What the heck is a Schutzhund 3 dog doing at a rescue shelter? - Page 4

"Change of direction." Oh brother. Never was a lifetime commitment. That's why the dog is at a rescue shelter.

The problem is that people who would adopt from a shelter don't typically want that kind of dog, and the people who do want that kind of dog (lots of US) can't get them because of rescue rules, and many don't want an altered dog for working. So, the poor dog will really be a misfit because few who can handle him would be interested in this situation. Poor freaking dog. I can just picture poor Caleb if I was a sorry excuse for a human being and dumped him in a shelter. He'd be lucky to make it out alive. They'd probably call him DA, too. And I can just see how John Doe and his lovely family would deal what most of us think is "normal" behavior out of a working line dog...7 years old or not. 7 is hardly retirement age anyway...I don't have a real good feeling about this dog's future. It's too bad, too, since we know his past wasn't that great, either. 

As an aside, I have yet to see a dog that was really as bad as the owner giving them up said they were w/other dogs. In fact, I can't think of one time that the old owner wasn't shocked that others (read: people w/a little experience) didn't have a big problem w/DA. It's simple discipline and management...and also a really pathetic excuse to dump your dog. 

I, too, am curious as to the adoption fee.

So let me get this straight....experienced enough to own a SchH3 working dog, experienced enough to run boarding out of their home...not experienced enough to keep him away from the boarding dogs while he is found another home? Easier to just burden a rescue with yet another dog, mke it someone else's problem? Never mind the dog's feelings, right, what's a little more shuffling around?

For all that I love this breed, I love well bred dogs, I love dog sports...I  hate how these dogs are treated sometimes. Just things. Breeding stock, commodities. Not friends, not family.

Oh, and GSDnewbie- no worries, we all knew what you meant. Some things never change.

Jenni: Why do you not want an altered dog for working? Is there any other reason except to capitalize on the dogs genes should he prove to be a title winner? Is the work a means to justify the breeding, is that always the end goal? 

If it was just about THAT dog and HIS work, I don't see why an altered dog would matter. They do geld racehorses, for example, and they do win, too. Just don't get to be the future money maker through progeny.

 I can say first hand this is a great dog! I went and met him, totally goofy personality and just a good guy. I hope someone great gets him, I was denied because I have a 3yr old boy...the meeting went well he seemed gentle and unphased by my son.

yeah sometimes rescues pass by awesome homes for the dumbest reasons. Sometimes people get frustrated trying to help by adopting and end up going to a breeder anyhow so how is that good for the dogs in need? Some people are dog savy enough to know not to t leave the dog with young child that has experience with a working dog but the dog most times will go to an owner that has no experience with a working dog lol sad

    I tried to adopt a siamese CAT when my one died from old age and was told because one of my 3 DOGs <not breedable with cats> was not altered <show animal> I was unfit to adopt one lmao

Beetree, too many reasons to list. Many people are unaware of the significant changes in an altered animal because they have only ever owned altered pets and/or they don't do the things with their dog that would make them take notice. There is a laundry list (and most has been discussed many times on other topics so I won't say any more on this thread) of things that change when you remove an entire body system. Aside from that, it's surgery, and I have even heard of dogs having issues after anesthesia where scentwork is concerned. There will always be the ostrich clan who insists that only that single body part disappears and it bears no impact on the dog as a whole, but those who deal in reality and have no agenda (unlike nearly everyone pushing for spaying and neutering) know differently. 

As usual, I'm on par w/Kelly's outrage. 

Newbie, I had the same thing. I tried to adopt a really old cat and they wanted me to spay and neuter my breeding stock. LMAO, if it wasn't so sad for the poor animals stuck in that place.

Jenni - how many dogs have you trained to titles?    None, right?  So where do you find your information?  The internet right?  LOL - <sigh>

The answer to the question is - neutered and spayed dogs can do just fine in the sport.  They do not lose "scentwork" because of anesthesia.   They do not lose drive or change their temperament if they are spayed/neutered.  Early spay/neuter, perhaps would make some minor differences - but the ability of the dog to do the sport?  Intact or neutered, not much.

The reason most people keep their sport dogs intact is for breeding purposes.  There is no reason the loss of his testicles would prevent this dog from being a fine working partner - what might hold him back is his age - transferring over to a new handler takes time - sometimes lots of time.  And he may have some health problems, old injuries, or past bad training/handling that would negatively affect him.  The only thing the loss of his testicles will affect is his ability to produce puppies for sale to make money, or to collect stud fees to make money.

molly

Just to quickly answer a few questions that have been asked. I don't recall ever saying I would not place Xaesar or Nixi in a working  home , I simply said that it would need to be in Colorado or possibly one state away. I would certainly want to place him where he would be the only dog and all the rules that we use to place dogs would apply. My objective is to make sure that he is happy, well cared for and will be committed to for the rest of his life.
  I'm not sure who is being referred to as a GSD newby but if it was directed at me, I have been in German Shepherd dogs since 1968. I am an ex schutzhund and AKC obedience handler, breeder and show ring competitor . I no longer breed or compete as since I opened this rescue it has pretty much consumed me and I just don't have the time . As to the questions, what is our adoption fee and being neutered .The adoption fee is $350.00 and when Xaesar and Nixi came here they were both already spay/neutered .
In case there is someone that isn't familiar with what rescue does, we rescue and REHAB. Meaning if they have a bad elbow we fix it , if they have heartworm , we treat them, so it can be very expensive, and we depend on donations from people who love this breed because adoption fees would in no way ever cover the cost for the care of these dogs. Not all rescues can be put in one bag that is for sure , just know that in this rescue we look at it from point of view, what will be best for the dog. They get plenty of work here as one of our volunteers is a military master trainer and he comes often and works with the dogs . I even get my old self out and do some obedience and soon we will be doing a little tracking for fun so no one here bored . I probably want be back to this site for a few days so if someone wants to talk to me they are welcome to call and if anyone is close we always need more volunteers that would like to work with the dogs or foster or transport.

Unfortunetly it isn't just rescues that are the spay/neuter nazis many vets actually frown apond you for having an unaltered animal, and they essentinally try to lecture you on the risk for keeping them unaltered. They use the scare tactic to get people to get their animals fixed so they can charge a few hundreds dollars in profits. They also charge you double for rabies,etc for unaltered dogs.