[JMB]

Hi. I appreciate this is a complicated question.
We would love to get a couple of dogs, but we are both out at work all day.
Plus we have sheep ( very timid ) and chickens ( also timid) [size=78%]and pigs ( who love dogs).[/size]
I'd prefer to get rescue dogs rather than from a breeder.
Is this an impossibility?
It there a breed that would suit ?
Or is it really down to training?
I love greyhounds in particular but I've looked after them before and I've seen them in action after a squirrel/ cat/ bird.
Thanks
Joanne xxxxx

[Old Shep]

Most rescues will not rehome to people who will leave the dog for more than 4 hours in one go.  THey have usually had a nightmare of a life so far so the rescues wait until a nearly perfect home can be found.


All dogs would be ok depending on your perception on what will happen day to day.  There is a tendency with smallholders to expect dogs to roam free all day and not get into trouble (this is a neighbour of mine not a TAS member!).  This does not work - if the dogs are out then you need to be controlling the dogs not feeding the chickens/ponies / sheep etc... (rant over).


So get what breed you prefer and adapt your training and routines to suit.

[Alistair]

I've got a rescue saluki x greyhound, he is NOT safe round livestock, generally the problem with sight hounds is they have a switch, it's either off (they are asleep or eating) or it is on, when it is on they just become single minded killers basically, and you can't catch them, they are also pretty much one of the least trainable type of dog in a traditional sense.
Saying this I had a deerhound x greyhound previously from a pup and she was livestock safe, but I did have her from a pup.

I'd say if you get something really really small like a teacup yorkie you should be alright. 

In all honesty I think you should get a pup, and invest your time in moulding what you want. As for breeds, I'd avoid sight hounds of any description, I'm not sure it's fair on them with chickens and sheep around. Just go to your local rescue centre and see what pups they've got then take it from there. Anything that has been or is likely to have been stray should be avoided with your livestock.

The advantage if breeders is that (with the right one) you can be pretty sure of the potential of the pup you buy.

Two dogs are easier than 1 in my opinion, but equals five times as much trouble when they decide to mess about

Best advice is don't jump in, the right dog will come along, and when you see it you'll know. My problem is I just keep seeing them, and then I know, and then they're mine

[lachlanandmarcus]

I think if you want to avoid issues with livestock you need to either get a puppy (preferably of a non sight hound and guarding breeds) or an older dog from a rescue but one of known tolerance to livestock.


It is extremely hard to train an older dog especially a rescue out of the idea that livestock are good fun to chase or worse. Give yourself the best chance of it being a happy experience.


However, and you might not like that, I think it would be very unfair of you to get a dog at all while both of you work full time.....it really needs to wait until one of you is at home at least part of the day.

[doganjo]

OK - here I go - soap box time -

I appreciate this is a complicated question. - having an animal is complicated regardless which species

We would love to get a couple of dogs, but we are both out at work all day. - No way should you have a dog if you are both out working all day - what are they supposed to do all that time? Unless you have someone whop can come and be with them most of that time - but then it isn't your dog is it?

I'd prefer to get rescue dogs rather than from a breeder. WHY? You have absolutley no idea what has gone on in a rescue dog's life - it might have had four homes, or none at all.
Is this an impossibility? Yes
It there a breed that would suit ? No
Or is it really down to training? Yes, if you get a pup but you do not have a suitable environment for a pup.

Sorry to be so blunt but I have seen so many re-homes over the years that I am extremely cynical.

[suziequeue]

I do agree with Doganjo on this matter. She is very passionate on this issue. When my husband started making "getting a dog" noises three years ago it was a dog or work.

We now have a lovely well-adjusted happy (I think) dog and a happy husband who has developed skills in website design, photography, horticulture, animal husbandry, village politics, restoring old cars, wine and beer brewing, watching the rain, breeding mealworms, looking after me............ The list is endless :-))

[colliewobbles]

Agree with all that is said, with one exception.  Not all rescue dogs are trouble - I have one pedigree collie and one rescue collie and the pedigree boy is a more complex boy by far.  Meggy, our rescue, is the easiest little girl who would be wonderful in any home. 

It is also a myth that all rescue dogs are screwed up - many are pups and many have to be rehomed due to difficult family circumstances and will make lovely pets.  Breed rescues will always check out a dog and potential home before rehoming and provide back-up with any probs.

Donna

[doganjo]

OK, rescue or not aside, working full time is not a good environment for having a dog. 

[colliewobbles]

OK, rescue or not aside, working full time is not a good environment for having a dog.

As I said, agree with all that was said

[in the hills]

Okay. It is not ideal to have any dog if you both work full time but if you are at home most of the time that you are not at work then I do think it is possible and you could potentially give a very good home to a dog or two.


When my OH and I both worked full time we would not have taken on a pup but did have 2 or 3 dogs. We took on my fathers retired gundogs  . They were used to life in a kennel and hence being on their own for periods of time. They were older dogs and so quite content to lie in comfort for a few hours. They were fully trained. They were used to being around/ working around stock and so ignored sheep etc. They could be and were taken everywhere .... because they were so obedient. They quickly adapted to life in a house.


Of course, they still needed a good run in the mornings and were taken out twice when we finished work. We were lucky in that my OH could get back to them at lunchtime to give them a quick walk and on the odd occasion that it was not possible we made arrangements for my father or a neighbour to pop into them. They had human company in the evenings, weekends and school holidays (I was a teacher so lots of weeks off). They were taken everywhere with us, including all of our holidays.    They were very happy and content. I am sure that they had more exercise and stimulation than some dogs whose owners don't work. I think it can work ..... because it did for us  You may need to choose carefully and work around some problems but then don't we all? Few things are perfect.


Retired gundog??? Or a part trained gundog that has failed at being a "working dog" The latter would be younger but with that comes the need for more exercise etc.


Owners of working gundogs should be able to tell you a lot about their dogs and their suitability to your circumstances eg. know their reaction around sheep, poultry, people. You may or may not need to do a little house training, teach good house manners and so on. We had many over the years and all adapted with few problems.


Hope that helps 

[sokel]

We have 2 wolf hounds 1 11 months old and 1 5 yrs old aswell as the smaller dogs, the breed are known for killing poultry and other small furries.
Our 2 are 100% will all livestock. The 11 month old one grew up with last years lambs and used to join in the games they had, sometimes she was at the back and other times she was the leader. she still washes the ewe lambs face in greeting when they meet
They are in contact with poultry, goats,goat kids, lambs, calfs,geese, cats,african greys and guinea pigs every single day both with us and alone and they have never even looked at the animals in a wrong way

[goosepimple]

We got a border collie 2 years ago, she is lovely but the harmony of our smallholding just went out the window.  She came as a pup and has adapted and the livestock are used to her BUT they don't trust her - we brought in a wolf as far as they are concerned. 
 
Although I am here all day, she is really my OH's dog (he's at work all day) and I have discovered I am not a dog person (OH is but I'm not and I'm the one that's left with her all day).  She is company but if I'm 100% honest, I'd rather not have her.  She will stay as everyone loves her now, but as I say, the harmony has gone. 
 
It's like having another child and I'd rather have had another child actually   

[colliewobbles]

It's like having another child and I'd rather have had another child actually 

Given the choice I'd have another collie   

[JMB]

Thank you for your replies and good advice.
I wanted a rescue dog as they all need a home and some are actually advertised as being happy to be left at home during the day.
 Not ideal I know.
I think we have alot of homework to do.
J xxxxxxx

[goosepimple]

Can't you bring 'it' into work sometimes or leave it in the car so you can take it out at lunchtime, or is it possible that your work allows you to provide a dog crate somewhere. 
 
I can see what you mean, there are lots of homeless dogs in the world and wouldn't it be better to have one in a home with lots of fun at weekends and a bit of fun during the week, maybe two smaller dogs would keep each other company.
 
Good luck JMB.