Where to find a puppy...

RHYSDAD

My wife and i have decided on trying to find a puppy. We have two boys 5 and 3 1/2 an are keen on a smallish breed like a pug or Westie Terrier but are having trouble finding ones that aren't scams or hideously expensive via the Kennel club. Is there a website or somewhere puppies are advertised for sale that aren't trying to get you to send money to Cumbria and they will 'courier' the puppy to you. We'd like to meet the parent/s of the puppy as well as the owners before committing to it fully. We also don't want to support puppy farms.

Any pointers gratefully accepted.

krlyr

Firstly, bear in mind that rescues often have puppies in too so that's something to consider Breed specific rescues may be worth a try, and there are some rescues who may get puppies in more regularly than others, for example Many Tears (based in Wales, but rehoming nationwide) tend to have lots of puppies in because they are quite involved in the puppy farm situation. Not only would you not be supporting a puppy farm, but you'd be helping a rescue continue to mop up after the fallout of these places!

However, well done on wanting to find a decent breeder and being wary of these dodgy ads, I think if people are going to buy dogs then they should at least do it properly and do their homework. If you're having no luck via the Kennel Club, you could perhaps find a breed club for the breed(s) you're intested in and see if they can recommend local breeders you you. If you google "westie terrier breed club" for example, the WHWTC of England website comes up. You could look into attending some shows nearby perhaps, this way you'll meet the breed (to see what you and your family think of them) and find some contacts who can advise on decent breeders.
I'd also compose a list of questions for breeders you're approaching to answer so you can rule out whether you want to support them or not. Research the health issues that the breeds are prone to, find out what health tests can be done and ask if these are done (and if not, why not). What age they breed their dogs at, what age they stop, how many litters they have. What socialisation they do with puppies (I've seen some fab setups with outdoor runs with all kinds of obstacles, to get the puppies used to walking on different textures for example - stuff you don't think about but things that will stop a pup freaking out the first time it walks on a gravel driveway or a wobbly plank of wood). Find out what support they offer if you're struggling, if they'll take a puppy back if things go badly wrong/your circumstances change in the future. Do they keep on contact with new homes to check there are no health or temperament issues that could be inherited from the parents? Things like that, a decent breeder will be happy to answer as many questions as you can think of!
http://www.apbc.org.uk/articles/good_breeder

Also remember that high prices can be for a reason - research into costs, some breeds can cost a lot more than others for genuine reasons. Breeds requiring lots of health tests, for example, breeds that are more likely to need a caesarian rather than a natural birth, breeds that tend to have smaller litters (because they'll need to recoup their costs with fewer pups) and so on - breeding done properly can cost a lot. Again, a decent breeder should be happy to explain this stuff, I wouldn't approach it with a "but why are you charging a fortune" but they shouldn't mind a genuine query on what they've put into the litter, cost-wise, if they clam up on you then be wary.

rising_from_the_ashes

Have you considered looking at a rescue - many are overflowing with dogs & pups needing homes.

An animal rehomed from a rescue will make just as good a pet as one from a breeder .....

Person_one

http://www.dogpages.org.uk/forums/index.php?act=idx

Check out these little guys in particular!
http://www.dogpages.org.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=245167

http://www.dogpages.org.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=247895

http://www.dogpages.org.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=248375

Also, Many Tears rescue in Wales takes a lot of the ex breeding dogs and their pups that are dumped by theWelsh puppy farms, they're a bit strict on their procedures I think but they have some gorgeous Lhasa Apso cross pups at the moment.

http://www.manytears.co.uk/

VeggieCatLady

I am biased here because both family dogs have come from rescue centres,all my cats are rescues and I am a volunteer fosterer for a rescue centre...but go to rescue centres! Pregnant b1tch3s get dumped at vets and rescue homes regularly, so it is worth ringing a few and making enquiries. good luck :-)

froggy27_2

I rescued a puppy and there are so many who needs homes.
I would also recommend Many tears as they have lots of puppies.. many from Ireland. And their main centre is in Wales might be ok for you to visit...

Gingham_R

We rescued a pup too. If you google rescues in your county, you'll probably find several. I just kept looking at the various sites until one grabbed my attention. You can get the home checks done so you're in a position to take one straight away when a pup comes up.

Edit - I was saving up for a pup from a proper breeder when I fell for the one on the rescue site. He's NOTHING like the ones I was looking at from breeders. He's absolutely perfect for us.

fairymoneysaver

If you are going to get a puppy from a good breeder I am afraid you will have to pay the prices. The breeder we have had 2 puppies from over the years never advertises because she has no need to, almost always all puppies are spoken for by 10 weeks old. Try the breed websites that you are interested in.
Please research the breed you want and research some more, pugs can have health problems, terrier puppies can be a handful especially as you have 2 small children, they can nip if annoyed too much.
Please do try the rescues if you want a pup, you may get lucky and fall in love with one but I have found the cuter smaller ones tend to get snapped up quickly. Good luck!

candjsmum

Not wanting to put you off a puppy, but we have had our 12 week old border collie now for 2 weeks and love her to bits, but she has made my 12 year old tough nut son cry with her nipping and biting. I have explained and he knows she is only playing but it doesn't make it any easier, you might want to consider a slightly older one who has been through that stage. It is also incredibly hard work for the first 6 months at least, and ours is now only settling in and not whining and howling during the night. I am not sure I could have coped with a puppy when my children were that age. Just a few points to consider.

merlin68

I second that, we had to rehome our puppy at six months as my kids of 13 and 15 were getting scared of him. He was only playing bless.
Your kid's would be way to young to cope with it. It's just like having another baby and with lot's of small toys around as well you would have to be ultra careful that the dog didn't eat them.

Person_one

merlin68 wrote: »

I second that, we had to rehome our puppy at six months as my kids of 13 and 15 were getting scared of him. He was only playing bless.

Going to have to bite my tongue on this, seeing as its done now. :mad: