Local dog resources

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by tulips on July 23, 2012 at 15:20

The Mayhew Animal Home is in NW London and has lots of lovely dogs looking for homes www.themayhew.org. Further afield, you will be aware of www.battersea.org.uk and there's also www.foalfarm.org.uk and www.rspca-centrallondon.org.uk. Good luck with your search, it's very rewarding to give an animal a home from an animal shelter! Also shelters give good advice on training and care.

I've used Village Vet for years www.villagevet.co.uk and they're excellent, also they are a good source of information on local dog training and they also have noticeboards with lots of info and sometimes dogs looking for homes. I use the Winchmore Hill branch. They also have branches in Southgate and Finchley.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by tulips on July 23, 2012 at 15:44

Plus there's the new Dogs Trust rehoming centre in West London www.dogstrust.org.uk

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by byl999 on July 24, 2012 at 8:00

Justine has been very helpful there, but i think that Abstractjuz was also asking more about local groups, training etc.  I am in a similar position as i have recently moved to Haringey and have been doing some research on local resources.  First i heard about Tip Top Dogs School which have locations in Finchley and Hampstead Heath... Obviously not the nearest of places unless you're based near the Overground to Gospal Oak.  Now i've found the KC list of dog obedience/training classes for south east and london.  See here

http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/services/public/findaclub/area/De...

Click on the London ones to find out how near they are/what they're all about

For rescuing dogs, as well as Justine's helpful suggestions, try Wood Green Animal Home. http://www.woodgreen.org.uk/

Perhaps you already know this but rescuing dogs is actually quite a competetive and difficult process in London. Most animal homes will deem potential owners "unsuitable" for varying reasons including the type of home they live in, access to green space and most important of all the owners' jobs and how long they can actually BE with the dog.  Rescue dogs also come with some potential behavioural issues, toilet training issues and more often than not Seperation Anxiety.  I think rescuing dogs is extremely rewarding and a wonderful thing to do. Just make sure you base your choice on how balanced, friendly and sociable the dog is, not on how cute or it's your dream breed.

There are several threads about Vets,.... just type vets in the search box on here. Reading myself through all of those, it seems like the front runners are Hills (178 Park Rd Crouch End London N8 8JT/ 020 8340 5453) which had nothing but glowing reviews, followed by Goddards at Bruce Grove and AbbeyVet in Stoke Newington.

Hope that helps!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by A Brown on July 24, 2012 at 14:27

Try alldogsmatter.co.uk they have all sorts of lovely dogs looking for a new home. They are local, just at the junction of Woodside Ave N10 , and the Archway Road. Just where the road forks to go either towards Highgate tube station, or up North Hill . There are a few shops there and they are next to the large pottery shop. Try to google them for more info.

Good luck.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Marian Leatherby on July 24, 2012 at 15:10

There is a dog training class in Finsbury Park on Sunday mornings, at 10 I think.  It's quite near the Manor House entrance, in a little fenced off area.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Helen1 on July 25, 2012 at 1:31

If you're not sure, try the dog training sessions in Finsbury Park on Sunday mornings. We used to go, just to watch the dog training, and meet the dogs and the dog owners. Nobody seemed to mind that we didn't have a dog.  People were friendly and happy to answer questions. There's usually a mix of people who breed dogs, or show dogs, or rescue dogs, or have a dog they want to train. It's also a good way to see lots of different breeds of dogs.

Contact Sue or Ceri Evans, Finsbury Park Canine Education Centre, Nr Manor House Gate, London N4 1BX. Telephone: 020 8809 6762. They sometimes take a break in the holidays, so maybe phone to check when they'll be there.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by byl999 on July 25, 2012 at 8:52

That's brilliant! Thanks for being so helpful and with all the details!!!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Eilidh on July 27, 2012 at 17:00

We took on a rescue dog from Battersea in November last year - and they were amazing. They're really strict, and it did involve a few visits down there over the course of quite a few months, but they are intent on making sure that you end up with a dog who will fit into your lifestyle - they really quiz you on the amount of time you have, your experience and will probably do a home visit.

We've been taking her to the training in Finsbury Park (Alpha Dog Training mentioned above) and it's really helped, along with being a good way to meet other dog owners and share tips and advice. We gave them a ring beforehand - the beginner session on a Sunday starts at ten or half ten for two hours, mainly sitting talking for this bit, and then the classes are at 12.30 - 1.30 each week after that. 6 week course for about £42 although do check as I can't remember exactly!

We registered her with Zasman vets on Priory Road (www.zasmanvet.co.uk) and again they've been great - really friendly and they have a plan where you can spread the cost of all the preventative stuff you need to shell out for - fleas, worming etc.

We're lucky with lots of green space around - finsbury park is great but we've found the bottom of Ally Pally to be the best place for walks for our one as she loves woods and a bit of water - and it seems like lots of others do too! There's also parkland walk, highgate and queen's woods, the new river canal, and you can take the dog on the train from Green Lanes to Gospel Oak and tramp around on the heath. People on the whole have been really friendly and we've made quite a few doggy acquaintances that we see regularly.

We've not really investigated dog walkers as we have a very lovely neighbour who walks her at lunchtime and in emergencies, and have the in-laws nearby, but let me know if you find a good one!

Likewise with kennels we've not needed this as yet, but the ones at Capel Manor have been recommended (http://www.capelmanorkennels.com/) and we're thinking of trying them out before we head off on hols to check she's happy there.

And we're just about to book her in for a trim - been recommended Glam Dogs on Holloway Road so we're giving that a try for the first time!

Let me know if you want any more advice or help, it's a big commitment but we've loved having her join our little family!

 

• ▶ Reply