I've been speaking to a breeder about getting a Komondor pup but the other day she mentioned that there was a two year old neutered male looking for a home. The breeder says the dog has been well-cared for and well-socialized but his current family couldn't keep him due to a divorce.
I'm very conflicted about this. On one hand there's an inherent advantage to getting a dog this age as I won't have to deal with adolescence or housetraining or various other puppy things, plus he's an existing dog looking for a home. On the other hand I'm concerned that his family didn't manage to find a way to keep him. Apparently his owners were a professional family with both kids in college yet neither owner decided to accomodate the dog in their life.
Our GSD, Osa, was a shelter rescue though we knew the family who owned her and every time we drove down her previous family's street she'd just go bonkers in the car anticipating a reunion that would never come. It made me realize that her old family was still, in her mind anyway, her true home. She loved us very much and had a good life with us but I didn't feel a bond with her as I did with the dogs I've had since puppyhood. This raises questions in my mind of adopting a rescue Komondor and how closely I could bond with him and, most importantly, how much I can trust him.
How accurately I will be able to know what triggers him and what won't? This Komondor has a reputation for independent thinking, doing what he believes is best to protect his family and home. A good owner needs to have a good idea of what situations might trigger a response and avoid them.
I've told the breeder I'm not interested but now I'm wondering if I'm being overly cautious. If it works out, great. If not, then he goes back to rescue. I have researched owning a Kom for over 8 years and now I have the time and ability to share my life with a dog.
Opinions appreciated!
Thank you.
I'm very conflicted about this. On one hand there's an inherent advantage to getting a dog this age as I won't have to deal with adolescence or housetraining or various other puppy things, plus he's an existing dog looking for a home. On the other hand I'm concerned that his family didn't manage to find a way to keep him. Apparently his owners were a professional family with both kids in college yet neither owner decided to accomodate the dog in their life.
Our GSD, Osa, was a shelter rescue though we knew the family who owned her and every time we drove down her previous family's street she'd just go bonkers in the car anticipating a reunion that would never come. It made me realize that her old family was still, in her mind anyway, her true home. She loved us very much and had a good life with us but I didn't feel a bond with her as I did with the dogs I've had since puppyhood. This raises questions in my mind of adopting a rescue Komondor and how closely I could bond with him and, most importantly, how much I can trust him.
How accurately I will be able to know what triggers him and what won't? This Komondor has a reputation for independent thinking, doing what he believes is best to protect his family and home. A good owner needs to have a good idea of what situations might trigger a response and avoid them.
I've told the breeder I'm not interested but now I'm wondering if I'm being overly cautious. If it works out, great. If not, then he goes back to rescue. I have researched owning a Kom for over 8 years and now I have the time and ability to share my life with a dog.
Opinions appreciated!
Thank you.