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

[SummerGems]

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, and even one for £1700 which is described at being available at “the bargain price of.....” . A bargain? For a living animal? .

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?

No there are many many bad pedigree breeders too.
I know our local rescue does an excellent job with socialisation as I’m lucky enough to volunteer there.

My bil and sil have a pedigree dog less than a year old. It’s getting both hips replaced already. I was so gutted when I heard but apparently it’s totally normal. I don’t understand how they paid a bomb for a dog and it’s got massive problems due to poor breading. When I asked if that’s why they’d delayed neutering and they looked at me as though I had 2 heads. If they pay for the surgery by putting him to stud I’ll not be able to keep my mouth shut.

They bred dogs, therefore they are breeders.

It was no accident. I've managed to have dogs for 20+ years without "accidentally" having a litter once.

If you don't want puppies, you don't have puppies. It's a simple concept.

If you own a bitch and don't want to breed her, why on earth wouldn't you get her spayed?

It would prevent pyometra as well as unwanted pregnancies.

We would love a dog when we move but I wouldn't know where to start looking for one. I wouldn't ever go online though.

My nan got a giant breed from a "reputable" breeder and it all seemed legit and they had to wait 18 months for him but I can't see how a proper breeder would have let her have a giant breed (small house, she is in a wheelchair, never had a large dog before, go on frequent holidays). They clearly didn't visit and I think she only visited them once before collection. This has put me off even going through the breed clubs etc.

We got our boy from gumtree, I was just scrolling through having a nose and came across a Sharpei advertised for £400 I read the description and was horrified to see he was kept in a cage all day as their cat didn't like him. Without hesitation I contacted the seller to ask if I could have him, we drove nearly 4 hours away to get him, he was such a sweet little soul, one of his eyes were nearly closed up and the owner had said he had been to see the vet who said it was fine for now but would need surgery in the future, we brought him home and something didn't sit right with me about his eye so I done a hell of a lot of research to find a Sharpei savvy vet and took him there, turns out he needed surgery ASAP or he would of lost his eyesight. He had his surgery and recovered well, he's been in our family for a year next month and I dread to think what would of happened to him if we left him there!

Oh we found him on gumtree too! I missed that bit out

Oh no I did add that bit, can you tell it's a Monday 🙄

@adaline because spaying increases the risk of bone cancer which my girl (due to her breed) is already very prone to. I’m able to prevent her getting near other dogs when in season so she’s not spayed.

@HarrietKettleWasHere. I have three miniature dachshunds, that looks like a dachshund X jack russel to me! That's disgusting!

We got our dog from pets4homes but because we've always had dogs, we knew how to spot the legit postings Vs the dodgy ones (being able to see the mum, getting proof of first vaccinations etc)

Vaccinations and seeing “mum” doesn’t make a breeder legit.

Lost5Stone - One of the best ways to find your new canine family member is by personal recommendation, whether that be a rescue or well-regarded breeder. Talk to local people walking their dogs. Many dog walkers are sociable and will be happy to help. You'll hear some horror stories and some success stories, and hopefully get some local tips about who to go to and who to avoid.

On paper, someone in your nan's circumstances having a giant breed does sound like a recipe for disaster, and I'm really sorry if that was the case for her and the dog. I wouldn't rule someone similar out completely, as all the issues you mention can be overcome - and people do, very successfully. However I'd want to be completely satisfied that it was what's best for the dog and the person, and then provide ongoing support and contact as necessary. A good breeder will always do this, and insist that the dog is returned to them, not sold or passed on elsewhere, if it doesn't work out. I would be looking at the availability of a reasonably-sized, secure garden, your nan's specific disability or health concerns, other reliable family members or paid service providing suitable daily walks, whether a dog-sitter or kennels would be in place for holidays - or a dog-friendly holiday cottage, for example. You're right - within breed clubs breeders do vary. That's where personal recommendation, doing your homework and being patient comes in.

All the best for finding 'your dog' one day.

Wolfiefan - what is a legit breeder?

Lily - no one who advertises puppies on a selling website are legit.

Look back up the thread. Not someone who breeds through ignorance or for money.

@BlackWitchInChildWringing That's very helpful thank you. I'm a bit introverted but will make an effort to speak to dog walkers.

I just feel with my nan, they didn't ask of your questions and I felt that was irresponsible. They will manage with the dog due to her pure stubbornness and everyone saying it's too much. And the breeders have said if he gets too much they will have him back. I just thought breeders would want to see where they are going and know more about the new owners lifestyle.

On the other hand my dad got a "fashionable" dog from gumtree which very clearly isn't even the breed they thought they brought so at least my nan hasn't been that irresponsible.

Our KC approved breeder was also on pets4homes. I didn't go into it blindly and in the end I am completely comfortable with our dog (she is amazing), and where she came from - the background and welfare of the mum etc.

wolfie I agree
My KC reg puppy ( who I saw with “Mum”) had a vaccination certificate
See my earlier post - he’s from a puppy farm

It certainly makes it more legit than a puppy farm. Our dog is two years old, pedigree and healthy. She was her mother's first litter (confirmed by age of her mother and the vet records) and we were told the only litter they would have ever breed from her, though they may have changed their mind in the years since. We saw her father too and were allowed to visit the family ahead of picking her up at 12 weeks as many times as we would like. Yes she's not a rescue, but her home life was completely different to the dreadful puppy farms some posters appear to assume all who sell their dogs on these sites are from.

Just out of interest, not being goady, but those of you who say you saw the mum, how do you know that was actually that litters mum? A PP pointed out they can have a pretend mum in there.

With the exception of the mum being the same breed/ half breed as the pups (if not pedigree) her nipples are swollen and her teets clearly hanging low. Her puppies will also be all over whenever they are given the chance so they can feed, and will often howl during the weaning process when they can sense her scent. Disclaimer: this is only my experience and may not be reflective of all new dog mum's or those looking to purchase a dog.

While not all dogs sold on the internet are from a puppy farm, all (or almost all) dogs from puppy farms are sold on the internet. I could scream and cry reading some of these responses and justifications (not from those who say yes, they were inexperienced and made a mistake, but those who don't see that selling dogs online is a bad idea that only makes our rescue shelters fuller and fuller).

If you can't wait to get a dog from a trusted source, you shouldn't have a dog.

If having a dog is that important to you, you will arrange your life to make it possible, and make sure that the dog's welfare (and the welfare of its dam) is your top priority - and that means being mindful of where you're getting it from. There is 0 need for anyone who isn't breeding for a specific purpose (e.g. to improve breed health, which should be any breeder's top priority, or to maintain working lines for herders etc) to put their bitch through the risk of pregnancy. What happens when the person coming and purchasing their dog is not the friendly, dog loving person they're supposed to be?

My ex-breeding girl was originally microchipped in London, but without full details, which I assume was done as a puppy with the intention for the new owners to register her. She was rescued from a puppy farm in Ireland 4 years later. Was she stolen? Or did the person who bred her and went to the trouble of microchipping her (prior to law making it a requirement!) sell her in good faith to someone who wasn't who they claimed to be?

Unless you run your pups on for 6 months/1 year and spay/neuter accordingly before selling, you can't ensure that this won't happen to the pups you breed. The best you can do is make the process of getting your puppies a long and arduous task and vetting the potential owners as far as possible. How many of the littermates of the Gumtree puppies have gone on to have the same hellish life of filth and misery that my beautiful girl had? I doubt the sellers even thought about it in their rush to make money.

Oh, dear sweet Lily. You have really got no idea how these people operate, do you? So, so naive.

Seeing the father there is a huge red flag for me. Most good breeders use a stud.

Out of interest, was your wonderful Pets4Homes puppy endorsed?

How do they operate?
I.e- if you see a litter from a few weeks old with their 'Mum' nursing from her and being looked after, have seen vet records and have visited frequently to see the same situation, what could really be going on?
And I apologise for also being naive but why is it a red flag for the father to also be there? I assumed it would be better to be able to meet both parents and understand that it's not very often possible where a stud has been rented out.
Not agreeing or disagreeing with anyone just genuinely curious