Where did you get your dog from?

[petswinprizes]

Just curious, given the anti-breeding feeling (been reading the posts on the first page), where your dog actually came from? We got ours from a farmer - with a pet springer spaniel - who didn't realise that the collie (sheepdog) he'd borrowed from his neighbour would be able to climb out of the horsebox window. So no thought at all went into his breeding. So where did yours come from?

got my gorgeous cocker spaniel from a reputable breeder that I found from the cocker spaniel society. The mother and puppies lived with the breeder in her house which stank of dog and were clearly doted upon. I wo could love to have rehomed a rescue dog but i have never had a dog before and did not want to risk it. It's nearly my cocker's first birthday so he will be sending a nice selfie to the breeder!

Aw, puppy sleep

Thanks for the photos, MrsDV.

He looks so lovely all crashed out. I bet the bath was as tiring as his journey. Keep us updated with the life and times of Leroy The Globetrotter!

Must be funny not knowing how he will look once he is older and bigger :-)

When our first dog died, my mum wanted to get another from a rescue.

The problems we ran into were:

• You live too near a road and the access isn't gated.
• You have other pets. Two gerbils and a goldfish for those who were wondering...
• Your garden is too small (never mind the fact it had direct access to the huge fuck-off field over the fence..)
• We can't tell you what breeds we have (parents at the time only wanted labradors as it's a breed they both knew and most are very good with children).
• We can't tell you what ages of dogs we have (we weren't especially set on a puppy but wanted a young-ish dog due to exuberant children).
• You have children.
• When the rescues that "allowed" children found out there were children in the house they practically demanded that we all go to see the dogs - i.e. a guilt-trip and pester power being a perfect recipie to get the parents to adopt a dog, even if it wasn't necessarily the right dog. There was no provision for parents to select a dog before introducing it to children.

I think rescues are a fantastic cause (I have a debit to the Labrador Trust!), but ever since that experience -we went round and round for 6 months before giving up and buying one from a friend whose bitch had had puppies - I wouldn't go to one unless I ran out of options. Now I always go to breeders first.

The absolute only time I would start to consider a rescue is if I was looking for a specific breed and they could tell me the dogs complete history. I've known a number of people who've had rescues which had clearly had extremely traumatic pasts, but it manifested in aggression and destructive behaviour which the owners were unprepared for. The dogs clearly weren't ready to be rehomed.

How is Leroy, the Smelly, MrsDV?

Fyrefly, that sounds very… cumbersome and counterproductive. No wonder you're put off rescues.
My experience has not been the same.

My gorgeous girl was from a local rescue. She was around eight weeks old when we picked her up. We believe she was found wandering as a tiny stray at around 3-4 weeks .

He's ace Mrs DV .

You'll need to practice attachment parenting with him

Poor wee guy - I am sure you'll give him a very loving home

Probably easier to calm down a feisty dog once he finds out he's fed, warm, loved and walked than to give confidence to a very anxious dog.

Leroy must still be in shock after all the changes, it would take me many many months to adjust to another country, language, culture etc.

My cats can do the death stare when they really feel you've let them down.

I'm expecting new depths to that look when they meet a dog moving in here....

Yes it was Pacific perhaps times have changed and I'm being too harsh. It is a little offputting though, especially when dealing with something as huge as getting a dog!

I am very taken with the Labrador Trust, and I give money to them regularly. Maybe in a few years when my current two (who touchwood have a long, long life left) are no longer with me I might be tempted to adopt one of the old ones.

I've always said if I ever win the lottery bigtime I'm setting up my own rescue for the old / sick / creaky ones which noone wants. Then at least if they never get adopted I know they'd have a good life with me! Would have big fields and ponds and comfy beds / sofas

Damn you all, you just made me look at GAL again.
I really like Ellie - but time's not right for us just now.

FyreFly, your rescue sounds brilliant - can I come and stay?

Pacific I'll probably need help with the walking!!

Yes, since looking at all the dogs needing homes that aren't suitable for cats and small kids I have told DH that he had better brace for later when I am in a position to rehome a few of them.

Of course it means we will need to move house to fit them in and get more garden space but that's fine. He has his hobbies (computer games on PC) and I have mine (small army of sight hounds and probably a few old staffies too.....)