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.)

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

Having worked in terrier rescue for a long time, it can definitely work, but frequently doesn’t.

oh op thats lovely!!

i'm so happy for this little dog i cannot bear to hear of any unloved animals and @ArcherDog i don't know how you do that jobs would be in bits!!

we got our family dog in jan and waited far too long, should have got one years ago. we are looking into a second dog now we know what to expect.

@AtomicTit if you have papers, you have breed line and breeder. Even if for whatever reason you don't contact them you can now search them, Google and Facebook etc to see if they have a breed page.

When you change ownership papers will then reveal if legit that way as well.

We went from Wales to Essex to pick up a miniature dachshund that my dd had seen on Pets4Homes.( we already had one)
We got there and he sat in my lap. His coat was dull and scurfy . His ears were full of black stuff. They obviously just thought of him as a nuisance.
Anyway, to be fair the woman let him go for nothing ( he was advertised at £250)
As she could see how much we liked him. She put his lead in and he pulled his way down the pavement to our car without looking back.
He settled in very quickly, we cleaned him up and got him on a decent diet, he's now glossy and gorgeous, we love him to bits and he sleeps on my bed.
Op, you've done a lovely thing, enjoy your new puppy

I have a rescue JRT and cats.

We always crate the dog overnight or if we go out just in case. The cats are the boss and they often all sunbathe or snuggle together.

If the cats start running around they get told off by being barked at.

I love big dogs but small dog blessings:
Doesn't hurt when they tread on you
Doesn't hurt when you get tail whipped
She curls up and fits on your lap without blocking off the blood supply
If she's being naughty when out and about I can easily pick her up, same when injured if our.

Am a convert tbh, although would have liked to get one younger when you can train them more easily/they've not had a horrid start to life.

I have 3 sight hounds and a dcat. 7 years and all good..
Congratulations op!!

Oh that's lovely op. I hope the vet check goes well.
I did a similar thing my crazy and ridiculous impulsive decision has now been here for 10 years....she dopey, lovely and we adore her.

Oh OP, I've been composing messages in my head all the way through the thread, but you are lovely and I completely understand why you did it.

Just keep an open mind, terriers, cats, small kids - it's not an ideal mix.

However, it does sound like it was a 'more money than sense' original purchase from what you've said, so hopefully the pup won't have been farmed.

Wishing you the best of luck but also know that if this isn't the right thing for your family, there's no harm in responsibly rehousing. I think keep thinking of yourselves as fosterers for a wee while yet.

Best thread. I’m so so happy for that wee dog.

But I need a photo. Badly.

Well done.

I’m so glad you went and got her. She sounds adorable. And obviously she’s staying....🤣

What absolute cunts the previous owners are. 😡

Still think what you've done is crazy, but now you've named her she's yours (longterm) and I wish you all the very best.

Well, all you've done is be lovely and give this poor wee girl a home.

I think you sound sensible enough to get this right and sometimes fate does bring you what you need.

If it doesn't work out, you can get help and you've give her a better start than the current owners.

Puppies are hard, small puppies are tenacious and can be very ankle bitey - be firm, be kind and be consistent and she'll be good as gold.

Labs are the ultimate dog and I absolutely love them but I would never own one. Small dogs have lots of plusses.

I'm so sorry for your recent loss. I hope the little pup brings joy.

Can you please show us pics, I want to see her!

For all the terriers that are not good with children there are an equal number that are great with them . My dc were bought up with my mums JRT x Borders and our patterdale x loves children , infact he loves everybody but is particularly fond of children and old people .

How lovely you are! I really hope it works out for you all hand you have lucked-out and hot yourself one of the softies.

• so many typos

Plugging in for a photo here! Wishing you a terriers lifetime of happiness x

They're fantastic dogs

I'd have been there already to save it

You’ve done a kind thing and I hope it works out but I would be worried about a JRT with cats and/or a 7 year old.

I love this story. Keep her and enjoy her. Terriers are right characters!

If you bought it you'd be supporting the puppy farm industry which is so harmful to dogs.

You sound very sensible and I hope she brings you joy. I can only be fully supportive with photos though

My JR came from pretty similar circumstances and he's a great dog. He's six this year and apart allergy pills last year has cost me nothing outside of normal dog costs. He's also great with kids, will sit and let them dress him up and is never rough with them.

Just remembered OP, my pal has a Parsons terrier and has been super, super strict from day 1 about the dog's bed being his space. Her DCs know never to go near him when he's there. TBF I think that's sound advice for all dogs, but she did say it was a terrier thing.

hahahahaha poppy is home!!

congratulations OP! you have yourself a terrier!

in 12 months time, get that lab you want! they will be great pals!

Photos will be incoming as soon as I’m allowed to post them there are now plenty to choose from.

She is fast asleep at the moment, and looks quite happy with herself tucked up under her favourite toy. I’m sure we will have some rough nights, but strangely I’m quite looking forward to it.

Hopefully everything goes well at the vets tomorrow and I’ll be calling the local training school in the morning to see when we can start going (more for me as an inexperienced dog owner!).

I was expecting a little bundle of teeth Tasmanian devil (and know that phase still may come) but she has been so sweet. She’s playful but very affectionate too. Not shy at all and almost unrecognisable to the sad little pup in that cage this afternoon.

That’s that. We are all completely smitten!

Including soppy cat who is fascinated with her.
Aloof cat is treating Poppy the same as the rest of us, i.e. completely beneath her so I think that’s her way of welcoming her to the family.

I realise this was a rash impulse, not well thought through and had the potential for disaster...but it feels completely right. I’m not woo but I feel like we were meant to be Poppy’s new family, daft as that sounds.