Please help: returning puppy

[feelinghorrible]

Hi all
I'm currently feeling like a horrible human. We bought a golden lab yesterday. Myself and my partner had dogs growing up but not since we've been living together. We also have a 4 month old DS.
We love the puppy! He's got a gorgeous temperment, obviously painfully cute and all round a lovely pup.
The problem we're having is that it seems my son may have had a reaction to the dog. When we introduced them yesterday, the pup licked DS arm before we could stop him. Not long after, DS had runny nose and eyes, sneezing, seemed to have a wheeze of sorts and a red sort of rash in the spot he had been licked. He was then very distressed and hard to settle. We removed him from the room of course. Was fine with the pup until these symptoms occurred and was smiling at him and chatting to him. When we woke DS this morning, (he sleeps 11 hours) the rash wasn't gone but was faded and his eyes and nose seemed a lot better. However, when we bought him downstairs where the pup was running around, the sneezing, runny nose, eyes and rubbing and little wheezes started again after 10-15 minutes and DS is now distressed whenever the pup is in view.
I feel horrible because I hadn't even considered that DS could have an allergy. We have a cat who he has never had a reaction to but that being said the cat isn't close to him most of the time.
I'm crying nearly as much as DS and my anxiety is working overtime. I feel awful for DS and awful for the dog as he deserves a family that can dedicate themselves to him whereas now with this happening I feel too paranoid about DS. How can I keep a dog that can't be in the vicinity of my child?
My question is, where do I stand on returning the dog? I was told they would have the dog back within a week with a written letter from a vet stating that the dog was ill but nothing for this sort of circumstance. We bought him from a pet shop attached to a house and the man selling the pups sells them on behalf of the breeder. It was very legit. I'd be lying if I said we're not concerned about the £500 we paid as we were more than willing to pay this for a beautiful dog but of course, if we can't keep him we have lost £500. If not I feel I will have to rehome him ourselves before he gets too attached to our family as that is even more unfair of the dog. How would I go about this?
I'm going to ring the man we purchased the puppy from shortly but am trying to compose myself first and console DS so I just wanted some help and support. Please no nasty comments I know how horrible I sound!

For practical options:

1. Are you prepared to see vet/doctor on feasibility of managing reaction? If so book appointment NOW and get advice

1. If you are dead set against keeping it then forget all about getting your money back and just concentrate on getting it a good home. Contact breeder but maybe from what people have said perhaps a rescue centre or breed club may be the better option in ensuring a good home can be found quickly.

1. Don't get another dog in the hope that your DC won't react. I think the general consensus is even dogs that are supposedly hypoallergenic aren't 100% as people react to different things.

I feel ridiculously stupid and my heart aches for this pup. I'll get in contact with a local rehoming centre and call to report the shop. It obviously needs checking out and stopping if it is a puppy farm!

I'm allergic to animals-fur/saliva.
We have 2 cats and 2 dogs and I was awful when we got each one, couldn't breathe, itchy rashes, eyes etc.
After a week or two I got used to them and now don't have a problem.
Have you gave ds any piriton? (Sp?)

Either way they are going to pretend there is a legitimate breeder and try to persuade you - that way they can resell the puppy to someone else rather than make sure it goes to the best home.

a reputable breeder simply wouldn't just hand over a puppy for £500 or have anything to do with a pet shop.

I appreciate that you have been caught out and didn't do your research, but it's down to you now to do the best for the puppy and make sure it goes to a good home. Contact Dogs Trust. Please don't go back to the person you got it from - they are clearly incredibly dodgy!

Don't let all the snippy comments get to you feeling. I don't think it's particularly helpful when that's not what you have posted about.

If you do think that maybe you haven't bought from a breeder who would take them back I would work on getting them rehomed through a charity like everyone has suggested. A little puppy will get rehomed very quickly I'm sure.

When I say shop, it's listed as a shop but it didn't look like a shop. Very hard to explain without seeing it. All I saw, was: inside there were four decently sized living quarters with water. There were only two of these inhabited with pups: 4 labs and 3 Yorkshire terriers (in a separate living quarter). The room was clean and warm, there was no till or other animal products being sold. There was a printer, plenty of food, the information we were given for our puppy.

I mean this man seemed so compassionate and loving towards the dogs. We were definitely fooled big time. If I'd have had any sort of inkling it wasn't legitimate I would have gotten out of there and reported the place straight away as I have done in the past.

I feel so stupid for being fooled but in a way, if it was a bad place at least the pup isn't there any longer and can have a happy life with a loving family

hopping

They are, I totally agree, but any pet shop selling puppies is a huge huge red flag.

It's ok op. Lesson learned for next time.

I hope you manage to return the puppy. How sad, but better to do it sooner than later

I have got some piriton but DS is too young I believe. It's probably not helped by me having the mom's syndrome of panicking to death. I've got anxiety as it is and when I get panicky it just tells me, stop this situation immediately!

I have DP to help me so we'll have a discussion about whether to wait or to contact a rehoming centre immediately. I just didn't want to wait too long incase it doesn't resolve and pup gets attached - I feel cruel enough already!

So much authority on"reputable breeders" even the holy reputable breeders don't all do things the same.

I totally agree that buying from a shop isn't a good sign but not all breeders so everything that MN says they all do.
They don't all insist on meeting the entire family. They don't all do a home check and a phone interview. Some are happy to hand a pup over the first time they meet a prospective owner. That doesn't mean they aren't reputable.

Hope you get it sorted OP, an unfortunate and expensive mistake. Don't be too hard on yourself.

Some are happy to hand a pup over the first time they meet a prospective owner.

That absolutely means they are not reputable

Reputable breeders usually have waiting lists for their pups, you don't just turn up and take one away like a pound of carrots

The 'snippy' comments may just stop someone else doing the same thing in future

The comments about the poor choice of breader are completely valid. Yes, it's not what the OP asked for comments on and yes it's too late for her to go back in time and change where she bought from. However, there is a wider audience than just her. Puppy farming is rampant and the misery it inflicts on the animals is horrific. The biggest red flag here is that the puppy was not seen with it's mother and was being sold on behalf of the breeder. KC papers, microchipping etc, it has puppy farming written all over it.

£500 is also a the bottom end of the price range for a pedigree lab. That barely covers the costs. There is no way both the breeder and the retailer are making a profit if they are doing everything ethically and in the best interests of the animals. At that price, and given 2 separate commercial parties are involved, corners are definitely being cut.

A cute, adorable puppy does not make up for the fact that somewhere there is a mother, and no doubt many others with her, being forced to pump out litter after litter until she is worn out and no longer able to produce and then she will be discarded.

If you want to get a dog, do your research. There are numerous sites on the Internet that will tell you what to look for and what checks to make to ensure you are not supporting unethical breeding. There are also thousands of beautiful dogs in rescue centers desperately in need of a forever home.

A shop like that is not leigit I'm afraid - you've two options to give the pup the best start.
Either book an allegy test for your son - as he may actually just have a cold at this time of year. In the mean time give your ds some pritrion and keep a close eye on the stuffy nose/eyes.
If it is an actual allergy, symptoms can reduce over time (I'm allergic to cats but got used to my daughters kitten, I no longer need antihistamines round him but am still allergic to other cats)
Or contact a lab rescue who will rehome the pup. If you give it back to a breader than sells through a front all your doing is giving a back yard breader double the money for a poor pup.
Vets cards/injections mean nothing - BYB have vet access too!
The £500 needs to be written off as a lesson learnt, sorry (which is pennies for a lab - normally 500 is just the non refundable desposit!)

Genvonklinkerhoffen I agree as each breeder I spoke to was very different each time. Unfortunately sometimes unless you go hunting for certain information it might not be obvious on what to avoid, for example, unless you go looking you might think that having a license from the council was a good thing :(

However in this situation it's done so I don't see much point in telling off the OP after all that doesn't affect the outcome. Solutions would be more helpful I think.

I am an experienced breeder and under these circumstances I would happily take the puppy back and refund you less the deposit.

This is a very unfortunate situation but you weren't to know that your son would have an allergic reaction especially as you already have a cat! Plus your son is only 4 months old, why would you take him to 'meet' the pup?!

If this breeder is unreasonable then you will have to re home but you will likely take a big hit on the money you have paid. However finding the right home for him should be the main priority not the money

Could you speak to a gp and see if it's ok? My ds was prescribed some when he was only a baby when he had an itchy rash

I was going to suggest a quick trip to the doctors to make sure that this is the issue for sure. It probably is but at least you can do what needs doing knowing you have checked all the facts out.

The good news is a cute little lab puppy will find a new home no problem with breed rescue as said above. Please dont sell the puppy on privately to recoup the money, there are so many pitfalls and usually its the puppy that pays. Good lab rescue- there will be one in your area and they can advise you on the best way forward

The dog will have to go sadly. Could you ask the seller to take the puppy back and resell him and take a sellers fee for himself and give you the remainder of the price you paid. Obviously ensure he is asking for a reasonable price. Alternatively sell yourself.

"We bought him from a pet shop attached to a house and the man selling the pups sells them on behalf of the breeder. It was very legit."

No it wasn't. That is the very opposite of legit. That is puppy farming. The dogs are bred in filthy conditions, deprived of human contact, and then given to sellers. The sellers have never seen the parents and do not care. Some sellers 'pretend' they are home breeders by selling from their house (you will not see the parents.)

You have bought a farmed puppy. A reputable breeder will always take a puppy back because they care about it.

You have simply created one more shelter pup.

I remain astonished that with the amount of awareness these days into cruel pet practises, the overflowing shelters and illegal breeding people STILL do this.

please don't send this puppy back to the puppy farmer.

Get in touch with your local vets who will put you in touch with local retriever rescue.

then report the "pet shop" to the rspca and local authorities.

Not going to berate you. You made a mistake. A good breeder would rather have the puppy back but i suspect this breeder couldn't give a fuck.

We sold our dogs litter of puppies and vetted the homes they would be going to, doing a home visit to introduce the puppy, speak to the people and see what local facilities they have, parks, gardens etc.

One of our puppies we refused to sell because we didn't think the facilities were adequate

Where in the country are you?

Absolutely the wrong advice olympia

DO NOT DO THIS OP

Thank you so much for all of the help.
Myself and DP are discussing this in depth. We're going to contact the man we purchased the pup from in the first instance just to give him an opportunity.
If we detect any hint of lack of compassion or he seems to just not want the puppy or to lose his money by giving the pup back, he is clearly not reputable and nor is the breeder. We will tell him we are keeping the puppy.
Then we will contact a rescue centre and also inform them of this man and the circumstances regarding the purchasing of the dog.

Honestly I can't stress enough that we are more than willing to forgo this money to ensure a healthy safe and loving life for this little puppy. Obviously it would be ideal to have the money but that is absolutely not our priority here. We adore animals and grew up with dogs, we see them as part of a family.

I feel terrible for this little pup and what I've put him through bringing him to a home and then having to give him to a centre but the way I am worrying my anxiety is working overtime and I'm crying over not giving the dog the best home he could have just as much as DS! My anxiety is probably playing a huge part in how I'm panicking about this I'm aware of that but me and DP are talking thoroughly to ensure that whatever action we take is entirely the best for the dog

Is the pup KC registered and is it from health tested parents - eyes, hips and elbows?

If so, you will be able to rehome it to a decent family and recoup some of the £500. If (as I suspect for £500) it isn't and you cant keep it, you need to speak to a rescue about rehoming it.

Where abouts in the country are you based, I may be able to help? As an aside, I am severely allergic to dogs and horses, but have built up an immunity to my own - it is possible.