Going to look at puppies

_Andy_

Why not get a rescue dog rather than lining the pockets of a breeder?

beckysbobbles1

_Andy_ wrote: »

Why not get a rescue dog rather than lining the pockets of a breeder?

I couldn't have put it better! So many lovely dogs require good homes. Please consider rescuing a dog first.

_Andy_

Eg http://www.pupsneedinghomes.co.uk/6.html

Caroline_a

This argument goes round and round every time someone says they want a dog. However, not everyone will be accepted by rescues, and some people prefer to buy pedigree pups, be it for their traits or for their looks. Or maybe they have an interest in showing and want to go down that route.

If the OP chooses to have a pedigree pup, then we should be helping her to choose a good breeder so that she can minimise any chance of future health problems.

Person_one

The Dogs Trust advice is good, but just as an aside, have you had a dog before?

Springers are seriously hard work, I'm not sure that I'd class them as suitable for first time owners (or even lots of experienced owners, I know I couldn't manage one!) What is it about the breed that makes you think they're the right one for you?

moggymutt

beckysbobbles1 wrote: »

I couldn't have put it better! So many lovely dogs require good homes. Please consider rescuing a dog first.

Agreed.

Do the same people that want pedigree dogs expect other people to judge them themselves on appearance , health and pedigree first and foremost. I would never judge a person by who their parents were, so why should an animal be judged the same way.

Treevo

moggymutt wrote: »

Agreed.

Do the same people that want pedigree dogs expect other people to judge them themselves on appearance , health and pedigree first and foremost. I would never judge a person by who their parents were, so why should an animal be judged the same way.

Dogs are not people.

Why do the rescue obsessives have to turn every thread into one of their heavily biased sales patters? Many people aren't interested in getting a rescue dog - they just want a puppy. And there's nothing wrong with that.

Person_one

moggymutt wrote: »

Agreed.

Do the same people that want pedigree dogs expect other people to judge them themselves on appearance , health and pedigree first and foremost. I would never judge a person by who their parents were, so why should an animal be judged the same way.

While some people do want pedigree dogs for reasons of snobbery, there are lots of other legitimate and understandable reasons too.

moggymutt

So we are expected to keep quiet while dogs in pounds keep dying? No can do,

Caroline_a

moggymutt wrote: »

Agreed.

Do the same people that want pedigree dogs expect other people to judge them themselves on appearance , health and pedigree first and foremost. I would never judge a person by who their parents were, so why should an animal be judged the same way.

Many people want pedigree dogs for the traits that have been bred into them, rather than looks. So if you want a dog that doesn't lose it's hair you might look for a poodle. If you want a dog that you can do some activities with - eg obedience, you might choose a German Shepherd or a Border Collie.

It isn't just about looks, I think you probably aren't aware of the multiple levels of reasons why people choose pedigree dogs over rescue dogs. Additionally, many people will rescue breeds - the German Shepherd societies are very active in rescuing dogs.

When you buy a pedigree pup you, for the most part, know what you are getting. With a rescue pup it's very much an unknown quantity. I have a friend who rescued a pup 6 months ago, wanting a small, border collie type dog. Her pup is now quite large and still growing - over labrador sized - and she is going to struggle as she has some mobility issues.

However, I do think that springers are not for the faint-hearted, or for a first dog. What made you settle on a springer, OP?