Where to get a puppy

[Milkand2sugarsplease]

Hoping this is the right place...

Where is the best place to look for a puppy? I'm considering getting a dog but really don't want to pay 1k+ for a pedigree puppy, nor slightly less for a 'designer' cross breed. Are all puppies really expensive now?

I have considered reforming from a kennels but I have a 4yo and a lot of kennels/charities will not rehome to a house with young children - I understand this and would not feel comfortable myself if I didn't know the background of the dog.

What are my best options?

Thanks

Research which breed will suit your family first. For example take into account - hair shedding (allergies), how much exercise you and your family are prepared to give it (and this may mean getting up at 6am before hubby goes to work to exercise it, as kids very rapidly find the novelty wears off).
Also research how you will feed it, characteristics of the breed (could you cope with a more needy dog like a Weimaraner or a bonkers highly active springer spaniel or working spaniel).

Then once you've decided, find a reputable breeder where you can see pup in its home environment with mum (and possibly view dad). In particular a good breeder will be happy to take pup back if it's not working out.
Ffs don't buy one off gumtree or preloved, they're usually puppy farmers 😢

Alternatively, once you've decided on a dog type, join the specialist rescue sites as very often they will have a lot of information about the dogs background - which could mean you may get a slightly older dog that's been brought up around children for example.
Hth and enjoy the process :)

Fgs not ffs!!!

Are you specifically after a puppy? I know I could have put my name down for a puppy from the Dog's trust as they were expecting some to arrive but we decided to wait and go with a pedigree instead due to wanting a specific breed.

Cost for a puppy does vary and I paid a lot but wanted to make sure the parents had had all the DNA checks for various conditions but if I had not cared about that I could have probably got one for half the price but the health checks were important for me so was prepared to pay extra.

The Dogs Trust do rehome puppies to families with children, as do other charities. It depends on the dog / circumstances.

From their website:

"That, as with most things at a rehoming centre, totally depends on the dog. Dogs Trust has no blanket policy on younger children as every dog is assessed individually for their suitability with children. The search might take that bit longer in some cases; however, there are plenty of dogs that come in from families who have children and have lived with infants and toddlers. Assuming they're otherwise suitable for the home, they will be considered.

"In some cases - where otherwise appropriate - the centre might recommend the family goes for a puppy, that can be socialised around young children from the start. Your best bet is always to give the centre staff as much detail as possible so that the right choice can be made."

But, you have to prepare for the costs involved as well as the time. Please don't go to a dodgy breeder.

No I definitely don't want a dodgy breeder.

My last dog was a Pug. He now lives with a friend as he started to have odd seizure like activity yet the vet could find nothing wrong. His (the vets) last suggestion was asking if there was anyone he (the dog) could live with where there was someone home at all times - I was working only short hours but the seizures would happen when someone arrived home and he got excited. Anyway the seizure activity has all on stopped since he's been with my friend and has someone home all the time with him. I'm still sad he had to leave us but there was no way I could commit to never leaving him alone and it was heartbreaking to watch him.

I'm not fussed about fur - no allergies in the house and I don't mind fur around the place, it all cleans up.

If money were no object I'd choose a Dashy but I really can't afford one right now and certainly don't want to get one on the cheap without all the health checks.

If money is an issue can you really afford the insurance, the ongoing worming and flee treatments, vaccinations and any unexpected costs. We just had to take ours to the vets which was just under our insurance excess so another unexpected £80. I know they seem expensive but the actual cost of mine wasn't the issue it was all the other stuff, collars, food, toys, bed as well as the insurance and vet fees that have mounted up.

We have money put away for emergencies - vets bills, boiler, replacement (insert electrical appliance) etc
And I've factored in to our monthly outgoings for food, insurance, worming/flea treatment etc

It's just, if I can avoid having to use 1k of that on buying a pedigree I'd like to. I'm not wanting to show or breed. I want a family pet and one not from a puppy farm so if I can do that cheaper than paying for a pedigree I'd like to.
I have nothing against pedigrees, there are some beautiful breeds out there

If its not possible to find a healthy dog cheaper than a pedigree then that's fine but I thought it worth asking.

I think that if breeders go to the trouble of health testing the parents then that will be reflected in the cost. I guess if people don't want to pay much for a non pedigree then I can't see why anyone would bother breeding from them as it seems a lot of bother to go through unless the pregnancy was an accident.

Therefore I would speak to lots of breeders where the price is within your bracket and use judgement on whether they sound dodgy. Or as mentioned above put your name down at somewhere like the dogs trust for a puppy if you don't care which breed and don't mind waiting.

This is a good guide to buying a puppy.

Generally the decent breeders within any particular breed will price their puppies around the same amount. Particularly cheap or expensive puppies are often from either BYBs or puppy farms.

As an example a lab from a decent breeder, with fully health tested parents is likely to be in the region of £800-£900. You can find litters for sale much cheaper (around £500 per puppy) but chances are the parents won't be health tested, nor will the breeding have been carefully planned. There are also puppies up on some selling sites for as much as £2000 but they're being bred purely for their "rare" (read non-standard, snuck into the breed in the US via crossbreeding) colour with only the most minimal health testing in place.

If you're buying a puppy it is absolutely not worth compromising on the standard of breeder in order to get one cheaper.

It is also worth considering rescues, they don't all have blanket policies about not rehoming to families with young children. Rescue dogs haven't all come from unknown situations either, it's very common (particularly for small, independent rescues) to take in dogs whose owners have died, had to go into care or who can no longer keep them for other genuine reasons. Lots of small rescues also keep their dogs entirely in foster homes (often with children) rather than in kennels as well so they have a much better idea of how the dog behaves in a home environment.