Should we get this dog or not?

The only way to tell anything is to take him out and spend some time with him.

 

It's hard to say. I have three dogs. Two are dachshounds and one is a Lab-mix (mixed with Newfoundland and maybe chow). The lab came from the pound and has been the best dog ever. The other two are good dogs but not the same as the Lab. He's great with kids, cats, the chickens, other dogs, you name it. The dachshounds are not the same with the chickens unfortunately. I'm sure you would need to work with the new dog. Also how do you think the other dogs will get along with the new dog? As far as the whining, one of the dachshounds is whiny, all the time.

 

A dog in a shelter is probably going to act completely different once they are out of that atmosphere, so I think it's hard to determine. Just imagine how confused and scared they must be, a new environment, dogs barking non stop all around them, strangers coming and going. Most shelters will allow you to take the dog out of the kennel, walk them, and interact with them. It's also a good idea to have the whole family with you including the pets that are already in your home to see if everyone gets along.

It's wonderful that you want to save a homeless animals life by adopting from a shelter, I just wish there were more caring people like you. Best of luck, I'm sure you'll make the right decision.

 

My Rottweiler rescue did that to me at the pound...best darn dog I ever had! He was absolutely the sweetest and remained that way until he died of old age. I say get him!!!

 

Quote:Ditto. It can take a dog a month or so at your home for his "real" personality to come out. Of course it varies by the dog.

Also note that large breed black dogs do not last long in kill shelters ( you didn't say what kind of shelter he is in ) so you may have to make a quick decision if you think he is good.

I got a large mostly-Lab (mix) off Craigslist, knowing it would be a gamble how he would react to the chickens. All went well and he's a great dog!

If he is completely untrained as a stray would be, be aware that Labs are SUPER high energy (for years!) and he may not know what to do with all that energy - hence trying to get his paws through the fence to you. He probably has a lot of bad manners (jumping on you for example) but it just means he doesn't know how to act, not necesarily that he is mean.
It would depend a lot on YOU how much you are able to train a large can of spaz energy. Labs are great, but can be a lot of work due to their excess of energy.

 

There is bunch of info on the internet on how to temperament test shelter dogs...here is one site. http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_Temperament.php

You basically just want to see if they show any signs of aggression or fear....both which can be worked on but it may take some time and probably means it isn't the best choice for a family pet, unless you have some time to work with him.

As for being "needy", some rescue dogs can have separation anxiety, but you won't know that until you come home to a destroyed house really.

I would take the dog out and play with him and see how that goes.

 

I have two dogs with separation anxiety. If we leave home for more than two hours, which is a regular basis living in Maine, the house is absolutely destroyed. Books, toys, and shoes that are left out or on the floor are demolished. I'm not saying you shouldn't get the dog, just be careful that you have plenty of time for him. They howl and make lots of noise when we are leaving and coming home. Once we went on vacation and left a pet-sitter. He said they paced for hours and were constantly looking out the window. Now that we have more time for them, they don't tear up everything as much. It also helps if you leave the TV on while you are gone . Go ahead and get him! Just be sure you have plenty of time for him.