rehoming a breeding bitch

[ACavalierDream]

hello, I was about to go ahead and add another puppy to keep our existing dog company. I had agreed on the sale but eventually there were several red flags that made me pull back. Basically it is a commercial breeder with some grey areas but not a puppy farm.

The breeder took it well and has instead offered one of the breeding bitches (who is not able to breed anymore after having lost a litter) for a rehoming fee similar to Battersea Dog's Home one. She is two and I have been to the home a couple of times. She has lived in the family home not in kennels. I have no issue with her living conditions but I guess she will have some issues.

Does anyone have any experience of this?

So you weren't happy buying a puppy, but you'll buy an adult dog?! Surely I've misread that!?

Also, there's no such thing as a 'commercial breeder.' And good breeders don't have more than one breeding bitch. And they don't dump their dogs when they can't be bred from. It's a puppy farm.

Sorry, but I think you'd be mad to go touch this breeder for anything - set ups like this usually involve one thing; massively unhealthy dogs and if you buy this dog, even for a reduced price, you are financially supporting a puppy farmer at worst and a scumbag at best.

If you're happy to take an adult dog, try a proper rescue.

If there were red flags why would you buy any dog from those people?

The older is not for sale, she has been offered to me as a re-home after I turned down the puppy. The fee is a nominal re-homing one in line with other rescues, a tiny fraction of the price of the puppies.

I would not go as far as saying it is a puppy farm but it is too commercial for my liking, like a lot of things, breeders exist within a range. Lucky you if you can access the top breeders with only one breeding bitch. I have known that breeder for several years and whilst there are red flags they are not the worst ones, I would say they are yellow/slightly orange flags. The dogs are not in kennels, they are well looked after in her home, she is a registered breeder with a 5 star accreditation (I checked with her council by calling them) and registers her puppies with KC (for what it's worth). She just breeds too many for my liking.

I suppose there is a difference between buying a puppy at full price thereby participating in a commercial venture I do not like and re-homing a dog that is not wanted anymore. Heartless yes but if I don't have her, who will? What will happen to her? Can't you @Hoppinggreen @LandSharksAnonymous try to help me process it instead of berating me? What is the difference between going through a rescue and a private adoption? Same dog, same result.

@LandSharksAnonymous , I am registered with 4 rescues (including Battersea and no news from them at all). For 2 of them, they told me they would not allow their dogs to go to London and that was without checking my home set up (pretty nice if I may say so).

The particular bitch I am talking about is from a rather rare breed. I already have one of that breed. There is a rescue of that breed but their waiting list is several thousands long, another one for a similar breed I have been with for 5 years.

One last thing, with a rescue I might not know what they have been through, here I know she has had a decent life, I can just help her have a much better one.

I rescued a former breeding bitch from a puppy farm (I know yours isn't from a puppy farm). I would say you need a thorough vet check, good nutrition, lots of love and space to run around. Let her take the lead with cuddles, she may be overwhelmed at first. Provide, if you can, a bolthole with a cushion, blanket etc, that is just hers, where she can have quiet time. She'll need patience.

Commercial breeders ARE puppy farmers. They breed purely for money.

Sure. And the reputable breeders that you all big up do it for free, right? The OP's question was about rehoming. Please stop with the derail.

I would want to take her if only to save her from maybe being put to sleep or dumped coz it sounds like she’s not wanted anymore now she can’t gain money from her which is a shame and makes you wonder whether she’s getting enough love and enrichment . Every dog deserves that but if she’s just being used to have puppies she deserves it a little more .

@HelenaWaiting not free. They cover their costs and some of their time. But they certainly don’t use breeding bitches then shunt them off to new homes when they’ve made all the money they can from them.

One of our Labs was a rescue, she was used as a breeding bitch and also was shown to potential puppy buyers to try to sell illegally imported litters of puppies and pass her off as "Mum".

Aside from where she is coming from and how she may be acquired by you, which others will share their views on, I will share how we got on with having an ex breeding girl as a second dog.

She was very shut down when she came home but not nervous as such, she liked people and touch etc but was extremely hyper vigilant and couldn't seem to relax for long, she would fall into a huge deep sleep for a while then suddenly jump up and hide under the table. Toilet wise she only ever had one accident, she followed our other dog's lead and went in the garden. She didn't sleep through for a long time and it was like having a newborn in the early days! She slept downstairs with our other dog but would get a bit worried and needed to go out for a wee multiple times a night for about 7 months...then suddenly it just stopped.

Walking her in the early days was magical, she had never seen the sea, puddles, the woods, it was just lovely to watch her slowly learn about the world and how to be a dog.
Fast forward 3 years now - she is the most wonderful, loving and gentle soul who we absolutely adore. It took a good year for her to really "settle" and she is extremely attached to us and her routine, probably because she never had any stability and we know now how much she was moved around and how she was passed between people constantly so it is no wonder, really. We would have another in a heartbeat.

If you decide to go for it, be prepared to give time, understanding, patience and space, let her come to you. Don't be disheartened if she is a little standoffish, being consistent and kind will get you there in the end. You won't regret it.

A rehome for a ‘fee’ is a sale. You’re paying for something. The breeder is discarding a dog that’s ‘outlived its purpose’ and you’re the mug (no offence) willing to help.

Honestly, take the dog if you want - but I’m not sure why you would pay for the pleasure of rehoming a dog the breeder doesn’t even want. I bet if you say ‘oh if she can’t be bred from anymore so you don’t need her, can I have her for free as she’s outlived her ?’ The ‘breeder’ would say no. Why? Because even though she’s treating/treated the dog abysmally she still want to get some sort of benefit out of the rehoming of the dog.

You’ll likely also find the dog has some behavioural issues and probably some nasty health issues. Again, not sure why you’d pay for that!

Just to add, here is my lovely girl ❤️

In some ways it is kinder taking her than putting her through the stress of a rescue or someone taking her that isn't thinking it through and being mindful in the way that you are. I would ensure that they pay the cost of neutering as a rescue would have that included in their fee, even if they only pay open surgery and you sub it up to keyhole which is kinder and less traumatic. If the breeder hasn't done it I would wait until she is settled and feels safe with you.

The fact it is a bad set up doesn't mean it is the dog's fault and whilst it is a huge moral dilemma of dog's welfare vs not rewarding the breeder that dog needs to go somewhere she is wanted and will be loved and cared for. Refusing her won't shut the breeder down as there are always plenty of people overlooking what is going on and it isn't bad enough for the council to shut down. Different situation to taking a puppy imo but you will always get people seeing it strongly from each side and maybe not willing to see where you are coming from.

Great advice above from people's own experiences.

And check whether there is an impact on insurance cost as well as requesting a vet check/certificate.

What a cheek for her to want a fee from you! She wouldn't be getting a fee from a rescue if she dumped the poor thing there. By buying from her you're just putting more money into the hands of an unethical breeder. Get a dog from a rescue, there are plenty there that you can 'save' and give a better life to that are just as deserving - and you won't be funding this woman.

It's not that they do it for free - but they don't dump/sell the mother when she's no longer useful. She isn't loved, she's just been used. It's important to make sure the OP realises this, it's not derailing the thread.

I’ve adopted a few ex breeders. Generally nervy at first, but all settled with time. The opportunity to show a previously unloved dog how the world should be and that people can be kind, is a privilege. I’ve never once regretted it and they’ve never had any significant health or behavioural issues.

Thank you. Wise advice.

The ideal way to buy a puppy is from a top show club member, I agree but those people are a mafia and don't let new people in. It is nigh on impossible. Then you have commercial breeders but not all are puppy farms. It is narrow minded to say that and doesn't help people to move forward and help in making the right decisions.

This is exactly what I am thinking. I do not want a puppy from the breeder as I do not agree with the way she does things but there are not so bad that I feel the need to report her and in any case the council has given her a 5 star rating. Maybe this bitch is not perfect but I presume would be similar to any other dog put up for adoption. Anyone who managed to get a puppy from the very limited and close knit show community will not put those up for adoption. Therefore I am thinking that the only difference here is that it is a private adoption (with the risk it entails). I cannot stop thinking about what would happen to her if I don't go ahead.

In my case, which what the post is about, this bitch had a litter but she was a lousy mother and sat on them. She is certainly surplus to requirement and I don't agree with what they are doing but there we are, I can give her a good life.

Thank you. This is very helpful and ties in with what I would expect. I am so glad you managed to give her a good life.

@ACavalierDream commercial breeders are puppy farmers, and your person is a prime example of this. In my opinion, and the opinion most of my 'doggy friends' share, puppy farmers are;

• People who do not prioritise the health of their dogs or the puppies
• Churn out more than one litter a year
• Dump their dogs when they've outlived their used
• Breed purely for money. Breeding should never be done with 'profit' as the ultimate goal.
• People who bang on about their sodding 5 star council licence (which as I always say, is the bare minimum anyone should be doing for their dogs)

Oh Jesus Christ, I've just seen your update.

SHE WAS NOT A LOUSY MOTHER. IT WAS THE BREEDER WHO WAS AT FAULT!!!! The breeder should NEVER have left the bitches side - because good breeders don't. How can you believe that absolute garbage excuse from the breeder? Surely even Donald Trump wouldn't fall for this level of misinformation?!

You are beyond help if you believe that utter twaddle.

To help a dog have a better life. Just the same as rescuing really.

She'll sell her to the next person that comes along instead.

Just take her , you sound like this dogs best hope at the moment and if you have other dogs that will be a plus as she’s obviously used to living in a multi dog household .