[hello_there]

HK is a fine place for a dog, provided the owner takes time to care for it (I do admit that it takes more effort here). My dogs had a couple acres back in the States also, but they have adjusted just fine. Its actually been more of an adjustment for me b/c I can't just open the back door and let them go run anymore. There are plenty of open places to sniff and run in the country parks and on walking paths - you just have to find time to take your dog. Lots of the upper Mid-levels apartments have access to nice walking areas and hiking trails. A good DH keeps the dog company during the day while owner is a work. And, there are plenty of less active smaller to mid-sized breeds perfectly suited to HK life that make wonderful apartment dogs and don't need too much exercise.

[Rhi]

Yes .. and living in the upper mid levels there are plenty of nice places to walk ? I completely understand the responsibility of owning a dog !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Correct me if I am wrong however, living in a loving environment in Mid Levels where you are walked twice a day and cared for would be much better than living in some animal shelter or a pet shop window.

I guess there are no recommendations out there......

[larac]

I have recently become a dog walker for HK Dog Rescue and would have to say that maybe a dog from there is not for you but you should definitely go and see. They are really well looked after at HKDR and the people really care and make sure they are healthy before they get homed or at least that you know about the problems. Don't go there at 9am as it is a bit chaotic with all the dogs needing to be fed or walked and their cages cleaned but by 10.30 things calm down alot. HKDR send out lots of emails to their volunteers with photos of rescued dogs in their new homes and the difference is amazing, with a bath and a bit of tlc so many end up looking like they are well bred even if their beginnings in life were not that grand. Also from what I've been reading there will be a steady stream of puppies coming shortly if you want a pup.

At home I have a pure bred border collie from a very good breeder. We saw one in Sai Kung that looked just like our dog and discovered it came from the same breeder in New Zealand. I don't think HK is the place for a border collie but if this is a breed you are interested in let me know and I will send you the breeders details.

If you do opt for a pet shop then please take care to know what you are buying. I saw some Burnese Mountain dog puppies in Causeway Bay (sooo cute) and to test the shop asked how big they would get. The lady said they would only be medium sized and indicated the height with her hands. These dogs grow to be huge ie: St bernard size, so she had no idea and was just looking for a sale. Buyer Beware!

[Sleuth]

Just wondering. For the most part, the parks I have seen in HK don't want people on the grass, let alone dogs.

[hello_there]

Any of the country parks allow dogs, on or off their leash. There is a nice dog park in Wan Chai and a few other local parks, like the one off of Sing Woo Road in Happy Valley permit dogs.

And, Rhi, you're right, a loving environment in the Mid-Levels is an ideal place for a dog.

[wtbhotia]

my neighbour recently got a puppy from HK dog rescue, after 2 weeks it died, my neighbour even took it to a vet and spent 7 grand but the puppy still died. it was probably just bad luck, i am not saying dont trust HKDR but you still have to be careful.

I live in clear water bay and i own 2 huskies and a schnauzer, all were dogs that poeple did not want and the good thing is that i got them when they were puppies. dont get dogs that are more than 1 year old as they may already have bad habits that will be very hard to change.

if you can read chinese or have someone to translate it for you here are some website that give away (adopt) dogs of all ages and also a breeder website.

http://hkpet.net/big5/adopt/index.asp
http://www.hkcaf.org/e_Urgent_Rescue...d=391&offset=0
http://www.schnauzerhk.com/index2.htm (Breeders website, i have been to this place and they do have a lot of dogs, good prices also).

[hello_there]

Totally disagree with the don't get dogs that are more than a year old statement. Plenty of older dogs do not have bad habits and are actually good, well trained pets which have been displaced for a variety of reasons. Also, an older dog that has been in a house before needs less attention and training than a puppy. An 8 week old puppy needs to go outside every 2-3 hours while your are potty training. An older, housebroken dog needs to go out every 8 or so. Puppies chew, dig, have accidents, etc. An older dog is likely to have grown out of these things. It all just depends on the dog and while some dogs will have developed bad habbits, not all have.

[nina_70]

Just to add a few cents to this discussion. I'm not against breeding in general. A reputable breeder will work to improve the overall breed of the dog, and will breed dogs responsibly. Unfortunately, in Hong Kong there are too many disreputable breeders who service the smaller pet-shops from breeding "farms" in very sub-standard conditions with little regard for the breed itself. This is where I take serious issue and why I encourage people to look at the rescue organizations instead.

Now, it's not to say that a dog from a rescue organization will never have issues, but I feel many of the "mixes" from the rescue centers are in far better general health than "pure-breeds" from a small pet-stores. Also, the rescue organizations tend to have a vested interest in the health & future of the dog, whereas many of the local pet-stores are just looking for turn-over. Unlike some of the other countries I've lived in I haven't been able to find "certification" of breeders/stores in Hong Kong.....

The HK Kennel Club may be a good place to start looking for recommendations. I don't know if they have recommendations on responsible stores, but they might be able to direct you to reputable breeders in HK:
http://www.hkkennelclub.com.hk/new/english/main.html

[PC_Man]

For OP,

Do you know what type of dog you are looking for?

Get an idea of what you are after - size, personality, breed etc if can and let us know what your ideal is.

There are enough people on here with connections to welfare and normal organisations that they may be able to give a direct animal recommendation.

Nina also mentioned HK Kennel Club and think they would be worth checking with if you are looking for the chance of finding a better-bred pup.

They are some reasonably ethical breeders out there but sorting the wheat from the chaff can be difficult. I think I have met 1-2 but it depends what type of pup you are after (and they're charges are personally way too high for what I would pay for a pet... but then sometimes you do get what you pay for...)


As a general observation..

Do agree with a lot DDF said at beginning of thread.

There is a tendency here to assume that rescue dogs are the answer for everyone - I wish that was the case but it's not.

As a sweeping generalisation (apologies to those at HKDR whose kennels I don't know as well), the majority of dogs in rescue shelters are medium/large breed dogs (whether puppy or adult) and first or second generation feral.

They can make excellent pets for single or married w/o kids who have a bit of space to let them roam/play - ie New Teriitories/Islands/South HK Island etc.

They are not good pets for small flats or people with young children generally.

I'm aware there a re exceptions, but for someone looking for a lapdog puppy for a small flat with a couple of young kids, rescue shelters hold very few animals that would suit this profile.

The best way to make sure that less dogs are abandoned is to get the right dog for the owner and their circumstances rather than pick the dog with the best/worst previous story...

[nina_70]

Originally Posted by PC_Man

As a sweeping generalisation (apologies to those at HKDR whose kennels I don't know as well), the majority of dogs in rescue shelters are medium/large breed dogs (whether puppy or adult) and first or second generation feral

Just as a small note, there are quite alot of small-breed dogs at the HKDR. I would say it's a mix of small, medium and large. Many of the dogs are adandoned animals. Reasons for abandonment can be varied...for example, because people move to flats where they're not allowed dogs, or they can't take care of them anymore, or they don't train them, or they don't walk them....or like this year...alot of dogs given up after year-of-the-dog ended.

Also, even small dogs need plenty of exercise, and many people make the mistake of thinking that getting a small dog means they don't have to take them for walks (which ultimately leads to behavioral problems).

The rescue center will try to fit the dog to the specific needs of the adopters, including space, chldren etc. Again, I'm not trying to say a rescue dog is the only option, but in Hong Kong I've found them to be the better, general, option especially in light of lack of breeding regulations and/or good-quality breeding organizations. At least the rescue organization has a vested interest in the future of the dog, whereas most local shops do not.