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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why anyone would buy a puppy through gumtree or the like?

428 replies

SummerGems · 28/10/2018 15:15

I’m not talking so much about why people would buy a puppy from a backyard breeder as that’s a discussion in its own right, but why anyone would log on to their local gumtree, look up the pets for sale adverts, and call the owner and arrange to go and collect a living breathing animal without having first met the “breeder” the dogs or had anything to do with them before jumping in the car and coming home with said puppy, usually at vast expense.

Looking at my local gumtree there are puppies for sale for as much as £2000, Shock and even one for £1700 which is described at being available at “the bargain price of.....” Shock. A bargain? For a living animal? Confused.

Why?

On some level I can sort of see how someone might know someone locally with puppies and end up taking one. I wouldn’t but I can see how it happens. But answering an advert on a buying/selling website and collecting an animal from a complete stranger after handing over often upwards of a grand for what might even be a mongrel masquerading as a genuine breed (i.e. cockerpoo/cavachon/labradoodle and I even saw one described as a pomchi the other day, just why would anyone do that?

OP posts:
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Frequency · 30/10/2018 21:32

The myth about crossbreeds being healthier is just that. A myth. A crossbreed, if badly bred, can inherit health issues from both parents and crossbreeds are rarely well bred. Responsible 'poo breeders are rarer than gens teeth.

My dog is a crossbreed/mongrel and he has several oncoming health issues common to one of the needs he is mixed with. A lot of crossbreeds suffer the same health issues as their parents breeds.

PennyArcade · 30/10/2018 21:34

Professor I'm sure you are educated enough to tell us all all how the first canine came to become a Wolfhound, GSD, Husky, Labrador, Spaniel, Lhasso, poodle, collie, retriever, JRT, pug etc.... etc... Do you think they were created by God... or were they created by man? What you think? Please tell us where each breed came from... I'm sure you are knowledgeable on this subject 🙄 And yes you have stated you own a breed that can't breathe. Shall I link your post? I'm not sure it's allowed?

ProfessorMoody · 30/10/2018 21:40

Penny - I'm more than aware of how dogs came to be, thanks.

Are you talking about my rescue pug? But you said that I own a dog that I don't know where it came from and that can't breathe. I was confused, as I know exactly where he came from (a very well known rescue centre, where he was dumped for having a double coat) and he can breathe very well. In fact, he's 9 years old and has only ever been to the vet for vaccinations. If you're looking down on me for rescuing a dog, that would be really very strange, as rescuing a dog that needs a home is a good thing, surely?

Just so you're aware, pugs aren't my chosen breed. I own working large breed dogs that are the dogs I talk about when I say, "my breed". My pug was a failed foster, from my work with the rescue centre I got him from. We fell in love with him and he stayed.

HTH.

PennyArcade · 30/10/2018 21:43

Professor there you go.. can you tell us how the original canine became lots of different breeds/crossbreeds/mongrels?

Waiting...

ProfessorMoody · 30/10/2018 21:43

And here's my original post from a while ago.

"Ah, my rescue pug? There are huge problems in that breed due to backyard breeders, which decent breeders are trying to eliminate, but people who don't care about the breed are making worse. My pug has no health problems whatsoever. He can run and jump, and breathe perfectly normally.

It seems like you need some help with reading though, as my post clearly says that owning one wasn't my choice (failed foster if you must know)"

ProfessorMoody · 30/10/2018 21:44

You'll be waiting a while, Penny. Plenty of information on Google for you. I can assure you, as I've already stated, it wasn't through random people wanting a quick buck and flogging mixed breeds with ridiculous names on Pets4Homes Wink

reallyanotherone · 30/10/2018 21:55

*Professor there you go.. can you tell us how the original canine became lots of different breeds/crossbreeds/mongrels?

Waiting..*

It was many years of refining and selection for purpose. People chose dogs according to need, even dogs such as yorkshire terriers were working dogs at one point, and their characteristics were selected to do that job. My ridiculously small yorkie that everyone coos over for being “cute” is a bloody good hunter. Better than the cat in fact. He’s fucking fast and can whip a mouse away before the mouse knows what’s hit it.

It certainly wasn’t any sort of “design”. Breeds evolved over generations. These so called designer cross breeds are bred for one purpose- to sell puppies. That is their only reason for that cross to exist.

Thery are also popular due to peoples woeful misunderstanding of genetics. They don’t get that if they have allergies, a straight poodle will be a far better choice than a cockerpoo or labradoodle. I had an argument once with some woman who wanted a yorkie, but her son was allergic to dogs so it had to be a yorkipoo. I couldn't get it through to her that yorkies and poodles are less likely to trigger allergies on their own, she genuinely thought that crossing with a poodle conferred magic non allergic properties somehow.

continuallychargingmyphone · 30/10/2018 21:59

Cockapoos are very sweet little dogs and it’s easy to see why they are popular.

ProfessorMoody · 30/10/2018 21:59

Really - the old "but how do you think dog breeds were created" comes out of the bag every time someone tries to defend owning a "designer" cross. It's laughable Grin

continuallychargingmyphone · 30/10/2018 22:01

professor what I don’t think you get is that most people don’t honestly give a stuff about it being ‘designer’, they just like the look, size and characteristics.

That’s most people and dogs. Most people aren’t competing at Crufts, they just want a family pet.

ProfessorMoody · 30/10/2018 22:01

Oh no, I get it alright.

continuallychargingmyphone · 30/10/2018 22:03

Right, so ...

PennyArcade · 30/10/2018 22:05

Professor that Pug was probably posted on gumtree as a ' mistake' and then dumped in a rescue centre. But you rescued it from a rescue centre.... Go you!

I have had several " pedigree" dogs from rescue centres.... I don't feel the need to come across as superior. You are probably "The norm" nothing special ...and post as being 'superior'. You have not posted anything that would make me change how I buy a dog.. in fact you have made me see the other side of the coin.

You "rescued" a non breathing dog. There we go... no way on earth would I choose a dog from a rescue centre than can't breath. There are plenty of "pedigrees" and healthy cross breeds to choose from.

I've come to.a point in my life where "pedigree" doesn't matter. I now have a cross breed (mongrel if you like... makes no difference to me 🙄) that makes my life complete, is healthy and adorable. She has all her papers, and assurances, from her breeder. I can't ask anymore than that.

But you keep posting your superior knowledge...nobody is impressed Flowers

reallyanotherone · 30/10/2018 22:07

professor what I don’t think you get is that most people don’t honestly give a stuff about it being ‘designer’, they just like the look, size and characteristics

I find it’s more they don’t like the idea of a poodle. They don't want some ridiculous dog with a puffball haircut, and think crossing it will give them a not-poodle with all the poodle characteristics they want- intelligence, trainablity, non shedding coat etc.

Poodles are utterly fab dogs and a large amount of people don’t realise that without the crufts haircut they are just normal dogs. I have friends with poodles and they are always, always asked if they are labradoodles. No, just poodles.

tabulahrasa · 30/10/2018 22:15

“professor what I don’t think you get is that most people don’t honestly give a stuff about it being ‘designer’, they just like the look, size and characteristics”

What look, size and characteristics? Because crossing breeds makes those all more unpredictable.

ProfessorMoody · 30/10/2018 22:18

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Frequency · 30/10/2018 22:20

I don't understand why people cite looks as a reason for choosing a to bring a sentient being into their family.

Surely suitability should be the only factor coming into play? I love the way huskies look but I am lazy so I don't have one.

continuallychargingmyphone · 30/10/2018 22:23

People like cuteness. That’s why endangered giant pandas are used as the WWF symbol rather than great white sharks Grin

PennyArcade · 30/10/2018 22:24

I've previously owned a poodle... He was a highly intelligent dog..and a joy to own...I also know poodles who are yappy and snappy because their owners didn't have a clue how to train them...

I never felt the need to have my poodle groomed to look "like a poodle" ! What exactly is your point?

adaline · 30/10/2018 22:26

what I don’t think you get is that most people don’t honestly give a stuff about it being ‘designer’, they just like the look, size and characteristics

But all of those things are completely unpredictable with cross breeds! People just want the qualities of a poodle but for some bizarre reason don't want an actual poodle 

PennyArcade · 30/10/2018 22:27

Penny, you seem quite, for want of a better word, thick

Well thanks for that! I didn't 'rescue' a dog that couldn't breathe! 😂😂😂

Frequency · 30/10/2018 22:28

What do you think should have happened to the perfectly healthy pug, penny?

ProfessorMoody · 30/10/2018 22:30

It must be really hard to be a person that doesn't understand how breathing works 😂

PennyArcade · 30/10/2018 22:31

Aren't you the one who got kicked off the other thread for sockpuppeting
Umm...no! Reporting you for that nonsense... If you can't take it...don't give it!

missyB1 · 30/10/2018 22:34

Sorry not read the whole thread. We tried and tried for a rescue dog but because we had a six year old child it was basically impossible. We then decided on a breed of puppy that we would like after extensive research, we found a litter on pets 4 homes. We visited the breeder a few times as they were only ten minutes away, it turned out we knew friends of theirs who reassured us about their devotion to their dogs. We were more than happy with the set up, mum and dad were both healthy and happy, the pups were living in fantastic conditions and were well socialised (the family had kids). I don’t regret any of it for a second. Our pup is now 2 years old and we’ve never had any issues with her, she’s perfect!