Are we dog people?

[BunnyLebowski]

Hi all

I've popped over from my usual comfort zones of AIBU and S+B to ask for your very valuable opinions on whether or not we should become dog owners

We've wanted a dog forever and have been seriously considering and talking about it for the last year. I grew up with dogs. DP didn't but loves them. DD is 5 and, predictably, is very very keen on the idea

We have a biggish semi with a decent sized garden. Outdoor tap and a open garage-y thing for towelling down dirty doggy!

We have fantastic walking areas nearby and love walking anyway.

We can afford the insurance/vets/food/unexpected expenses.

DD is likely to remain an only so no wee babies to factor in. She is quite mature and sensible and not overly daft.

DP works full time and I don't work at all so there are no limits on my time. I don't go anywhere socially either . So I would be the main carer. I'm really excited about that

I've been trawling the local rescue sites for months but haven't found the right combination of a child friendly, not gigantic, not too old pooch.

I found an ad yesterday for a 1 year old labradoodle bitch whose owner is selling her (for £100) because of work issues. She is beautiful. I get a really strong yes vibe every time I look at her picture .

So do you think we should go for it? Are there any obvious things I'm overlooking?

Thank you dog mavens!

Yeah, I went 'just to look' and came home with a young spaniel. I was told he had to be rehomed due to work issues, that he'd been raised in the home, was used to children etc. Turns out it was a front for a puppy farm, and 'her' 13 week old spaniel had never been inside a house. He pee'd every other step for the first week. He still attacks the hoover in terror. Other dogs terrify him, and crowds send him spinning into a panic. I wouldn't part with him now for anything, but I've bought our family 10-15 years of behavioural management. Oh, and he has various stress related health issues which while now under control, cost a small fortune to get to the bottom of. I don't regret him, not for a second, but it's been one hell of a steep learning curve and I do sometimes wonder if he'd have been better off with a more experienced owner. Then I imagine making a voodoo doll of the puppy farmers and the woman who pretended she loved him so that I can do evil things to them.

I accept I have an anger problem.

I have a 10 week old puppy and it is like having another baby, so so much hard work.

However, I know there are hundreds of dogs in rescue homes but I felt as I also have 4 young DC that I needed a dog without a background IYSWIM

We researched her breed for a year, got recommended a breeder, visited the breeder before the puppies were born, the breeder vetted is as much as we did her, she helped us chose our puppy as she knew our family, we visited the puppies about 5 times before we brought her home and the breeder has been amazing with advice and we are going to meet up for walks etc.

It's the way I had to do it, yes she cost a fortune but to me it's money well spent, I hate all those poor dogs on gumtree

I don't feel experienced enough to take on a rescue dog either.

I would go for a puppy or a young rescue dog.

I did the same as sweetkitty and don't regret it at all. Lovely, healthy, pedigree dog that was a blank canvas at 8 weeks old and has turned into a beautiful 16 month old vice free dog.

I would be sooo careful with a dog advertised like that and would go the way the others have said, via a rescue centre or get a puppy from a good breeder.

Ok. Thank you all.

In my naivety I thought that giving a home to an unwanted dog would be a better thing to do than spend up to a grand on a puppy. I didn't realise the negative machinations behind dog selling .

Your words of caution have made us (probably) revert back to the puppy plan. I'm sat now doing lots of reading on training etc.

I'm off to our local Dog's Trust tomorrow to have a look around and hopefully get some advice so will update

I have paid a grabs for a puppy but I believe I've paid for the breeders 26 years of knowledge with the breed, I actually feel honoured she felt us worthy to have one of her puppies, she has a waiting list and people wait years for one of her puppies. I got to know the mother and her sister and they both have fantastic temperaments, I know I will have a lifetime of support and that to me is priceless.

In saying that I wouldn't have said no to a little mongrel puppy have a soft spot for mongrels, not these fancy new crosses but a big standard haven't a clue what breed they are mongrels

The trouble is you may well be doing a fantastic thing by taking on an unwanted dog but unless you have lots of experience if there are behavioural issues it may well end up being a nightmare for you and your family. The people you buy the dog from certainly won't want to know if you can't cope whereas a good breeder will always offer advice and should certainly offer to have the dog back. I had to sign a contract saying that the breeder would have to have the puppy back if for any reason it didn't work out. We were not to pass him or sell him on to anyone else. Not sure quite how enforceable that would be but it was a massive safety net for us if anything had gone wrong like bereavement, job loss or plain just not being able to cope.

I do think you will make a fantastic dog owner and your special dog is out there somewhere waiting for you and may well come from a rescue place which would be wonderful. Good luck and don't give up!

Just an update.

Bad news: I went to the Dog's Trust and spent a good hour and a half seeing the dogs and chatting to the carers. Not one dog there was the right fit. Too old, too nervous, not suitable for a family, too big, too many behavioural issues .

Good news: I have found a reputable breeder near me who has a litter of Labradoodle puppies and I'm off to meet them tomorrow with a view of leaving a deposit

Any tips for puppy choosing? There are 4 left from a 9-pup litter.

I'm already thinking I'll go with my gut. It's terribly easily influenced

There were 9 pups in the litter - 2 golden and the rest black. There are four left now - most likely all black which is our preference anyway . They're a mix of curly, shaggy and flat coated.

I've got a list of questions written out and things to look for. I will try and remain cools and pragmatic in the face of ridiculous cuteness

Enzo is a great name. So far DD has suggested Gok or Gaga and DP has proffered Tony Soprano

If the poodle parent is a standard, which I assume it is with 9 pups, they will be large dogs OP. cockerpoos are smaller and delightful- we have lots here, but only one labradoodle who is big and shaggy.

Just to say that you should check that the parents have up to date certificates for all the genetic problems that those breeds have . Also the coat they have as a pup may not be indicative of the coat they end up with .

everlong I just googled spinones and they are blimmin gorgeous. Very regal and handsome.

The puppies are 6 weeks now and will be ready to come home in 2-3 weeks.

The parents are health tested so I will ask for clarification on that - thanks Floralnomad.

I know their coats can change quite a lot. Apparently the little black pups are changing all the time.

digerd - they are standard. A cockerpoo was one of our other favourites. They are fab and a lovely size. We don't mind a big dog - DP's decree at the start of the dog hunt was "a big daft dog" . He vetoed DD's request for a pug or a chihuahua!

If any of you can recommend any good puppy training books or quick lists of what essentials we need I will love you forever

Your pic looks beautiful on your profile, but I was hoping to see a dog

Sorry, just this oul dog up there

I took the prospective pooch pic down after it became clear it was unfeasible.

Another update:

I am now a puppy mummy

I had the best experience at the breeder's. Instant good vibes from her. She was informative and really helpful. A litter of healthy happy playful and utterly gorgeous puppies all with different personalities.

I met the parents and they are lovely dogs. Mum was watching happily as I met her pups. She came over for a few strokes as well. They have full health certificates etc.

I stayed for over an hour. The breeder gave me lots of advice and information. They are all pretty much toilet trained at just over 6 weeks .

She will be there for advice if we need it and has almost demanded that we bring the dog to her if we go on holidays etc rather than use kennels. With our limited support network that is amazing.

So we discussed the different personalities of the dogs and their sizes and coats etc.

In a completely predictable way there was one gorgeous little girl who kept coming to me with her tale wagging. She loved cuddling and licking my face. She's incredibly smart (managed to get into Mum's food bowl which was covered with a lid) and she piddled twice on the newspaper by the door.

She is a shaggy black/grey beauty. She's likely to be just like her Mum who is very Irish Wolfhound-y which I love .

Shell be ready to come home next Saturday. With an advice sheet, supply of puppy food, a blanket from their sleeping crate. Puppies are wormed and vaccinated and will be wormed once more before coming home.

I've been invited back as often as I like (every day was offered) to get to know the puppy. DP and DD are going to meet her too. DD has no idea yet. I think we might sneakily take her there without telling her where we're going on Sunday as it's her Birthday. Best surprise ever!

As you can tell I am deliriously ramblingly happy. Thank you all for your advice and I will definitely be back for more.

I'll put her picture on my profile!!

Aw, a squidgy puppy!

Any idea on the name yet?

Weirdly enough the breeder had given them all temporary names so she could identify them and ours was Betty which is already on our list!

She might also be a Mabel or an Indy. Not sure!

What's your cockapoo called snakey??

Fantastic, so your pup chose you then and that is how it should be.
There is a couple near me who walk their big shaggy black dog and their tiny Chihuahua together. . What a lovely birthday surprise for DD.
My 2 nearly 3 year-old dog is called Indy, but I call her Tiddles as she looks and acts more like a cat than a dog and weighs only 5 kilo.

ps the 2 shouldn't be there.

You sound the perfect dog owner. And although others have sensibly said to be careful I would consider the dog. My friend got her own labradoodle in just such a way, she has three boys and saw an ad for a dog that needed re-homing. The owner was a woman alone and simply couldn't cope with him as he was a huge and bouncy youngster. I think he was about a year to 18 m old. My friend and her family all loved him and took him home. He is the most sweet natured and laid back dog ever. Lovely with other dogs, friendly with everyone, a great big cuddly dog.

He's called Stanley He is an absolute darling, although the grooming schedule can be a bit of a faff (poodle coat).

Doh, sorry, DH talking to me at the same time so I hadn't finished reading the thread. Good luck with your new pup, you sound as though you will be a fantastic dog owner.
We hopefully get our next dog after Christmas (waiting to find out if Mama dog is pregnant) and are all getting excited, after a dismal dogless 18 m.