Where on earth do you get puppies from these days?

[SoupDragon]

I've tried the local rescue centres and they have none.

Will they put you on a waiting list?

Does it have to be a puppy?

No, I have to keep phoning.

Yes, it does have to be a puppy really as it needs to be fully socialised around children as there will be lots of children around all the time. A lot of the older dogs, even older puppies, have age restrictions on the children they can be homed with.

I don't even want a pedigree, I'm happy with a medium sized mutt

have you tried registering your interest at your local vets? They can sometimes get to hear about dogs coming up etc.

Oh, vet - good idea! I've got to take the cats in for jabs next week anyway. Not thought of that.

also you could try looking online at rescue centres as alot just give a blanket 'no' when people call to ask about pups, or maybe you could visit some a couple of times and get chatting!

We got ours via word of mouth - so tell everyone you know that you are looking for a puppy!
Have you tried googling for the more common 'family dog' breed websites (I know you said you would be ok with a mutt but some of the breed websites have rehoming sections)?

Whereabouts do you live? We're rehoming a puppy from a shelter about 45 mins from us and they still have about 4 from one litter that aren't reserved and another litter has been born recently too. Gorgeous little puppies and the mum is such a sweetie too. They were born in the shelter and they've been socialising them there. I find that it's very rare to see puppies on their webistes though, you have to call and ask.

Oh and we called every rescue centre within about 100 miles trying to find a suitable dog! It's so hard as my youngest is 2 and a half, also have a 5 and 7 year old. The puppy we've reserved is about 6/7 weeks now and a staffy x shar pei, I think the mum looks like a staffy x lab though.

I'm in Croydon S. London.

I'm surprised how difficult it is to find one. I can't keep visiting shelters as I don't want to take the SmallDragons until there is an actual puppy to visit. I went into the RSPCA centre at S Godstone and was told they had none.

don't they all want to do home visits? How can they do that if it's 100s of miles away?

Have you tried Battersea, and their branch at Old Windsor?

Some of them liase with local shelters to you so that's how they get the home checks done and some are willing to accept photos of your house/garden and a long chat if you're quite far away. The one we're getting a puppy from is the rspca at block fen, cambridgshire if you're interested, they still have puppies there. Woodgreen animal shelter near us also has lots of dogs and sometimes puppies, they have a website with (usually) up to date dogs on or you can call them.

if you google many tears dog rescue they have dogs in foster homes all over the uk! often lots of puppies! also try the 'dogpages' forum as many dogs on there and can arrange home checks local to you etc!

good luck