Pets4homes

[williowrosenburg]

Just quickly, are adverts on pets4homes normally puppy farms? Or similar?

We can't go via a recuse as have a 4 year old. All breeders we contact have wait lists till 2022!!

Just don't want to be duped into getting a potentially poorly puppy.

Thx

If you use Pets4Homes you have to do your due diligence very carefully and know what you are after.

We have a dog we found on there. She is pedigree, with papers. On our first visit the breeder gave me enough info that I was able to look up what I wanted to know on the Kennel Club website, he showed me videos of her dam working, had a pic of the sire working on his advert, and he FB friended me so I could trawl his profile and he could trawl mine. He also home checked us; there was no question in my mind that if he hadn't liked what he found, we would not have got one of his puppies.

I was happy that he was legit and he was happy that we'd provide the sort of home he wanted.

However, at the moment, with dog thefts running at the rate they are and a lot of people churning out litters for the £££, I'd be even more wary than I was back then.

I think just be careful and check out as much info as you can.

We got out girl via Pets4Homes a year and a half ago from a fantastic breeder who we are still in touch with now.

Obviously, with the huge puppy price hikes over the last year, there are a lot more unscrupulous "greeders" out there now.

My pet and stud are both KC and DNA health tested for their hereditary conditions.
I sold my pups through pets4homes.
It’s mums only litter lots and of photos/video calls...why would you think it’s for puppy farms

We naively bought our dog through that site five years ago. We saw our puppy with its mum and dad (it was an accidental pregnancy)! She is a KCS she does have some issues but I believe this is an issues with this breed. If I had my time again I would research more and go to a kennel club breeder x

We found our girl on this site. Breeder was responsive and willing to answer all our questions, let us speak to their vet, offered up papers/family history, recommended health checks for the breed, met them in their home with both mum and dad (both family pets) present and wouldn't take a deposit until we'd got comfortable with everything. It was clear on meeting them how knowledgeable they were about the breed and how the dogs really were the centre of their world. We also got a bit of a grilling about our circumstances. We got a really good feeling about them and felt comfortable taking one of their pups.

On the other hand, we contacted a couple of other people on there who were evasive when asked questions and, in some cases, ignored questions - questions around things like the recommended health screenings for the breed - or who wanted deposits before seeing pups, offered viewings at a week or two old or withheld information we wanted that others offer as standard. Those things immediately set off alarm bells in our head and we ended all communication.

It might be an easy way for puppy farmers to cash in but there are some reputable, knowledgeable and trustworthy breeders on there. Just make sure you do your checks first.

We also got our pup on there. We did a lot of research, visited several times and saw litter with mum. Spoke to the breeders vet and still keep in touch with breeder now. Maybe we were lucky but it is possible

No, they are not ‘all’ puppy farms. However, there is a majority of unscrupulous ‘breeders’ on there, so you do have to be incredibly picky/careful if you use it.

We’ve found our pup on there, but I was incredibly picky. We joined a waiting list for a litter, we didn’t buy a ‘ready now’ puppy. We’ve been able to visit and see the whole litter where they were born, with mum. I’m confident that although our breeder is a hobby breeder, they are responsible, capable and care very much about their dog and puppies.

All good breeders of the most popular breeds will have wait lists and may not have bred at all this year. Which raises red flags for any breeder who seems to just have puppies available for ridiculous prices...

A good breeder will quiz you as much as a reputable rescue and may even be wary of selling a pup to a family with children under 5, puppies will bite and mess indoors and this is one of the reasons young dogs get handed into rescue after being bought by families with small children and babies.

Do a lot of research, don’t plan on getting a dog until next summer at the very earliest. Join waiting lists if you can.

I think the problem with Pets4Homes isn’t just that it’s puppy farmers, it’s also probably well intentioned naive people who thought they’d mate their bitch to get a litter of pups because “she’s a wonderful dog so why not?” and we’ll make a bit of cash

Well yes it may well be that she’s a wonderful pet, doesn’t necessarily make her an ideal bitch to breed from, especially if not health tested etc.

And that’s the problem and then you end up with a pup with potential health problems

What about a rescue dog from Bulgaria or Greece? There are plenty of animal charities who will rehome puppies and young dogs to families with young children.

The costs are reasonable and you’re helping out an animal in need. I have a friend who did the same and she has a wonderful dog who brings them so much happiness.

Be very wary about rehoming from abroad.

See the current thread about an aggressive Romanian rescue.

@vanillandhoney you have to be vigilant when adopting ANY dog - doesn’t mean that aggression is likely or the norm. The poor thing is likely stressed and in need of some more time to settle in.

[quote 2ndMrsdeWinter]@vanillandhoney you have to be vigilant when adopting ANY dog - doesn’t mean that aggression is likely or the norm. The poor thing is likely stressed and in need of some more time to settle in.[/quote]
Oh, I totally agree, but it's not the first horror story I've read about dogs adopted from overseas.

I just don't think the automatic answer should be to go abroad if you're not eligible to adopt from the UK.

Tbh with a young child and a cat you're probably better off getting a puppy than a rescue so the dog grows up becoming socialised and happy in that situation. Many rescue dogs are in rescues for a reason, and wouldn't happily fit into in a household with a young child and a cat. Waiting until 2022 for a puppy doesn't sound unreasonable either. It gives you time to do more research and for your little one to grow. I've always had dogs but it's hard when you have under 5s as well. I've an 18 month old DD now and an elderly dog and I wouldn't get another dog until DD is older, 6 or 7 even.

Sorry only just seen the new posts on here..

DD will be 5 in a few week so not too little. I guess we'd like to get one sooner as she's at a good age as all she wants to do is run around playing!!
I've looked at a few Romanian type rescues and a few of them also don't allow even puppies to go to homes with a small child. So that would put me off any even if they would let us!

It's so tough but I know if we are meant to have one something will come up/happen . We have an idea on a couple of breeds we like and would be suitable... just need to make a finale decision.

My top choice is miniature schnauzer but DH doesn't think they are big enough.... he wants something more like a Border collie or labradoodle.

I know someone who’s sold 3 litters on there (from 2 different bitches). She’s totally genuine and the dogs are lovely. However that’s not to say that everyone on there is genuine. There are definitely puppy farm type people on there.

@williowrosenburg

Sorry only just seen the new posts on here..

DD will be 5 in a few week so not too little. I guess we'd like to get one sooner as she's at a good age as all she wants to do is run around playing!!
I've looked at a few Romanian type rescues and a few of them also don't allow even puppies to go to homes with a small child. So that would put me off any even if they would let us!

It's so tough but I know if we are meant to have one something will come up/happen . We have an idea on a couple of breeds we like and would be suitable... just need to make a finale decision.

My top choice is miniature schnauzer but DH doesn't think they are big enough.... he wants something more like a Border collie or labradoodle.

Collies are often not recommended with small children as they can tend to herd small children.

I have seen several Labradoodles get handed into rescue with behaviour issues. They can also get much larger than their Labrador or Poodle size or inherit a rough and wiry coat rather than soft poodle coat. Very large bouncy dogs will send small children flying.

I don’t know much about Schauzers but they do like their own voice I think.

Spend this mad time speaking to breed groups. I would say 7 years plus is a better time for kids to get dogs - they’re usually getting a bit more sensible around animals and less hands on everything.

You aren't going to find a responsible labradoodle breeder. I've got an amazing rescue dog who came from abroad but it's not for everyone, you have to have lots and lots of time and patience to allow the dog to settle in their own time. For every bad story about rescues from abroad there will be hundreds of successful ones.

I agree with the above.
Collies aren’t generally speaking a good match for very little children, they can be noise sensitive as well, they are better for older children imo.

All labradoodles I’ve met have been massive, absolutely enormous dogs and very, very bouncy and intense

MN hates labradoodles. But I’ve never met a bad natured one. I agree they can be bouncy (and have varying costs and size) but trained properly they make lovely family pets

@Lululatch

MN hates labradoodles. But I’ve never met a bad natured one. I agree they can be bouncy (and have varying costs and size) but trained properly they make lovely family pets

MN doesn't hate them because they're bad natured or unpleasant dogs. Most doodle breeds are generally good natured, though quite hyper and energetic in my experience.

It's the background of them that causes "angst" on here. They're a puppy farmers dream as you can essentially take a poodle and any other breed create a "doodle" and sell the puppies for thousands.

I'm a dog walker and have never met a bad natured doodle of any kind, but none of them look remotely like the others, even if they're supposedly the same "mix" and they're all very different in terms of energy levels, intelligence, what motivates them etc, so you never know what you're going to get.

Whereas if you go out and get a labrador or a poodle, you know what it'll look like, what coat type it'll have and generally what personality it may have as well.

Sorry to hijack your thread op, but I was wondering how people would advise would be puppy owners should contact a breeder to be put into their waiting list?

We are after a show line whippet, and I’ve emailed several breeders in order to be ‘vetted’ to be put on their waiting list, but not one has replied which makes me think I’m doing something wrong.

How much info should I be putting into that initial email? Or would a phone call be better?

Sorry for the nonsense first paragraph! I mean, how do I contact a breeder in a way that makes them want to reply to me?

@Fishlegs

Sorry for the nonsense first paragraph! I mean, how do I contact a breeder in a way that makes them want to reply to me?

At the moment, I'd try to get through by phone - breeders are snowed under by enquiries. Alternatively, I'd find someone who owns a whippet, find out who the breeder was, and use them as an 'in' ('I was recommended by AB to contact you. As you probably remember, they bought a puppy from you in 20xx. We are considering a whippet puppy...')

Some breeders have a FB presence which might be another way of getting into contact.

We have Kids and a foreign rescue. We waited a while for a good match but the dig is great. Cost us £350 travel and vaccination costs