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The doghouse

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

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Original poster

A question about puppies

69 replies

gregssausageroll · 21/07/2011 15:12

Some of you have helped us over the last 4-5 days as we had to send back the rescue dog we got last weekend with the final straw coming when the dog went for me as I tried to retrieve DS toy from him.

Anyway, we have been talking alot. Our previous 2 dogs were puppies and DH would like to try a puppy again. He really doesn't want a rescue dog again and has completely put his foot down on the subject.

So, we are considering buying 2 puppies. Cocker spaniels which we have had before and I know of a good breeder.

The thing is, come September these 2 (if we go for them) would be left on their own 2 days per week although I will get home at lunchtime. Is this totally unacceptable? I know it is far from perfect but I presume lots of dogs get used to this. I used to work from home so previous dogs were not an issue. I don't have that luxury this time round.

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ditavonteesed · 21/07/2011 15:43

I dont think it is a great idea to get 2 puppies at the same time, they focus more on each other than on you making it harder for them to train, how long is all day?

ditavonteesed · 21/07/2011 15:45

am no expert by the way.

mymumdom · 21/07/2011 15:51

IMO 2 puppies are a very bad idea unless you are an experienced dog owner and have twice the amount of time to spend on two as you do on one. To prevent them bonding with each other, rather than you and your family, you need to be able to separate them regularly for walks and training.
Most reputable breeders will not let two puppies of the same age go to the same owner.

DooinMeCleanin · 21/07/2011 15:54

It's an extremely bad idea to get two puppies at once. I'd also question where the puppies are coming from as no decent, reputable breeder would sell two pups from one litter to the same buyer.

There is a good thread at the moment on how to spot a puppy farmer and what a reputable breeder should be doing. It's under the doghouse section. I think it's titled 'poodle cross thread' or similar.

Please do not for a second consider buying a pup from a breeder who would let you take two home.

DooinMeCleanin · 21/07/2011 15:58

Also, yes, leaving a puppy for a whole day, let alone two days, is unnacceptable and will store lots of trouble for the future. It would be fine for the right older dog, but no good for a young puppy.

Original poster

gregssausageroll · 21/07/2011 17:07

We have no queries over the breeder. Top of their game in the breed and really no bigger name. Just wondered if it would work or not.

Surely lots of dogs are left at home for a while anyways? Not every dog in the country will have an owner at home all the time? Not justifying my question, just curious. DH and I still have a vast amount of talking to do.

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DogsBestFriend · 21/07/2011 17:25

No decent, responsible breeder would allow you to have two pups at the same time/two from the same litter. I'm sorry, but you SHOULD have SERIOUS queries (and qualms) over the breeder if they will sell two pups to you at the same time/within a close amont of time, I don't care how "Top of their game" they are.

Have they told you that they will do so?

And Dooin is completely right about the trouble you'll be causing yourselves by leaving a pup for the day. Likewise a decent, responsible breeder, not wanting to cause misery for the pup or to have him returned to her because you cannot give him the time and continuity of training required, would not sell you a pup under these conditions.

I'm really sorry that taking on a rescue dog didn't work out - I haven't seen your thread. I'll always advocate rescue over buying from a breeder as you've probably seen in the past, but if you are unwilling to do this then I can only try to ensure that the pup/dog you buy will not in time end up in rescue himself... and that process starts with selecting a responsible breeder. ANY breeder who will sell you two pups in this was is NOT one of those.

DogsBestFriend · 21/07/2011 17:26

"in this was is.... "

Tsk, I mean "in this way is... "

Sorry!

AllTheYoungDoods · 21/07/2011 17:29

No, sorry, you have to listen to this message loud and clear:
If a breeder will sell you two pups from the same litter do NOT buy from them

I don't really know what you mean by 'top of their game'. If you mean they show their dogs and win rosettes, well bully for them. The other point you'll see raised in the 'Poodle Cross/how to choose a good breeder' thread is that breeding pedigree/KC-reg dogs does NOT necessarily equate to being a responsible breeder of domestic pets. It could be these 2 dogs are not of showing/breeding quality, so they want to shift them quickly to wherever (my guess). It could be that they are used to selling dogs to professional dog types who also show/breed, and are therefore hugely experienced and home with/working/training their dogs 24-7 (hmm, less likely). Whatever, it doesn't matter.

If you want to read the potential pitfalls of having two puppies, and more critically, two adolescent dogs, search back for Misdee's threads. I mean no criticism of Misdee, because she made a decision that she thought was right at the time and once it was going wrong, sought a huge amount of advice and did a huge amount of work to rectify the situation. Unfortunately it was too much - you are thinking of taking on two intelligent dogs, with a less than ideal home set-up for one dog, let alone two, so please learn from her experiences.

Original poster

gregssausageroll · 21/07/2011 17:36

I NEVER said the breeder was going to sell me 2 puppies. She has puppies at the moment and that is all I know. I was just asking the question to see if it could work before we get way to ahead of ourselves and excited about the possibility.

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DooinMeCleanin · 21/07/2011 17:40

Okay forget the two puppies. A proper breeder would have a waiting list of people for puppies before they breed, so if this breeder has pups for homes now you are still onto a no-go imho.

Plus you cannot leave a puppy that young, alone for that long. I'm sorry your rescue dog did not work out, but you really are not a suitable home for a young dog with your current set up.

multitask · 21/07/2011 17:46

NO don't do it.. just don't do it!! For all the reasons mentioned above. Get one pup, when you have totally house trained it, obedience trained it to a level that you are completely happy with, has reached maturity (depending on the breed it could take up to three years) and you are happy for it to be a role model for your new puppy then proceed with second pup. Enjoy one pup at a time.

DogsBestFriend · 21/07/2011 17:47

Great! We'll assume that they won't then.

That still leaves the issue of why they have pups for sale which they didn't have homes lined up for before they mated their bitch.

And leaving a puppy home alone to be scared, bored, miserable, distressed that he can't hold on for that long and has soiled his surroundings, destructive and who will forget all the training - especially toilet training - put in the day before if there is no-one there to consistantly reinforce it.

Sorry, but it really, really isn't on. :(

Original poster

gregssausageroll · 21/07/2011 18:00

No issue DBF. Puppy sales fell through. Nothing dodgy or sinister.

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DooinMeCleanin · 21/07/2011 18:05

No they would have a list of people waiting for pups, so if the sale fell through, they still have the rest of the list to contact.

But forgetting the breeder all together, let's presume they are perfect (which they are far from, btw), you are still not a suitable home for a young puppy.

ellangirl · 21/07/2011 18:15

I would say one puppy is plenty! I think bonding with one dog at a time is best personally. It's hard enough training a puppy with an older dog around and giving them each enough attention (that's what I'm finding anyway). Do you know anyone who could come in a play with a puppy for a bit during the days? Or some kind of puppy day care arrangement- a friend who has a dog already? It would be awfully young to leave them alone for so long, but I'm sure there are ways around it.

AllTheYoungDoods · 21/07/2011 18:21

A timely piece of proof that rosettes do not = responsible dog breeder courtesy of the Daily Mail, unfortunately

DogsBestFriend · 21/07/2011 18:27

Like Dooin, I find it very hard to believe that a responsible "top" breeder would not have a (generally very long, for if they are as good as they claim to be their pups will be much in demand and they will only have a litter every couple of years or more) reserve list of potential buyers which far outnumbers the size of the litter. And I say potential because if the breeder is reputable and a buyer isn't good enough he'll be sent away emptyhanded.

Hopefully Midori1999, a breeder of Golden Retrievers, will come along and give you her view soon.

Original poster

gregssausageroll · 21/07/2011 18:34

My goodness, I wish I'd never mentioned the breeder.

The bitch had 3 puppies, all bitches. One has gone to its new home. One is waiting on its new family coming back from their holidays and the other is, at the moment being kept by the owner.

There were no dogs there for us at all so it wouldn't have happened anyways!

She has just, in the last short while confirmed to me on the phone that she wouldn't consider me either (happy now?!). She hopes to have another litter (from another bitch) in the New Year. She has taken my details and will let me know what comes of that but only if my current working circumstances change.

Blimey!

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DogsBestFriend · 21/07/2011 18:43

No, I'm not happy now.

I'm sorry for you that your rescue dog didn't work out.

I'm sorry for the poor rescue dog that it didn't too.

I'm sorry that your DH is tarring all rescue dogs with the same brush and is being blinkered and prejudiced.

I'm sorry that you don't have, as I do, the benefit of older dogs who can be left that bit longer and who you are able to take with you in your working day.

And I'm sorry that you didn't like the sensible, responsible advice that I and others have given you. It was for YOUR benefit - makes no odds to us, we have already got happy, settled, trained dogs.

But I'm not sorry that the breeder told you it would be a no anyway for that is a sign of a GOOD breeder. All credit to them. I hope that work/home balance and finances change for you so that you might be able to take on a pup one of her future litters... or that better still your DH overcomes his prejudices about rescue dogs and that you are willing and able to adopt a rescue pup in future.

I'd be happy then, for all of you.

AllTheYoungDoods · 21/07/2011 18:53

"we have already got happy, settled, trained dogs"
Speak for yourself, I have a deliriously happy, owns-the-gaff-settled, 12 month old unexploded dog-shaped bomb!

Original poster

gregssausageroll · 21/07/2011 18:55

Where have I not taken your advice Dogs? I have, please believe me. I asked a question, the resounding answer was absolutely no. I'd called the breeder around the same time this morning as starting my post. She called me back a short time ago and also said no that it was not a good idea at all.

Have since discussed this with my husband and we're both of the opinion that it was not a good idea which is why the question was asked in the first place because we wanted a good allround view of what our initial and I mean inital thoughts were.

I am pleased that I asked the question and got a resounding no. I am also pleased that I have been in contact with a good breeder. Had I not asked the question here and got everyone (including yours) advice and ended up with a poor breeder, the story and the puppies could have been very, very different.

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DogsBestFriend · 21/07/2011 18:59

The responses you gave "My goodness, I wish I'd never mentioned the breeder" and "She has just, in the last short while confirmed to me on the phone that she wouldn't consider me either (happy now?!)" sounded, to me at least, to be very much defensive comments as if you were angry at us for the advice given and/or thought we were trying to deter you for reasons other than your and the pups' own good.

Apologies if I go that wrong, it's hard to read tone and intention over a forum. :)

DogsBestFriend · 21/07/2011 19:03

ATYD, I have that too actually, just in triplicate and without the excuse of being 12 months old!

Original poster

gregssausageroll · 21/07/2011 19:06

Point taken DBF. Apologies too. Was never intended to be defensive.

Thanks everyone for your input.

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