To ask honestly where you got your dog from

[wowowwow]

Ours came from an ad on Pets4homes. Had no idea this wasn’t good. Dog has been fine though.

How is it like the difference between renting and buying?

One from a breeder, the other Dogs Trust

I got my best boy from a local Staffie Rescue with the added benefit of making lots of lovely new friends who give dog related advice and who are as crazy about the breed as I am! Would never have thought about a Rescue before this bit would recommend going to a small local organisation for ongoing support

Because as the dogs owner I should then well, own it.

How would you like someone to tell you where your kids would go if you passed away?

No?

You’d want to make that decision yourself wouldn’t you?

wow I think you are being deliberately obtuse. Clearly if I were to drop dead tomorrow the breeder isn't going to come hammering on the door with the baliffe demanding their dog back.

From Pet4homes - a backyard breeder I later found out the term is called. I went to see a KC registered breeder first and wasn't impressed with the breeder or her set up - absolute chaos! Ddog was socialised and toilet trained when I picked him up, breeder kept in touch for 2 years, ddog is amazing.

Flowery You have my dogs twin!

No, I’m not lovely

I’m saying that if I buy a dog then the dog is mine and the breeder does not get to have a say in subsequent happenings or events.

A breeder. I had to put my name down and waited about 8 months for the their next planned litter.

Working backwards..

Breeder - who is on the breed club committee.

Breeder - who rescued them from another breeder who had some life drama, and privately rehomed the puppies on her behalf.

Breeder - on the breed club committe (not same as first, but same breed)(dog sadly no longer with us, dropped dead v young).

Private rescue (no money changed hands, but back yard breeder out of their depth).

Breeder - not great but not awful (KC Assured)

Breeder - fabulous, dog still with us though now ancient, breeder still in touch over a decade later.

Prior to that, rescues from local and national rescue centers.

There is a WORLD of difference between a well balanced happy pup from a great breeder, and what people think of as a blank slate, puppy from a rescue... the ancestry, AND the upbringing in those 8 to 10 weeks with the breeder are VERY important and make a huge difference.

I am still pro rescue - there are some great dogs out there, all dogs require work and frankly the work with the average rescue dog vs the average puppy is simply different, not 'harder'...

But if you ARE thinking of buying from the free ads or a puppy farm... save your money, get down to a rescue and pick up that same puppy 18 months down the line when he lands there due to folk who bought on a whim and did no work.

You'll get that yorkiepoo or cockerpoo for a third of the price, and know what you are getting rather than it being a surprise that costs you a fortune. A rescue is LESS of a risk than a puppy farmed or badly bred dog!

It’s a pity you weren’t so discerning when you chose to buy a puppy.

Except the rescue would turn you down.m, so then what do people do?

Vicious circle really.

”Flowery he is gorgeous 😍 we have a Springer too. Completely batty and stubborn but we wouldn't be without him“

Thanks @Hearthside he’s lovely isn’t he? He’s hilarious and also the soppiest dog in the world- will sit on anyone’s lap as soon as they start lowering their bum on to a chair in our house.

”Flowery You have my dogs twin!”

@CanoeDoYouThinkYouAre Twin or stunt double...?!

Both of ours from our local Greyhound rescue

Kent Greyhound Rescue - they are a marvellous rescue and rehome nationally.

From someone who had rescued him from a charity with good intentions, but then had a radical change in personal circumstances. Absolutely no fault of theirs but the poor dog got caught up in the ensuing domestic chaos and we took him on from there. Been with us 8 months now and is happy and settled. Love him to bits.

RSPCA

International dog rescue charity. She crossed 6 countries and 3 seas to get to us.

Breed specific rescue for sled dogs such as Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes. It was after I read an article about loads of pups being bought in the wake of Game of thrones and then abandoned as young energetic dogs. My DP and I has spoken about getting a dog and it seemed a sign as Alaskan Malamutes were our favourites. My boy is 7 now and a fantastic boy! Would choose Rescues all the way!

All four came from four different breeders.

I haf a brief fling with a thug, he was going to sell his big scary looking dog on Facebook and I could just tell the kind of people who would be interested so I bought him myself and dumped the thug.

Just admit 8st me walking 8st dog got a few looks for awhile.

I admit to Pets4Homes. I looked at Dogs Trust and Blue Cross but couldn't get the right fit. It was our first dog with 3 dcs and I had researched what would work with our family. Insaw our puppy feeding from it's mother, who was a loved family pet. I watched the eldest primary aged child pick up the mum, play with her. I had copies of lots of health tests of both bitch and sire. The owner asked me relevant questions about my working hours and who was at home during the day. So far so good. I wouldn't recommend getting one this way necessarily, but I was as careful as possible. Although they could have been a shop front for a farm, I really doubt they were.

@wowowwow

First, do not assume all breeders are making money. I’m not.

Secondly; you’d never get a puppy from me. My pups leave with contracts, and I do indeed get a say with what you will do with them after point of sale. It doesn’t mean I watch you daily, it means I will enforce the no breeding clause, I will remove a dog not adequately cared for (on the independent advice of two vets), I will not let you sell that dog on without telling me.

This is how we breed responsibly and make sure nothing I brought into this earth winds up in the rescues, or in puppy farms, or a shed somewhere. And incidentally, I do in fact also work for our breed welfare.

Our gorgeous girl was from gumtree. Our previous two family dogs were from rescue centres but when you have kids it's almost impossible to get a dog from a rescue centre unless your wanting a puppy, so after months of looking at different centres we adopted one from someone who didn't have the time for her. We are her third home and she was two when we got her and she is perfect. Finally got her forever home.

Well there you go viva presumably there are people content to rent their dogs from you. I wouldn’t be.