Hi there,

I'd really like your advice and opinions. Can anyone give me some advice on where I can look to find an adult dog (French Bulldog) for rehoming? My partner and I are dog lovers and would love to give an unwanted adult frenchie a home. (Having researched the breed and decided it is the right one for us). But we only want to rehome a dog that
a) hasn't been stolen
b) isn't an unwanted bitch from a puppy farm
and c) is unwanted for genuine reasons.

However, trawling through the internet it is very hard to know who to believe! Can anyone suggest a reputable site to look on? Or, in your experience do breeders receive adult dogs back sometimes? Is it best to speak to a number of breeders in the hope that that happens? I am based in London and have no desire to breed from or show the dog. I just want a healthy, happy dog to love for the rest of it's life. I live in London but am happy to travel anywhere reasonable to meet my new best dog

Any advice or tips much appreciated. Thanks for your time.
S

As you are in London, might be worth going to Discover dogs next weekend at Earls Court http://www.discoverdogs.org.uk/  It looks like Frenchies are represented there on their stand so someone should be able to tell you more about who's the best contact point as well as learning more about the breed.

The KC website has contact details for breed rescues

http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/services/public/club/rescue/Default.aspx?breed=4088

Breed Rescue is the place to go, but you may be in for a long wait as I doubt many come up for adoption.

Worth contacting the breed club for a list of breeders, who you can contact to ask if anyone has had a dog back for re-homing, as reputable breeders re-home any of their own breeding if the homes fall through..

I will definitely speak to the French Bulldog Welfare Trust today and leave my details with them but you're right, it seems that most people will sell their unwanted dog on as they fetch quite a lot!

I am willing to pay for our new companion if none are waiting to be re-homed with the welfare trust so does anyone have any advice on what adverts to avoid? There seems to be a lot of adverts from Wales?!  It's just hard to know what to believe. This is all new to us - we have had working dogs in the past.

Also thanks for the dogs expo. Unfortunately, I'm out on holiday then otherwise I would be there

I would suggest that you talk to exhibitors who show their Frenchies.  Often a breeder can keep what they think is a show potential puppy that doesn't turn out to be good enough.  Those adults would be well socialised and carefully bred.
In this breed, I would avoid anyone who breeds and doesn't show because most will be just breeding to sell and be less knowledgable about temperament and health problems.

Not sure about others, but me personally if I were to head towards online ad's etc if the breed rescue weren't able to help nor any breeders then i'd be looking for an ad which doesn't place a price.

Any decent owner will want to find the right home, not make money.The current owner would want you to make a donation to the breed rescue rather than pocket the money themselves. So someone who has all the dogs history and details of breeder so you can do checks is paramount.

If you join the breed club you should be able to get a list of members and you'll be able to see where they live or at least make contact. Can't believe there are huge amounts of reputable Fenchie breeder's in Wales mind?

Personally for me i'd rather wait on the list of breed rescue or look for a puppy than go to the online free ad's.

I definitely agree with Suejaw on this.  I really don´t think you can trust people who advertise adult dogs FOR SALE for whatever reason.  Most will either be ex-breeding bitches, (why don´t you want one of these?) or may well have some sort of temperament problem because the owners haven´t done right by the dog.  I had to rehome one of my dogs recently (different breed) and it cost me an absolute fortune to get him to his new, absolutely perfect, home.  The dog´s welfare was by far the most important thing and it was the best decision I´ve ever made and money well spent.

> Not sure about others, but me personally if I were to head towards online ad's etc if the breed rescue weren't able to help nor any breeders then i'd be looking for an ad which doesn't place a price.
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Just to add another slant to this, we were told by many people not to advertise our boy for free as this would attract the wrong sort of people and also too many prospective owners wanting something for nothing. Even if they donate the fee to rescue or tell you that the dog is free when you get there I wouldn't discount ads with a price tag on them.
The only downside to re-homing a dog will be that you will know little of its history and health testing/problems etc so whether its from a puppy farm or a 'normal' owner you will not have the same reassurance as being on the list for a puppy/older dog from a reputable breeder.

Good point.  But it still all comes back to going to the breed club and/or reputable breeder.

I had a quick look at adverts for this breed and I can see what you mean!

There may be some genuine offers/owners in there but if so they are rather well hidden.  I would steer well clear of anyone selling a bitch with the words "due in season soon" or "puppies will sell for xx" or when selling a male "proven stud".  All loud warning bells as far as I can see.

Are you unable to have a puppy at this time?  If so I'd contact breeders and breed clubs as advised, some breeders may well know of possible rehomes that never come on the 'open market' as such.  Dogs from their owners would usually be placed through a network of known and approved contacts. 

If you are willing to take a risk with an advertised dog you need to harden your heart a bit, be very very clear about what you are wiling to take on, and visit a few of these people.  In some cases a telephone call might be all that is needed to exclude them.  I'd be listening for the things they DON'T say as well as the things they do.  There would be certain bits of key information that I would expect them to volunteer and I'd reject anyone that didn't cover at least 80% of this information unasked.  If you feel you can trust the owner, and you like the sound of them, you are more likely to find a dog you like when you visit.  Expect to be grilled by the owner.  I'd be very wary of anyone that didn't ask me loads of questions.  You want to get a dog from someone who genuinely needs to rehome for the benefit of the dog and someone who will go out of their way to ensure that you are the best new owner for their precious pet.  If I were rehoming I'd expect to meet you (and approve you) long before I allowed you to meet my dog.  (Actually it makes me shudder to think about it and the truth is that I'd only ever rehome via my breeder and NEVER via an internet site.  It would be like selling a child).

Good luck

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> we were told by many people not to advertise our boy for free as this would attract the wrong sort of people

Indeed, I feel that some people may not think they can go to their breeder, may not crossed their minds or even contacting the breed club/rescue. I think offering for free or putting a price, neither is right. POA is what you'd want, tbh price shouldn't come into it when looking for the right companion, if something is too much, then i'd rather wait(and save) than get something of less quality or not right for me.

If I were to want a rescue with little to no problems, say the dog had to be rehomed due to marriage break up then i'd go on the waiting list with breeders and breed rescue and wait.
So to the OP who wants a Frenchie, I'd wait for the right dog to come along through the right channels if it were me. Forget online/free ad's imo.

> Indeed, I feel that some people may not think they can go to their breeder, may not crossed their minds or even contacting the breed club/rescue. I think offering for free or putting a price, neither is right. POA is what you'd want, tbh price shouldn't come into it when looking for the right companion, if something is too much, then i'd rather wait(and save) than get something of less quality or not right for me.
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I did go to my breeder but she was unable to help, I didn't want to rehome him through breed rescue for a number of reasons the biggest one being I wanted to vet his new home and keep in touch with his new owners. We vetted ours with telephone interviews, email questions and also speaking directly to their vet. We also googled their address, their names and email address along with telephone numbers. It is very easy to judge until you have been in that situation, we rehomed our boy with no behavioural problems (we kept the naughty one) and it was for a very genuine reason (they fought). Of course we adore both our boys and it was not a "sale" or a whim but of course it was not like "selling one of our children" *rolls eyes*

>Of course we adore both our boys and it was not a "sale" or a whim but of course it was not like "selling one of our children" *rolls eyes*

Yabbadoo, I well remember your circumstances and I know it isn't really like selling children although sometimes that might be easy! but do not make the mistake of only reading my flippant comment and disregarding the rest.  The point is to impress upon the OP that, whilst they might be lucky enough to find a caring owner, it isn't going to be easy to sort the wheat from the chaff and that for many owners 'puppy selling' sites are a last resort in finding a home.

It can be useful to hear your side of things but looking at the adverts in the OP's chosen breed you would prove to be the exception rather than the rule and she needs to be able to tell the difference.  Look for someone that acts as though they are selling a child (a much loved member of the family)  rather than just an unwanted commodity and imo you'll not go far wrong.

Sorry, when it comes to rehoming I think I am a bit too sensitive to give an unbiased opinion and I apologise if I have come across badly

Hi, there is a site called dogsblog which lists dogs for adoption across the country according to breed, suitable home  age size etc. There is a 3 yr old French bulldog cross at the mo. She looks and sounds lovely. I think giving an older dog a home is wonderful. X

We have adopted 2 older dogs that were just no longer required by their breeders. Both of them were 3yrs old (at different times and different breeders and even different breeds). For the first one I found a kennel club registered breeder on the kennel club site and this gives phone numbers. The one I rang was advertising puppies but I thought it was worth a ring. It turned out that she had no puppies left, nor any older unwanted dogs but as she was a show breeder knew of someone that did. She passed on my phone number and we went to see her. Word of mouth is great and if you could chat to a good breeder they will know of any that are about. They are the people with the knowledge and we were delighted with our retired show dog (ready trained) and a real joy. There are plenty of breeders on this site, it could be worth while giving a couple a ring or alternatively, go to a show and chat there. 

You could try the clubs of the breed you wan't in ours it is the "Rescue" on the Samoyed Association site also Rescue "The British Samoyed club" site. There also is "Many Tears"
Most Dog clubs should have a rescue site.

There is a website called Older Dogs or something like that, they have all sorts all over the country.
Sorry can't be more specific

Linda

Oldies Club

http://www.oldies.org.uk/

You can have a peek at Dogpages too - www.dogpages.org.uk - tis a collection of general rescue forums but they have a large list of breed rescues too.