Looking to buy a puppy after Xmas. Never done it before. Where do you start looking?

[Untang13d]

Dd 16 has been v poorly the past year and in hospital a fair bit. She has researched a lot as have we and think the time is right. Where do we start looking? Want to find one from a reputable breeder and not to be ripped off. It will be our first dog and thinking of a Cockapoo.

No, you definitely want a puppy you can train. Not a rescue. But, if she’s going through treatment make sure you have them time.
You need to make sure some is with them fir 90% of the day from 4-6 months, you need to spend a couple hours a day training them during that time.
6-13 month you can leave them for a couple of hours.
Our labradoodle is now 16 months abs we can leave him for 4 hours, but he needs a good hour walk in the morning and half an hour in the evening and they need a lot of company during the day.
Look at the breeders website.

At the risk of banging my head against a brick wall.
How much room do you have?
Training will you do?
Time for grooming?
Time for walking?
Then think breed.
Then find breeder.

Warmduscher
Because anybody who has gone through what we have and is putting in the preparation and research that we are will be just fine. Most of our friends have dogs from puppies.They all vary and all families cope just fine. We will too.

@Untang13d

Don’t want a dog with history as we have enough to cope with.

Plenty of dogs in rerscue centres are there through no fault of their own, because their previous loving owner died.got ill/was evicted etc; then you can get a loved and well cared for dog with no bad habits.

The big advantage for people new to owning dogs like you is that the rescue centres have long experience of finding an appropriate dog matched to your needs and ciorcumstances in every way, and give you free advice on how to care for it.

Missing pic!

I know two sets of people who have recently (last year) got Cockerpoos. One was very bouncy but settled down quite nicely, the other is still pinging off the walls, it bites/mouths non-stop and they just don't seem able to train it in any way. I know that's on them. It's horrendous being around the second one, and I know the daughter that wanted it so much is now overwhelmed by it as someone has to be in with the dog at all times, as it's so destructive, she can't even wrap Christmas presents or do anything.

I'm sure it'll settle down, but it's more full on than I anticipated and I don't know if that's the breed but Cockerpoos seem quite bouncy, mind you, I knew a Lab puppy which was similar and after a year or two they did grow out of it.

I think it's a great idea to get a puppy if there's a teen in the house that has had issues and they genuinely can commit to it, I won't because I don't want to be stuck with the dog myself when they leave home in a couple of years, but I can see the benefit, I just forget how bouncy and crazy puppies can be!

@Untang13d

Warmduscher Because anybody who has gone through what we have and is putting in the preparation and research that we are will be just fine. Most of our friends have dogs from puppies.They all vary and all families cope just fine. We will too.

I’m sorry that you’ve had a challenging time recently.

But you’re wrong to think that automatically makes you an ideal candidate to be a puppy owner. The two things have nothing to do with each other.

underneaththeash
Husband works from home so got that bit covered.

@Untang13d

Don’t want a dog with history as we have enough to cope with.

If you've 'enough to cope with' and your daughter has been very ill this year then perhaps it's not the time to get a dog. If you're only just coping don't add a dog into the mix. You got 3 hours for walking a day free?

But you’re not putting in preparation and research.

Warmduscher
We’ll suck it up and handle it, the same as countless other families do.

It’ll be hard but we’ve done hard in spades.

@Untang13d

underneaththeash Husband works from home so got that bit covered.

Surely when he’s at home he’s working though? Not training a puppy?

Yes we do have 3 hours walking free.

@Untang13d

Warmduscher We’ll suck it up and handle it, the same as countless other families do.

It’ll be hard but we’ve done hard in spades.

Is that all you have to offer a puppy? You’ll suck it up and handle it? That’s not a very enticing package, I have to say.

We are putting in preparation and research.

Husband can be fluid with his job and dd will be sharing the load. Me too.

My family had mini schnauzers for years, yes they can tend be gobby and have an opinion on everything but can be trained out of it quite easily. They were fabulous family dogs and could take as much or as little exercise as could be offered in a day and were fantastic members of our family, well socialised with other dogs, cats, horses, chickens, children. My life doesn’t currently suit a dog (young kids and limited time) but if I were looking for a dog I’d definitely give mini schnauzers more consideration.

Nope not all we have to offer but in response to being accused of not being up to coping with the challenges of a puppy.

@OnwardsAndSideways1

I know two sets of people who have recently (last year) got Cockerpoos. One was very bouncy but settled down quite nicely, the other is still pinging off the walls, it bites/mouths non-stop and they just don't seem able to train it in any way. I know that's on them. It's horrendous being around the second one, and I know the daughter that wanted it so much is now overwhelmed by it as someone has to be in with the dog at all times, as it's so destructive, she can't even wrap Christmas presents or do anything.

I'm sure it'll settle down, but it's more full on than I anticipated and I don't know if that's the breed but Cockerpoos seem quite bouncy, mind you, I knew a Lab puppy which was similar and after a year or two they did grow out of it.

I think it's a great idea to get a puppy if there's a teen in the house that has had issues and they genuinely can commit to it, I won't because I don't want to be stuck with the dog myself when they leave home in a couple of years, but I can see the benefit, I just forget how bouncy and crazy puppies can be!

My dog trainer says cockapoos are completely pot luck when it comes to temperament. He says you just cannot predict which traits any individual CP will inherit and some of them get all the shit ones. Coupled with inexperienced first time dog owners - they make him a lot of money.

You just repeating that you’ve research and yet managed not to know anything about puppy farms doesn’t inspire much confidence.

You need to look at wolfiefan’s list. She is very knowledgable about this. What do you have to offer apart from saying you’ve been through some challenges recently?

@Untang13d

Don’t want a cockerpoo because it’s trendy but because we’ve started researching breeds and it’s the breed a few people we know have and feel it would suit our needs.

How would it suit your needs? Given it can literally turn out anywhere between poodle and cocker?...

I find most of them aren’t the best temperament tbh, it seems to magnify certain traits that are a little bit present in both breeds and they’re often nervy and have separation anxiety... and I notice quite a lot going through rescues with very severe resource guarding issues and a severe bite history.

Curly coated breeds are not my thing - I’m not prepared to spend more time and money on a dog’s hair than mine and stuff pulling half a tree off them after a quick walk in the woods, but if they were what I was looking for, I’d go straight poodle. That way you know what you’re getting and while you do get lots of dodgy pedigree breeders too - at least decent ones of those do actually exist.

Warmduscher
Still researching and now know more about puppy farms as was some of the point of the thread so worry not.

@Untang13d

Warmduscher Still researching and now know more about puppy farms as was some of the point of the thread so worry not.

You really think you know more about puppy farms from the little you’ve been told on this thread?

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

Also would you consider a retired greyhound.? No history as such and very easy dogs to own , chilled and calm and don't need loads of walks

This is my plan when we have room in our life for a dog.

Our last dog was a retired racing greyhound, an absolute gentleman with a wonderful nature.

And still no answer to pp’s questions about what it is you can offer a puppy?

Most replies tend to be get a rescue dog.
I see you like the idea of a Cockerpoo.
I know nothing about breeders but we have a Cavapoo and she is amazing.