Getting a puppy for my aunt

iammarmite

My aunts labrador died last week. We are going to try and get her another puppy as a surprise (she does want another but can't afford one herself at the moment). But we have no idea where to look?

Either a cocker spaniel, golden retriever or a labrador.

Can anyone give me the name of websites etc? Will we have to go through checks etc- be a bit pointless coming here as the dog won't be living here and we want to leave it as a complete surprise until we get him/her.

Thanks if you can help

Fire_Fox

Please don't get anyone a pet as a surprise, by all means go with her choosing and pay but this is a living creature not a possession. Few reputable breeders would let you take a puppy as a gift anyway, you will likely have to resort to farmed puppies.

Have you considered having her adopt a rescue, there are breed specific rescues or returns via the breed club? This would be cheaper, you could then pay for a years pet insurance and maybe some of the vet care (vaccinations, neutering, flea, worm) since you say she cannot actually afford another dog. http://www.dogpages.org.uk/

Pollycat

I can't give any better advice than Fire Fox already has - so i won't.

Bromley86

Assuming you were thinking of buying a pup rather than rescuing, you have to tell your aunt. Aside from most decent breeders wanting to vet the prospective owner, the actual choice of the pup is something she'll want to be involved in.

http://www.labradorbreedcouncil.co.uk/web%20pages/Breed%20Clubs.html

Edit: Thinking about it, that first sentence applies if you're rescuing as well .

valk_scot

No, don't make it a surprise. That's not fair on the pup and anyway as has been said, no rescue or reputable breeder will let you take away a pup to give as a surprise present.

Why not make a big card with a giant cheque inside. You can get spoof cheques on the web to print out, there's undoubtably one for Bank of Dogtown or somesuch. Write it out as We O U One Puppy or something silly. Then explain you'd like to pay for a new pup for her and let her have the fun and joy of choosing one for herself. Be warned though, pedigree pups aren't cheap. Just off the top of my head you'd be looking at several hundred pounds, I think.

pinkcandyflossprincess

Id show your aunt this site maybe?
http://www.labrador-rescue.org.uk/dogs.html

there are so many poor dogs coming over from ireland, its quite heartbreaking.
maybe a rescue younger dog could be a suggestion to your aunt, as they would be able to match up a dog suited to your aunty ensuring a good match of personalities.
it may be a comfort to your aunt too if she choose a rescue dog and as an experience lab owner im sure the rescue would just be so happy if she was willing to offer a home.

zaksmum

She'd need - and want - to choose the pup herself.

You shouldn't even think about surprising her with one.

Pthree

http://www.homealabrador.net/phpbb3/viewforum.php?f=11&sid=abd37961d9d552bdf7d3510634fe4052

Or this site if your further North!

I think Duke looks like a right cheeky chappy!

Damn I wish I could have a dog

ameliarate

The RSPCA usually has a puppy unit. Much better than handing over money to people who probably shouldn't be breeding anyway.

Mojisola

Also, if she can't afford to buy a puppy, are you sure she has the means to pay vets fees, etc?

krlyr

Definately agree with not getting a surprise puppy. A dog is a 10-15 year commitment and not only does she need to decide to make that commitment herself, but you also run the risk of her not bonding with the puppy if she's not been involved in the process of choosing it. Just look at the threads on here posted by new puppy owners who've had all the excitement of visiting the puppies at just a few weeks old, getting all the puppy photos from day one and so on, it's part of the bonding process.
I know of someone on a dog forum who was on the hunt for a puppy and a close friend decided to surprise her with a puppy as a thank you gift, and the member was actually quite upset because she'd wanted to specifically find a certain breeder who's ethics she agreed with, research the puppy's parents, etc. to find the perfect dog.
Also if she's just lost her dog, although she may have pangs for a puppy, she may not quite be ready for another dog. We rushed into getting another dog because we missed having one around the house but it took me quite a few months to bond with her - which didn't matter too much with an adult dog, I went through the motions of walking her etc. but with a puppy you need to dedicate so much time into toilet training, socialisation and so on that if you didn't click with it right away it could have an impact for the rest of its life.

Can you do an "IOU a puppy" type fake cheque for her to cash in once she chooses a breeder? You could get a few puppy accessories to give her an actual gift too.
If she does go down the breeder route then the best gift you could give her is the knowledge on how to find a reputable breeder if she doesn't know already - so she can have the best chance of getting a happy, friendly puppy that won't be crippled with arthritis at 5 or euthanised because it has inherited such a poor temperament.

http://www.apbc.org.uk/articles/good_breeder
http://www.dogstardaily.com/training/how-select-good-breeder
http://www.qualitydogs.com/choosingbreeder.asp
(some of the points relate to US-based breeders but most of the advice is still applicable)