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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To get a slightly older puppy?

30 replies

Mickarooni · 02/10/2021 18:25

A friend’s mum breeds and shows dogs. She had a litter and one buyer decided they didn’t want the puppy and he’s been returned. :( I know he’s from a good line and has been health tested etc. Puppy is over 5 months and this breed usually goes home at 12 weeks. Friend knows I am considering a dog having lost my old boy some time ago.
I’ve not even made proper enquiries but I’m curious if I’ll have missed any key socialising time by having a slightly older dog.

OP posts:
Returnoftheowl · 02/10/2021 18:26

My first question would be why did the first buyer return him?

WorraLiberty · 02/10/2021 18:27

Probably not at 5 months

But personally I wouldn't encourage dog breeders anyway

What's wrong with looking to adopt?

Original poster
Mickarooni · 02/10/2021 18:31

@Returnoftheowl apparently their existing dog hated it and they returned the puppy after a couple of days!

@WorraLiberty I’m exploring both options. :) This was just a suggestion as friend’s mum has this puppy and is looking for a good home. I have experience with the breed.

OP posts:
Machchchengo · 02/10/2021 18:33

If he was well socialised by the previous owners it could be OK. Depends why he was returned. Maybe they realised too late what a huge commitment a dog is or they're too inexperienced to properly train. You can only ask. They certainly wouldn't be the only ones. There'll be a lot of older puppies being surrendered at any given time but especially now.

QueenBee52 · 02/10/2021 18:34

what a shame...

written off at 5 months old 😢

WorraLiberty · 02/10/2021 18:35

Yes but surely she's looking for a good home at a price, if she's a breeder?

ErrolTheDragon · 02/10/2021 18:40

If they returned him after a couple of days, does that mean he's been back with the breeder for a while? If so, she will hopefully been training and socialising him.

We got our old boy, who is 16 now, from his breeder when he was 10 months old - she'd kept him for potential show and stud but he developed alopecia. He was housetrained and very well socialised, absolutely lovely dog.

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 02/10/2021 18:42

My main concern would be that very important socialising windows are shut- we got a dog (nearly 20 years ago) from what we realised in hindsight was a keen owner with a crufts dog that they bred versus a proper breeder and they kept making excuses and hanging on to pup. Think it was the trend back then to keep them a bit longer?

Anyway he did struggle with other dogs-he wasn't very sociable at all and it did limit him. He was a much beloved family pet but I do think he missed out a bit on dog pack stuff.

I'd def want to meet the pup and see where it is developmentally/socially etc

Ihaventgottimeforthis · 02/10/2021 18:43

Why not visit him?
I'd say 5 months is still definitely young enough to be adaptable, but also old enough that you should be able to recognise signs of nervousness etc in the home, especially as you're strangers.
Perhaps even take him out with them for a quick walk

Blossomtoes · 02/10/2021 18:47

What's wrong with looking to adopt?

Surely that’s exactly what this is? If you’d take an older puppy from a rescue centre, I’d take this one @Mickarooni. At least you know its history.

Original poster
Mickarooni · 02/10/2021 19:10

@WorraLiberty

Yes but surely she's looking for a good home at a price, if she's a breeder?
She’s looking for a much, much more reasonable price than some breeders and does home checks etc. She is a decent breeder but I’m not sold on getting a puppy, so I’m still thinking. I’m quite shocked at the price of puppies actually! I’ve had both rescues and puppies throughout my life.
OP posts:
Original poster
Mickarooni · 02/10/2021 19:15

@Ihaventgottimeforthis

Why not visit him? I'd say 5 months is still definitely young enough to be adaptable, but also old enough that you should be able to recognise signs of nervousness etc in the home, especially as you're strangers. Perhaps even take him out with them for a quick walk
I’m worried if I’ll visit any dog, I’ll fall in love and take them home. Grin Grin I do need to decide soon, I think. If not me, he needs a family/home soon.
OP posts:
icedcoffees · 02/10/2021 19:19

Why hasn't the breeder sold him in the last 2-3 months?

MarleneDietrichsSmile · 02/10/2021 19:23

We got our old girl at 5 months old, she was rejected by the first buyer’s other dogs

She was a bit nervous, which meant she cowered a bit for other dogs and it took a few years to build her confidence. It was just a matter of patience and giving her space and walking her in quiet areas to start with

She’s a total darling, and we never regretted taking her on. But there was an unknown bit of her past which meant we needed a bit of extra patience

She’s totally wonderful and in a way no dog is entirely “makeable” , there’s always unknowns

Meeting a pup at 5 months old = taking her home Grin

Pinkchocolate · 02/10/2021 19:30

It wouldn’t bother me. You can train a five month old dog.

Cherrysoup · 02/10/2021 19:38

She’s kept him for 2 months? Why? Couldn’t she find a home? Don’t take just because it’s available. Is it a breed you’ve always wanted? Small (chi?) if they aren’t normally homed til 12 weeks?

Original poster
Mickarooni · 02/10/2021 20:10

I am going to contact her to ask why she hasn’t sold him and I have more questions. My friend has only given me the basics and said to think about it and not make any decisions.

It’s a small (toy) breed and they don’t go home until 12 weeks.

It’s hard because I wasn’t sold on getting a dog right now but said id wait for the right dog. It’s hard not to go with my emotional head. This thread has been helpful, thank you.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 02/10/2021 20:13

Are you sure it wasn’t injured?
Check what socialisation and training it has had.
Could work but our neighbours took on an older bearded collie and it was a bloody nightmare. Never been on a lead. Not been walked around other dogs and people or traffic. Complete disaster.

Notmoresugar · 02/10/2021 20:27

I wouldn't write it off at all because of it's age but you do need to find out the facts.

I think it's more a question of are you ready for a new arrival at this time?

I'm sure you already know that people were going mad for kittens and puppies in lockdown and now things are 'supposed' to be more normal a lot of them are no longer wanted.

Sadly that's how fickle some people are.

stevalnamechanger · 02/10/2021 21:30

Get the full facts

Would potentially do it

I know many people who have and had no issues

Mumofsend · 02/10/2021 21:35

Last week our 5 month old puppy arrived with us, his mum was severely abused and pregnant when rescued, he was one of the puppies. He was in a lovely Foster home from 12 weeks until we had him.

I absolutely think it comes down to the individual pup's experiences from breeder etc. If he has been well socialised go ahead.

Our puppy has settled in beautifully

Cryalot2 · 02/10/2021 22:03

The rehoming centers need an overhaul. So many could offer good homes are denied due to silly tick box reasons. Other dogs are rehomed as they tick the right boxes and there are no checks made, that the animals are vaccinated and registered with a local vet and the rest.
So sadly thanks to the way the rescue centres operate they are responsible for so many homeless and why people cannot adopt.
Their sick attitude is why there are so many puppies and people buying them.
I hate to hear of them bought for young children .
Toy dogs can be lovely and if you have experience with a breed then much better.
Ask questions and good wishes.

Djifunrsn · 02/10/2021 22:11

Toy breeds can be hard to train. Perhaps the owner struggled. I would go and see the dog and get the facts from the breeder. If you are experienced then you could be good for the dog.

Smileforthebirdie · 02/10/2021 22:18

Don’t discount the pup, many show breeders keep a couple of pups back to establish show potential and sell at 6 months if not a good show prospect.

The key thing would be to spend time with the pup, objectively observing behaviour and attitude to see if your home is a good match for the pup. I would meet it, go walks, see how it responds to loud noises, traffic, other dogs etc and see if the behaviour is at a level you can accept or are happy to train.

WorraLiberty · 02/10/2021 22:21

@Blossomtoes

What's wrong with looking to adopt?

Surely that’s exactly what this is? If you’d take an older puppy from a rescue centre, I’d take this one @Mickarooni. At least you know its history.

No, it's not exactly what this is.

When a breeder gets a puppy returned, they sell them again but they'll knock a couple of hundred off due to it being a bit older.

The breeder will have no trouble homing the puppy as long as the price is right. That's not the same for dogs in rescue centers.