Getting a puppy

[Whattodonut]

So as not to trip over another thread, our whole family want a dog. When we move to a house where kids toys can be shut away more easily we will be getting one.
But I want a puppy- to commit to training from scratch, and selfishly so it doesn't come with other poor training trauma (I also just want a puppy because... puppy)
Local rescues don't seem to have puppies ever. But I have no desire to get a pedigree because I don't think its best for the dogs.
Happy to pay (not excessive amounts!) but how do you get a puppy from a good-for-the-puppy place without going to a pedigree (or -apoo) breeder?
When I was younger I got ours from the local farmer whose working sheepdog had had an accidental pregnancy and where he was quite likely going to drown the rest. (Could only take one!)

I think you're a bit hung up on this? Are you a breeder?
Collies can be pedigree. But I'm not fussed if it is pedigree or not.
Would you be happier if I wrote "collie type dog"?

Nope, just a dog owner (of a working-type pedigree). Yes if that's what you mean, you said in your OP you have no desire for a pedigree and then a few posts later said a collie would be perfect, so that made no sense. I guess I'm just concerned you're not being accurate which makes me worry you haven't done enough research. Don't discount pedigrees, my puppy was bred as the owners worked her mum in the fields. They kept one of her sisters to work. Her and the other pups were sold as pets. Health-tested, which accidents won't be.

Pro dogs direct have lots of puppies.

Just because a dog is a certain breed doesn't make it a pedigree.

I have dogs of certain breeds but they're not pedigrees.

@Whattodonut ifyou decide to go down the working dog route and get one from a farmer just remember: your dog will be in need of a job!
Have a look at the wonderful world of K9 sports... from Agility over Obedience to trick dog training or scent work, there is something for you. It's a huge commitment to keep your dog happy and content.

On the other hand, a dog that is bred for the pet market, might not be as clever or as athletic... but it might be a calm and easy going companion, happy with a walk round the block if it's wet, cold & dark outside.

Only saying this because , I have just spent 2 hours in a cold, wet and windswept field doing agility. Dogs didn't mind getting wet, they thoroughly enjoyed themselves!
One has long hair, so spent another 3/4 hour drying him .... the joys of dog ownership!

Ensure the puppy is health tested. I didn’t, and dealing with glaucoma and it’s horrible

I don't know the site - but the name sounds proper dodgy !

I'm most excited about training. Honestly can't wait! I drive to work at 7am seeing people walking their dogs in the rain and I'm jealous! 😂 such a weirdo! But yes I think I do need to think very carefully about whether a dog from a working dog family is for us.
Grooming is not something I'm looking forward to. But in the same way that I'm not looking forward to clearing up dogpoo. Necessary evil.

And before someone says starting an work at 7am isn't compatible with having a dog I don't do it often and me and DH effectively take it in turns to WFH.

I wouldn't get one from abroad. I'm not convinced we should be importing stray or unwanted dogs.

I don't agree with rescue dogs from abroad either unless from a very very reputable charity. Seems like the potential for puppy farms again.

I got mine from abroad because I didn't want to buy from a breeder when there are loads of dogs needing homes, and UK rescues wouldn't consider us because we had (a lot) of children at that time. So Spanish dogs it was!

Many tears they have every dog you can think of some can be homed as onlies see Walter and Lavinia

Or reconsider; the world doesn’t need any more dogs.

Dogs bred from working stock often have a much higher energy and if you're talking a collie they are full on energy. My cousin has 1 and he tries to herd and has nipped several times . Luckily they dont have young children. As pp said show collies are a much calmer disposition.

I think you need to do a bit more research...

A 'collie type' from a farm - is either a back yard bred/puppy farmed dog that is not a working type at all, (but may be sold as such to unsuspecting pet owners who THINK they want that sort of dog) - bred from whatever dogs are around and may in fact be from a VERY small gene pool indeed, potentially, line bred from the owners own dogs over many generations.

Or a working type is likely to be a ISDS reg pedigree rather than KC reg, and again line bred from a pretty small gene pool of working dogs that are local to the breeder or owned by the breeder.

No reputable breeder of working sheepdogs is selling you a quality dog as a pet, they know you're not going to handle that unless you have working sheepdog experience and have land/sheep etc to work.

The idea that the 'good old mongrel' is a healthy dog is bunkum I'm afraid. Many are from tiny localised gene pools with people breeding just within dogs they own or neighbours/friends own, based on proximity, rather than health, conformation, whether that suits their bitch etc.

Quality crossbreeds do exist - but they are significantly harder to find than healthy, quality, well bred pedigrees.

Gorgeous

Many Tears take a lot of ex-breeding bitches from Welsh puppy farms. They often have behavioural problems related to fear and aren't always suitable for first time dog owners.

@VeterinaryCareAssistant they also take unsold puppies relinquished dogs from breakups etc in fact any dog you can think of please give them a look. Not all breeding bitches are unsuitable for first time owners I have one she’s fabulous Lavinia see upthread and the unsold puppy Walter

Collies are hard ‘first dog’ breeds. Theres always a few on the Dog Trust pages. They’re high energy dogs and need alot of exercise and stimulation.

Sure but I've had a collie before. And a springer. This isn't a first dog for me or DH.

I know what you mean @Whattodonut
When we were growing up my dad paid £10 to the farmer for the jack Russell cross we got.

I think you need to look at local hobby/ accidental breeders which will probably be on local FB sites or in the paper. You should insist looking at the living conditions and the welfare of the mum so you avoid puppy farms.

I wanted a collie type dog when my dc were younger and couldn’t get a rescue to ever take me seriously because I had young kids.

I’ve had dogs all my life, including other collies, and was looking for a canicross/agility dog capable of running and walking very long distances so I had decided on a collie/collie cross. In the end I gave up trying to get a rescue and got a border/beardie cross puppy from an accidental farm litter. She’s 8 now and just the best dog. It still makes me cross that I could have given a rescue dog a great home but was automatically ruled out of having the type of dog I needed to dig my life style just for having kids. When my daughter needed a canicross dog of her own, I didn’t even bother to look into rescues. I got a working terrier puppy from a local farmer and she has also been a great little dog and she can run miles and miles!

We have kids and an 11 month old border collie. We wanted a puppy because we have kids and rescues won't usually touch people with kids. I also want known history. Our collie came from a reputable breeder who breeds for agility as opposed to farm work. Depending on her lines some are more worky than others. Ours is fab as he's everything a collie should be, trainable but not too excessively "collie" and he is so tolerant of the kids who he loves and they love equally. We're at home but when we're working he happily chills out a lot if the time, often on the sofa even if technically he's not meant to go on it!