Here is another one I found via Googling. I just happened to know about the first one because we share a vet.
http://www.goldenmeadowsretrievers.c...vers-for-sale/
Here is another one I found via Googling. I just happened to know about the first one because we share a vet.
http://www.goldenmeadowsretrievers.c...vers-for-sale/
We live in Maine. There is one very small shelter nearby (usually has maybe 6 dogs) and two others within about an hour's drive (one of these also small with only maybe 6 to 10 dogs; the other is a little bigger). Many of the dogs are pit bulls or pit bull mixes; not interested. Many are up from the South with previous history unknown; I consider them, but cautiously. All post their dogs online. I have those all bookmarked and check them regularly; if we see anyone that we all like, we go over and check the dog out, or sometimes we just drive over and see who's there. Actually the kids' dad got a lovely Redbone Coonhound when he was with us on one of these visits. They did not think the hound would do well with cats, but it's a great dog with the kids so I know they are out there.
The rescue societies have seemed the most promising so far, the dogs are in foster care and the foster parents are very familiar with the dogs' habits, personality and level of training (or lack thereof) and therefore very helpful in advising whether they think the dog would be a good match for our situation. It is just a long process doing the whole application, home visit, etc. before you even meet the dog, then setting up the visit with the dog. It took about three weeks from start to finish for the process to play out for the dog that we ultimately decided was not a good match. We inquired about another dog at same rescue about ten days ago but someone else was first in line for that dog so that's on hold. If we look into others at other rescue groups we would need to start the process over.
I think I'm already doing the right things and need to just keep on keeping on . . .
rodeosweetheart - the retired breeder is a great idea, thank you!
Mamalatte, my brother is in Maine, and he just got one of the rescue dogs that came up from a puppy mill in the South--Tennessee--they drove down to Kittery to pick her up. She is a border collie, and very smart and pretty, a typical border collie.
So in their case, it did work out okay. Lots of goldens in New England, so maybe the retired breeding dog would work!
Here's one to try:
http://www.colonialgoldens.com/colonial_rev/home.aspx
Sorry, can you tell I love golden retrievers?
I can confirm that they are a lot of trouble! Not too much - not yet - but a HECK of a lot of time and energy.Quote:
Originally Posted by iris lilies
It's like having a newborn baby; thank goodness dogs grow up so much faster. No way could I take 2 years of this.
I know, I know, I've had a puppy before! Whack me on the head if I say again that i'm considering it!
Just be patient and the right dog will come along. You don't want to rush into owning the wrong dog for the next 10-12 years.
You may not have something like this near you, but there are programs where rescue dogs are loaned to prisons for the inmates to train, then adopted out. I know this is done with greyhounds (another great breed for a family). You can also ask your vet if they know of any dogs that people are looking to rehome. There's a podiatrist in my town that brings dogs here from another country; they are vetted and adopted out. Most are young and mixed breeds. There are a lot of people rescuing dogs from Mexico and the islands.
Well, I brought home an 11 month old American cocker spaniel in September, so she is almost 14 months now. She is a Handful!! She is Naughty!! She is sweet, lovey, beautiful, and very smart. And she often chooses to do something other than what I asked of her!! She actually has an obedience title, that's the primary reason she was so "old" when I got her, I was originally going to bring her home in June. Her breeder's granddaughter wanted to finish her Junior Handler certification, with this dog, "because she is smart and learns quickly." HA!!
Did I say she's Beautiful? Meets breed standard in every way, except coloring. She is a black-n-tan, but she has a prominent White throat and chest (should also be black). So she's not eligible for showing in conformation, and her breeder knows that using her as a breeder anyway would produce probably half a litter of mis-marked pups, i.e. also don't meet breed standards for color. So the long and short of that is that she was available for purchase as a pet, and came to me already spayed.
I know this breeder because my other dog was rescued from a hoarding situation and this woman took her in, kept her in her home, gave her lots of love, and taught her to be a great house pet. As best we can figure, she was about 5 years old when I got her. She was way easier to bring into my life, because she was timid in the new situation, bonded to me immediately, and still looks to me for almost every direction almost 3 years later.
Now, this pup? Oh, My! She has been dearly loved from the minute she was born, and she is tremendously full of herself!! She is bold and confident, and knows no fear or limits. Integrating her into our home (just me and the dogs) has been a real chore. I knew going in that she would need intense training for at least a year, but I had forgotten just how much time, energy, and commitment that is. Don't get me wrong, I'm in love with her and vice versa, and not sorry I got her, but if I hadn't had a similarly tempered cocker in my first one 23 years ago, I would be way in over my head.
All that to say- if you don't want to do "puppy" you need to get a dog that's past 2 years, in fact, closer to 2.5 would be best, IMHO.
As for the rescues, I did cocker rescue for about 3 years. We placed an average of 2.5 dogs a week, for 2.5 years. All the dogs were in foster homes, and I was the person in touch with the foster parents, facilitating vetting, delivering food, etc. so our adoption adviser would call me to say a family was interested in one of our dogs that they'd seen listed on PetFinder. Then I'd ask what they were looking for, temperament-wise and what their life style was, and how they saw a dog fitting in. Almost always there was another dog that I was pretty sure would be a better fit. I would arrange for both dogs to be present when they came to visit, and Never did they even look at the dog they originally thought they wanted because the other one Was the Right Dog for them. It was just amazing, over and over.
So I would encourage you to find an all-breed rescue and let them get to know you. Then _let them call you_ when a dog comes in that's right for you. Needs to be experienced people who keep the dogs in foster homes. And they will be able to tell you about cats and kids, etc.
Oh, yeah, that "boarding contract" - that sounds like a scam to me. Run, run far away.
Often small dogs get labeled as biters because they have been roughly handled or hurt by kids. Most are not really biters. The nip in self defense. Goldens are high energy until at least 4. A good friend of mine always owns this breed and they are wonderful but a handful.