Here is a topic for discussion that was inspired by real-life events.
Two couples are both interested in a big, active dog at the shelter.
One couple is older. They own their home. Property is at least several acres, but unfenced. Husband is retired and home most days, puttering in garden and with hobbies. Wife works 30 or so hours a week. They formerly owned another big, active dog, who recently died of old age. They have a 2-year-old small dog who misses having canine company. They have a trainer who they have worked with previously and plan to do so again.
Second candidate couple is young, early 20s. They are renters. They also live on several acres, but their home property is fenced. They have another big, young, active dog, a female. They both work.
My bias in placing the dog was toward the older couple. While it’s true that they lacked a fenced yard for the dog, the fact that they own their home reassures me that they won’t be at the mercy of future landlords if they have to move for whatever reason. They also have the financial wherewithal to provide the dog with whatever medical or behavioral interventions he is likely to need. A week in training? Knee or hip surgery? Wouldn’t be a problem for these people.
Staff at the shelter was biased in favor of the young couple. The fact that their property was fenced, their youth, and that they were already dealing with a big, active dog made them seem more equipped to deal with the dog’s perceived need for activity.
I’m just curious: Where would most people, or most shelter staffers, end up placing a dog like this?
I would never make a decision based solely on the information provided, and I would hope no rescue would, either. I can easily imagine either one of those homes being appropriate or inappropriate
Certainly I would choose the older couple who will have more time with the dogs.
I have rescued big senior dogs since I was 55 until I was 78. I would spare no expense for these usually sick, aged, frightened dogs that often had no training at all. I trained and cared for these dogs until they died, often within 1-3 years and my heart was broken when each one passed away. Most of the dogs became well adjusted inside/outside pets. My vet came to my house to euthanize unless the dog was sick and I took him to an emergency clinic where they did the task.
This year, because of my age my family convinced me to get a smaller dog so I chose the same type Northern breed but smaller. I never thought I could love a different breed but now have a Finnish Lapphund from a malamute breeder who knew me. That dog is so different from my previous dogs.
I would favor the older couple as well. They are already established. They have experience with a big dog. One person is at home and the other only works 30 hours or so. Plus, less likely to need to rehome the dog due to circumstance changes, ie, landlord, new baby, new job, etc.
If we leave age aside? Definitely, the older couple still, though their being older is a added benefit.
Older couple, definitely. They are more established and likely to be where they are forever. And the dog will be their child forever. My husband and I are older and have 25 acres, unfenced. We always go out and walk and play with our 6 year old very active Golden Retriever. And we also have a smaller dog.
Based on the info shared the older couple IF the personality of the existing dog is a good fit and the meet and greet goes well. If the shelter insists on the younger couple a call to the landlord should be placed first. I’ve done placements for rescue and have found many times when I call the landlord they aren’t on board and the dog would have been returned.
Older couple, for all of the very good reasons stated above. My only caveats are: assuming they are working with a qualified force-free trainer, and assuming that a check with animal control shows now prior running-at-large violations due to no fence..
Bigger dogs require more work and attention, and although the younger couple already has a big dog and a fenced in yard and would probably make good pet parents, I feel the best suited home in this case would be the older couple. The fact the husband is home all day, they have experience with a big dog, they own their own home, and have invested in a trainer previously make this home more suitable in my opinion.
First thought is to go with the older couple. But if they are financially viable, why not ask them to fence their yard? If not the whole thing, then a portion of it so that the dogs can go out without supervision when it’s not “walkies” time. I’ve never met a dog owner who regretted having a fenced yard.
We are an older couple and each of us got our own dogs when we retired. Our property is horse fenced, but not dog fenced and there is simply no viable place to install dog fence and still be able to mow and run irrigation. We each taught our dogs to stay on the property but they are never let outside without supervision. Which means they get lots of attention and always enjoy our physical presence, unlike many dogs I’ve seen in fenced yards that are let out and ignored.
Many neighborhoods prohibit traditional fencing and many shelter organizations feel Invisible Fence and similar underground fences are cruel or unreliable. We moved with an adopted dog to a house with a large yard, no traditional fence allowed in this neighborhood. When our previous dog died we tried to adopt and were told we couldn’t because of the Invisible Fence, they felt we wouldn’t keep up with the batteries, or always make sure the collar was on, or that it could have been damaged in a flood, or cut by a mower or animal’s teeth, etc. They felt if the dog didn’t mind getting zapped you couldn’t be sure it stayed in the yard. People have successfully trained their dogs to boundaries and instant recall for ages without fencing. We have friends who have consistently been denied adoptions because they live in a row house neighborhood with no yards at all. They simply walk their dog 3 or more times a day. Think what millions in NYC and other large cities have to do without yards. We never let a dog out unsupervised because of coyotes, poisonous mushrooms, eating deer poop, a stray dog, they dig a big ankle-breaking hole, etc. Or if you’re super paranoid it could be stolen by a passerby, so fence or not we walk ours at least twice daily for socialization and he’s watched when loose in our invisible fenced in yard.
I tend to favor the older couple but the determining factor would have to be the way the dogs react to each other.