Returning dog to the breeder

[peetieswie]

I bought a dog for £1000 from a breeder. They'd kept him to show and stud and told me he was well socalised, crate trained, house trained, good with kids.

I really tried for two months. From the beginning he couldn't walk past a dog without lunging and if he ever met one closely he'd attack the neck. I tried walking him in dog parks and with friends dogs. He managed to walk short distances with my elderly dog when walked by two separate people and kept seperate but as soon as we'd stop or sit for a drink or something he'd be lunging again.

He would be let out to toilet and come back in and wee on the sofa or pile of washing. If I went out with him he'd be more reliable so this wasn't a huge issue but was harder than I expected. If I put him in a crate and go into the room next door he'd immediately start to howl.

My guess is he'd been in a kennel environment and not ever socalised in a home environment or with other dogs other than at the kennel. I also wonder why they wanted to sell him. I'm giving him back having not been neutered, not been given a haircut, and I've taught him to sit, stay, turn around, give paw (he knew no commands which surprised me if he's used for shows)

Should I expect any money back? They seem to think I'm just naive and couldn't cope but I'm an experienced dog owner, I just don't have the time and energy to put into a reactive dog when I wasn't made aware that's what I was getting. I feel sad for him as we had some lovely times but it has put me off an adult dog now and we will be looking to get a puppy in a year or two instead.

Do you have a written contract, or do you have the original advertisement outlining that he was house trained, socialised etc? If so, I would try and negotiate with the seller, making it clear you are prepared to go to small claims court if they do not offer something of your money back. Ideally you would have an independent report from a behaviourist to back you up. But with nothing in writing it will be hard to prove anything.

Ive never heard of anyone paying £1000 for an 18 month old dog tbh and I’ve worked in the animal care sector in both rescue and private.
Usually stud dogs are slightly older, reputable breeders usually wait until dogs are mature around 3+ years.
I suspect they were aware of his issues which is why they’ve sold him at 18 months.
I may have missed what breed he is but by your description of behaviour I would guess Cocker spaniel.
If he’s resource guarding and snapping then you can’t keep him with your children, I’m guessing you signed a contract to return him if the home fell through in which case you should hand him back, but they won’t usually give your money back.
If you’re going to get an adult dog you should go through a reputable rescue, rather than a breeder. I’ve fostered over 40 dogs for 3 different rescues alongside my family (children and resident dogs).
It all sounds a bit odd and it sounds like even with intensive work he’s not suitable for a family with children.
The breeder should have socialised him properly rather than using the poor thing for breeding and only taking him out for shows.

This might be better in legal as it's essentially a contract dispute

What was in your original contract with the breeder? Depends on what that contained in terms of whether you should expect money back

OK, sounds like I just made an expensive and heartbreaking mistake. I've had some lovely times with him and my son has absolutely loved having him and we know we'd like to get a puppy for him in a year or two so I guess it's been a learning experience. I'll assume I won't get anything back and if they offer me something it'll be a bonus I guess.

So you bought a dog off irresponsible breeders who you know don't look after their dogs properly and are shocked the dog has behavioural issues?

People who get/breed animals and don't look after their needs properly are awful people, by the way. Ergo, you gave awful people £1000, and awful people rarely give refunds because they are, well, awful.

Choose a bit more wisely next time.

Initial contract said if any issues they'd take him back in two weeks but he said 'ignore the two weeks' when he showed it to me

Have you considered the 3:3:3 rule regarding rescue dogs? It can take a while for a dog to settle in a new environment.

Gosh @peetieswie what a terrible situation.

You're doing the right thing by you and your family, AND knowing what you already know having experienced reactive dogs in the past.

I would too be heart broken 💔 . The breeder we had our boy from, offered up front to always be there if a situation like yours arose. (However ours was a pup).

If the breeder you got your dog from has any credibility, they’ll refund you. If they are part of a breed club and/or KC registered I doubt they’d want any negativity or their reputation to be at risk/tarnished.

Sounds like you've done all you can OP, and for what's it's worth I absolutely think you should get a full refund. He may well have been sold and returned before and if they are pocketing £1000 each time it's a bit of a piss take. But ultimately, he is 'not as described' so ask for your money to be returned. Don't let guilt stop you.

What breed is it?

That’s an insane amount of money to pay for an older dog.

I don’t believe they are under any obligation to give you any money back and although it’s good that they offered to have him back, where does that end.
I understand why you kept him for so long as it does take time to settle but they could turn around and say it’s been too long.

You can ask but don’t hold your breath.
Its crap but there’s not a lot you can do unless you can prove that they lied eg said he was neutered and he’s not.

I’d get one from a rescue centre in future.

I would expect heavy push back but if you can show communication where the behaviour was stated, I’d threaten them with the small claims court. Film the dog, tell them you have lots of footage and will demonstrate miss-selling

I bet he did, but that will be waved in your face. Tell them you will claim against them and stand firm.

Pretty shocking they've bred a reactive dog.
He needs to be neutered and homed somewhere with no kids. SMH

They aren’t going to give you any money back no, dogs aren’t the “return for a refund” kind of thing. A responsible breeder will always take one of their dogs back because they tend to have other vetted prospective owners who would be interested or if not it ensures they aren’t contributing to overfilled kennels but you aren’t going to get any money back for a dog you don’t want.

Breeders get rid of dogs for various reasons - health issues, temperament issues, not wanting to mate, poor conformation that only shows up in adulthood. They are loathe to regime them without selling as they are a business and dogs re their stock. Return him to the breeder and request a full refund. He was not as described so you are entitled to one. Expect them to be shitty but stand your ground. If they don’t want to pay up tell them you’ll raise with the kennel club the fact they sold you an adult dog with reactivity and other issues. Also do they sell their dogs on Champdogs? You could raise it with them too.
ETA I assumed it’s a pedigree dog. If it’s a labradoodle or cockapoo I’m not sure if any of what I said would apply.

The only way you will get your back or part of it is if you tell them they misled you and told you he was trained. You need to stand firm.

The breeder obviously sold him because they can’t use him as a stud, because he has behavioural issues. You are not being unreasonable to send him back, and you’re not being unreasonable to expect some refund.

Poor dog may be better off being euthanised. The breeder probably has no scruples and will sell him off again to another gullible fool.

I show dogs and I’ve never known a breeder to sell on a older dog that’s failed in the show ring and they want to move on they normally just rehome them to a good home, so the fact you paid for this dog rings alarm bells to me. Yes I absolutely would be asking for all my money back as they shouldn’t have charged you in the first place. Also no one would use a 16 month old male as a stud dog so that also tells me they are not ethical breeders or involved in show world.

Poor poor dog. Obviously a crap breeder. He deserves better and I speak as someone who has had reactive dogs.

Not a Podengo is it?

Totally agree.
I hope OP never, ever gets another dog.

A bit extreme. I bought a dog I was told was social and good with young children. You want me to keep him with my young kids? I think giving him back to the breeder is the most ethical thing I can do. I'm not even demanding money back, I'm just doing what's best for him, I was just wondering if it was reasonable to ASK the breeder for something back from the £1000 I paid. I have no reason to believe he has a bad life there, just that he is kept with other dogs and exercised at home rather than in dog parks. I assume in a pack he can cope socially, he just can't cope with meeting a range of breeds and going to places like cafes and pubs. I think it's reasonable for me to expect a dog I can walk with a friends dog without it repeatedly trying to fight it, and to be able to sit in a pub or cafe with a dog without having it lunge at every dog. I didn't cause him these issues and I didn't know I was taking on a dog that was so mismatched with my lifestyle because I was told incorrect information. I don't think that means I am a cruel owner or that I wouldn't love and raise a dog responsibly.

if they would charge £1000 for a failed adolescent dog how much do they charge for their puppies??? They really do not sound like responsible breeders so unlikely to behave honourably. Better to rescue from a reputable rescue charity if you want an older dog as you know what you are in for then.