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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Talk me out out of impulse puppy purchase!

151 replies

AtomicTit · 21/10/2020 12:51

We decided we wanted to get a dog a few months ago. Did our research, decided on a lab and a local training club and agreed to wait until after Christmas before looking for a puppy. Have two cats and one ds who is 7.

I was just supposed to be having a look at puppy prices in our area.

There is an 11 week old Jack Russel girl, gorgeous but the saddest looking thing. In a metal cage without even a blanket.

Being advertised as having all her KC papers, vaccine card etc. but is being sold as she is ‘an unwanted birthday gift’ Angry

Talk me down.

I know there are many sensible reasons why it isn’t a great idea to leap in to my car and go get her. But if it’s possible to fall in love with a photo I think I just have. I know they are sharks at this age but though inexperienced I few I can handle it (joined an excellent group on Facebook recommended on here).

(Possibly relevant information - have just had a miscarriage, confirmed as complete three days ago. Hormones/emotions are all over the place at the moment.)

OP posts:
Original poster
AtomicTit · 21/10/2020 12:52

Sorry, forgot to add they said they paid £1400 for her. They are practically handing her out for free (£200) and have charmingly put ‘first come first serve’.

OP posts:
AllNewThings · 21/10/2020 12:54

Buy the wee dog! Quick before some shitbag gets her and tries to sell her on again for a higher price! ☹️ 🐶

CaraDuneRedux · 21/10/2020 12:56

@AtomicTit

Sorry, forgot to add they said they paid £1400 for her. They are practically handing her out for free (£200) and have charmingly put ‘first come first serve’.
And there's your answer.

If these people were in any way on the level, they'd be saying "much loved family pet, we will of course be asking you about how well you can care for her."

Don't let your hormones and recent loss (so sorry to hear - Flowers - that will have been heart-rending for you) do your thinking for you.

Unmumsnetty hugs and hang on in there till you can find a reputable breeder you can trust.

Original poster
AtomicTit · 21/10/2020 12:56

That’s what I said to DH!

He said I’m not thinking it through, and he is correct.

It’s my gut instinct to calm them and tell them I’m coming to get her now...

SAHM so will have all the time in the works for her!

OP posts:
BillywilliamV · 21/10/2020 12:58

Can you afford potentially high vet bills?

Original poster
AtomicTit · 21/10/2020 12:58

Spelling has gone out of the window! Hmm

Do you think she could be puppy farmed? They have claimed she has her papers but how would I know?

Have I just gone puppy nuts?

OP posts:
Original poster
AtomicTit · 21/10/2020 12:59

Yes, vet bills wouldn’t be an issue.

I thought Jack Russell were notoriously healthy? Do you think there may be something wrong with her?

OP posts:
BillywilliamV · 21/10/2020 12:59

Make that astronomical vet bills? And there is a risk to your 7yo from a stressed and ill treated dog!

BillywilliamV · 21/10/2020 13:00

I would probably go for it, certainly if it was a cat.. ( we don’t do dogs!)

fortran · 21/10/2020 13:00

Sounds as dodgy as anything and you'll end up with massive vets bills and a lot of upset.

cakeforbreakfast1 · 21/10/2020 13:00

The pup wouldn't be Kc registered it's not a registered breed. I agree getting the dog out of its situation but be careful

cakeforbreakfast1 · 21/10/2020 13:01

And anyone paying £1400 for a JR is bat shit crazy

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 21/10/2020 13:01

Don't.
Your hormones are going mad.
You have no idea of her parentage (genetics are big driver of later behaviour).
You have no idea of her early upbringing (environment also has a big impact on behaviour).
You have no idea if the sellers are telling the truth.

Breathe.

NoSquirrels · 21/10/2020 13:02

You wanted a Lab from a reputable breeder.

You’re about to end up with a JRT from some shitbags.

Don’t, please.

A JRT is nothing like a Labrador. At all.

CMOTDibbler · 21/10/2020 13:03

Don't support puppy farming by buying her. Its also illegal for them to be selling them as the only person who can sell a puppy under 6 months is the breeder

BorderlineBob · 21/10/2020 13:03

I had a miscarriage (and recieved a diagnosis that had me believe I wouldn't be able to carry a child).
We got a puppy as I just needed something to love and nurture.
I then very quickly got pregnant again and now have a baby and a puppy and honestly, the puppy is much, much harder work than the baby.
I'm very glad we have the puppy but the timing wasn't the best, if I'm honest.

Also, it sounds likely that she may be puppy farmed which obviously is not a good thing to fund but also, you will likely end up with a puppy with a multitude of problems (I believe the first 12 weeks of a puppy's life are the most important for socialising - I may have misremembered this, I have baby brain).

I'd wait and get the lab that you've researched when you planned to. A puppy shouldn't be bought on a whim.

I'm truly sorry for your mc, I hope you have good support around you Flowers

RunningFromInsanity · 21/10/2020 13:03

Head would say no but heart would do it!

At 11 weeks you are still in the socialisation window so should be able to undo or minimise any behaviour a problems.

Terriers are very different from Labradors bit as long as you focus on a solid recall from the start, there’s no reason you won’t end up with a nice family pet.

NoSquirrels · 21/10/2020 13:03

And I’m very sorry for your miscarriage Flowers

It’s most likely this ‘unwanted birthday gift’ is the runt of a puppy farmed litter.

CaraDuneRedux · 21/10/2020 13:03

I'm sure I read an article recently where a woman inadvertently bought a puppy from a puppy farm and racked up thousands in vet bills in the two weeks before the poor wee thing had to be PTS.

(Vet bills for serious conditions are horrific - our cat just died of lymphoma, and we maxed out £4000 of vet insurance in about 4 weeks!)

Scweltish · 21/10/2020 13:04

I’d get her op. I break all the rules when it comes to buying dogs. My last one was a bulldog puppy, £50 off gumtree. He was being kept in a cage under the kitchen sink. I’ve had him 6 years now and I regret nothing. I’m picking up another one in a few weeks. A shitty person I know has just had an accidental litter, they’re being sold off at 4 weeks old for £100. I’ve told them I’ll take the runt (theres 7 pups and one of them is half the size of the others) as long as they keep her with mum until she’s 8 weeks. Just make sure you get insurance for at least the first year.

icedaisy · 21/10/2020 13:05

It is a registered breed since 2016 BUT those derive from Australia and are rough coated small sturdy little dogs. Indeed people often ask what I have as they do not look predictably like a JRT seen here.

If it is a registered JRT the breeder would likely take it back, so I agree it is likely to not be, or to be fake papers.

KC JRT are fabulous little dogs but this rings so so many alarm bells I would be walking away.

Original poster
AtomicTit · 21/10/2020 13:05

The vet bills wouldn’t be an issue.

But this:

And there is a risk to your 7yo from a stressed and ill treated dog!

Has pulled me up short.

I was hoping that due to the age (11 weeks) calm and consistent training/treatment might reverse anything the poor girl has gone through, is it already too late at that age?

I’ve seen a lot of Jack Russell advertised as KC registered! I didn’t realise they couldn’t be. Also most I’ve seen are advertised as £1500 - £2000 pounds?! We are in London if that makes any difference?

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 21/10/2020 13:07

Contact a rescue about her, small local ones have Facebook groups and especially if you can donate a bit towards the purchase price they’ll sometimes buy puppies like that (if they can’t persuade someone to give them them) and rehome them properly

CaraDuneRedux · 21/10/2020 13:08

@tabulahrasa

Contact a rescue about her, small local ones have Facebook groups and especially if you can donate a bit towards the purchase price they’ll sometimes buy puppies like that (if they can’t persuade someone to give them them) and rehome them properly
That's an excellent compromise - that way she gets taken on by someone who knows their stuff, you know you've done something to help her, and you can wait and buy the lab you'd planned on getting.
wetotter · 21/10/2020 13:08

Jack Russells were recognised by KC in 2016.

But of course loads of people have not got round to registering. But apparently whoever bred this puppy has registered, however they are not doing what reputable breeders do and take back their puppies when required. It's also close to unimaginable that a good breeder would let a puppy go to a house where it was going to be a birthday surprise.

So I think there is something up with this story.

I'm also pretty concerned that they are not even attempting to find a suitable home. I feel very sorry for the puppy, and think it would be better off fostered and rehomed via a rescue.