Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Lockdown Puppies

52 replies

GreenlandTheMovie · 14/03/2021 13:37

I've posted about this on here before in another thread and been given a hard time, but am I really being unreasonable?

My parents bought a 3 month old, large active dog breed puppy a few weeks ago, because, and I quote, "they were bored not seeing their grandchildren in lockdown". Now, the grandchildren seem to be back visiting (following rules isn't a strong point of my parents) and they are going to rehome the puppy. The breeder of course won't have it back, so its going to be dumped at a rehoming centre most likely. They will make up their minds this week.

The puppy nipped one of the grandchildren. And it makes a mess and they're tired of cleaning it up. And my parents also spend around 5 months of each year out of the country, either at their holiday home abroad, or on foreign holidays. How they thought they would be able to provide a suitable home for an active puppy that needs walks (they don't like walking even to the shops) or training, I do not understand. DF doesn't even like animals at all.

They have form for buying things, getting bored with them quite quickly and selling them. But treating an animal as a disposable consumer item disgusts me. I'm so annoyed with them, and told them so, but they just talk over me and pay no attention. They have talked about buying a smaller puppy at some time in the future instead. I think the puppy will be sent to a rehoming centre some time this week. They've had her just over a month...

OP posts:
Chunkymenrock · 14/03/2021 15:38

You parents are entitled, cruel and selfish. I'm totally disgusted to read about this.

LApprentiSorcier · 14/03/2021 15:39

DF is coming out with his "I hate animals. I don't see the point in them" lines again.

Hmm, so naturally he went out and bought a dog. FFS.

ElderMillennial · 14/03/2021 15:41

How irresponsible of them. There will be lots of people doing this unfortunately and animals left needing homes.

Stillfunny · 14/03/2021 15:45

How sad. What kind of dog is it ? At that price I imagine it is a pedigree .Surprised that the breeder wont take it back. It would be such a shame for the poor thing to end up in an unsuitable home.

pepsicolagirl · 14/03/2021 15:55

I would be furious if my parents did this but you know how bad it is already so there is no point in lecturing you!

I am looking for a dog and waiting for the right one to come up. I'm not willing to pay thru the nose, I don't want to rush and rehome a dog we might be wrong for and I am a little wary of problems that might stem from us not being able to socialise the dog properly right now.

It's such a crazy time out there at the moment and I dread to think how many dogs there will be needing homes in the next 12mnths

Jumpjumpjumper · 14/03/2021 15:57

Stillfunny...

"At that price"? Have you seen the price for both pedigree and crossbreeds at the moment?! That's cheap!

And I'm one of the bloody idiots to pay the price. Been looking properly for a year after deciding to get a dog three years ago. Our timing is perfect, except for the prices! So I decided to save and go for it.

Prices aren't reducing a lot. Of anything, they've gone up more since Nov / Dec.

Jumpjumpjumper · 14/03/2021 15:57

*if

NormanStangerson · 14/03/2021 16:01

Your parents are cunts.

That’s all I have to say on the matter.

darefullyciverse · 14/03/2021 16:07

It's unlikely to be from a decent breeder as a decent breeder would have it back/would have vetted in the first place

StealthRoast · 14/03/2021 16:09

This has made me feel very sad. We have a 5 month old husky puppy. We have waited a long time to get him and he’s here for life and the amount of time and attention he needs was massively considered by us before getting him.

He was not socialized very well and we’ve worked so hard to help him. These early months are so important and I truly hope she goes to a home where she is cherished.

I would have no respect for my parents if they pulled a stunt like this. I hope you find a solution op.

LDpuppy · 14/03/2021 16:14

Given how irresponsible they are the chances of pup coming from a reputable breeder are pretty much zero. Not all breeders are cashing in just now - we paid less for ldpup, pedigree boxer from v good breeder.

rulerbirds · 14/03/2021 16:19

Yes that’s a great idea. Say you’re thinking about taking the dog, take it for a walk and the “bloody thing ran off” then say oh well let me know if it comes home. But secretly keep the dog and rehome it properly. Just don’t ever speak to them about the dog again. Your parents are disgusting by the way and good for you knowing that and trying to help this poor dog

WhatATimeToBeAlive · 14/03/2021 16:22

They are absolute wankers. And the breeder should take the dog back. Please don't let it go on Gumtree, God knows where the poor pup will end up.

Tigger001 · 14/03/2021 17:53

I’d have snatched your hands off 2 weeks ago, I’d been looking to rehome a dog for ages, though I’ve now got a 5 month old puppy from a rescue centre

@tabulahrasa that was our initial intention as we had previously had pedigree and wanted to "help" one, the centres are not open and online only have lurches or staffies and won't let a household with a 3.5 year old adopt so forced to buy pedigree again. I'm so glad you found the one you love.

The prices have gone mental and dog crime is soaring, hopefully it may settle down slightly once lockdown is finished and some of the irresponsible owners realise they can't look after the cute puppy they needed so desperately, so will end up, sadly, in rescue centres or resold online.

Tigger001 · 14/03/2021 17:56

I think they paid £1500, and want at least £500 back. I think if they even got £200 they would be happy.

£1500, That's a steal at the moment unless it's a jack Russell then it's about right.

tabulahrasa · 14/03/2021 18:59

@tigger001

Centres aren’t open open here either, had to do it online... but my kids are adults so that bit’s easier.

You’d not want my puppy just now probably tbh, lol - he’s terrified of men (I have both a DP and an adult DS here) so it’s only me that can work with him and is after just over a week still petrified of half the normal house things, because he’s only been in kennels and a rescue centre so far... so there’s an awful lot of scared barking currently and all the normal puppy pain in the neck behaviour too.

But I’ve managed to convince him that all the kitchen appliances and stairs are ok and he’s now ok with my menfolk existing in the same room as long as they don’t do anything too unexpected, so he’s doing great.

Definitely a project dog for at least the next year I reckon, rather than an ideal family pet right now Smile

Original poster
GreenlandTheMovie · 14/03/2021 19:06

Not great. Spoke to DM on the phone. She was evasive, refused to talk about the puppy and said she was needing to do something else, so cut the phone call short. Pretty par for the course for when the pair of them are up to something. The puppy was still there yesterday according to DB but they told him they were getting rid of it.

I'm low contact with them, as they do lie. Not about big stuff, but you can't take anything they say at face value. They can be very selfish. I would'nt even guarantee that the price they told me is what they actually paid.

It was DM who bought it, without DF knowing. The breeder delivered it. DM could probably look after a dog if she had a supportive husband but not on her own.

They are mid-seventies and old enough and with enough life experience to know not to do this.

OP posts:
Original poster
GreenlandTheMovie · 14/03/2021 19:18

tabulahrasa I’d have snatched your hands off 2 weeks ago, I’d been looking to rehome a dog for ages, though I’ve now got a 5 month old puppy from a rescue centre

I'm so glad you have been able to provide your puppy with a loving home. But it makes me so sad that a 5 month old animal ended up in a rescue centre in the first place. FIVE MONTHS!

I'm so disgusted with my parents. I'm really upset as as well because I'm an animal lover. People breed these dogs because idiots like my parents with more money than sense give them lots of money, usually cash in hand, for them.

I have a smallholding, with a couple of pet sheep, geese and outdoor cats, and I can't risk a young untrained large puppy near them, just in case.

OP posts:
JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows · 14/03/2021 19:20

A number of us called this a year ago when first lockdown happened, that loads of puppies would be rehomed. So sad

dotdashdashdash · 14/03/2021 19:39

Northwest? What breed?

Giraffey1 · 14/03/2021 19:43

A reputable breeder would take it back.

Tigger001 · 14/03/2021 19:44

You’d not want my puppy just now probably tbh, lol - he’s terrified of men

@tabulahrasa I think this is why the rehoming centres are quite strict about ages of children as some have behavioural issues due to trauma and don't want the risk near a toddler.

Not to derail the thread but I'm not sure wether to hang on in the hope we can help a little pup that has stupidly been bought during lockdown or wether the age limits will stick even with pups and we won't have a hope in hell?
The rehoming site/ kennels just say each dog on their personality regarding children, so not really sure as we have never dealt with one before.

Tigger001 · 14/03/2021 19:45

@GreenlandTheMovie what breed is it ?

Original poster
GreenlandTheMovie · 14/03/2021 19:48

I don't want to identify too much, but none of the areas mentioned so far.

I can virtually guarantee that DPs would not make any sensible decision about rehoming this puppy, and will have some foolish outcome up their sleeves. They never give anything away and never admit to being at fault. If they sold the puppy for £200, they would claim to have "made" £200. I've had years of their attitude, which is why I'm low contact.

If the breeder takes the puppy back, they will never admit it.

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 14/03/2021 20:36

@tigger001

IME, rescues won’t rehome a dog with young children unless it’s actually lived with young children and it’s all been positive.

Some smaller rescues aren’t quite as strict and will rehome young puppies - before the socialisation window shuts with young children.

They do tend to say with an individual dog though - if they’ll rehome that one with children.

You can contact them and ask about a particular dog, or you can put in an application and just fill it in for “any” dog, but at the moment I think they’re all a bit snowed under... there are lots of people trying to get dogs and lots of people trying to get rid of dogs and they can’t run like they normally do.

But also... good breeders have a waiting list an arm long just now as well... so...

You might be as well trying to do both.