The Brittany Forum

Mugi · Bretonnier Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 1274

I thought I would post (in brief) my experiences with the rescue and foster dogs I have had.

My first was my lovely Freddy - a screwed up and very undersocialised WSS. He had so many problems, destruction, escape, self-mutilation to name a few BUT he was a lovely and loving dog who taught me lots. If I had known more I would never have taken him on and he also in hindsight did damage Brice and to an extent Chase Crying or Very sad

but the positives of learning from him and the contacts I have made through him on balance make it all worthewhile as Brice and Chase have come through the stress as stronger dogs.

Mugi - apart from the aggression he felt towards Brice that became mutual after he bit through Brice's elbow he was a dog in a million and I wish I still had him despite that.

Benson a show cocker who allegedly had aggression issues - not while he was here for a very brief stay - he is now in a new home and has shown no problem behaviour!

Sadie a heinz oldie who had to stay a week between losing her owner to a nursing home and her new adopter getting home from a holiday - again no issues.

Piper, initially fostered but formally adopted once I knew he fit in with the boys and a decent working dog BUT he is not happy in the house and will still resource guard if at all stressed.

Charley - she is a long-term informal foster but will go back to her original owner and she has settled in very well (ok the season is a spanner in the works but expected as so many girlies do pull into season when fostered).

But when I homecheck I always tell prospective owners that if they are offered a dog they MUST NOT take it on if they don't feel a bond. There is nothing worse than committing 10 yrs plus to a dog you can't feel anything for. All the dogs I have had since getting Brice (5 yrs ago) have to an extent come with a 'get out clause' (not including Chase here but the rescues/fosters) as I would never upset my boys for the sake of fostering.

Fostering and working for rescues is very worthwhile but it can snowball and I have to say no many times as there is only so much you can do and not end up neglecting your own. But there is nothing more rewarding that seeing a dog happy in a new home with someone who really wants it! Very few of the dogs have problems inherently - most are related to boredom and ignorance on the part of their owners. Dogs really don't ask for that much do they? But some can't even be bothered to provide the basics.

Tough weeks in rescue orgs!

_________________
Sue, Chase and the non-Brittany boys - Brice & Piper. Pets first and foremost.

Never forgetting Mugi and Freddy

Patricia · Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 8:48 pm Post subject: Re: My experiences with Rescues

]- most are related to boredom and ignorance on the part of their owners. Dogs really don't ask for that much do they? But some can't even be bothered to provide the basics.

That is a question asked on the French Forum so many times
Owners want a dog, a medium size one at that, Spaniel like, not toy size for the Macho husband who" wants a proper dog" Rolling Eyes

Work from 9 am to 5 pm, longer in France, come back to find the dog has wrecked the house, emptied the bins, ripped the wallpaper, barks all day and now there are complaints from the neighbours.
Difficult to put the dog out, as there is a pocket size garden or even worth, no garden. So, the puppy has to be left outside in a kennel, and he is walked..at week ends Evil or Very Mad

Those statements make me mad...I remember the best answer to all the problems incurred" Get a GOLDFISH"
How do people who work all day feed a puppy 4 times a day? How do they have time to socialise, exercise a living creature???
Do dogs really deserve this?
I, for one, will not sell a puppy knowingly to someone who works full time. Might be OK for a Bichon or a less active breed, but certainly not for a gundog. So couch potatoes, owners with no sense of humour, forget the Brittany!!!
Again, the Spaniel " bit" came up with enquiries about the breed. How do we get rid of this comparison, that really, a Brittany is not into chasing balls and sticks when birds and rabbits exist Wink

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