Getting another dog tomorrow

[toffeelolly]

Had a little westie for 15 years who sadly passed away 3years ago.

The time was not right to get another at the time but 8weeks ago in local paper somebody was selling a 5 year old westie went to see her and fell for her right away.

she has settled in with our family well great little dog, we got her injections and had her neutered .

Now today hubby has seen and ad on Gumtree somebody is selling a 4month old westie pup and we are going tomorrow morning to see it.

The question is am I wise to think about it the pup is also a bitch . think I am working will they both get on , any advice would be great.

I would just take your time when you introduce them. Is it possible to take your dog with you to meet the pup? Although it will be different in her home territory anyway.

I have introduced new dogs several times to our house (foster) and we have not had any problems. All combinations of males and females. My older female ow is getting grumpy and is not very welcoming to new dogs but she is OK after the first day. I am alert for any trouble when I bring in a new dog, but generally my dogs let the new dog know what's what and then everyone is fine. The puppy will likely get put in it's place by your dog and then they will be OK.

Good luck!

It is never recommended to buy dogs from gumtree or freeads so that would worry me than getting two bitches initially.

Often puppy farmers advertise on the freeads and by purchasing your puppy through them you are continuing this awful way of breeding dogs. You could be getting a puppy that is not health tested, has dodgy temperament etc.

If it is a genuine sale you can not trust the people that are selling. They will lie to get rid of dogs that could be aggressive, have major health issues or chronic conditions that will cost a fortune for the new unsuspecting owner.

If when you find the correct dog you will be able to see how your existing dog gets on with it before you fully commit to buying. Generally it is recommended to get a dog of each sex but saying that I have 5 bitches (and dogs) and they get on fine .

Whilst I agree it can be a risk buying from free ads ect, I think it's a bit much to tar every seller with the same brush. I know several respectable breeders who will advertise on similar sites. Common sense must always be applied when viewing any animal no matter where you see the advert. Viewing the pups with its parents and litter mates as well as seeing their set up and talking with the sellers is a much better way to go. It's a risk taking on any animal and that's the same no matter where it comes from and where the ad is placed!

Unfortunately you are wrong thinkingaboutfostering No reputable breeder would advertise on free ads. They would have a waiting list of prospective new owners. It is just fuelling backyard breeders by purchasing dogs this way.

Agree with NuttyMuttie. No decent breeder would advertise on Gumtree. You're looking at puppy farmers.

Agree with NuttyMuttie, never buy from the free ads. Use a reputable breeder, or a reputable rescue. There have been many threads on here where things have gone wrong with dogs acquired from the free ads.

Also agree. AVOID. If you're gonna get a puppy get a health tested one which you can see with its parents and litter mates and pick up at 8 weeks. By 4 months you have missed the critical socialisation period so a lot of the benefits of a puppy are lost in any case.

This dog has not come from a decent breeder. If it had it wouldn't be advertised online, still without a home 2 months after it should have left. If this is it's first home and it's already home being regimes then a decent breeder would have taken it back rather than have it sold on. Plus to purchase a puppy and sell it on after 2 months screams "these people will not have put the work in" (in terms of socialisation).

Run a mile.

Just realised you've only had 5yo for 2 months. Give her at least a few more months to settle before getting a new addition.

or get another one via a rescue. as you already have a 5 year old, you could help an ex-breeder who needs another dog already in the home to copy and feel comfortable with. For example (and there are many more) Ora

Do not buy on Gumtree.

This is exactly what my DB and SIL did on Sunday, they both now admit that they shouldn't have done this. God knows what possessed them as they have the money to purchase a puppy from a reputable breeder.

Went to a house in Crewe, two puppies (brother and sister) were both together in a cat carrier, both looked bedraggled and were in their own mess. This lad (who lived with his dad) said he was selling them for his grandma. No sign of mummy or daddy dogs.

The poor little things were too scared to come out, the lad dragged them out.

My DB and SIL walked away and then rang the lad back and offered to take the boy dog as they couldn't leave him in the conditions he was kept in. Wanted to take the girl as well, but wasn't feasible. The lad said they were 9 weeks old. He had been feeding them on tinned puppy food which was too much for their tummies.

When they got the puppy home they took him to the vet who said he was about 6 weeks.

Poor puppy had gastroenteritis brewing and also has low potassium and glucose levels. On Wed morning they couldn't wake him up properly and he couldn't walk and had the most awful upset tummy. He has been in the vets on a drip since Wed first thing....

Westies can be really unhealthy wee dogs with terrible skin problems than can cause suffering and cost massive amounts of money to sort.

I wouldn't consider buying a Westie pup (or any other type) if it wasn't from a reputable breeder who could show me the Mother and direct me towards the Father so I could satisfy myself that their health, and that of their extended family, was good. A good breeder will never sell their pups through Gumtree.

If you aren't interested in being as careful as I would be, then at least go to a rescue where the dog you get will come with some assessment and will always have rescue backup if things go wrong in the future.

Please don't give money to puppy farmers and backyard breeders. The only way to stop the disgusting trade and transfer of pets is to stop giving your money to the wrong people.

I'm sorry but I'm not wrong! I might have a different opinion to you but that does not make me wrong! As I have stated before I know several reputable breeders who have in the past advertised on sites such as gumtree and free ads. Whilst I accept that there is a number of puppy farmers and puppies raised in less than perfect settings who are sold this way it is not fair to suggest that all that are advertised through those sites will be!