Poor practices from people selling puppies

[Lornacranium]

I wondered if anyone had any bad experiences regarding dog breeders.
I am due to see a litter today through Pets4homes and after initial excitement, I have some gut feelings of concern. Obviously I will have a better idea when I get there but I think I might be feeling unreasonably anxious.
Any advice would be really welcome. Thank you.

Rescuing a dog from a charity sometimes isn't better. My parents have a rescue dog and pretty everything the charity told them about him was a lie, including saying he was neutered when he wasn't.

Also see all the people saying about contracts, they really aren't worth the paper they're written they aren't enforceable. A breeder can ask that the dog be returned to them if you change your mind but ultimately in the eyes of the law a dog is an asset you have purchased and is yours to sell on should you wish.

She was 5 months when we got her

We are looking to take on a rescue. The vast majority of them need to be in a home without pets, without children, or need someone who can devote a whole lot more time and knowledge for re-training than we can. We will likely end up getting a puppy.

Not a single puppy available in any of the dog rescue centres close enough to me to do the regular visits required before adopting.

We rehomed our absolutely gorgeous dog from PetRehomer. The current owners give lots of information about their dog and you can describe your home set up. Ours had lived with children, a baby and cats. His owners reviewed our application and felt we'd be a great fit for him.You liaise through the charity and I found the process great. We couldn't love our dog more 😍

None suitable available in my area.

All animal breeders and the people who buy from them - alongside the people who don’t spay and neuter their pets - are horrible people and you’ll never convince me otherwise.

Shelters are full. Adopt.

And how many of those dogs ended up in a rescue because by puppy chewed the furniture or wee’d on the carpet?!?
You obviously didn’t get the right rescue dog or do enough research!!
There’s a reason rescues are full to bursting … not just dogs either!!
I want a pet and some nice I’ve had enough I’ll make it someone else’s problem …. It yeah, keep breeding them 🤦🏻‍♀️

Ethical dog breeder … oh please 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣

Get a puppy from a rescue.
You don’t have time to devote to a rescue dog … then how are you going to train a puppy?!?!?

What charity?!?

I bought my puppy from a breeder I found on Pets4Homes. They owned both the Mum and Dad, so I met both parents. She showed me lots of photos of her out and about with them before I went. It was the Mum's second litter, house and dogs were very well kept, she had all the information I needed (and the kennel club paperwork), family tree etc. But I didn't have any concerns because it was all very open and she cleared adored her pets and knew how to take care of them well. I'd listen to your gut as my gut was very easy about buying my puppy from where I did at the time.

If you do go through with this, please look very carefully at the relationship between the mum and the pups. It's not uncommon for puppy farmers to have one reasonably well-kept bitch and wheel her out as 'mum' when showing multiple different litters whose actual mums are locked in some filthy shed. They also use short-term rental addresses or even AirB&Bs to look like nice clean homes when showing litters. It's deeply suspicious whenever a breeder advertises a litter - the really good ones, who do the required health tests and pay attention to the parents' temperament, will generally have a waiting list before they even start the process of breeding the bitch.

I say this as the owner of a rescued puppy-farm breeding bitch who arrived in a dreadful state physically and emotionally - matted, horribly thin, coat deeply stained with urine. She had obviously been handled to a degree and was trusting of most people even from the start, but the other bitch who came into rescue with her was completely shut down. We've had our girl for two years now and she's still not quite a 'normal' dog and probably never will be.

www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/could-you-spot-a-puppy-farm

It was a small Glasgow charity I think Caine Campus pet rescue was their name. Might not be exact it was a few years ago now and I don't follow them anymore. Their social media descended into the owner people off that called them out for poor practices. I wouldn't say they were particularly reputable but this information was found out later.

Yep obviously my fault again.......you have no idea...just putting across the other side as unless you live it....you literally have no idea...it was hell and I could not have done anymore. I do not regret buying a puppy at all and would never consider a rescue after that experience

Silly. Many many rescues work out. Awful message to be putting out there.

Yes many do work out and that is wonderful but I won't be accused of any wrongdoing in the experience that i had (and i know a few others with similar experiences with rescues) or have people guilted about choosing to purchase a puppy. Reasons for people wishing to do either

Thank you for this. This isn’t my first rodeo and I am aware of a lot of the questions I need to ask and the red flags I need to look out for. Having said that, I am appreciative of a lot of the comments that posters have made. As far as Pets4homes is concerned, I am sure there are plenty of reprehensible types out there but I know of responsible and professional breeders too.
I think I just have so much confidence in the combined knowledge of mumsnetters that if a big problem had come to light in the north of England, one of you would know about it.
I will not be taking home a dog without all the necessary information and I will report back later after I have seen them. I really hope that my gut feel is wrong on this occasion.

I got my first kitten off Pets4Home. The woman asked to move it to WhatsApp to avoid paying platform fees. No asking of my experience and checking that my house is suitable whatsoever.. I was a first time kitty mum so just went along. My next kitten was via an adoption agency. All proper checks conducted and it was a cheaper experience!

Exactly this. Or at least look into what goes on or can go on with breeders. I’m 100% against pedigree animals so disagree with KC being a good thing……

This x 1000! Lots of rescues have litters of puppies if that is what you want and retired greyhounds are absolutely brilliant pets. Gentle, sweet, not much exercise needed and so loving. I would always recommend rescuing rather than buying.

Its like saying. Stop having children. Everyone get a vasectomy/sterilised and then adopt. There's millions of children who need a home. Children in care also get treated crappy. How low is that percentage of child adopters? Yet its the ALL the animal breedess AND those who buy from them that are horrible? Where's the logic? Where's the common sense? Are you living in this world? Do you also represent the stray dogs of the continents around the world? Those caught up in the war in the middle east. Will you tell them to get their animals spayed and neuterd? Those in Africa or north America? Are you traveling over there and letting them know what you think about them? Like what is your actual point? Does your oh so loving generosity extend that far?

Children cannot be happy with a new puppy. An adult cannot choose a breed of their own. We must select from the list available because there are animals that need adopting?

If you're not Dr dolittle then I hope you'll trade in whatever it is you do and get a move on.

Every puppy needs a home. Every dog needs a home. Regardless of whether their breed or rescued. Like what is your point? Who asked them?
Did any dog ever say to you, "you know what I'm not keen on having any pups. Its not for me. Can you spay me please?
If they haven't said that then your point is moot.

At least children and humans can talk. File your righteous judgement and pointless comments in Dr dolittles post box. Maybe he can help you.

Blah blah blah blah blah

The big warning sign for me is breeders allocating puppies to the new owner within a week or so of them being born. Until a puppy is 6 weeks old you can’t tell what its personality is like and then a mismatch occurs between the owner and the pet. The reason breeders wait until they have a waiting list is so they are not left with any. A responsible breeder won’t mind being left with a few if the right homes can’t be found.

Another here to say Rescues aren’t always the best when I was a teen we had a rescue boxer dog was told he was great with other dogs and had papers all lies while he was good with our other dog he was nuts when he seen other dogs would try to attack them so always had to be kept on lead he didn’t have papers either sadly some animals that have ended up in rescues are there for a reason not always because they’ve been dumped but because they have behaviour issues and I would never take that risk with young children it’s better to get a puppy or dog from a reputable responsible breeder.

I have used Pets4homes but for cats not dogs and I tend to make sure it’s someone who’s registered and cats come fully health checked vaccinated up to date and right age to be leaving mum.
There are some chancers on there selling animals that
look in poor health too young to be leaving mum etc If you feel something is off don’t go you should get a feel with the conversation you’ve had with the breeder they should also be asking you questions about what do you know about the breed and have you had dogs before etc