Swissie?

[Itsapyr]

Is this a swissie/part swissie on Petfinder? 35lbs sounds like a big hound pup to me.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...bec78c0&type=1

[mezmerelda]

Looks like they could be at least part Swissy. I forwarded to rescue.

[SapheraGirl]

I agree. They look like they have spaniel ears though.

[mezmerelda]

OH, btw, since they are not pure Swissy, rescue will not take them.

[Itsapyr]

OH, btw, since they are not pure Swissy, rescue will not take them.

Well that is sad.
We have so many pyr mixes in rescue. National pyr rescue will help sponsor mixes.

[mezmerelda]

Well, that being said, it's possible they helped out in some way. You never know.

[kasmith]

So I'm new to the world of Swissies and rescue. Do Swissy Rescue Groups scoop up Swissies from shelters? If so how are Swissies from rescues typically placed?

[mezmerelda]

Yes, they do. There's one main group and they are always looking around on petfinder, craigslist and other sites. You don't get a lot of Swissies in rescue, but they do pop up. They're usually from BYBs or the Amish "breeders" when you find them, but not always. Most every "reputable" breeder will have a clause in their contracts that say the Swissy needs to be returned to them for rehoming if the owners are not going to keep the dog. So it's more common that you will see breeders rehoming their Swissies.

If the Swissy ends up in rescue, it's actually quite common for the volunteers (or fosters) to end up keeping the dog. But you fill out an adoption application online via the site, and get to know some of the rescue board a bit. I know 3 of the people on the board and think they are awesome (and do a great job). I think the main person has 6 or 7 Swissies right now. None are fosters. Some are rescues. Karen's boy Cobalt is either from the rescue or a rehome - I'm not sure which.

[dogsDearly]

All this talk of swissy rescue reminded me of something I keep meaning to bring up.
I took zen to a cafe the other day to get a bagel and a coffee and it seems the rare breed is not so rare anymore. I was warned profusely that people were always going to be asking me the breed of my dog and making assumptions (With her eyes, i keep getting "Is that a husky mix?" ) But everytime i go out, someone recognizes her correctly and I have one guy even say "Hey look! It's new favorite breed!"

I don't know about that! But i do wonder with the GSMD's growing popularity how that is going to change the breed and how the community responds to the public. I know the rescue really doesn't reHome many dogs to go out to homes that are not already swissy homes. If there was more access to adult dogs and rescues, i think you wouldn't have so many people running out to puppy mills. I could be wrong tho..

[Itsapyr]

Well just keep your fingers crossed that Disney doesn't do a movie and feature the breed. Pyrs are coming out of rescues ears this year after Santa Paws.

[sam.i.am]

^oh, I forgot about Santa Paws! That's what happened to the pyr population!!

[Baroooo]

Cobalt was adopted from the official swissy rescue. He was fostered in Illinois and I drove out there with Valor to pick him up. Solomon, our previous rescue, was a dog the rescue organization found a home for, without officially putting in the system. He was from a well known breeder, with a great pedigree on paper, but every physical problem under the sun in person. He was also 6 1/2 years old. The breeder blamed the owners for everything and they in turn were angry at his total lack of support and concern. The politics were ugly, so he came to us from a rescue introduction, but private party to private party.
As any breed gains popularity, rescue decisions and policies become more difficult, and more important simultaneously. The GSMDRF is getting busier to the sadness of all involved. More available rescues is not really such a good thing. It means more dogs have been placed in the wrong situation, or sold by people who don't care where the dogs end up. Big dogs can carry big baggage, so their rescue placement can be tough. Solly bloated with splenic torsion within the first 48 hours we had him. Can you imagine what would have happened to him in a home unfamiliar with swissy idiosyncrasies? That's a part of why rescue is so careful. From the outside it can look a bit clique-ish, but it's usually just trying to look out for the best interests of a dog that's already had a few bad breaks.

[mezmerelda]

Hmm, a breeder blamed the owners for something? Unheard of!

Solly ended up in the best possible home. Same w/Cobalt.

And while I know people can be very frustrated with the hoops they may need to jump through to get a Swissy, through rescue or otherwise, I appreciate it (for the most part) if it keeps so many of them from ending up in rescue.

[dogsDearly]

And while I know people can be very frustrated with the hoops they may need to jump through to get a Swissy, through rescue or otherwise, I appreciate it (for the most part) if it keeps so many of them from ending up in rescue.

yeah, you guys are probably right. Honestly, i have no predicative abilities: i was merely musing what would happen if swissies became more popular and how that would affect the politics. And karen that sounds horrible with what happened to solly! i hear you about wrong types not understanding the breed and i really wouldn't want a looser screening process with the rescue. Sometimes I'm a little slack jawed with the questions that pop up in some of the forums, and how clueless people are with their own breed. (not trying to be holier-than-thou.. because goodness knows my experience is slight!) But you go to ANY breeder website that is "reputable" and they have information on the breed. Anyhoo.. i digress.

But I do think more exposure is happening. And with it will bring the complications. I believe you when you say the results will mostly be negative..

Pam, and while i don't work for Disney (but have) and I have absolutely NO SAY in the kinds of characters chosen for films.. i do work for Dreamworks. I promise i will not bring Zen to work on the days Katzenberg comes to visit. (Parental pride dictates that if he saw her the jig would be up and he'd decide a swissy needs to be in a movie...

[Swissies4Me]

haha, Melanie! Thanks for doing your part to keep Swissies out of movies, much appreciated!

We had a foster Swissy here for awhile. She's in a great new home now and it was a lady that I had met a few years ago interested in Swissies and had an application on file with Swissy rescue, and this is her first Swissy. The foster I had was pulled from a shelter. GSMD Rescue has also had me visit some local shelters to see if in person it was really a Swissy or not.