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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To consider adopting a 6 month old puppy?

41 replies

Bamchic · 26/01/2019 10:42

She was bought shortly before Christmas, and her people can’t take care of her anymore. She’s a WCS and I have had spaniels before.
We aren’t the most stable we’ve been as DH is unemployed, but I really feel like we could be her forever home.
I’m so torn as we currently rent (somewhere suitable for pets) and we are looking to buy eventually and are on the list for local authority housing.
I have checked and we can afford food insurance and a buffer for the excess.
Our last dog died in early autumn and left a big hole. I’m just not sure if I’m being stupid given we rent and aren’t in our best state financially

OP posts:
Porridgeprincess · 26/01/2019 11:11

You can afford the dog. There will be someone there to keep it company and it may help with the grief of your other dog. Of course you can!!

makingmammaries · 26/01/2019 11:25

Go for it

IceRebel · 26/01/2019 11:36

I would say proceed with caution. If she was purchased just before Christmas and and her owners are already giving her away then she sounds like an impulse purchase. She's likely to be poorly trained, have bad habits, perhaps poor breeding (health problems), and could end up being a very difficult / problematic dog.

Moondancer73 · 26/01/2019 11:44

Poor little pup. If you've had a dog before then you know how much time they take, what costs are involved. Give her a home and the love she deserves Smile

MsVestibule · 26/01/2019 11:47

If she's 6mo old, she was born at the end of July, but was only bought about 5 weeks ago. Where was she first 5 months? Puppies normally leave the dam at 2-3 months so I would want to know where the puppy was from October to Christmas. Does that mean she's had two owners (plus the breeder)? I'd be concerned that she has behavioural issues.

harriethoyle · 26/01/2019 11:49

Do it! If you have spaniel experience and can afford her, sounds like you're a great fit

flowery · 26/01/2019 11:51

We first got our ESS when he was 6 months. It was perfect because he was toilet trained and had some other basic training, but still a puppy. He was all over the place for a while but soon sorted with some good training. He’s currently on DH’s lap having a cuddle.

Our previous dog we had from 8 weeks and I wouldn’t want to go through that new puppy phase again, now I’ve got DC and a business to run.

flowery · 26/01/2019 11:52

Here he is #proudmum

To consider adopting a 6 month old puppy?
OhDearGodLookAtThisMess · 26/01/2019 11:54

I'd want to know exactly why they can't care for her anymore. And if there have been any health issues that could make insurance an issue. Someone I know took on a pug (!) and it has cost her thousands in vet's bills since.

Otherwise, go for it.

werideatdawn · 26/01/2019 11:56

Yes, where has she been before this current home? I would approach with extreme caution. I am an absolute lover of dogs but puppy are total assholes enough around 6-12 months and that's without having been shipped around to different homes. If you do this be ready to have a lot of patience and put in a hell of a lot of work.

cowfacemonkey · 26/01/2019 11:59

Agree with others proceed with caution. How old exactly was the dog when the owners got her? Did she miss out on vital socialisation and early training? It may just be the huge commitment of a dog and sheer hard work required to raise a puppy has dawned on them and they aren’t up to the task but I would imagine you will be taking on a dog that needs even more work than usual

MsVestibule · 26/01/2019 12:01

but puppy are total assholes enough around 6-12 months

@werideatdawn good to know it's not just mine 🙈.

Babyroobs · 26/01/2019 12:01

I guess you already know if you have had spaniels before but they are an awful lot of work ! We have a working cocker and he was an impulse buy that I have seriously regretted although I do love him and he is very well cared for. I think I just wasn't prepared for the huge amount of work he creates in addition to my other dog. He is extremely high maintainence even with five almost adults in the house sharing the workloab/ walks etc.

SoupDragon · 26/01/2019 12:03

I would be worried about her history too wrt training, socialisation and behaviour.

I think (know!) I screwed up my cocker spaniel's training etc and he is a hyperactive nightmare.

Babyroobs · 26/01/2019 12:05

SoupDragon - Glad I am not the only one, mine is totally hyperactive too .

SoupDragon · 26/01/2019 12:07

Sometimes I pretend he's just a puppy when we meet people out and about.

MsVestibule · 26/01/2019 12:13

@soupdragon my show cocker is a bit of a nightmare at times and we've tried really hard to train him properly. He's only 8mo so I can I still legitimately do the 'sorry, he's just a puppy routine' but I think that may carry on for a while...

Aquamarine1029 · 26/01/2019 12:15

No way. Too many red flags with the dogs history.

Maelstrop · 26/01/2019 12:17

Do you work f/t and presumably your dh is looking for work? I wouldn’t, if you’re both going to be out all day.

EmeraldShamrock · 26/01/2019 12:21

Go for it, if you're used to having a dog it won't be a shock.
DH might get shift work so the dog isn't always alone, sounds like it could cheer you all up.
Just ok it 100% with the landlord if you're private renting.

LakieLady · 26/01/2019 12:27

If you can manage the high energy of a working cocker, I'd say go for it.

A colleague has 3, they both work full-time and she has an 11YO son. The dogs get a long walk at silly o'clock in the morning, and another one late afternoon when her husband gets home. Her husband shoots, so they get a lot of exercise at weekends in the season (he waterfowls, so a longer season than pheasant). They seem to be fine being left during the day.

They are mad buggers though, as soon as you sit down in her house, all 3 take a flying leap and sit on you, and compete to see which one can lick you the most.

CarolDanvers · 26/01/2019 12:27

My parents did this. He was returned to the breeder as the owners couldn't keep him anymore. We phoned the breeder looking for puppies and she said "well I have got this boy if you want to come and take a look". He came home with my Dad that day. He was brilliant and my favourite of all their dogs.

Original poster
Bamchic · 26/01/2019 12:31

Hi yes, just to clarify. DH was a reasturant manager and is waiting to be redeployed to another local location, he also does gardening and tree surgery self employed on a Friday and Saturday day and I’m a teacher in a SEN school 3.5 days a week. We would almost always be around, DH can take dog to work in both jobs and we have a friend in the village who used to sit our old spaniel and who has said new dog is welcome anytime. Additionally we look after SIL’s dog whilst sh works, and she was doing the same for us on occasion, and my mum is in the village too and her dog recently died and had said she’d be very keen to spend a lot of time with the dog as she’s really missing it. So no more than a couple of hours if ever alone.
I’m worried about the history too.
So she left the Dam at 16 weeks, and stayed with the sellers MIL until her daughters birthday in November. they realised last week they can’t take fare of her, it’s too much work.

OP posts:
Maelstrop · 26/01/2019 12:33

If dh can take him to work, then that’s a different matter.

IceRebel · 26/01/2019 12:36

So she left the Dam at 16 weeks, and stayed with the sellers MIL until her daughters birthday in November.

It doesn't sound like a very responsible seller, letting the dog be a birthday present is a bloody stupid idea. Angry

You sound like you would be brilliant dog owners, but I wouldn't touch this dog. Something seems very off about the whole situation.

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