Wanting to get a puppy

beth.stephenson2009

We are looking to get a puppy- possibly over Christmas when my brother is home from university as he wants to be part of the choosing process.

No idea where to look though and we obviously want to avoid "puppy farms"

Has anyone got any tips how to do this? We have never had a dog before so a little unsure

Thanks if you can help!

pawsies

Would you consider a rescue? Plenty of pups although Christmas won't be the best time to get one tbh- you'll be busy on xmas day presumably and rescues are reluctant to let them go over this period as they'll be likely to be returned as unwanted presents

Any idea on breed? Then we can advise breed traits and what to expect with your adult dog (as it will become an adult!).

Wellyboots6

I'm another vote for rescues, although you wouldn't be able to go in with a 'shopping list' and get exactly what you want. Chances are you will fall in love with something entirely opposite to what you wanted!

UKTigerlily

No reputable breeder will allow pups to go over Xmas & they will have waiting lists before breeding a litter ideally anyway, the chaos of xmas is not a good time for a new Pup to arrive on top of leaving Mum & siblings, new home, smells etc

I second/third a Rescue, they have pups all of the time but personally i'd go for something 2+

hethmar

Well, as you have never had a dog before, Im not sure it is best to get a puppy at christmas. He will be confused, you will be busy and the poo and wee will be every where.

Think about getting a mature dog from a rescue. Then you can see what his/her character is like - all puppies are cute, it doesnt mean they stay that way. With a mature dog you can tell if they will fit in with your family and lifestyle and you can immediately start bonding by walking, grooming and feeding them. Puppies are stuck at home until they are about 3 months old because of the time required after innoculations before they can go outside or mix with other dogs.

Give it a lot of thought. About 8000 dogs are being pts every year now because they are unwanted. They all started off as cute pups.

Caroline_a

I got my 2 present dogs in April/May which is a brilliant time to get a new pup. You have light mornings which are often not cold, so it isnt a problem to take said pup outside at 5am (groan) and wait until they've 'gone'. You also have the lighter evenings coming more and more, so, once the jabs are out of the way you will have nice long evenings to walk the pup. This also means less fears when strange shapes and people loom out of the dark in the winter!

heartbreak_star

I third a rescue dog. Our beloved crazy collie is rescue and she is the light of our lives.

Please, please at least consider a rescue dog. Give them the love they deserve.

HBS x

moggymutt

Go for a rescue, but you wont get one just before Xmas, waiting til after is far more sensible unless you want to end up with a neurotic pup/dog. Possibly approach the rescue at the beginning of December so that they can do the neccessary home check before Xmas, with a view to you getting one after. Remember as well that lots of puppies are dumped just after Xmas- the poor things have been bought as presents and within a few days the novelty has worn off. Also consider an older dog- I'm sure when you see them in the rescue you will realise that they are just as deserving of homes.

julie2710

I was going to suggest a rescue dog too. They have loads of pups if thats what youre after. Much better option
Good luck

krlyr

Another one to suggest maybe not a puppy. Not even from an ethics POV (I support responsible breeders, I'm not anti-puppy), but pure and simple - puppies are hard work! I grew up with dogs, never went a day of my life without a dog in the house, was always walking and doing basic training with the family dogs, but when I got my own puppy at 16, boy was I thrown in at the deepend. A puppy is hugely different challenge to an adult dog. Housetraining, mouthing, knowing no commands at all, having the attention span of a pea (and a bladder the size of one too!), the list goes on.
Many owners get a puppy and soon regret it when their house is trashed, their patience worn thin, their nights disturbed and their sanity near breaking point. If you've never had a dog before, it can be hard to look forward to the 'post-puppy' stage, which is generally what you have to cling on to if you want to survive puppihood!

Adult dogs often end up needing new homes from no fault of their own. A change in the owner's circumstances can mean even the most well-behaved of dogs ends up needing a home. One of my own only was up for rehoming as the owner was in the navy and due back to sea, but the relative that lived with her and looked after the dog during those times had moved out to her own place. Well-trained, friendly with people, kids and dogs, good health, and she didn't even charge a penny for her. In this climate, many people are losing jobs, having to downsize homes, cut costs and so on, and the dog has to go. Allergies can and do often crop up out of the blue after years of having no problems, illness or injury can make it impossible to care for a dog, there are so many reasons, you cannot make the assumption many make that rescue dogs are problem dogs.
A dog that's gone through it's puppy and teenage phase, with the basics of training in place, a good temperament and the support of a rescue, these make the best kind of dogs for newbie owners IMO.

hayleyc_2

Discover Dogs is coming up on the 10th and 11th of November in London. It's a great opportunity to meet dogs of all different breeds and talk to breeders, breed rescue and other enthusiasts. I'm sure there'll also be a decent general rescue presence there too.