Adopting a dog privately - not via a rescue.

[Wellsonsea]

A friend of a friend - casual-says that she has to go back to work full time for economic reasons.( was pt )
They have a 4 year old shiz tu
dog and arranged a walker each lunchtime since she has gone back to work.
This is £15 per session and is therefore £ 300 per month .
They apparently feel this is also not good for the dog and want a home for him were he will have more company.
Are people really this selfless- if so struggle to give my dog up due to finances.
I am really tempted to adopt this dog .
The thing is they live in another town some distance from me so Id have to assess the situation on a visiting basis.

I know will have to be careful as this could be a difficult dog etc. as its without the back up of a rescue.
i will get permission to call their vet .
can i insist on returning if he does not settle .? If so how ?
what if he didnt settle .
He is 4 .
I am aware that dogs need time to adjust. Am experienced dog owner , but not of this breed.
Can anyone advise?
Have spoken to
them on phone and they sound genuine and anxious re their dog .
Ive found that they have advertised the dog for sale and i will post the link- but I have first refusal.
Please do not judge the site they have advertised on- they asked me loads of questions and sound worried.
The advise I would really appreciate please is
. what questions to ask
. how to
judge if they are genuine .
. how to assess the dog
. how to safeguard things if it breaks down( and if they say i cant return him if it breakes down- do i walk away)
On the face of it - he really is my type of dog.

We rescued a dog privately OP. The previous owners let us have her with us at home for a day so we could get to know each other. We played with her, let her just be quiet with us, took her out on a walk and in the car and just got to know her a little in every situation. All was well, she settled in just fine and we had a lovely life with her. The previous owners couldn't give her the time she deserved and did the right thing finding her another home. We gave her a wonderful life and more than made up for the upset of the rehoming.

You know dogs and I am sure you will get a good feel for the little guy when you meet. Please do tell us how things work out.

PoppySaidYesIKnow

Ah yes-I see !
My error- I had permission to ring the vets and did so - I was covering a list in my head of things I considered important.
The vets being one of them.
I am feeling a little over think y and distracted by this decision as I am a bit anxious due to no back up as you get in rescue senrrio.
But yes- a mistake - I spoke to vets this am - I had permission.

SeaAndStars
How lovely!
My only concern is we are not locall to each other .

How far away are they OP? Could they drop him to you for a trial?

SeaAndStars

About 4 hours .
There are apparently 11 people interested now - but i am the preferred.

Good luck @Wellsonsea . I hope it all works out well for you and the pupper.

I wouldn't be requesting a trial or return if not satisfactory. That's unfair to the dog and its owners. If all 11 had a trial, poor dog would be so confused.
You should get the dog and pay for him, with the mindset that he's yours now, not that you may take him back.
He's unlikely to be perfect from moving in, it's up to you to mold him to your ways. All dogs want to please.

I wonder why the dog owner has been a member of the selling site for nine years. I wouldn't join unless I was buying or selling, why did he? I'd ask him.

Well I am seeing him tomorrow!
I presume that his personality will be fairly set now - so even tho he may be anxious if we took him
home , he would return to how he is presenting in the home?
My only issues ( apart from questions) are

. If he really wont settle what shall I do ? Is it reasonable to ask to return him to them ( and I assume not get money back as its my choice)
. Dh cant come with me - if i took him - aprox 4 hr drive - how could that be managed.
. if I took him , I have one lomg work day ( back midnight) one long ish day.. then at the weekend 3 days 2 nights away. Dh can be at home tho .
After that I actually finish work and will be mostly retired.
I presume that they would hold on to him for that week - and that It would be better to bring him home after that busy period ? But- if they need me to take him sooner - would it be manageable?!

eeeeeek - its feels near now !

My questions about him are

temperment
energy levels
likes / dislikes
independent/ velro
how on lead
how is in public places with other dogs/ people/ how in cafes / pubs
( i do that a lot)
sleep- well amd were
routine
has be been to others houses?
how in new situation s?
good in car?

does he mark / ever soil in house?
best way transport him home
any destructive behaviour?
how long left- ? Does he bark /cry
is he v vocal?
and
if ultimately if he does not settle- how do we handle that ?

ok list? Missed anything?
thankyou!!

PiggyPigalle
thanks - just seen yr message!

PiggyPigalle

how shall i ask him why he has been a member for 9 years? I dont want to look like interrogating him — is there a good way to ask??? Thanks!

My question is what is a ' miniture ' shih tzu ?!!! is there really such a thing ! like these blooming ' tea cup ' dogs.

I had a shih tzu, I loved her to bits, she was what some dog owners would recognise as ' my heart dog '.almost 5 years later I still well up at the thought of her.

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon

me too my soul dog - I lost her 2 years ago and still talk to her.!

Dogs adapt to who they're with I've found.
I had a Cocker who did fly ball and agility, so very bouncy and active. Yet when my elderly father took him out, my dog also plodded along like an old man.

Ask all your questions but once he's your dog, you don't have to obey the answers.
You can change his food from wet to dry gradually, or not have him sleep on your bed if he always has and so on. He's your dog.
From his pictures BTW, he looks loved and well cared for.

I haven't read all the replies you have, so

I see the advert says ' Ready to Leave:28 Jan 2022 '
how have they explained that ?

and £700 ?!!! fro an unwanted dog ?!!!

I privately rehomed 2 dogs, about 3 years ago I paid £0 ! tho it did cost me as they weren't local so we stayed overnight and as they weren't neutered that cost me too.
About 18 months later, I went back for their father :)

p.e. I wouldn't believe that they actually have that many people really interested in him, it's to make you want him more.

I wonder why the dog owner has been a member of the selling site for nine years. I wouldn't join unless I was buying or selling, why did he? I'd ask him.
I've been a member for years. I joined as I wanted a cat asap as I was distraught when mine was run over. Bought DCat from someone who was probably a breeder.

I would be very wary. Decent breeders ask people to sign a contract saying the dog will go back to them if the people can’t keep it. And there are also breed specific rescues. But this person is selling online to a stranger. Doesn’t sound much like they are concerned for the dog and may not tell you the truth so they get their money.

Wolfiefan

they do seem worried about him as when i asked for time with him they said sure but that they needed to be there because I am a stranger

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon
-presume that the ready to
leave date - is his actual birthday ? That they put in …. Does that make sense?

If you're taking the dog, it doesn't really matter. Strange that's all, being a member.

£700 seems an awful lot for an adoption. The fee is normally to assure the owner the dog will not be sold on or used for dog fighting.

There you go OP, a perfectly reasonable explanation.

DCat is fine. Not too demanding as cats go. Cat rescue organisations I tried all said no because of where I live. Previous DCat was privately rehomed - owner was moving to sheltered accommodation. He was a senior when he came to live with me and he spent more time here than he had been with the previous owner.

Given a choice, rehoming because of change of circumstance would be my preferred method.

Dog shelters charge more like £350 for a young dog.

Did the vet confirm how long dog has been registered with them? Spmething is off and it reeks of back yard breeding and them getting rid of an older dog that's no longer needed. (or somone bringing in dogs from abroard and selling them on as 'family pets'). Selling for a huge amount is a red flag to me too. As @Wolfiefan says he could be given back to the breeeder or to a breed rescue but they want money. Don't be taken in by "they seem worried about him", unscrupulous people are con artists and good actors.

The risk is you are going to go and see him and fall in love/not be able to leave him behind, then find he's got massive issues, maybe behavioural or maybe just because he's not really ever lived as a proper pet. Back yard breeders tend to leave them outside in kennels or just tied up and dogs from aboard have either been strays, from puppy mills and neglected/abused.

I'd be very very wary. Ask to see his current kennel or bed, where he sleeps. Ask what food he eats and do they have any you can take with him. Ask to see photos of when he was a puppy & young dog. A loving owner will have loads. A puppy farmer won't and nor will somone bringing in dogs from abroad . Ask to take him on a walk with them, see how he behaves, interacts with other dogs and the world around him. Breeding dogs are usually very unsocialised and some can't even walk on a lead less alone know how to behave in public.

If you do take him, DO NOT PAY CASH. Use bank transfer and check it matches their details. Even if he eally is their pet, don't expect they'll take him back less alone refujnd you. If you can't handle him you'll lose your money and have to give him to a rescue (which they should be doing but aren't as they are being greedy and want to sell him).

Now they've said that, I'd want to be alone with him. If they were worried for the dog's safety, why let you have him.
Or is it the dog's snappy if they're not around?
Is there a reason you're going this route, rather than say Dogs Trust?