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The doghouse

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Original poster

How do I find a breeder?

43 replies

GreenieGables · 01/10/2016 10:36

So we are in the very early stages of looking into getting a puppy. It has been crossing our minds back and forth for a few years but the timing hasn't been right with the DC's ages.

Youngest DC will be starting full time school next year, I'll only be working 10 hours a week.

We want to wait and don't want to rush into anything. I don't want to buy off an ad, I want one from a breeder.

But I don't know what breed to get, can anyone help if I list what qualities we are after?

suitable with young children
one DC has ASD so we would be looking for a dog who has a calming influence on her and can bond with her as a companion
small/medium in size (definitely not a large breed as our house isn't huge and out garden is medium sized)
easy to train and obedient

I know nothing about owning a dog which is why we aren't rushing into it and want to make sure we are 100% prepared. I will sign up to puppy training classes and make sure I dedicate my time to them.

I'm not naive, I know how much hard work it is and I'm prepared for that

So please, I want your help and advice so I can be fully informed.

OP posts:

stonecircle · 02/10/2016 04:50

Op - please take note of Bagel's post about breeders. It's spot on.

You should also look at the thread on here called 'Puppies and Nipping' (sorry, not sure how to do a link). This illustrates the challenges of a young puppy and small children.

Original poster

GreenieGables · 02/10/2016 08:00

Thank you, I think you've succeeded in changing my mind I've been up most of the night researching greyhounds.

It's still very early stages and we're a year off getting one, so plenty of research still to do but I think this will be the route I'll be going down. I'd like to take my ASD DD to a centre to meet a few over the year and see how she gets on with one.

Midnite I'll have a look into those as well, thanks.

OP posts:

BigGreenOlives · 02/10/2016 08:15

There's a breed specific rescue for Springers - English Springer Spaniel Welfare. We have alternated between rescue dogs & bought puppies. We like puppies & having a dog from scratch but know there are many dogs needing a home. Our next dog will be a rescue (1st dog was too).

Supertrooperloopthelooper · 02/10/2016 08:22

I am I. The same boat. What no one is saying is that most rescues won't home with a child under 5. Very few dogs are put as suitable for under teens and having a cat makes it even harder.

lostscot · 02/10/2016 08:30

I know there are many doodle haters on here but I'd suggest a poodle cross. We have a golden retriever cross poodle or goldendoodle and are part of a labradoodle walking group and they are lovely natured dogs. My 10 yr is prone to awful meltdowns and ours has been her constant companion for 5 years. When it's all too much and she hates everyone he's the one there for her.

curryandrice · 02/10/2016 08:48

I have an ex-racing greyhound when we first got him I also had a very small and elderly JRT. We asked them for a greyhound without a high prey drive and let the rescue choose - he has been prefect. He is a very calming dog and extremely laid back - he loves going for a walk and will happily do 10 miles + but is not bothered if we only have time for a short walk. On his behalf I would also take exception with your earlier post which suggested that greyhounds are ugly - I think they are rather elegant!

phillipp · 02/10/2016 08:49

I don't think anyone here hates poodle crosses. What they hate is that the poodle crosses are being sold at pedigree prices (and being often being described as such) when they aren't pedigree dogs and being sold as the answer to allergies and shedding.

Where is actual fact poodle cross puppies have only have about a 25% chance of being hypoallergenic non shedding.

I know someone who had to rehome her cocker-poo for this reason. The breeder had led her to believe it was a dead cert. A lot of information she looked up led her to believe that too. Her sons allergies started playing up and the dog had to go.

Its the reason for breeding them and the misleading information that annoys people.

Original poster

GreenieGables · 02/10/2016 20:48

curry I take back what I said I've been trawling rescue sights all day and have fallen in love with the buggers.

In the new year I will speak to a few rescue places and tell them of my requirements and wait patiently for a suitable match.

I'm rather excited by the prospect now.

Talking about poodles my Dbro had a labradoodle. It was trained as well as my DN's are disciplined they're feral and at 6 months she had to be rehomed as she was wild and they couldn't cope. They just didn't put the effort in to train her. I was really sad about it, she was a lovely dog.

My heart is set on a greyhound

OP posts:

Littlebee76 · 02/10/2016 21:01

Yay fab news about the greyhound. Hope you'll pop back with photos once you find your perfect match.

LyndaNotLinda · 02/10/2016 21:44

Good luck. Soopertrooper raises a really important point though - most rescues won't rehome with younger children.

I have just had (another) look at our local Dogs Trust website and there is not a single dog of the 30 dogs looking for homes who they would consider placing with us.

I don't think that's at all wrong - I'm glad they are taking such care - but it is not as easy to find a rescue dog if you have younger children (particularly ones with LDs) as people on this thread make out.

judey · 02/10/2016 22:30

Loving the greyhound commitment. I'm also loving the fact that many people have joined this discussion to highlight the appeal of rescue rather than breeder. It gives me hope.
Dogs Trust can sometimes be (over?) cautious in homing dogs with young children. However, it's not always the case and plenty of other rescues are not so strict.
Can I just suggest that you might want to consider other sight hounds such as the Saluki and lurchers? They share the same calmness and lack of aggression towards humans (watch the cat though-make sure they are tested to be cat safe!). They often find themselves in rescues because people buy them to go out killing and can't be bothered to care for them. I just thought that broadening your search might help you to find the perfect match. Hope you have many happy years of watching in amazement at how your greyhound (or other sight hound) covers the ground when it runs. It never gets boring.

Wolfiefan · 02/10/2016 22:35

Greyhounds are such elegant dogs. I always find them kind of calming to just be around. Have a look to see if there are any breed specific rescues near you. We have GRWE round here.

LyndaNotLinda · 02/10/2016 22:59

judey - it's not just the Dog's Trust - most rescues are reluctant to rehome to homes with younger children and it's not the kind of thing that's easy to test in a foster home I'd imagine. But I guess if there are rescued puppies, it's different.

Greenie - if you can't find any rescues who can help, midnite has mentioned kooikerhondjes - they're very little known in the UK but they are lovely lovely dogs and incredibly calm and laid back

Scuttlebutter · 02/10/2016 23:14

I can say quite categorically that the majority of greyhound/sighthound rescues WILL rehome to families with young DC - they sensibly take it on a dog by dog basis. I know lots of friends (including some MNetters) who have successfully combined sighthound adoption with small DC.

Rescues I'd recommend include EGLR - they are experts in lurchers and all their dogs are in foster before adoption so a lot is known about a dog, and they make it their business to find out a lot about a potential adopter to ensure the right fit. Their website helpfully lists whether individual dogs are suitable for homes with children. They also often get pups if that's important to you.

Other reputable rescues include GRWE (now the Forever Hounds Trust), Hounds First rescue and Greyhound Rescue Wales. The RGT is the biggest greyhound rehoming charity and has branches all over the country - some are superb e.g. Perry Barr RGT with awesome infrastructure and training/support available for adopters - others are smaller and not so good.

If you'd like to PM me with your rough geographical location I'd be happy to recommend a rescue or mention which to best avoid. Because of what I do, I have sighthound contacts all over the UK (and further afield).

There are quite a few committed pointy owners in the Doghouse - if you want to know anything about greyhounds/sighthounds/lurchers just ask.

LyndaNotLinda · 02/10/2016 23:21

I've never tried to adopt a sighthound to be fair scuttle :) Good to know.

bluetongue · 03/10/2016 00:24

So glad you've fallen on love with greyhounds OP and don't think they're ugly anymore I actually found when I too my foster boy out that he attracted plenty of admirers. Admittedly he was a particularly handsome hound (not biased at all...) and had flashy colouring but in general people flocked to him for a pat.

eightbluebirds · 03/10/2016 00:36

Agree with greyhounds. Or look for whippets/lurchers etc. From your description I think springer would be the worst tbh! Along with border collies, Labradors and German shepherds etc, they're great companions but have massive amount of energy. That's why they're chosen as working dogs, and they're not calm in the least. Greyhounds are affectionately known as 40 mile an hour couch potatoes. They don't need a lot of exercise and are are quite place dogs. Train them early on with their recall, because obviously they have that chase instinct. But wonderful family dogs and the cutest puppies 😊

eightbluebirds · 03/10/2016 00:56

Placid*

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