I can see you being offended. However,I don't think it is fair to say that rescues are uneducated and if someone is turned down "it is all about uneducated people that call themselves experts and feel better by their self imposed power". Would you say the same if a breeder turned you down? If not, how is it different?

Thanks for your post Jeff. I'm not "blaming" him at all, I just don't think he should give much value to someone who probably does not understand the training he is talking about. (Much like you hear about the so-called "trainers" that think prong collars are abusive and deadly.) He was most likely denied a GSD by someone who does not realize the dog would probably LOVE getting into schutzund, K9, SAR, etc. My Border Collie loves learning new things and is so very smart and alert that I try to keep him constantly active...that's what his breed is known for. My Goldens are a bunch of lazy couch potatoes that just want their butts scratched...that's what they "do".

Who knows what prior kind of life the GSD he was looking at had before now. Apparently the rescue person did not think it was a good fit. I know of a local rescue that thinks they have, what we call "Almighty Authority" and are so overloaded with dogs because they are so anal about their policies. Their choice. Sad for the dogs but, meanwhile the dogs are in safe foster homes until they are adopted out so they're fine. Holding them for so long and being so strict with policies tends to burn out your fosters (thus, losing foster providers) and piss people off so your rescue then becomes "difficult" and you lose applicants, donations, etc.

There are quite a few rescue GSDs down here in Florida if anyone would like to PM me...or just get on Petfinder.com. I think of this board every time I see one and wonder what potential is hidden behind their sad eyes and how fun their lives could be on "this side" of that fence. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Dennis,
I agree with you whole-heartedly about winning the lottery and opening a kennel. You have no idea how many times I have said those very words myself.

Yes, the people were wrong not even coming out to your home or calling you. Before I got into this, I was denied a Golden by another GR rescue because I worked during the day. Yes, I was a bit offended at first...who the hell can afford to stay home all day for their DOG?! And what is the purpose of "rescuing" these animals if you won't give them to good, loving people who deserve the dog and the dog deserves them?! Your heart is in the right place, please don't let idiots like them distract you.

The point that I am trying to get at is that it's not so much that THE DOG is not meant for you...it's the rescue that's a bad fit. Please don't waste any more energy being angry with them. I'm sure there are plenty more rescue groups out there who would be thrilled to have someone like you help them out. Please keep looking. If I had not been so determined, I would never have found the group I work with now. It really has been a truly rewarding experience and I have met some of the most amazing, generous people.

And good for you with the things you have accomplished with training your own dogs. Some dingbats just don't get it that the more time you invest with your dog at the beginning, the bigger the reward is later on. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Good luck with your search and let us know if you ever win lotto!

I wanted to add my own experience with rescue - deciding that I would like to have a "little dog", I started looking for the right breed - doing research so as not to make a mistake - knowing that I wanted a REALLY little dog - because I have GSDs so I don't just need another dog, I wanted a little dog for one purpose - to sit in my lap, be easy to carry around and travel with, sleep in my bed with me (not that my big dogs don't do that also) and not be fru-fru trembley nervous terrified of the world kind of little dog. I decided on a terrier - thought a Yorkie would be nice, have known some really cool Yorkies. The long hair was a problem, but I could keep it trimmed down. Not interested in breeding or showing, so I was happy to contact a rescue, and also willing to take in a puppy-mill ex-breeder - there is a puppymill rescue organization, and Yorkies are a favorite breed of puppymills. Well, every application I sent, and every rescue I contacted turned me down. Me, who have owned and trained dogs for years, have house dogs, work out of my home and wanted the dog to be inside-only, walked on leash, spend 100% of his/her time with me (mostly in my lap), travel with me, etc. I had vet references, training references, people who know me and how my dogs are treated references. NEVER had a dog die by accident or injury, or illness - only lost 4 dogs in my lifetime and those were from old age. But, I couldn't be accepted by Yorkie rescue because I didn't have a fenced yard. And, Puppymill rescue wouldn't accept my application because I owned large-breed dogs AND didn't have a fenced yard. After that experience, I thought to myself "No wonder people go to pet stores and support puppy mills by BUYING purebred dogs at pet stores", because if I wanted a Yorkie, I would have to get one from a breeder or a pet store. Still not willing to do that, I waiting until a little dog came to me - a little Chihuahua X Toy Manchester Terrier - who is 8 lbs of tough, cocky, self-assured, athletic, thinks he is a GSD - and great lap-warmer. Little mutt, works out fine and has a great home for the rest of his life. Sorry I couldn't help a Yorkie who needed a home - but their caregivers wouldn't let me!

molly

LOL Funny...

But couldn't Eagle make a little lap dog. HAHA! Yeah right

Well that sucks big time. They should have some discretion on these things based on the individual instead of these trivial things that have little value

Some folks with fences and no dogs are irresponsible pet owners. That's my point on that.

But been there, done that <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

To clarify my earlier response ... yes it is tied to our funding. We get non profit status because we are considered an animal shelter, and have to abide by the rules of an animal shelter, even though we technically are a private rescue group. They can take our non profit status away for placing animals without shots or without being spayed/neutered. We get a lot of funding through additional channels that are very critical of what we take, what we place, who we place with, etc. We have to keep a papertrail on every dog and every family. Anyone who's ever stepped into the dark world of dog rescue knows what goes on between rescue groups. Most policies come from outside the group, dictated by standards held by other groups, animal shelters, the state, etc. Otherwise they come from where ever the funding comes from. My point is that what a group's policies are (not placing when there are intact animals in the home) is generally not coming from volunteers.

And as the person from Golden Retriever rescue stated, its their dog, their the one paying the bills and they can place with whoever they want.

 Quote:

(What)Would you say the same if a breeder turned you down? If not, how is it different

To paraphase Groucho Marx: I would not deal with a breeder that would have me as a customer <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Actually Will, Dana is correct about losing non-profit standing and funding, the state of NY could yank ours as well, if we adopt out any animal without speutering, and we also could lose our Mayor's Alliance funding if we don't HW test as well.

Dennis, please try to see it from the rescues point of view. They have invested a tremendous amount of time and money (what little money they have) to rehab and rehome these dogs, often cleaning up the messes of crappy BYB's who won't take responsibility of what they produce. Keeping that in mind, they can ill afford to take any chances of that dog coming back to them, so finding the dog the right home the first time around is top priority. Don't take it personally, they actually sound like the kind of rescue that's good at what they do, and they're willing to work with you to find the right dog for your wants.
And if you're trying to find a working line GSD, start trolling the public shelters, you'd be amazed at the amount of high drive GSD's that end up in one when their owners realize that they got in over their heads.

Huh? I told him "good job" for trying to adopt a dog..... so I'm a bit confused by your comment there, Laura. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Cry me a river.

Just go to another rescue or buy a well bred working dog.

I have no doubt that there are plenty of wackos and nutjobs in rescue, but it's best to just let them do what they want to do. They probably got the "this guy is a protection dog scumbag" vibe from you and wrote you off.

If you are going to get involved in SchH and PP work, get used to it.