I think we have enough dogs here. No idea why people import them.

Well, if you'd actually taken the time to read the thread, you'd see that people have given any number of reasons why.

I just hope no one brings any Cane Corso or similar breeds to the UK .

Nanato3

I just hope no one brings any Cane Corso or similar breeds to the UK .

Why? There are already Cane Corsos in this country. My daughter and SiL have one - a rescue - and he's a lovely big boy. Have you actually met one?

India have the largest stray population Caleo, then there’s Turkey, Cyprus and I’m sure plenty of others, even Françe.

Grammaretto

I'm afraid I can't help feeling that by falling for the sob stories of organisations which import dogs from Eastern Europe you are merely encouraging a despicable trade.

It's all about money in the end.
Rather support charities working to improve conditions for these animals
in their own countries.

I'm a vegetarian because I loathe the
conditions that animals are kept in
for the meat trade. I prefer to know
that animals are living in as natural a way as possible.

Absolute hogwash.

Grammaretto,I applaud your scepticism, and your reason to be a vegetarian.

I too have thought of these concerns before I got my latest dog from the woman who rescued him in Romania and the other woman who received him and put him up for adoption in this country. Neither woman is rich. Each is an ordinary person who like yourself has a conscience.

It's terrible that humans eat pigs who feel pain and grief as much as do dogs and people.

Nanato's concern about importing cane corsos is natural. As far as I know cane corsos are not on the banned list of any country. These are large Spanish hunting dogs. I personally would not want a hunting breed as I prefer the herding breeds or terriers as easier to train, especially the herders. Many Romanian imports have herder ancestry; mine has, and he must originally come from a kind home, as he is as soft as they come and well trained.
I am too old now to take on a large dog in need of training.

Homestead, I am sorry you did not read what I posted. I made it as simple and concise as I could.

I can reply to reasonable objections but not to mindless dogma (pun not intended)

Cane corso. My apologies for previous post with wrong data about cane corsos. These are Italian mastiffs.

Cane corsos get a few health conditions which causes them to suffer if not given expensive veterinary attention by their owners. Unfortunately cane corsos have become status dogs now that XL bullies are banned.

Don't ever BUY FROM BREEDERS WHO ARE IN IT FOR PROFIT.

ViceVersa

Nanato3

I just hope no one brings any Cane Corso or similar breeds to the UK .

Why? There are already Cane Corsos in this country. My daughter and SiL have one - a rescue - and he's a lovely big boy. Have you actually met one?

Got to be honest here and say that I’m very wary of other dogs when walking mine after my dogs have been attacked several times, and there are certain breeds that I’m more wary of than others. And if I saw a Cane Corso approaching I would leg it in the opposite direction no matter how soft it’s owners say they are. I really hope they don’t become the new status dog to get round the XL Bully rules. Wasn’t there a poster on here that was very afraid of a Cane Corso that one of her neighbours had acquired?

MayBee70

ViceVersa

Nanato3

I just hope no one brings any Cane Corso or similar breeds to the UK .

Why? There are already Cane Corsos in this country. My daughter and SiL have one - a rescue - and he's a lovely big boy. Have you actually met one?

Got to be honest here and say that I’m very wary of other dogs when walking mine after my dogs have been attacked several times, and there are certain breeds that I’m more wary of than others. And if I saw a Cane Corso approaching I would leg it in the opposite direction no matter how soft it’s owners say they are. I really hope they don’t become the new status dog to get round the XL Bully rules. Wasn’t there a poster on here that was very afraid of a Cane Corso that one of her neighbours had acquired?

Maybee70 I'm with you on this . If I saw a Cane Corso I'd quickly go the other way ! I'm not afraid of large dogs but this breed is a different matter. They were bred to round up cattle, not for family pets. They are extremely wary of strangers and don't like other dogs . I've owned a beautiful Great Dane in the past , it's not the size, it's the temperament and what the were bred for . Some people don't look into the breed properly and just because they like the look of a dog they get one. I'm afraid they will become the next "status " breed .

Well, all I can say is that my daughter's dog was certainly not acquired for any kind of 'status'. They did a lot of research into the breed before they got him and were thoroughly vetted by the SSPCA before it was agreed that they would be suitable to rehome him. He is never off the lead when they take him out for walks, but even so, they do take account of whether anyone else is around and give other people a wide berth - not because he would be any danger to them, but they know how many people perceive the breed and appreciate that strangers may be wary of him.

Caleo - I understand your point about breeders and profit. However, not all specific breed specialists are ‘only’ looking for profit. My lab came from well known people who breed and show only labs. I paid one third of the cost asked by back street breeders, I’d no idea about their health checks or how many litters the mum had delivered. My breeders gave me 5 generation health checks, lots if info about parents, met mum, saw all the litter, these are good people who love their dogs. Same with the people who bred my spaniel

Let’s not lose focus

“OTD in the Derby Mercury, April 6th:
1732 - Ellen Beare’s garden at the Crown on Nuns Green was dug up and a child (7 or 8 months) bones discovered
1738 - ‘This is to give Notice to Gentleman, Ladies, &c. That the Bath, and Spaw, late Doctor Chancey’s, will be opened on Monday the 17th Instant, where constant attendance will be given (and the same Accommodations of Coffee, Tea, &c. in the Long Room as usual) by their humble servant, Edward Elcock’ [Several attempts were made to turn the Derby Spa into a profitable venture but they all failed. the building still exists as Ye Olde Spa Inne on Abbey Street, see below]
1759 - Bull Dogs and Mastiff owners who fail to control them to be indicted
Siddals open for lay of Cattle by Charles Horsley or Wm Mansfield
Ad for apprentice, must have had small pox”
So there’s nothing new about problem dogs! Not sure about the year but I’m pretty sure it’s not recent.

MayBee70

ViceVersa

Nanato3

I just hope no one brings any Cane Corso or similar breeds to the UK .

Why? There are already Cane Corsos in this country. My daughter and SiL have one - a rescue - and he's a lovely big boy. Have you actually met one?

Got to be honest here and say that I’m very wary of other dogs when walking mine after my dogs have been attacked several times, and there are certain breeds that I’m more wary of than others. And if I saw a Cane Corso approaching I would leg it in the opposite direction no matter how soft it’s owners say they are. I really hope they don’t become the new status dog to get round the XL Bully rules. Wasn’t there a poster on here that was very afraid of a Cane Corso that one of her neighbours had acquired?

Re your last sentence, it was me. The woman is tiny and the dog is massive. It seems to hate men and nearly pulls her over if they meet a man on their walk. She lives in a tiny house with very small garden.

Last week there was a couple on a dog training programme on TV who had a Cane Corso which was very aggressive if anybody came near them. They are regarded as status dogs now and people who buy them are usually not intelligent enough to train them properly nor provide a suitable home environment.

There is no way that anyone could stop a Cane Corso from attacking someone if it wanted to. And some of these breeds are bred to be very protective of their owners.

Primrose, it sounds as though the cane corso is feeling the need to protect his handler. My young lab had a protective mode towards men after my husband died. My dogs were bereaved but the big male lab picked up on my sadness and vulnerability and reacted to men by snarling lunging etc, something he’d never done before.
He’s five stone of powerful muscle. My trainer helped. The behaviour no longer happens. Your neighbour needs to get professional help as you’re correct, she’d never hold the dog back if it decided to attack

It’s fashionable.

Looks good on social media.

It would be more helpful to support the rescue charity who are working directly with these street dogs in these countries rather than bring more dogs into the UK.

Anyone on here that’s imported dogs will argue their point. However…,

I’m frequently offered “rescue” dogs. Because I know dogs and have space.

I also support and work for rescue centres in the uk.

I’ve seen street dogs abroad. (And I also support overseas vets spay/neuter and re release for street dogs overseas and always have).

Many of the street dogs are living very nice natural pack lives. Better and more natural than they would in the uk and well fed by locals and tourists and monitored by vets.

I had someone recently try to push their lovely Romanian rescue onto me (I’m at capacity with my UK unloved canines). They wanted to offload their lovely dog onto me purely because she grew too big for their little house and car.

Now she’s back in the UK Romanian rescue with anxiety issues they can’t deal with. The poor dog was loved and pampered for the camera/internet and now back in rescue. She would’ve been ok with me but I don’t have space. This makes me very sad. I don’t rehome my dogs once they are with me, they have a guaranteed safe home for life but I can’t keep taking on peoples castoffs which were bought just to make themselves feel good about rescuing from overseas.
Please stop bringing dogs in unless you can absolutely guarantee they won’t be moved on again and have a good moral reason for not providing a home for the UK needy canines. A population of unwanted canines which is also currently in crisis (but not so popular for Facebook posts).

Snowbelle, the ethical and business model is never to get a dog either British or foreign, from a rescue charity that does NOT legally contract with the client to return the animal to the charity if the client cannot keep the animal for any reason.

If, as you claim, you run a dog rescue service you should make this absolutely clear to anyone seeking to adopt a dog from you.

Any respectable rehoming charity in the UK neuters the dog before it goes to its forever home. If the dog is too young for the operation then a voucher given to have the dog neutered when he is old enough, and the new owner undertakes to have this done often at a specified vet.

For your information, the Romanian rescues in Romania would prefer all stray dogs to be sterilised. Where do you suggest the money is to come from for this to happen?

The people who tried to give away their dog to you were acting illegally and should have returned the dog to the rescue they got him from.

Your sentimental picture of street dogs as happy and free is misinformed. These dogs are generally regarded as pests and are persecuted by occasionally and casually being shot at and left disabled ,to starve to death .

Snowbelle, it would be better, as you suggest ,if people simply spent their money on supporting strays in foreign countries without the quid pro quo of getting a companion dog for themselves.

Surely you see that in the real world this is not going to happen!

Iam64, your big male lab is wonderful, I got gooseflesh reading your story.
Last night my Rommie went into protective mode, after dark. I have a large garden with dark corners in it. Although the fence is 6 feet all round it borders on a public footpath. My dog who came to live with me only a week ago went out for his late night wee, and barked and barked at some intruder. I hoped it was only a cat or a fox but I was so glad of the dog's protective presence! despite that he is super -friendly. He is not as big as your lab, but I guess he could give a good bite if he had to. I think a normal dog knows when his human needs protecting, don't you?

PS regarding breeds like mastiffs that are bred to be guards and breeds like labs that are bred to retrieve, I think breeds bred specifically to guard may need slightly different different handling. My preference is for herders as they are easy to train but ,as I have heard, mature earlier than labs who are also easy to train.
I don't know about cane corsos, I never had a bullish sort of dog. My son and his wife had a English bull mastiff female who was soft natured and never gave any trouble.

May Bee, what an interesting primary source re attitudes to bull breeds sans modern sentimentality!