Daydream thread... without the rose-tinted specs

jenie_2

Fully agree lir, bad dog = bad owner. I would have a house full of animals if I had the room.

Rummer

Alfie Normally I would go straight to a rescue and for every other animal we have or have had that is where they have come from. However our local rescues will not place a dog in a home with children under 12. I have found a rescue further from home that I will of course enquire at.

If it were just hubby and I then I would be content with an older dog too however as there will be a toddler in the house I want a puppy that we can raise and train in a safe, caring and appropriate way. In my mind by going through a reputable dealer we should hopefully get a dog that suits our families needs.

lostinrates

jenie wrote: »

Fully agree lir, bad dog = bad owner. I would have a house full of animals if I had the room.

I wouldn't.

choille

When we lived across the Loch there was a water spanial that used to swim across behind the boat - looked very much like a chubby poodle & was a bit thick!

You get curly coated retrievers which are lovely dogs.

I should go for a Border Collie when ole cat goes, but I like so many dogs I wouldn't know where to start. I do have a fondness for well behaved mongrels that have been set aside by their owners. I was brought up with rescue dogs. The puppy farms thing is disgusting.

phoebe1989seb

I totally agree about puppy farms being appalling - we did tons of research before choosing a home-reared litter first time round with our *Dood* as we found plenty of breeders were churning out *designer dogs* of all types under one roof.......and that certainly wasn't the roof over their own cosy house :mad:

Our breeder was well-established and does all the health checks, with her litters reared in the family home which was immaculate including the area where the puppy crate was located etc. OTOH, the breeder of our Spanish Water Dog had the dirtiest, smelliest house we've ever had the misfortune to visit, yet she is a respected breeder who also does all the relevant health checks. Tbh, we almost walked away despite our four hour drive to view the litter, but her reputation won us over

We have previously had both a dog and cats from rescue - unfortunately we had bad experiences with both, although we did have two lovely kittens a few years back, but the rescue centre insisted we took mum too and she was vicious, attacking our resident cat who was scared to death poor thing so we had to ask them to take her back. The rescue dog turned out to be much older than we were led to believe, had serious health issues (and bit one of our friends ) and sadly passed away after only a year.

I really didn't want to take the risk again so opted for puppies as I knew going to a rescue I'd inevitably fall for a cute/sad dog of a breed that I'd not researched thoroughly beforehand Far better to go in with eyes wide open, knowing full well the breed was right for our lifestyle and that we would be able to give it everything it required......

My SIL has three Rotties - personally I'm terrified of them, but they are remarkably gentle and she has no issues despite having a young step-daughter plus chickens, ducks etc in a suburban garden.....

lostinrates

Before not saying another word, I'd just like to say there are breed specific rescues. We have taken from them . (My mothers policy was to always give back). And there are also always dogs kept for showing or breeding who for what ever reason need pet homes later. It might be they have not made the grade after all or have had breeding/showing careers and their breeders would like them to live the rest of their lives in a family situation benefitting from life as a pet dog.

That's essentially, via a circuitous route big dog got here, kept to breed/show and turned out to have a health issue (resolved via surgery but obviously irresponsible to breed from her).

COOLTRIKERCHICK

just gone 5pm, and its getting dark:(:(:(.... my body clock is all to kock:rotfl:and that flipping cold is trying to raise its ugly head again:mad::mad:

Started listing again on the bay... just a load of cheap BIN's to get me back in the swing of things...

Alfie what do you think white or light oak colour windows and doors???

Alfie this is the old rayburn that was given to us, it just needs a front rail



Rozee this was the front of the house

choille

CTC - you can get a chrome shower rail from B&Q that will fit the rayburn!

Absolutely hissing it down here....still.

alfie_1

to be honest ,i think that all breeders are like a lottery. the "good" give the good a bad name too sometimes.

there was one "top" breeder who showed/won at crufts who sold pups and had a top [??] stud dog etc.
pity she omitted that this stud line had proven drastic faults [genetically] and knowingly continued to win/sell/stud... why cos her "reputation" went before her...?? it was a lottery as to wether the pup developed the fault and usually after 2-3 yrs onwards... by which time the owners loved em whatever....

i KNOW they are not all like that but just because they can show rosettes and recite the stud line backwards perched on a tightrope does not make them good.

the kennel club has a lot to answer to with regards the "makeup " of breeds. saying they only give "guidelines" is the biggest cop out ... its thier guidelines that the breeders/show'ers compete against.

i know several people that have paid stooopid money for a breed pup and have proudly re-recited its great great whatever won at crufts only for them to inherit some dreadfull weakness and end thier lives sadly.
AND i know lots of healthy ones i will add before explosions occur around the isles...;)

same applies to dogs homes but most now do do rigerous temperament tests [not infallable] but there are puppies too ?
and as LIR said there are plenty of good breed rescues that have older but no faults dogs.

all im trying to say is just because a breed commands big prices does not make it better than a joe bloggs mutt in battersea.

unless you intend to show/breed... just CONSIDER a dog that NEEDS a home.:D:D

just fell o0ff my soap box

lostinrates

alfie_1 wrote: »

to be honest ,i think that all breeders are like a lottery. the "good" give the good a bad name too sometimes.

there was one "top" breeder who showed/won at crufts who sold pups and had a top [??] stud dog etc.
pity she omitted that this stud line had proven drastic faults [genetically] and knowingly continued to win/sell/stud... why cos her "reputation" went before her...?? it was a lottery as to wether the pup developed the fault and usually after 2-3 yrs onwards... by which time the owners loved em whatever....

i KNOW they are not all like that but just because they can show rosettes and recite the stud line backwards perched on a tightrope does not make them good.

the kennel club has a lot to answer to with regards the "makeup " of breeds. saying they only give "guidelines" is the biggest cop out ... its thier guidelines that the breeders/show'ers compete against.

i know several people that have paid stooopid money for a breed pup and have proudly re-recited its great great whatever won at crufts only for them to inherit some dreadfull weakness and end thier lives sadly.
AND i know lots of healthy ones i will add before explosions occur around the isles...;)

same applies to dogs homes but most now do do rigerous temperament tests [not infallable] but there are puppies too ?
and as LIR said there are plenty of good breed rescues that have older but no faults dogs.

all im trying to say is just because a breed commands big prices does not make it better than a joe bloggs mutt in battersea.

unless you intend to show/breed... just CONSIDER a dog that NEEDS a home.:D:D

just fell o0ff my soap box

Thing is, even if you don't show or breed, lots of pups come from those makings that will not be considered 'show or breeding quality' and they need homes too. .

But agree, in many respects, dogs is dogs is dogs. Personally, if I were getting a mutt, I'd want an older one, so I'd know what it was....especially if I were looking for particular traits like non shedding. Poo cross is never going to be enough to guarantee that. (And infact there are other non shedders who I think make better family pets than poos, but don't have such cute names, )