How did you get your puppy?

[HopeForTheBest]

Once we'd decided we were going to get a dog, and I'd done my research into what sort of dog would be suitable, I looked around and found there was 1 puppy still looking for a home at a PRT breeder not too far from us (was a huge litter, and they were actually considering keeping her).

So I rang them, we went to see her, fell completely in love, and two days later we brought her home.
Seven years later, ddog is still fab and we are still in close contact with the breeders.

My friend who also has a PRT was on a breeder's waiting list and knew she was getting a pup even before she'd been born. But she didn't actually choose the pup iyswim - she said she wanted a girl, and she was "allocated" one from the litter.

So, how did you get yours?
(Just nosey, this has no greater meaning or anything :o )

[MadeOfStarDust]

A friend of ours told us that a breeder friend of a friend had a Westie that had had some puppies - we went to look at getting one and could only go on a Sunday afternoon.....

We got there and there were about 12 grandchildren of the breeder playing with these puppies in their family room - there were so many giggles and little playful yelps going on that we thought "Yes - this is our kind of place" We bought our little Westie and he's nearly 2 now... and still enjoys playing with kids.

[pinguwings]

//www.pupsneedinghomes.co.uk - although she was approx 1yr old they have younger ones

Great rescue. They were wonderful and our dog is wonderful.

[Loupee]

We got a 11 week old Staffy X from a local rescue. We were very lucky they had him, the rarely have puppies and usually get snapped up fast. He is now 16 weeks and a true delight. It was a bit of a risk as we don know what he is crossed with as the mum was a stray brought into the rescue pregnant. Currently think Labrador due to the massive clumsy paws!

[squeelybean]

With our lab we waited a very long 7 months to get him from the breeder but he is perfect and was worth the wait.

With our new pup, i saw an advert on FB pop up locally from a little old lady who's dog had got over friendly with the next door neighbours dog and the mutt pups were the result!

We went straight over to have a peak and fell in love with the pup and the lovely lady and all of the Grandchildren who had taken their role as breeders and puppy carers very seriously!

We collected him 3 weeks later and remain in touch with her.

He is a fantastic pup and great with the children.

With My GSD we went to look at a litter of pups from a supposed breeder in Devon. When we arrived there were dogs everywhere and massive outbuildings with lots of distressed dogs barking. We chose a pup and then said we would go to draw out the money then promptly did a runner and never went back! I regret not reporting them.

We got one in the end from a pub owner who had some GSDs so what you could call a deliberate BSB. She's nearly 9 and going strong with thankfully no health problems.

[phantomhairpuller]

We went to pets at home for fish food, saw an advert for border terrier pups at a kennels just down the road, phoned the number and arranged to go straight round. 2 bitches left, we fell in love straight away with the bigger of the two
Took her home that afternoon.

Thinking back it was a bit dodgy really, we could have been anyone as far as breeder was concerned. We weren't at all prepared for a puppy, it was a very impulse decision.

But it has worked out brilliantly and 3yrs on we wouldn't be without our girlie

[Floralnomad]

We got ours from Battersea on August bank holiday Sunday 2010 , he was about 15 weeks old and had been bought in as a stray . The day we went was the first day that he could be adopted ( they have to keep strays for a certain number of days in case an owner appears) and he wasn't out for public adoption because he had kennel cough . We couldn't see anything else suitable in the kennels and the lady kindly went to see if they had anything else not on display . It was the best decision we have ever made , he is the most fantastic dog ,loves people and has a wonderful nature .

[ShinyPenny]

Did loads of research, went halfway across the country to see a kennel club accredited breeder's litter. Carefully chosen greyhounds after loads of reading. He seemed to offer everything we were looking for after weeks and weeks of conversing, but we both got a bad feeling when we got there, drove home, fed up.

Next day went to see a local "back yard breeder", got a great feeling, brought home our (almost greyhound) lurcher girl! And very happy we are. :)

[MadAboutHotChoc]

From a rescue - best decision we ever made all of our dogs have been/are rescues.

[Vibbe]

We found a breeder via the spaniel club.

Our dog is absolutely amazing.

[HopeForTheBest]

This is really interesting, thanks for all the stories :)

[iseenodust]

Local vet knew we were looking for a lab. A vet friend of hers in another town had one six months old she had bred. She competed to a high level with another breed and was going to do the same with labs but changed her mind and he was the last one left. We just thought he was lovely and she bundled him straight in our car! 13 years on he's still 'gorgeous puppy'.

[HopeForTheBest]

I'm finding it particularly interesting that quite a few of these a spontaneous - I had thought there was going to be more of the waiting and getting to know type stories.
It's nice to see we weren't the only ones who it worked out so well for!

[exexpat]

We wanted a border terrier, and a friend wanted her border to have a litter - they wanted one pup to keep, the rest went to friends and family. So we met our dog when he was one day old, puppy-sat him & his siblings for a weekend when they were a month old, and still regularly see his mum, sister & one of his brothers. So not an approved breeder, but we knew exactly what we were getting.

[LST]

A farm. We wanted a collie and saw there were collies for sale at a farm near by. We called and collected our bundle of fluff the same day.

He's almost 1 now and is a great dog.

[topbannana]

BlackDog was planned before mating had occurred, I saw the litter at about 5 weeks and the breeder showed me her as she felt we would be a good pair. When BlackDog was PTS in January I felt that I had lost part of me so the breeder clearly knew what she was on about :)
GingerDog at 16 weeks from a breeder on a forum. Went to see his brother (who was a bastard) and came away with him instead. The guy was horrible, needed the puppies gone as he was going away and we deeply suspected he would shoot them if they were not gone. Ultimately it was DHs choice, I would have walked away but it was alright in the end, no huge problems considering the risk we took.
TopPup also from a forum, again planned prior to mating. We had pick of the litter, saw them at about 5 weeks and chose him ourselves. Very happy.
Disclaimer: the forum in question is specific for working gun dogs rather than one that pops up in a Google search.

[Pandemoniaa]

Senior Terrier came from a friend who breeds working and pet JRTS. I knew his mother, father, grandmother and siblings and all were good natured, well bred dogs. Senior Terrier actually picked me when I went to see the litter. He walked across the sitting room and plonked himself down in my lap! He's grown into a beautiful chap, now aged 7 and a half, and apart from a tendency to be "conversational" is a thoroughly good mannered dog.

Small Terrier (nearly 11 weeks) was one of a litter of JRTS that belong to another friend who has both parents. I feel very privileged because they are keeping his brother and sister and were insistent that Small Terrier went to someone who knows, loves and has experience of JRTs. He's an absolutely gorgeous little pup and we adore him.

[EarlGreyTeabag]

Elderly springer was a rescue dog. She was around 2 when we got her, so probably 13 now & definitely slowing down.

Not-quite-so-elderly springer came as a pup from my FIL's bitch. We've had her from 8 weeks old & we all adore her - she's 11 now.

Mad springer thing is almost 2. Got her at four months via word of mouth from DH's friend. She's bonkers as all young springers are, but lovely. Curled up next to me on the couch as I type.

I'm not even a dog person!

[musicposy]

Our older dog we first approached the local rescues but all told us to get a puppy as we had a 2 year old.
We then found a breeder and travelled to see her. She had one puppy left. Looking back and knowing what I know now, I would never have bought from her. She had rooms full of rosettes and all these certificates up but the dogs were all out in cages barking and howling. She told us he'd been in the house, was toilet trained, had been wormed etc. When we got him home it was clearly all lies. He'd never been inside in his life. He was 16 weeks and we'd missed all that socialisation period. It took 4 months to even approach toilet training, he was riddled with worms and is still nervous of people 11 years on. We wouldn't be without him but he had the most terrible start.

2nd dog I'd never planned to get. Someone I knew had a litter of puppies. I sadly had a late miscarriage after IVF - I knew it was my last chance- and I was beyond devastated. The mother dog had been going through morning sickness at the same time as me and it suddenly seemed to make sense. We wanted a female and she was the last one unclaimed - most had homes by birth. We visited her from a very young puppy regularly until she was ready to leave mum. I know people don't like backyard breeders but what a difference! She was confident, healthy, well socialised and toilet trained by the time we got her. She is now 3 and the most wonderful dog ever. The very best thing I ever did getting her and my silver lining :)

[HopeForTheBest]

musicposy that's made me both :( and :)

[VanitasVanitatum]

Rescued at four months from dogs trust. She's a lurcher and just the most beautiful happy loving dog in the world. Best decision we ever made!

[SilverBellsandCockleShells]

We got our puppy from a breeder friend. Knew from some time last year that we wanted one and that it would be born this spring. Saw him on the day he was born! Then got the pick of the litter and chose him at about three weeks ...

[Yonididnaedaethat]

I was looking on the Internet for a kitten! ended up with a German Shepherd.

[froufroulala]

A friend lived in a ground floor high rise. She often saw a group of kids with a puppy on a piece of rope being poked with sticks & tormented. Finally she found out where they lived & had words with the owner, resulting in her taking the puppy home with her. Her life didn't improve much as her partner hated dogs. She phoned me one evening to say she couldn't cope anymore & would I be interested. The timing was perfect as I had just given up work & we had a huge garden. We went over straightaway & collected Bonnie. She is a springer spaniel & is now six years old. She is now confident, adores my dh & my three kids love her

[HopeForTheBest]

:o @ froufroulala