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Posted by Karen on April 4, 2008, 7:19 am, in reply to "Re: Its not the breeders fault so many turn in dogs for the wrong reasons"
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Yes and no...
It is the breeders/responsibility responsibility to say yes or no to a placement. I have worked with some really BAD placements in the past few years from both breeders AND allegedly good rescues. I had to recommend with more than I like that the dog be returned or rehomed. In each case there were many red flags the breeders ignored in their need to place grown out show pups or retired show dogs. I personally knew the breeders in some cases and was shocked they would make the placements. I knew the rescues in ALL the cases (had adopted from a couple myself - small pets).
A couple years back I wrote on article based on what I was seeing that did get published. It did open a few eyes.
A few of the placeents -
BREEDERS - HIGHLY RESPECTED ONES IN THEIR BREEDS LOCALLY - here are three
Older adolescent dog to a couple with five kids - all under ten (three under five) - parents work all day and kids home with a nanny - mom told me they got the dog to keep the kids active and the dog was a wreck.
Young pup placed with a family (at home mom) with several active boys, only one in school, and mom was pregnant again.
Breeder placed a dog with a couple whose wife did not want the dog but breeder did not pick up on her body language or the fact that she refused to talk to the breeder and hubby did all the talking. Wife was to be primary caregiver of the dog. Wife would not even touch the dogs at the house. But hubby was alluring to breeder and knew what to day - runner, experienced with big dogs, etc. But wife was home all day with dog.
RESCUES - FOUR
Placed a GSD pup with a pushing feeble elderly woman. Woman physically could not manage a large dog and rescue should have had her handle a large dog to show what would happen soon. She needed a smaller dog that was out of the puppy/adolescent stage. She had a lot to offer a dog, just not the one she wanted. Rescue just saw a woman home all day who had GSD experience (from decades ago). I spoke to the rescue myself with why I wanted them to take the dog back before the woman was severely hurt.
Placed a dog not ready for adoption in a home with a woman who had a doggy door, no solid fence and who used old school training - set the dog's work back significantly. (The dog was foster with possibility of adoption in this home). They rehomed the dog at my insistance and that of another trainer and the dog is doing great!
Placed a dog with a couple who was military and both work FULL time. Dog is a HIGHHIGHHIGH energy dog and gets limited work. Dog is a mess. Hubby never wanted an active dog (he wanted sedentary), wife wanted a possibly agility dog. Rescue only heard this part and placed a dog 100% unsuited for this home. Wife is now pregnant, hubby is not stepping up with the dog, dog has to go for his own sanity.
What people placing dogs need to realize is:
1 - many potential owners overestimate their abilities.
2 - many potential owners have impressions that may not be realistic - such as think a higher energy dog will be fine with a half hour walk twice a day, except when it is raining, cold, they are tired, etc.
3 - many potential owners do not realize how much work kids and dogs are and assume the children will do most of the work keeping the dog busy and active.
4 - many do not think the true long term as well as the day to day.
And this is ust a few of the issues I run into (there are more) when I go in to consut regarding a bad placement.
One of the HARDEST things for me to do is recommend rehoming or returning a dog. I hate to do it but there are times I have to for the sanity and safety of everyone - and before the dog becomes a dog who cannot be placed.
When humans overestimate themselves and breeders and rescues do not read between the lines and ask more in depth questions, this is when issues happen.
There is a reason many rescues are nazis in regards to placing dogs. Though I hate blanket rules that are not adpated to the individual, I understand why they have them. Being on the other end and fixing the errors - or trying to - and consulting with owners... I understand the reasoning many rescues have though I do not agree with the extent with what they do.
Again, most rescues here would not adopt to me. I left the last rescue due to politics. I felt I could do more for rescues overall by offering free and discounted services to help make dogs placable faater and get into new homes to help prevent issues that may arise over the first months. Pathetically, very few rescues have taken me up on my offers!!!
But breeders and rescues are the ones responsible for placing the dogs.
On the other hand, I have seen superb famiies passed up because rescues would not adapt. I mean military homes who have proven they have never left a dog behind regardless of where they moved over the past decades. Parents who are exceptional homes, knew what they could or not handle, at home mom with a very well behaved child passed up because child was under six.
But going back - who is ultimately responsible for placing a dog in a home? Not the adopter. One of the worst excuses I ever heard from a good breeder for placing a dog in a bozo home was "They could have gone elsewhere but at least I know they are getting a healthy, quality pup." Uh, yeahhhhh... And the dog is now a mess, pushing dangerous, not a dog I would rehome at all but probably euthanize. Saying no is the responsibility of the person placing the dog. I think some breeders need a bit more education in how to talk with/listen to owners. Many do a good job but many more do not. As I tell breeders who say they placed a dog to prevent someone from going to a pet store though they questioned the home, "At least it would not have been YOUR dog in this situation."
I am currently working on a couple articles regarding reading between the lines - asking deeper/different questions and placing dogs with the elderly and parents with children (safer ways for them and the dog). The importance of better follow up, etc. Very controversial but needs to be done. But being on both sides of the triangle - family who breeds, rescue/shelter volunteer (former), trainer/behavioral consultant, I think I get a different view that some do not.
I just wish I could get magazines that reach more breeders in different breeds to pick them up (ala AKC Gazette or UKC Bloodlines). But at least I am reaching breeders in a few breeds.
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