From: ce293@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Gail E. Brookhart)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: Leaving a puppy alone - bad idea?
Date: 14 Dec 1992 13:43:06 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: ce293@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Gail E. Brookhart)
NNTP-Posting-Host: hela.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, dan@msen.com (Dan Sugalski) says:

>John Stafford (Stafford@Vax2.Winona.MSUS.EDU) wrote:
>: I've decided to put off getting a dog because I now live
>: alone and have no other animals in the area and I just
>: don't know how a puppy would fare when left alone for
>: 8 to 10 hours a day.  In the past, my puppys were never
>: alone for more than a few hours at a time.
>
>: I can provide an otherwise good environment for the pup;
>: food, fresh (running) water, shelter, a large fenced in
>: area (my home is a retired farm) and so forth but is 
>: this enough?
>
>: How about getting _two_ pups?  Would they be company
>: enough for each other while I am gone?
>
>How about adopting an older rescue dog?  Both mixed and purebred dogs
>of older ages are looking for homes.  This way, you don't have to worry about
>the things that go with a young pup.  Some people are afraid that the dog
>won't bond with them, but this isn't true.  Also, these dogs are not all
>rejects.  Many are lost dogs, or divorces, or "the puppy grew more than we
>expected" or what have you.  There are the usual shelters, and there are
>purebred rescue organizations for almost every breed.
>
>Or, how about an older puppy or a retired show dog from a breeder?
>Many breeders hand onto a pup, hoping to show it, or keep it for breeding,
>only to have it not mature out to their expectations.  Is the dog bad? No,
>just short of expectations and in need of a home.  Some show dogs that aren't
>going to be used in a breeding program are placed after they finish.  They
>can make wonderful pets.
>
>In looking at rescue dogs, if the organization doesn't do temperament testing,
>you should at least have an idea of what to look for.  The books The Chosen
>Puppy and Second-hand Dog by Carol Lea Benjamin are both good reading.
>
>With and older pup or a retired show/breeding dog look for the same things
>you would in looking for a pup from a breeder.  What conditions are the
>dogs living in?  What health checks have been done? What is the guarantee?
>If there is a problem, will the breeder work with you? Take the dog back?
>etc.
>
>I personally would not get 2 pups when I was worried about being there for 1.
>
>
>Karen
>
>

Ditto to Karen!

Both of my present dogs are rescue dogs and I couldn't ask for 
better dogs or an easier way to bring a dog into my life.

Toby, my five year old male Airedale Terrier, came to me from 
his breeder after he had been returned to her from two earlier
homes that both went through divorces.  She had to bounce him
around between her place and her handlers too so that when I 
got him at 9 months of age he was on his 9th home.  He still
is a great dog and he caught onto everything in a hurry.  Two
months later he saved me from being mugged on Thanksgiving
night as we were walking.

Casey is my 7 year old Bouvier des Flandres bitch and she 
will have been here two years on 
January 31.  She is on her fourth home as entered our family.
Her previous home was a situation where she was placed with a 
family because her serviceman owner was transferred.  The 
placement was on a farm where she was not fed regularly, 
beaten by one of the owners and left unattended while in heat
and raised two pups out of a litter of five because she was 
not able to get enough food to provide milk to the babies.
She finally got dumped in the animal shelter by this guy 
because she pooped on the driveway at the farm.  And I was
so lucky to get her!  She has saved me twice from crime and
is the most level headed and good natured dog that I have 
ever known.

Everyone is no doubt wondering why I am telling you all of 
this.  It is to let you all realize that the rescued dog is 
not necessarily a bad dog with problem behavior.  Just as 
often they are good dogs with problem owners who are waiting
for a change to shine.  I have been doing Airedale rescue
for three years now and if a dog has bad temperament or is
too ill to be a good pet, I don't place them.  They are 
euthanized as the most merciful thing to do for them.
Most everyone I know in rescue follows the same philosophy
that I do:  These dogs have been through enough already.
Get them a great home so it can be their last home.

I won't guarantee that you will have it as easy as I have
with my two superstars but it is sure worth it to give
rescue a look when you stand to gain so much.

Gail Brookhart
Toby  (aka Gemstone Last Edition)  Airedale Terrier
Casey  (just plain old Casey) Bouvier des Flandres

Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs