Am I entitled to my money back for a puppy I can't keep?

[cordonbleugh]

basically, I have a puppy I can't keep, he is 13 weeks old, and has done exeptionally well with training etc, knows quite a few commands already, is very clever etc, apart from one issue - the biting, it's not just normal biting and rough play, but is actually very agressive.

Before you say anything, I have tried EVERYTHING to train him out of this, no techniques work, and when his agression is directed at my 3yo DD, I just cant take the risk that he will grow out of it.

It's not fair on her, DD can't be a normal 3yo, do anything she norally does for fear of getting attacked!

So, the breeder has agreed to have him back, but says she has no money to refund to me!

I'm assuming that she used the money for the sale of the puppies to pay off a large debt, because 8 puppies at £250 each is a lot of money!!

He is not purebred by the way, so he is not kennel club registered or anything like that.

I have asked her to have him back asap, otherwise he will go to dogs trust or somewhere similar, but now she is getting a bit nasty towards me (via text!) about the whole situation.

I made a mistake in getting the puppy and fully admit to that, now i just want him gone before he hurts DD again. I did a LOT of research, and waited months before getting him btw, so it was definately not and impulse decision, it just hasn't worked out

Anyone got any advice?

geordieminx - think you're stereotyping rottweilers a bit there! they're not all nasty you know!

I'm not stupid - obviously if it not "100% whatever then its a mongel - no inbetweens"

I've never claimed it to be anything else as far as I'm aware.

Are you actually reading my posts at all? I have already said that I was not EXPECTING my mony back, just asking if it was possible/something that I am entitled to!

I am not asking for advice, or judgement on my decision again I have already said this - i was asking a simple question with a yes or no answer.

thanks aBetaDad, have now established that refunds are not the done thing, having never had a puppy of my own before, wasn't sure what the protocol on this was, thanks to all those who have actually answered my question!

Sell him.

I can't sell him, he's aggressive, I wouldn't lie to people to get money and they'd soon find out for themselves what he's like!

You thread title asks if you are 'entitled' to money back - that clearly implies to me that you want it back and had an expectation you would get it. You've also asked the breeder for it and been told that she doesn't have it. It's pretty rich to try both asking if you are entitled to it at the same time as claiming you don't expect it

Fwiw I know rottweilers are beautiful dogs and fantastic pets. But they aren't great in unpredictable situations with vulnerable children or other animals. Shame you hadn't worked that out whilst you were doing your 'research'.

I can't believe anyone would buy a part-rottweiler puppy as a family dog unless you run pawnbrokers and need a guard dog.

Everyone says 'Oh it's the bad owners not the dogs!" But rational people know that's nonsense. And so often you have to leave a dog with other people who may not be able to control it. It's just too risky to have an aggressive dog around.

It's the same old breeds that cause problems again and again, bred over countless years to fight or hunt, you can't get rid of that in one generation of soft hearted eegit dog worshippers.

All those breeds should be illegal in my opinion unless they're working dogs. It's so self indulgent imo.

Take the dog to a rescue place tonight.

My step sister's child was bitten on the face by my father's terrier and he still maintains it was 'only a nip' and 'only because she was bothering him'. So the 3 yr old's fault then.

Only a nip doesn't leave a scar imo.

absolutely mad to get a dog with 1/4 rotweiller in it. Not because of perceived agression but because rotties are such big powerful dogs that it takes a strong person to control them. I am a dog person and there is no way on earth that I would get a dog that I wasn't able to control once it got big enough.

Tbh I would be inclined not to give the dog back to the breeder as she sounds irresponsible in selling you the dog in the first place, but I would contact one of the dog rescues such as battersey etc who have a reputation for working on dog behavior and assessing the right dog for the right home. If he is agressive they will work with him to try to curb this, but if this cannot be resolved then tbh he ought to be put to sleep and they will be able to make that decision when the time is right as they won't pass an agressive dog on to anyone.

I was asking if i was entitled to a refund cos I was thinking maybe there's a legal issue here, like I said, I asked her and she said no, but then came on here asking if I was actually legally entitled to a refund, and again the answer is no - I accept that and will not be pursuing it any further.

bearing in mind that he is also 3/4 labrador, I did not think that the traits that rottweilers are renowned for and often stereotyped on would be an issue. I was fully aware that I was getting a puppy that would grow into a large strong dog - that is what I wanted, as I have also previously said.

And I will say yet again - I did not start this thread to be judged on my decision to get the dog in the first place - that is irrelevant to what I was originally asking advice on.

I made a mistake and now i am putting it right by sending the dog back.

And you're right nigelslaterfan - it's not my DD's fault, it is the dog's fault, and that is why I no longer wish to keep the puppy.

Stop flaming the OP,she only asked a question.If the dog is deemed aggressive is it not better that he goes back to the breeder now while still young enough to possibly be trained out of it by a firm experienced owner? Then it can be rehomed if possible.If a dog was constantly trying to bite my 3yr old i doubt i would be very fond of it.
Cordon,breeders really give money back even if a dog was 'missold" I had an aggressive Shar-pei who was pretty rubbish with the kids as she had missed the main socialisation period and breeders lied about her age amongst other things.We could not get money back nor would thet take her back,they did get struck off the shar-pei breed club though.
You have tried but i think you would need and be willing to get a behavourist in to sort this out.

totallyfloaty - yes, it would take someone more experienced and professional than myself to sort his behaviour out, in all other respects, he sees me as the leader, he is well socialised, he obeys various commands due the the extensive training work i have put in with him, but I really do think it's in his nature to be aggressive.

To say I'm not fond of him is an understatement to be honest! I don't think anybody would think fondly of a dog that has hurt their child!

Like I said, I was not expecting to get my money back, but after I asked the breeder and was told no, I did wonder whether maybe she had any legal obligations to refund the money, as £250 would certainly come in useful right now! But, I can see that I am not legally entitled to get my money back, and so be it, I accept that and will just be pleased that my DD can continue being a 3 year old, not living in fear.

cordonbleugh, I just wonder why so many people need a large strong dog? Do you live in a dangerous area? Do you need a guard dog? I'm just interested.
Because I see so many of those what I consider horrible breeds with certain kinds of blokes and their girlfriends as some kind of macho pose. They are very often incapable of training or caring properly for this kind of dog.

The exercise alone that this kind of dog needs is about what a extremely fit athlete would take!

Some of these breeds spend days indoors and are demented by the time they get outside, hence some of the worst behaviour. I just hate it.

Great that you are getting rid of it though and I hope you get a trainable little spaniel or something!

no, don't give him back to the breeder.

A responsible breeder wouldn't have sold you such a powerful dog in the first place given you have a three year old.

I would seriously take him to a dog rescue such as battersey or one of their afilliates where the behavior can be dealt with.

nigelslaterfan - purely personal preference, I don't like little dogs, can't gove a reason why, i just don't! I had a pure lab before, well, he was a family dog but you know what i mean, so I do have experience with large dogs that need lots of excersise.

We live opposite a very large park which is popular with dog walkers, I have friends with large dogs and planned to meet up with them to let the dogs run together.

I won't be getting another dog until DD is older i think!

Wannabe - do you really think? When I told the breeder that if she couldnt have him back asap then he would be taken to a dog rescue centre, she got very angry with me.

I dont live anywhere near battersea, the nearest would be dogs trust, or rspca.

The breeder is a dog trainer herself and apparently worked as a trainer for dogs trust

and fwiw chocolate labs are notoriously untrainable, unlike yellow and black labs. So you could potentially end up with the untrainability of a chocolate lab coupled with the potential agression of a rotweiller, all in a massive dog that you would be unable to control.

you're right wannabe, I'm def making the right decision giving him up then!

Oh, I see...

Stands to reason that a chocolate lab crossed with a rottie makes a 13 week old killer

Do the pup a favour - give him to someone who at least knows a bit about dogs.

but he's not a choc lab crossed with a rottie. His mum is half lab half rottie and the dad is a black lab. he is the only chocolate pup in the whole litter.

I do know about dogs thanks very much! not claiming to be an expert, but i did a lot of reading up, talking to more experienced people and spoke to people on various other forums.

it hasn't worked out, he's aggressive, he hurt my child, he's going back.

end of.

I agree - don't keep him. He'll be better off elsewhere.

Im not going to keep him! he attacks my DD! why are you not getting that?!

He's hurt her once already and I wont let it happen again! The dog is not the victim here, my child is ffs

If you read my two previous posts you might see why your last post was nonsense, btw.

how is it nonsense?

lol seriously, you give a lot of good advice on here bella, so I'm not going ot argue with you.

This is a very emotional time for me.

Like I said, I'm not arguing. For the third time - don't keep the dog.

Does that make sense?

I did kind of slightly pick up on the stress, tbh, especially in your last couple of posts.

In any of these cases, where it is clear that the OP doesn't want to/cannot keep the dog, I always say 'rehome'. I never try to persuade anyone to keep a dog in those circumstances.

I only came back to this thread because I felt Rotties and Labs were being done a huge disservice by some of the comments. Honest.

Very best of luck x

The "breeder" needs shooting. There are a huge amount of crossbreeds put to sleep in pounds and waiting in rescue already and some dork adds to the number! FFS!

You have a problem which you acknowledge but are not prepared to resolve CordonB and have instead decided to part company with the puppy. I agree with Bella that this is the best thing you could do as you are unwilling to train the pup.

I also agree with Bella that Rotties and Labs - in fact all large breeds - are coming in for some unreasonable and foundationless comments (I speak as a past and present GSD owner and ex-fosterer and Lab X owner). I hope that this thread won't put people off of these breeds and to balance the criticism of them folk might read one or two of the threads here which express the alternative view.

The important thing now is to do right by the dog and to ensure that he goes to someone who will care for him and re-home him responsibly. I have reservations about the breeder and would not recommend the RSPCA as they would quite possibly put him to sleep. The Dogs Trust are far less likely to do so but they are selective on which dogs they take and generally have a long waiting list for precious rescue kennel space. Independent rescues are struggling like buggery and their policies differ widely - do chose only a no kill one if you opt to take the pup to rescue (which imho and ime would be the best thing you could do). This dog deserves a second chance - he is not evil, he is a puppy.

Please, please ensure that you find him somewhere safe.