Talk me out out of impulse puppy purchase!

[AtomicTit]

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’

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.)

Why why why? You did research and picked a lab not JRT? If you are a first time owner don't get that puppy.

Sorry did I misunderstand? You are getting puppy and giving to rescue? If so that's amazing!

Well done OP - that's a fantastic thing you're doing. And absolutely the right thing - the rescue centre will be able to assess her and work out what sort of home she needs (without children, possibly, with experienced owners with expertise in helping pups with behavioural problems).

Your DS sounds lovely.

Want me to talk you out of it? The peeing and more peeing and more peeing and when you thought she is finally trained, she pees again - on your bed sofa etc. (thankful I had pee pads all over the place) and the nipping and pulling on leash.

Then you have vet bills because your puppy chewed everything under the sun.

But don’t despair, all this will mellow out and get better I n a year or two

A relative of mine on impulse took a JR (2 years old?) who was being advertised online as unwanted by his family, not good with kids. Relative struggling with drug addiction. Everything about it said terrible decision, but his heart said yes. Dog has now been his inseparable companion for 5 years. Lovely with our children. Goofy and adorable and barky and ridiculous, but part of us all. I actually don't think relative would still be with us without dog - his life expectancy given heroin use was pretty short then.

So, I realize this is totally awful advice on any rational level, but maybe sometimes a dog turns up for a sorrowing person and they find each other. If hearts not open for that possibility, but only for calculated acceptance of ideal characters, maybe life rather poorer. If you are aware of risks and can afford dog and related bills and willing to put in time.

I’m sorry for your loss

I’d contact a breed specific rescue, explain the situation, see if they could rehome her and offer to pay the £200 and deliver the dog to them. The best option is a responsible rescue that will offer ongoing support to the future owner and take the dog back if necessary.

Jack Russells are very ‘terriery’ terriers. They’re not a dog I’d choose for a young family with cats - I’m sure there are some that are fine with both but they have a reputation for being snappy.

Just seen you’re already doing this. It’s a really lovely thing to do and it not only gives this dog a chance but saves her from being used to churn out puppies for £££.

Some years ago when living in Bali we had a lovely golden retriever.... I went into the local pet shop where they also sold dogs... there was a long haired daschund in there that had perfected the sorrowful eyebrow look.... I so wanted to buy it to 'save it'... I went home and told my partner and he managed to talk me down from the thought.... a golden retriever puppy, 2 cats and a 'pick up and leave every 2 years' lifestyle did not make for a sensible addition of another dog.....

I think about that wee dog often and hope he found a happy home. No actual advice here... just I completely feel your conflict.

@CMOTDibbler

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

Sadly that's not true. Private individuals can sell young dogs they haven't bred as one off's, such as this pup who was allegedly an "unwanted gift".

It's only illegal to resell them under 6 months when you're a licenced commercial seller and you haven't bred the dog (or cat) yourself.

Good for you OP at least she hopefully won’t end up as a bait dog , it’s all very well saying don’t support puppy farming but it’s not this pups fault.

Any updates from the rescue?

If not I'd call some others, breed specific, is best.

Your self control has been admirable as has your offer to buy her & donate funds to the charity.

I'm dreadfully sorry to hear about your Mc & the dreadful time you've had with mc's since DS. 🌷.

Ah damn...can’t post photos yet.

Slightly surprising turn of events!

Lovely lady from the rescue called back and said that unfortunately they just didn’t have a space available at the moment. She recommended a few other numbers to call, but sadly same story for each of them.

I couldn’t stand the thought of the poor girl being sold to god knows who (because as this thread shows, it could hardly be a sensible person!) and after calling the rescue again DH agreed we could go and get her and keep trying to find a place for her somewhere/hope a space came up in the local rescue.

The woman selling her was only too happy when we called and asked if we could pick her up at 4.

Explained what was happening to DS as we picked him up, and that this absolutely wasn’t going to be ‘the’ dog, but that we wanted to help her. He agreed it was horrible and was very helpful in the mad dash around pets at home - shoving as many toys and treats as he could in the basket!

I don’t have many nice things to say about the woman we picked her up from. The house was immaculate and she was nicely dressed but very cold. The husband was angry and slamming around in another room. Apparently he was the one who had bought the pup for her a week ago but she couldn’t stand the mess/the needle teeth . Papers seemed legit.

Poor girl was curled up quietly in a clean but completely bare cage. No bed, no blanket, no toys. She offered to let us take the food (cheapest stuff available and also actually for an adult dog) and cage. They hadn’t even named her, the woman seemed to find this funny.

The photo I wanted to post was of her cuddled up on DH’s lap. She was very quiet for a while still after we got home, but as we started getting the bed/blankets/toys out she started to play and wag her tail. She has spent the last hour alternating between mine, DH’s and DS’s lap and gambolling around with an already favourite toy and rolling in her fluffy bed. Surprisingly enough she seems to be at least partially housetrained.

I’ll be making her an appointment to get checked out at the vets tomorrow hopefully. I had been trying to keep myself a little aloof but it is very hard. DS is completely in love and DH just tentatively suggested we call her ‘Poppy’.

Will still be making the donation to the helpful local rescue, whatever happens.

So a labrador and a jr - they will get on well

Enjoy AtomicTit. Also pm you

@PollyRoulson

So a labrador and a jr - they will get on well

Enjoy AtomicTit. Also pm you

Yep, enjoy your new puppy OP!

If you are in the Cambridgeshire area feel free to PM me, I work at an animal rescue and we would be able to take her.

That is pretty heart breaking how they didn't have toys or anything to comfort the poor pup. She's only a baby.

You will be keeping her though . Jack Russells worm their way into your heart.

Our aloof cat is sat on her window sill with a ‘wtf’ look on her face.

Our daft sappy cat is in the fluffy bed with Poppy occasionally wandering up to sniff him/ do that adorable bum wiggle ‘play with me’ thing.

I’m afraid my sensible decision making skills (and DH and DS) have been completely won over by this comical ball of fluff .

Now she has come out of her shell more I am starting to see this big terrier personality I’ve heard all about and which put me off initially when considering breeds,

I think I now am now quite a bit in love with the personality! She is fearless but so cuddly.

Something is telling me she may as well make herself at home...

Aww how sweet, it's comforting to know she's somewhere safe with a loving family rather than god knows where

Congratulations. Looks like she has found a new home after all 😁

Not to be a misery guts, but a Jack Russell and two cats is potentially a very dangerous combination, they are true terriers with serious prey drive.
Obviously there are exceptions to every rule, but I do worry OP that whilst you’ve tried to do a good deed for what might be a lovely dog, the possibility of more heartbreak is very high.

An 11week old Jack Russell puppy brought up with 2 cats and appropriate training should be fine.

Once you’ve had a terrier you can’t go back ! I’m looking forward to the photos and on the plus side you won’t have to vacuum up as much hair as you would with a Labrador .

@AtomicTit - pictures! I need pictures! 😆

To you this is just one dog. To this dog you could be it's whole life. Go get the dog. (If it doesn't work out I'll have - always wanted a JRT and have raised 8 dogs of unknown parentage!)

Oops! Just seen your update - well done