Puppy Advice (merged)

Paparika

ok i bought some neutrodol gel, and its starting to smell better in the house,

dog smells better too after a show and a small amount of baby shampoo

got some bicarb and shake and vac, but will wait till the weekend and get OH to have pup overnight

minihay

Some advice needed please - we are going to look at a border terrier puppy on Sunday who will hopefully become our family pet but my Mum says I should be suspicious because she's seven months old and hasn't gone yet. The advert said she was 20 weeks and when I phoned the owner said that a couple of people hadn't turned up so this could explain the difference in age. We've got 2 kids of 3 & 6 and is some ways I think it could be easier not getting a small puppy as she will already (hopefully) be toilet trained.

What are your thoughts? Is it better to get a 12 weeks old puppy or go for this little dog (which I've kinda fallen in love with)

Thanks Hayley

oneandonlyboy

Hi,

There could be a few reason, like the current owners cant afford the pup anymore, its too much for them to look after. I would see the pup and look how it interacts with you, your children and take it from there.

I think it would be good to go and check the pup out and take it from there. All animals need a chance.

wuno

You say you are buying it from the "owner". Do you mean "breeder". Have you seen the mother?

Has it got a vaccination card stamped by a vet with the breeder's name on it?

If the person selling it is not the breeder, ask for the breeder's contact details and speak to them to confirm the person who has the pup is the person the breeder sold it to. They may not want to keep it for all sorts of reasons (e.g. the current economic problems are leaving some pet owners with no choice but to give up their pet) but then you should be paying much less for it than they did.

Dogs do get stolen. If anything sounds suspicious or doesn't add up. Walk, and inform the police.

Having said all that, sometimes breeders find it difficult to shift runty pups that don't meet the breed standards (one of my cats was 6 months old when I got her. No one wanted her because she was a bit spotty and had a shorter than accepable tail).

Alternatively, the pup may have been sent back to the breeder because the person who originally bought it couldn't cope. That's probably not the pup's fault.

If you do buy a pup that's this age that hasn't left the nest, it may have socialisation issues that need to be dealt with ASAP. Get specialist advice from your vet or dog training expert, because such issues can lead to problems in the future if not dealt with - which is easier done early rather than late.

daisykinn1

minihay wrote: »

Some advice needed please - we are going to look at a border terrier puppy on Sunday who will hopefully become our family pet but my Mum says I should be suspicious because she's seven months old and hasn't gone yet. The advert said she was 20 weeks and when I phoned the owner said that a couple of people hadn't turned up so this could explain the difference in age. We've got 2 kids of 3 & 6 and is some ways I think it could be easier not getting a small puppy as she will already (hopefully) be toilet trained.

What are your thoughts? Is it better to get a 12 weeks old puppy or go for this little dog (which I've kinda fallen in love with)

Thanks Hayley

Awh good choice on the breed, I have a border too and he's fantastic!!

Is this breeder registered with the kennel club or were the puppies a result of an accident? I would be suspicious about the 20 weeks/7 months difference, that's quite a leap and the explanation isn't really logical. My dog isn't 7 months yet and we've had him since the end of January so surely someone else would have taken the dog by now??!

If this person isn't a proper breeder she may have just changed her mind about keeping the puppy...but she should be honest. Make a few visits, meet the parents, and ask to see his vaccination certificates. If it is a professional breeder then 6 weeks free insurance is usually included.

minihay

I think it's the breeder - the puppy is still with it's Mum so it might be really cruel to take it away from her now - I don't want to take a puppy home that's going to be really upset but then a friend said that that's life and she'll get used to it.

She hasn't had any vaccinations because she hasn't left the farm but I rang a vets who said that this isn't too unusual and they can do the course for £24 so not too bad. She's not KC registered but I'm not really bothered about that and she is for sale at half the price of other border's I've been looking at - also she's black and very pretty.

Thanks for all your advice - the thing is I know if we go on Sunday I'm gonna fall in love - I'll let you know how I get on :j

Smashing

The farm?
Half price?

You sure you're not supporting a puppy farm?

minihay

That's what my Mum said - they have a website address which doesn't look like a puppy farm and they don't have any other border pups for sale - but will find out on Sunday - here's hoping not

TAG

We have a 17 week old puppy who appears to have become a bit picky when it comes to her food. Over the last week or so I've been putting down her usual puppy food and she has left it and left it until she's obviously got so hungry that she's finally eaten it. Trouble is that she's down to having barely a can a day when the guide says that she should be on roughly 2 cans for her eventual size.

She's otherwise fine. Still playing, happy on her walks, looks healthy, nice shiny coat etc.

DH has a habit of giving her tipbits. Toast, biscuits, bread, sausages etc. He thinks it's fine to do it no matter how much I tell him not to. Caught him last week giving her the spag bol left overs complete with pasta.:eek: And, on 2 occassions I've caught her stealing left over stirfry from the bin and last night she was after the leftover lasagne.

I only give her doggie treats when we're out on walks, for training purposes. Or she enjoys the odd pig ear once a week as a treat. I have on 2 or 3 occasions allowed her to have the left over roast chicken and veggies but that's it.

I'm suspecting that she rather enjoys the 'naughty' food much more than her usual food which is what has caused this pickieness. If there's food in her bowl she'll walk past sniff it and then leave it until as I say she's so hungry she has no choice.

I've told DH that she's not eating her food and that he must stop the extra's he gives her. I am happy to use the cruel to be kind method IYSWIM as in just give her her food and nothing else if that's the correct way to go.

So I just wanted your advice really on the best thing to do.

daisykinn1

minihay wrote: »

I think it's the breeder - the puppy is still with it's Mum so it might be really cruel to take it away from her now - I don't want to take a puppy home that's going to be really upset but then a friend said that that's life and she'll get used to it.

She hasn't had any vaccinations because she hasn't left the farm but I rang a vets who said that this isn't too unusual and they can do the course for £24 so not too bad. She's not KC registered but I'm not really bothered about that and she is for sale at half the price of other border's I've been looking at - also she's black and very pretty.

Thanks for all your advice - the thing is I know if we go on Sunday I'm gonna fall in love - I'll let you know how I get on :j

From my experience that IS unusual and I've had a lot of dogs. Even a half decent breeder will vaccinate their dogs! And aside from that after 7 months in the world she hasn't left the farm?! Where does she go for walks?!

Why is she half price? She may have something seriously wrong with her if the breeding is poor, which sounds likely, then you'll be paying for treatment for the next 15 years! If you want a pedigree go to a reputable breeder, if not then please try your local rescue centres. I spent 3 months finding a breeder I was happy with and I think you should do the same.

Also not many borders are black, mine started off that way and at nearly 7 months he's going more fawn, so she may be a cross.

Sorry to be aggressive but you really need to ask all these questions to the 'breeder' when you meet them and please report them to the RSPCA if it is a puppy farm.