Where did you get your dog from ?

SootySweep1

Hi
We're considering getting a dog to join our family.
I have two teenage children & two cats so the dog would need to be able to cope with this.
I've no special desire to get a particular pedigree breed or fancy mixed breed. I would prefer a puppy or young dog as I have a boisterous 14 year old daughter so something that can keep up with a teenager !
I've been looking at local rescues, as I would prefer to give a home to a dog that really needs one but they don't have anything suitable available. I am also in contact with local breeders but the prices for buying a puppy are high.
So I'm wondering how other people got their dogs ?
I'm wary of the likes of gumtree because of puppy farms.
Any advice appreciated 

unforeseen

1st from USPCA, Carryduff
2nd from Battersea
3rd from Dogs Trust

onwards&upwards

Local rescue, only way to go.

Avoid gumtree, Facebook, pets4homes and any other selling websites like the plague. 

RelievedSheff

We just happened to be in the right place at the right time when our little dog Sydney needed a new home so we didn't get him through the usual rescue centre route.

He was in a bit of a state and had been terribly neglected which cost us a fair bit in vets bills in the first year but he has turned into a lovely active healthy young dog now.

ka7e

I've always got puppies direct from breeder as I wanted specific breeds each time. I had chocolate Labs 25 years ago when they were fairly uncommon, but Labs have to come from lines tested for eye and joint problems. I had a weekend trial run with a rescue Lab, but he was too boisterous with my young children and it was mutually agreed he wasn't suitable. I then rescued an 18-month old choc female who was in a home where there was an abusive relationship and the husband was also taking it out on the dog. She was perfect for us, but we sadly lost her very young to cancer. Our next Lab was 8 months old - from a show kennel, but didn't like the show ring! We had her for 14 years and she was a gem.

I then switched breeds to Shetland Sheepdogs - again a relatively uncommon breed that rarely comes into rescue. I've had 3 puppies from people that breed primarily for showing or agility and parents have been health-tested.

If you narrow down to a breed you like there are often specific rescue groups that rehome only that breed and they tend to know the dog's history and are usually experienced with matching dogs to potential new owners.

Missus_Hyde

Prior to our last dog, we've always had Labs as well; our first came from Battersea, the second from a breeder and the third and fourth came from local people whom I knew, whose b i t c h es were having puppies.

We had four together at one time ( the eldest very old by then). Apart from the first, we've always had male dogs, although the b i t c h was the boss (the male dogs weren't bothered and were quite happy - they just wanted a quiet life, like most men!😉😊)

Our last dog was a cocker spaniel, whom we got from a breeder recommended to me by my friend. He was a lovely little chap, whom sadly we lost last January, aged fifteen and a half.

Both Labs and Cocker Spaniels (like most of the popular breeds) do have inherited problems in the breed, so it is very important to buy from a breeder who has had the relevant health tests done on the parents. All our dogs have lived to ripe ages ( average fifteen years) so it's worth remembering that a dog is a big commitment for a long time.

Having said that, I hope that you will have years of pleasure with your new family member.

Fireflyaway

Id go with word of mouth. Speak to dog owners who have had a good experience and ask for the details of the breeder. If a breeder is reputable they often don't need to advertise. I got my puppy back in December via pets4homes. Did all the usual checks but a couple of months later I was contacted out of the blue by the RSPCA! Turns out these people had been selling all sorts of pups, many of which had become seriously ill or died. My little one has also grown quite large!! Love him to bits but we are questioning whether he is even the breed we were led to believe. 

mollycat

Local dog pound. (Again   )  10 year old SBT.
Described by staff 100% correctly, (including fact she was cat friendly).
Plenty needy dogs in pound, self and family have had numerous dogs over the years and never used a breeder, (personal opinion, appreciate others will disagree).

Spendless

I dearly wanted to give a rescue dog a home. I wanted a young dog but ideally not a puppy. Was open to anything from 12 months+. We tried several rescue centres. We never found anything.  The initial place we tried , the night before we were going to get one, a chance conversation was made about the place. I checked the story out with a friend who is a vet. She confirmed that the dogs there  that came from abroad were in poor health and this often only came to light a while after adoption and that the rescue centre had been told to stop importing them (she was a vet in the same area).
After that I looked at the more traditional rescue centres. I found there was predominately 5 breeds in there, none suitable for our household or we didn't meet the criteria wanted, some for example wanted an all adult househould. Our youngest was 15 at the time. On one memorable occassion 3 suitable dogs came up on a rescue centre's webiste. By the time I'd driven the 8 miles there, they'd all gone. We'd asked if we could be contacted if a match had come in but told this wasn't something they could offer. I have no idea if this expereince is the same all over the country, or just local to us.

 In the end we did get a puppy bought  from pets4homes. They weren't a breeder. They'd just had an accident between the male and female dogs they owned (different breeds). We visited them met the pups saw both Mum and Dad and  hubby got the mongrel he'd always wanted. We are still in touch with the people we bought from plus everyone who had one of the pups. We have a facebook page for them

sheramber

5  from the breeder and two from rescue. One was a golden retriever/collie cross. He was 12 weeks old when I  got him.  The other is a golden retriever/ GSD cross  who was 2 when handed in.

You need to look at your lifestyle and choose a breed/dog that will fit in with that.
No point in getting a couch potato if you want to go for long walks but similarly an active breed who needs lot s of exercise and brain stimulation is no good if you want a dog that is going to be left at home a lot, walked round the block and ignored all evening.
Is somebody at home during the day to train a puppy? 
Most rescues will insist that a  dog is not left for more than 4 hours at a time.
 Remember it will be a 10 -12 year commitment so take  time to find a suitable dog.

 If your daughter is  active consider agility and see if it looks like some thing she would enjoy.  
Speak to reputable rescues like Dogs Trust, Blue Cross, Battersea Dogs Home, the Mayhew - depending on where you live -. as to the type of dog you would like.
if you want to say the area you live someone  may be able to recommend a rescue. One which assesses   their dogs , particularly where children are concerned.

The rescue I used is Irish Retriever Rescue who rescue golden retrievers and their crosses from Ireland and UK.  All he dogs are all placed in foster homes for assessment as to what is a suitable home. They are not rehomed to the first on the list but to a home which will be suitable for the type of dog it is. That could be suitable for a family, adult only home, active home, quiet home, okay to live with other animals  etc. They rehome throughout the UK.   They also give full back up for the life of the dog and have a facebook page where followers can chat.
 Other breeds will have  their own rescues  but you can find pedigree breeds in general rescues too as well as crossbreds of all ages.

SootySweep1

Thanks everyone,
My preference will always be to provide a home to a rescue dog. I'm not looking for a specific breed, just a nice natured young dog that is good with children & cats.
I am watching closely the websites of all the local rescues but dogs they will rehome with children & cats are few & far between.
I will keep looking
Cheers
Jen