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?

midori - exactly, i was never a poodle person because of the ridiculous way that people would clip them but i got to know a few standard poodles when i worked at the vets and they were great dogs. When clipped minimally they look fantastic and i'd love to have one if i were in the market for a big dog again. Miniture poodle - not so much (they all fecking bit me!)

Dogs for the disabled.

I am never more perplexed when i see people thinking that buying a non moulting dog minimises allergies. It really doesn't, the allergens are usually flea dander, flakey dogs skin and in the case of cats i know that its actually the saliva that is the allergen. And yes, why not buy a poodle instead, as i have said above, they are great dogs. Why not indeed.

I've said why, you would generally see aide dogs as Labradors. We were very aware that there are no guarantees with the shedding etc, but as FIL doesn't live with us felt we could make it work, & we are infact.

Well said LEM.

Can I just add there is no reason other than money to breed Doodles and their ilk. No decent breeder who cares for their bitch would risk it's life for the sake of extra pocket money.

Why would anyone with a half a brain cell or an ounce of love for dogs want to line the pockets of someone who risks their dogs health and mental well being for money?

Poodles could be aide dogs. They're very clever dogs. Their exercise needs are similar to that of the lab, just buy a fucking poodle and stop falling for the propaganda.

Ok, not here for an argument. I've answered questions I was asked. I think that's enough.

It is frustrating when you are the person that picks up the pieces. When they get sick or a new fashion comes along it's us that end up with the mangled gened liabilities who nobody wants. I spend a hefty proportion of my salary paying vets bills for over bred pugs who can't breathe and other ridiculous fashion accesories people discarded.

I find the whole buying puppies over rescue dogs fustrating. I have no idea how Valhalla managed to keep as calm as she did on puppy threads.

I have just tried my hand at her job (finding space for at risk poundies in rescues) I have spent the weekend close to tears, then switching to joy when I thought I'd found a space and then back to tears when it fell apart just as it was looking like the poor wee dog had a home .

It is mentally and emotionally draining. You find yourself emotionally attached to dogs you have never met and feel like you are letting your own pet down if you can't manage it.

Anyone who wants a puppy should try finding safe rescue space for a pound dog before they go and buy and then come back and tell me they still want to encourage unreputable breeders.

I genuinely don't understand why, if you don't want a dog for showing or competing, a rescue is not good enough? Why buy a puppy? Rescues have puppies. And lots of lovely young dogs and sweet old dogs who have lived in homes all of their lives and end up in the pound scared, confused and grieving after their owner has passed away. Why leave them there to die to buy a puppy?

Doin, you made me cry, what a powerful post. I share your pain which is why I guess I have a wobbly legged Great Dane and snuffler the snuffling Pug and don't get me started on Persian cats..

midori - no, there isn't much of a difference between the dogs on page 2, however, personally, I like the look of 2 of them, the third wouldn't be my first choice. So there.

Dooin, it's dreadful. Can I just mention what Hope Rescue are now doing? They have made a commitment - a solid, open ended long term commitment to take pound dogs at the end of their seven days from two South Wales Councils. This removes the dreadful scramble against the ticking clock - the rescue still has to find a foster or rescue space but the awful pressure is lightened. This is an exemplary model and Hope should be very proud - but I think it could be far more widely adopted as it takes a strategic and long term view rather than the awful scramble that you and Val found so draining.

Personally, I find it increasingly difficult to have anything but contempt for most people who buy pups especially since it really isn't difficult to find out what the issues are with regard to puppy farming, breed health issues etc. Anyone who buys a dog for hundreds of pounds but spends less time in research than they would if they bought a washing machine is not only stupid but they are a willing accessory and market maker for cruelty, neglect and death.

kina42 - I suggest you read the threat! So you condemn all these people who have pet dogs?

Gabsid - I suggest you do the same and while you're at it re-read my post. As a dog owner myself to two wonderful ex puppy farm girls, I do not condemn people who have pet dogs so I fail to see your point. I do however condemn puppy farmers and idiotic people who don't do enough research before considering buying a puppy, crossbreed or otherwise. I condemn the pricetag that people are willing to pay for a crossbreed, when rescue centres are full to the brim and healthy dogs and pups are put to sleep for no other reason than a home wasn't found.

So what are you going to do OP? Are you going to have this puppy or not? What exactly is your concern? You are buying a cross breed, of course it isn't going to have papers You cannot go and buy a ford capri and whine when it doesn't come wiht the after sales package of an aston martin. You bought a dog from a backyard breeder who may or may not be a responsible or loving dog owner. HEavens, i chose a crossbreed puppy from a person who had basically, stuck their bitch with her fathers dog because they were "nice dogs" so no, there wasn't any health checks, i did get a good feeling from the people that they were what they purported to be. I now have a lovely little terrier, but i paid lovely little terrier price for him. Please tell me you haven't paid £££s for this pup? If so, you have been ripped off.

The reason i chose the lovely little crossbreed was because i actually got a better feeling of how much the owners cared for their dogs than the border terrier breeders i encountered. So i decided on the pup that was right for our family. I have since had the privalige of taking on a dogs trust puppy (they DO get puppies suitable for children, but you have to wait a bit sometimes) who apart from trashing my house (the little fucker) is as adorable and lovely as my older boy.

Why do you want a cockerpoo? is it because it has a quirky name?

No ,she wants a cockapoo because she doesn't like poodles but wants a dog with curly hair . We ascertained that on page 1 of this thread !

I missed that.

I have a dog with wavy hair. He's a mongrel. I got him from the pound. No designer price tag, but he can have a silly if other mongrels can. I wouldn't want him feeling inferior.

He is a Jack-in-a-Fox or a Fox-a-Jack? Which sounds best?

He does this a lot it takes hours, nay, days to removed all of that from his shaggy coat. I spend entire evenings picking out grass seeds and burs from his coat.

Do yourself a favour OP, get a smooth coated rescue dog.

Or even no dog at all if Floral is right and you are choosing a breed of dog because you like the way their coat looks

I'm sure she wants a dog for more reasons than that . I only picked up on the coat thing because there is a labradoodle near us that looks just like my terrier X just lightly bigger , it's not remotely poodle like just a bit shaggy . Which is how mine gets if I don't take him to the dog wash regularly to be beautified .

oh right, i see, so she could have gone for: A bichon frise? A italian water spaniel, irish water spaniel and im sure i could come up with a fair few other curly haired PURE bred dogs, if i could be arsed to spend five minutes on google looking it up, looking up breed traits too. IF i could be arsed, if i were to be spending a significant amount of money on a dog i am damned sure i would be.

We are all guilty of vanity i suppose when it comes to dog breeds. I love my two little crossbreeds but i have had rotties in the past and they are my favourite breed. my second favourite breed is the chihuahua, but i would never in a million years buy one now as i can't bear to support the breeders who are breeding these dogs at a massive profit so that they can live in someones handbag - grrrrrrrrrr

Crossbreeds for me all the way now - and i have to make a concerted effort to keep the dog count in this house down to two!!!

Mine gets his curly coat from the Fox Terrier in him.

Love fox terriers!! Mine is a border x patterdale, i call him a patterborderdale, but i think there could be a bit of jack in him too so he could be a patterborderdale-in-a-box, hmmm, thinking i quite like this quirky name for dogs now

FWIW OP - i think you should have the puppy, so long as you are a responsible owner, look after him and train him well im sure he will be lovely. With hindsight you can see that you have done the wrong thing and a) been ripped off and b) supported backyard breeding, but hey, hindsight is a wonderful thing that i wish i was blessed with sometimes. I might be inclined to negotiate a discount :)

A purebred poo?

JackaFoxyPooShit?

FoxyJackaShitPoo?

As much as I despise designer dogs I need a JackShit

I don't care if I am suitable one, I just need one.