Just put a deposit down for a puppy but having doubts

[gabsid]

Today we drove 3 1/2 hours to see cockapoo puppies. DC adored the 4 week old puppies and chose one.

However, the breeder told me that the cocker spaniel mum didn't have papers, nor a health check and I am not sure whether to go through with it.

Is there a cooling off period? Can I get the deposit back?

i think that if you want a family pet, it is better to get a young pup that will grow up in your specific environment, and that you can train to live with you within that initial socialisation period. Most rescue dogs are past that crucial age, and I think are better suited to more mature families.

Saying that,my Mum managed to get a 12 week old pup from the Blue Cross, and she has moulded well into their lives, and gets on great with the grandchildren because its all she has ever known.

We got ours from Battersea he was about 15/16 weeks , he is a wonderful family pet but maybe I'm just lucky . I would go as far as to say he is perfect ( currently snoring on the sofa next to me ) .

I just talked to DP and we have decided to walk away. We are going to call her later and diplomatically explain, and hope she will have the decency to return the deposit.

For me the problem was the health check, but if she is prepared to sell puppies like that, how much care did she take when selecting the stud? How well is she treating her dogs and puppies? DS asked to see the puppies again just before leaving but she didn't seem too happy?

Some weeks ago we saw a local labradoodle daddy dog who had been stud to a bitch that just had puppies. And that lady immediately invited us round because she loved her dogs and loved talking about them. The people with the bitch had a website to tell us all about them and their dogs. It just felt a much better situation - but we felt the labradoodles were just a bit too large for us.

Thanks for all your opinions and advice. Its a lesson learned - and it may have been a rather expensive lesson.

I'm another who suggests a rescue I got my dog from a accidental litter heading to rescue, The rescue were awesome and very supportive. No one wanted them as it wasn't known for certain what breed mismatch they were. Turns out my girl is a lurcher x springer with no health issues what so ever. So maybe try your local rescues? Incidentally I know all about child pressure, my by then 13 year old dd and 3 year old ds took one look and fell in love- I caved instantly so don't feel too bad it's hard when you have a child with you but you are right to trust your instincts this situation seems wrong.

Please consider abandoning the idea of one of these very fashionable cross breeds. They are not bred by responsible breeders; just by breeders keen on making money. There will be many more like the lady you have met today.

In addition to the health tests many don't do, there is also the absolutely unpredictable way each puppy will turn out as a result of a mating. It would be little short of a miracle if even one of them was a perfect blend of the two breeds; and don't forget that each puppy within the litter will be very different - with different proportions of each breed showing through.

The Cocker and the Springer are both beautiful breeds; is there any reason you can't consider one of those?

I think you may have made the right decision. My concern is the lack of interest the breeder has in you.

Neither of my Labs had papers for various reasons. I was able to see the health checks of their parents, and ones that the vet had done for the pups. But more importantly both the breeder of my first Lsb and the rescuer of the second insisted that should anything ever happen the dog was returned. Regardless of its age.

Also, I think you need a bit more time and research to consider what you need from your dog. Why are you looking a poodle x?

There is a lot of difference in a lab and cocker.

I just looked at that website and can't believe what people are asking for a mixed breed dog

recall I do not agree that rescue dogs are only for mature families, I rescued a 2 year old Lurcher and 4 year old Grey when my children were 6 months old, 3.4,4 and 5. Never ever had a problem with either and they settled in fine. You are doing rescues a disservice offering that kind of advice, not to mention the dogs who you consider past it at 2 years old.

We started off with thinking that a labrador would be too big for us and we then found the mini labradoodle, read up about it, spoke to breeders, owners and felt that it would be perfect - however, most still seemed a bit too large.

Last week we met someone with a cockapoo. The cocker spaniel seemed a lovely breed too, just smaller. I didn't read up as much, there seemed the perfect pups on the website, pups seemed to be taken fast, so I thought we need to get in there quick to get the right pup - BIG MISTAKE!!!!

I don't really like the look of the poodle, neither are we too sure about the cocker spaniel, but the Xbreed we all love. I think if the character and temperament of both parents/grandparents is good, relevant papers and health checks are there, if the breeders are into their dogs and treat them well, then I would love to have one of their puppies.

Also, we didn't want to get a rescue dog with small DC as we wouldn't know any background and felt that is was riskier.

I don't mind paying for the right dog. I get the impression that cockapoos and labradoodles seem to be fashionable xbreeds.

How much excersise can give a day? Most of the Cocker / poodle x I've met are lovely lovely dogs but take a lot of excersise and stimulation. They are often very intelligent driven dogs.

Personally, I love Labs, but that's because I'm prepared to put up with the extended puppyhood and ridiculous amount of excersise they require.

There are some brilliantly clever people who post on here who really know dogs. Why not explain what you need from a dog and what you can give and get some advice and how to go forward?

I have never posted on the pets threads, but again and again I find MN a great source of information and advice, and I get lots of people's opinions, often very informed opinions quickly.

Great, thanks again.

Stay away from these dogs. Been in a similar situation and took the dog back after 5 weeks- for the best.

That was 12 years ago! Got a blue roan cocker spaniel one year after. He is the best thing to come into the house! From a very reputable breeder, all certificates and verification. AND the breeder even insisted on doing 2 home visits to ensure the happy welfare of the dog! Sounds excessive maybe to some, but this was a breeder who loved and cared for the offspring. Had the dog 11 years, only ever had an ear I
Infection - perfectly common!

Let us know how you get on

I see all you have listed, but worry that you haven't taken on board that any cross breed will turn into its parents in variable proportions.

It is absolutely impossible to guarantee HOW any pup will turn out - even if you are breeding pedigree dogs who you have watched develop over generations.

Each puppy will be some of one parent and some of another; very, very rarely a 50/50 mix. So wanting anything which is part poodle and disliking the actual poodle is asking for trouble. The puppies WILL BE part poodle - and that part will show through in very, very different amounts from pup to pup within that litter.

When you add to that the irresponsible breeding which is common with any trendy cross breed (like those you have considered) you are asking for a lot of trouble. A unknown size and shape adult, an unknown temperament and often inexperienced, money making breeders who mate for the trendy cross NOT for the temperament, character and behaviour and one can begin to understand why rescues are desperately over full.

The most important consideration when your are getting a dog is it's behaviour and temperamen NOT the way it looks and I fear you may be putting looks at the top of your list and disregarding the most important thing. The thing that makes a dog a wonderful family companion.

OP you say most breeders with pups that might be suitable are some distance away and you can't tell if it's really a family pet.
We've recently acquired a fab puppy before even approaching a breeder I read everything I could about them we then contacted the UK breed club and were provided with details of breeders who had or were planning litters. The one we choose we had to wait three months. We were extensively vetted by the breeder including being asked to meet her before she would finally agree to sell us a puppy. Once we were approved the puppy was 4-5 weeks old we then both entered into a contract and my deposit became only returnable if something happened to the puppy. She also asked us lots of questions about our lives personalities etc and had choosen the puppy most suitable for us. The parents had been extensively health screened he was health checked by the vet, she provides a life time of advise and we have agreed and signed a contract stating that if for any reason we can't keep him we will give him back to the breeder. He was literally the other side of the country and the journey took 4 hours one way but as we only had to go twice it wasnt that onerous and as we hoping for many many happy healthy years with the dog does it matter how far you drive? I have absolutely no doubt that he was lovingly reared inside and beautifully well socialised in a family home.
The puppy is completely barmy absolutely everything we hoped he would be.
We went to a breeder because we wanted a certain breed you can find a good breeder you just have to research carefully.

dog 1

dog 2

dog 3

One's a poodle, one's a cockapoo, ones a labradoodle - if I met them in the street, I wouldn't know which was which, so I'm not quite sure how you can like the crosses but not poodles?

Leaving aside that and the whole crossbreed thing, without health tests and checks, you're no better off with one of these puppies than you would be with a rescue one, except you're lining her pockets when she couldn't even be bothered to make sure the dogs were healthy before breeding them.

I've always fancied a poodle, but have reservations about taking on a dog more intelligent than I am

Both my dogs are rescued, one was 12 weeks possibly even younger and the other seven months when they came to us. Rescue puppies are not are rare as you think.

OP as a poodle owner; the above mentioned puppy you can basically clip them to look how ever you want! when we got him he had a lion clip everyone we met asked what breed of dog is that? Or its a teddy! Oh its a poodle but I didn't think they looked like that isn't he gorgeous. 2 months later with a "pet clip" everyone asks what breed of dog it is? Is is a poodle cross a black bichon frise!? Oh its a poodle but I didn't think they looked like that isn't he gorgeous.
Honeydragon is right they are supper clever the most of clever of all the eight dogs we've ever owned they have a wicked sense of humour but are basically obedient and fab with children and basically non moulting I'm completely converted.

The day will come when rescue centres are overun with poodle crosbreeds and the novelty of paying up to £850 for a mongrel will wear off. People willing to pay that sort of cash for a 'designer dog' must be completely raving bonkers. When they pull up onto the driveway of the fancy house and see the expensive cars on the drive they want to ask themselves how many dogs have had to suffer to provide their puppy farmer/dealer with that sort of lifestyle. How many hours do people work to earn £850? The puppy farmer/dealer doesn't work the hours to earn that kind of money, it's the puppys parents suffering that earns that money. I would not part with any sum of money to be a part of that.

I am aware that the look and temperament of the dogs can go between either breed, but both breeds seem to have good temperaments and are good with children. What I said about the poodle was purely on looks, but that's just our taste. I once have lived with a cocker spaniel and she was a lovely dog - but we prefer one of those Xbreeds with a wavey coat and you can see that in a puppy.

DP has now spoken to the woman and she appeared not to know about the mum needing a health check? She first said that the deposit was non-refundable, then said she didn't have a checkbook and suggested we come and get the deposit (3 1/2 hour drive and £40 in petrol?). She finally said she would put it in the post (I hope she has heard of 'recorded delivery' at least). We will follow it up with a letter and hope for the best.

Does anyone know whether dogs come under the 'goods of sale' act where there is a 7 day colling off period?

happygardening - the breeders you discribe were a bit like the one's with the labradoodles we met, somehow I thought most breeders were like that. I think we just have to take our time and find out as much as possible.

Gabsid - you have just exposed the problem with designer X breeds when you said you met a labradoodle stud dog . You will never tell how these dogs will turn out , surely a labradoodle should be a Labrador x poodle , not a labradoodle x poodle . Several litters down the line how the hell do you know what it's going to look like ? Which is why you could line several of them up and they will all be different shapes and sizes and with different coat types. So how do you know what your puppy will turn into ?

Cottage - it could be any dog that comes from such a puppy farm. We had no idea that these dogs were fasionable, designer or how much you pay for whatever dog. Its just the sort of dog that would suit us best, as a family.