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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Is it OK to get a pup from a private home?

26 replies

Ormirian · 17/05/2011 14:47

I mean a house where there was an accidental romantic tryst in the back garden rather than a deliberately orchestrated litter? I don't want to support dodgy breeders, and don't particularly care for pedigree dogs anyway. DH still wants a pup rather than an older dog which is making rescue more problematic. Dh has learnt that one of his pupils has a litter of unintended pups at their home.

Yes or no ethically speaking?

PS sorry to bang on about this. I know I am being a bore but I want to get it right and make everyone happy. Including dog. And cats.

OP posts:
RabbitFood · 17/05/2011 14:49

Do you know much about the background. Has the mum had more than one litter. Are they selling the pups?

Original poster
Ormirian · 17/05/2011 14:52

One litter. Both dogs live there and the female was meant to be spayed but it didn't happen. Parents and kids have mild learning difficulties hence the kids being at DH's school. Not selling, giving. Wondering if perhaps we could offer to pay for the bitch to be spayed in lieu of payment for pup.

OP posts:
RumourOfAHurricane · 17/05/2011 14:56

This reply has been deleted

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RabbitFood · 17/05/2011 15:00

oh i would have one then. And great to offer for the spaying Smile

DooinMeCleanin · 17/05/2011 15:00

Wondering if perhaps we could offer to pay for the bitch to be spayed in lieu of payment for pup. - this is a lovely idea, otherwise it will happen again and again. If they receive benefits (IS/JSA and/or CTB/HB) they will be entitled to a voucher from the PDSA towards the cost. Perhaps you could help them with this?

The only thing I would be wary of is the health of the pups. Presumably neither parent dog was health checked?

Also please try and get them to get a rescue involved to rehome the other pups. Free to Good homes pups attract all kinds of low life scum. I'm sure they wouldn't want their pups to end up on a puppy farm or used in dog fights.

Slubberdegullion · 17/05/2011 15:39

Orm, that is a lovely and very practical suggestion to offer to get the bitch spayed.

I think from an ethical pov it's a yes from me.

Things I would be concerned about as well parental health would be things like worming, food/weaning, socialisation, vet checks for the pups etc.

Vallhala · 17/05/2011 15:45

No.

I wouldn't encourage backyard breeding under any circumstances.

You want a pup? I suggest Many Tears rescue. :)

Agree with Dooin about getting Mum spayed (Dogs Trust and, I THINK, RSPCA can help too, as can SpayWatch I believe).

Agree too, PLEASE try to get them rehomed through rescue because if it all goes tits up and the new owner doesn't want the pup - now or when he's 12 years old - that dog will have nowhere to go and no support otherwise (see thread by OP who has just sold her pup for example. Yes, I have gone batshit and yes, I am justified). Wink Rescue will also homecheck so they can be sure as humanly possible that the owner wants the pup, is prepared for having a pup and having a dog for the next however many years and will care for him properly. Sell to a stranger and you could well be selling to a puppy farmer or someone who will use your dog for bait in dog-fighting. My fellow rescuers and I have seen these things happen, they are NOT urban myths.

Slubberdegullion · 17/05/2011 15:52

Yes

Quite right Val,

Scrap what I said before.

Try to get the pups rehomed through a good rescue, then they have a good life long safety net.

Original poster
Ormirian · 17/05/2011 16:26

OK, but can I have one from the rescue then?

OP posts:
Original poster
Ormirian · 17/05/2011 16:27

I mean once they have gone to the rescue. Which seems a bit pointless?

OP posts:
RabbitFood · 17/05/2011 16:28

I would have the pup from them, and encourage the rest to go to the rescue.

RabbitFood · 17/05/2011 16:28

oh xposts!

Original poster
Ormirian · 17/05/2011 16:41

Oops! I see the other thread....

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minimu1 · 17/05/2011 17:01

Apart from ethical issues which I think are enough though to say no don't get the puppy from your point of view there are things to consider.

  1. If the owners were irresponsible to allow an accidental mating I don't health issues has been considered. You could have years of vet bills and heartbreak if the puppy has health problems.
  1. The owners obviously do not have a lot of knowledge of dogs so I would worry about the socialising of the puppies once they have been born. If the mother has issues these will be passed down to the pups.
  1. If things do not work out - what would you do with the puppy- how could you make sure that it has a suitable home if you cannot cope afford deal with the issues?

All of the above are resolved by getting a rescue dog!!!!! You will have life time backup, you will have advice, support and will know of any medical issues (if any) when you get the dog, you will also know exactly the temperament of the dog when you see it and it will be a known entity not an unknown one if you get a puppy.

Give the owners the name of a good rescue to rehome the puppies to vetted good homes and then ask them to help you find the dog you require. It can take a while to find the right dog but certainly worth taking the time.

I see so many people that have made major problems for themselves with getting a dog not suitable for them, or feeling sorry for a dog that then has life time health issues that the owner is not able to deal with or going for cute puppies that turn into untrained "aggressive" dogs as they do no know how to train them. Take your time get advice from a good rescue and the right dog will come along

Slubberdegullion · 18/05/2011 08:11

Orm, I just wanted to say I think you are absolutely doing the right thing by considering the best way to go about getting a new puppy or dog for your family Smile

I think your offer to have the bitch spayed is commendable (and I was initially swept along with what a perfect solution it seemed).

I can understand why it sounds a bit bonkers to get the puppy rescued first and then to take one.

When I started looking for a puppy, and reading up on what to look for, what to ask etc etc I was amazed and the volume of dos and don'ts. I had several 'oh ffs, why do I need to check on that' moments.

What I didn't know then, but do now, is that one thing that is essential (imo) as a responsible dog owner is to ensure that you have a lifelong safety net for your dog. A good breeder will provide this. A good rescue will provide this.

I can hardly begin to imagine a circumstance in which I would have to rehome my dog, but shit and life happens. It's good to know that whatever life throws at me that my dog's breeder will always take her back, and then rehome her with as much scrutiny as she assessed me.

Good luck with getting the perfect puppy or dog for your family.

Original poster
Ormirian · 21/05/2011 07:06

Very excited this morning!

Have persuaded dh that we should visit NAWT place just down the road. They have a 10 wk old pup on their website - some sort of cross - if not him then maybe he will be tempted by an older rescue who needs us even more.

OP posts:
chickchickchicken · 21/05/2011 07:14

orm - what is NAWT?

Original poster
Ormirian · 21/05/2011 07:14

National animal welfare trust

OP posts:
Original poster
Ormirian · 22/05/2011 19:12

Nothing doing Sad

None of the dogs they had were guaranteed cat-friendly and the only pups they have were booked. Still we have filled in a form and will await events.

OP posts:
Slubberdegullion · 22/05/2011 19:33

Oh that's a shame.

it will be worth the wait I'm sure.

LittleB · 22/05/2011 21:32

Any reason why you only want a puppy? I had a collie x age 6 from NAWT and she was brilliant, had her until she was 15, the best dog I've ever had! But I can understand the puppy thing with young children, I got my current dog as a pedigree pup as dd was only 1 almost 2 when we got him, but he is likely to be my only pedigree pup in a lifetime of rescue dogs!

Original poster
Ormirian · 23/05/2011 12:09

I don't particularly want a puppy, and as far as I know the DC aren't bothered about that either, but DH does for some reason. Although he did admit that he'd have had any of the older dogs at the rescue. But the main reason is because we want the cats to get a chance to boss the puppy around a bit so that it learns the house rules. As I said none of the adult dogs at the rescue were cat-safe. THere were two beautiful collies there but clearly very excitable and loud! And not recommended for homes with cats.

OP posts:
higgle · 23/05/2011 14:04

Ormirian, just kepp taking your DH to the dogs home - mine went from "no more dogs until we retire" to spending most of his spare time curled up with our new rescue dog ( aged 9) very quickly indeed - one trip to the home and seeing lovely friendly dogs just needing some love meltd his heart.

terrier141 · 24/05/2011 14:05

What area are you in? Four Paws Animal Rescue (South Wales) have 12 6 and 8 week old pups needing homes and also have another pregnant bitch due to come in (via pound)
Lots of rescues have pups now and then :)

Original poster
Ormirian · 24/05/2011 15:36

Hi terrier - we are in somerset so not far from South Wales but I know that some rescues only rehome within a certain radius. I will have a look. Thanks

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