How do I find a new home for a 6 yr old Male Adult Golden Labrador Dog?

Question

"Toby" is a beautiful friendly, well behaved dog, that loves children and adults. Gets on great with all animals, dogs rabbits, birds and puppies and their mums. He's in very good condition. He's in Sydney Metropolitan area in Australia

Answer 1

There are breed specific rescue groups for almost all popular breeds of dogs. They are almost always run as non-euthanasia organizations and generally have waiting lists of people looking to adopt.

The breeders that I get my Great Danes from run such a shelter and I know from experience that it usually takes only days to at most a couple weeks for them to place almost any Dane that comes in. They hold the dogs long enough to ensure the tempermant around kids and other dogs and then adopt them out. Danes rarely live longer than 10-12 years, but I've seen them find homes easily for ones that are 8 or 9 years old.

I'd say rescues are the best place to look because you get peace of mind knowing your dog will be going to a good home as they research the people applying to adopt.

Answer 2

Really your dog can decide how much is enough. Unless you have the over-motived eat-themselves-to-death-type, you should allow your dog to eat until she seems to be losing interest in food. The best way to test this is to take a full mug of food and feed her the pieces while you're training her. Tell her to sit, give her a piece. Tell her to lie die, give her a piece. Do this over and over until your dog is losing interest in the activity. The amount you have fed her is the amount of food you should give her. Dogs take a little longer (like humans) to realize they are full, so the feeding one piece at a time thing is a very good process. I have a border collie and I was told to feed her two cups of food a day. She is very thin, so she gets A LOT more than that, but you have a bigger dog, so I'm guessing something close to three cups a day is about right.

Answer 3

I am am in a similar position myself. With an older dog it is always harder to find a home. But you can't give up, they is someone out there who is the perfect match for your dog. Try putting his picture in the local newspaper, hang up fliers at a Vets office, and contact no kill shelters and see if they can help you find a home.

Please be careful of scams. You may get e-mail or phone calls from people who want to ship your dog far away. Its a big scam and it is part of an elaborate way to get you out of some money and then you will still have to find a home for your dog.

Be careful and good luck

Answer 4

Try to find a Lab rescue they are truly the only ones that will not let harm come to your dog. Its been my experience that these people are the type that are willing to go above and beyond to get your dog to a safe enviroment. If your dog is so good why would you get rid of him? I would never give up my dogs ( if I were homeless i'd be a homeless person with 4 dogs)

Answer 5

Classified ads in your local newspaper. Do you have sites like Craigslist and Petfinder in Australia? That would be an idea as well, if you do. Hope you are able to find him a good home:)

Answer 6

First, is he registered?
If he is, you can contact the kennel club he is registered with and ask if they have a rescue/foster/adoption program for that breed. Most dog clubs have "rescue leagues" that help with this kind of thing.
If not, place an ad in the local paper and on the Internet.
Be sure to list all of his great qualities and be prepared to also be honest about his Bad habits too. Make it clear that you will not be giving him to the first person that answers your ad - you will be screening the callers. I have rescued/fostered/and adopted out over 200 animals in the last 10 years. My ads always state "free to good home" or "adoption fee required". I have found that most people place a higher value on something they had to pay for as opposed to something they got for free. Then I describe the dog - "great with other animals, never been around kids (etc.)".
I finish my ad with "Vet references required" and my number.
When people call me, I try to do most of the talking in the beginning.
What kind of dog are you looking for? Have you ever had a dog before? Do you have any other pets now? What happened to your last dog/pet? Do you have a fenced yard? How do you feel about spaying/neutering your pets? Do you have a regular vet? Do your pets get regular yearly shots and preventative care? What do you feed them? ETC.
I keep in mind the kind of home I've provided for that pet so far and what kind of home he needs NOW.
If I don't like their answers, at any time, I politely say, "Gosh, I'm so sorry, but I don't think you'd be happy with this dog... etc." If you tell them you don't like them, they'll be more determined to get him, but if you say he's not suitable for them, they'll think you're looking out for them. See? If they don't believe in the same things you do, your dog won't be happy. < No fenced yard - keep their dogs on short chains... < Don't buy dog food - feed table scraps... < Last 2 dogs got shot by neighbors or hit by cars or wandered off... < Don't believe in shots or spaying/neutering... < Want a mean dog to keep people out of our yard... ALL Warning Signs!!!
Don't be afraid to say no. Lie if you must. Since I do this all ther time I prefer not to be confrontational and say "Oh, hell no! You're a horrible person! You can't have my dog!" Those people will sometimes be more determined to get the dog then and will start lying to you! Some will call back and give you all different information just to get your dog!
When you find an applicant you like, get their name, address, phone number, and their vet's name & number. Tell them you will call them back after you check their references, then CALL their vet. Ask if they really are clients (you'd be surprised how many people will lie about that!) and if they take good care of their pets. In the United States the vets can't give you certain information, but they can confirm or deny if their pets get regular, preventative care or if they only see them when they are dead or dying. They can tell you if they get shots, etc.
When you find the perfect new family, ask to do a home visit with your dog to see what he thinks. See how he relates to them & how they relate to him. See how big the house/yard/whatever is and where they will be keeping him. Will he be in the house with the family or out in the yard most of the time? Can they afford to care for him? Etc.
If for some reason, they love him and want him, but you (or Toby) don't like them, tell them you need a little time to think it over, then call them back the next day and tell them you've changed your mind about giving him away. Listen to your gut and listen to TOBY!!
Then, when you do adopt him out, you will be assured that you did everything you could to continue loving & caring for him even tho you're no longer there. If you don't find Toby a home right away don't give up - There's someone out there that wants a great dog like him and it's just a matter of finding each other. Good Luck! T

Answer 7

Contact your local pound they may have a list of people who are looking for a dog just like yours.

Answer 8

go to:
www.petfinder.com

and place a classified ad.....I sold a dog there....found my pug there, and found my parents mini schnauzer there....it's a great place to make sure they go to a good forever home.....write a very detailed description....giving all the information any one would want...the more you tell..the better chance you'll have of him being adopted...and please..please...don't just give him away....someone that's willing to pay for him is more likely to take care of him.....I'll help you write the ad if you'd like.....

Answer 9

here's one who like to adopt, exept my present, black lab, WILL not share our large backyard with anything , walking, crawling, hopping or flying!!! HE has THE DALEK< SYNDROME. " EXTERMINATE" and of same age, yet any small child that comes near him, gets the full "ICECREAM" treatment, every time a child visits their parents need to bring change of clothes, and bath essentials, our dog, would have licked them to pieces! yet would at a moments notice see !!some hapless visitor an undignified exit!!!

Answer 10

Place a classified ad in the newspaper.