We'd like a dog. Where do we start?

[Goingtobeawesome]

It won't be for a good few months if not a year but I'd love to get advice and to make sure I get everything right.

He or she would be our first dog together though I lived with two as a teenager.

We have two cats and two Guinea pigs already. Plus some fish and a snail.

They would be my dog ad I'd be home all day. Was dog or job!

We'd like a Labrador retriever.

We've considered the local rescue place as we have for our late Guinea pigs and current cat from them but DH is concerned about not knowing the full history so would the dog be safe with the children. They are 11-15.

Any advice? Thank you.

Have skimmed thread slightly. I work with Black Retriever X Rescue, which has been referred to several times up thread. I've done homechecks and fostering and can assure you that all the dogs get thoroughly assessed before being offered to a forever home - as does the potential forever home. And if things don't work out we'll always take the dog back again.

YY Drunken Unicorn, sadly KC registration says nothing except that the breeder has bothered to register the pups. They could be just as puppy farmed as anything from the worst of the GumTree type advertisers. The Assured Breeder Scheme is completely toothless as they never actually check.

Putting on my other hat as a professional dog walker, we've got a fair number of Labradors on the books. Several of the best - health and temperament wise - have all come from the same working line.

If you're determined to start with a puppy from a known source, look out for happy, well behaved, fit Labradors amongst your circle of friends, ask about bloodlines/get breeder name and phone number.

Seems I have even more to learn than I realised. We'd just like a dog. Who knew it would be so hard. We so want to do the right thing and make sure we can offer a dog a good home as well as welcome a dog who will accept my children and current pets.

I'm going to have another read through of this thread.

DH found the perfect dog but the bio was terribly written and I got a bad vibe. That sounds so snobby.

I know the ABS has faults, but just to point out they do check- at least sometimes! When our bitch was due they came out to check on us, look around our house, spent time with our dogs, asked lots of questions etc. It's not fool proof but it is a start!

As well as ChampDogs, there is also a site called GunDogs Direct, which will have working line labs.
But I think you'll struggle to find a responsible working lab breeder who will sell you a puppy. They are normally very strict about their dogs only going to working or active homes, and you'll doubley-struggle being first time owners. A friend tried and failed this year to find a breeder willing to sell her a working lab just to be a family pet, so you might want to keep that in mind before getting your heart set on a working lab pup...

You might want to look at this I've just remembered seeing a post - I don't know if all the puppies have found homes, but you might want to enquire about them, or Goldie herself.

Poor Goldie .

DH is interested in a golden retriever puppy. They are £950 each and a day old.

I keep looking at the rescue dog I wanted from Battersea. She's still just reserved, not rehomed and I'm sure she's smiling at me in the picture.

OP, Golden retrievers are also divided into working and show lines - as with labs, the workers are smaller and considered easier to train. The show ones are often much lighter in colour and more white than golden...
They are lovely dogs, but need consistent training and boundaries...

It sounds like he has really got his heart set on a puppy. Is it for the 'cute' factor more than the cats and DCs?

Absolutely not. He's an adult and knows they won't be tiny for long.

The mum and dad dogs have very fancy names and I feel out of my league tbh.

Gorgeous Golden Retriever /Setter cross looking for a home with a family and plenty of exercise. Rescue dog...10 months old male. Very friendly, intelligent, needs training and lots of love. Please share in dog clubs/ agility clubs, and lets find this beautiful dog a home. Please email for further photos and video.
We are in central Italy, but can help arrange travel to UK.
[email protected]

Please don't rule out an older dog because of the cats.
We have cats and foster dogs. Some young puppies who have been here have been holy terrors with the cats, and some older dogs have been incredibly polite with them and very safe. TBH I used to think you had to get a puppy to train them to get used to cats, but have firmly changed my opinion on this in the last few years.

I'd take a dog whose 13, it's about having a dog not a baby. I just want to give a dog a home but selfishly I need a dog to get me out and bring me happiness as well. I would love it and it would have a great life. It would be our first dog but our 8th rescue pet.

Irish Retreiver Rescue have dogs coming in all the time - many goldies and goldie crosses end up in pounds in Ireland.

The dogs are all gorgeous and I'd have any of them but we aren't suitable for them. I'm going to talk to DH about sponsoring a rescue dog until we can give one a home.

The issue with rescues is always that the 'easy' dogs - young, healthy, child/cat/horse friendly - can be homed quickly and often it's a matter of keeping in touch with a few rescues to just watch and wait.

The Labradoodle Trust is another good rescue which fosters and assesses their dogs well.

I'm sure it's going to take a while and that's fine. It's a big deal.

The four year old is no longer reserved.

Tell me straight. Four year old rescue or new puppy for us as a first time dog owner, two cats, two Guinea pig, three kids, me at home all day.

It sounds as if you prefer a puppy tbh, lots of options for rescues, lots of puppies in rescue.
I have rescued an older dog with cats, it's not been a problem at all, they are cat tested in lots of rescues.

I have lovely dogs coming up on my FB timeline every day, it was a five month on springer today, given up as too lively for a young family.

Not a GR, but how about this bundle of golden colour loveliness?

She's got medical issues the lady thinks but the rehoming dept couldn't answer so I've left a message.
I've lost my heart to her truly.

Cross posted. Will look. Thank you.

CMOTDibbler - I couldn't see any golden dogs .

Sorry, my link didn't go to the right post on their FB - scroll down to July 25th, his name is Mowgli Mouse

I'll have another look.

DH telling me for setting my heart on the four year old and now she's available I've realised I really have fallen for her.