New dog owner, help me learn!

Novice_investor101

I’ve never had a dog before, although I’ve been around my friends’ dogs for years. I live alone & have done for over 20 years. Now my work have confirmed I can work from home permanently after the whole covid disruption, I’m finally in the position of being able to get my own little dog. 

I have no family, but I know my best friends are supportive (they’re effectively my family) so I will have people to help look after it & to socialise with etc. 

I’m wanting to get a small breed, yorkie or daschund. So far I’ve seen a couple of yorkie puppies for sale & Have enquired about seeing them, advertised on pets4homes. 

I tried to approach rescues but was always knocked back because I’m a single household & there were always other families that were more suited. 

What tips do people have that I should look out for? I’m only looking at dogs that can be seen with their mothers, are vaccinated & wormed, health checked & have the papers to go with it. What other things should I look out for? I’m leaning towards a yorkie rather than any other breed. 

KxMx

I work within cat rescue and I'm really sad you have been knocked back as a single person household.
We have cats who definitely need a quiet, mature, non child household from time to time! 

Were you applying for specific dogs? 
Might be an idea (if you haven't done this already) to ask instead to leave your details with them for any suitable dogs that come up in future.

We often take peoples information and keep it on file, when there is a match it often saves advertising a particular cat and so gets that cat rehomed quicker and a space open sooner for the next cat in need. 

sheramber

Avoid online adverts. You have no idea that the what they claim is the mother is actually the mother.

Scammers are very convincing. that why they succeed.

Expect the breeder to ask lots of questions. They should want to know  where their puppies are going.

https://www.champdogs.co.uk/info/puppybuyer

Contact a breed club for the breed you are interested in. They should be able to direct you to reputable breeders who have litters.  You may have to go on a waiting list.

Bradden

Just wanted to add - Dachunds are wonderful dogs... but are known for very stubborn. House training etc can be harder than other breeds.

pinkshoes

Novice_investor101 said:

I’ve never had a dog before, although I’ve been around my friends’ dogs for years. I live alone & have done for over 20 years. Now my work have confirmed I can work from home permanently after the whole covid disruption, I’m finally in the position of being able to get my own little dog. 

I have no family, but I know my best friends are supportive (they’re effectively my family) so I will have people to help look after it & to socialise with etc. 

I’m wanting to get a small breed, yorkie or daschund. So far I’ve seen a couple of yorkie puppies for sale & Have enquired about seeing them, advertised on pets4homes. 

I tried to approach rescues but was always knocked back because I’m a single household & there were always other families that were more suited. 

What tips do people have that I should look out for? I’m only looking at dogs that can be seen with their mothers, are vaccinated & wormed, health checked & have the papers to go with it. What other things should I look out for? I’m leaning towards a yorkie rather than any other breed. 

This is really bizarre! Most people I know that have tried a rescue have been knocked back because they are a family with young children or already have another dog. They want single people or couples with no children to adopt!

My BIL is a single male and got a rescue with no issues.

Our rescue came from a small charity that rehomes very active dogs with those that have experience with similar breeds, so I would perhaps try looking for smaller rather than larger rescue organisations, as there are SO many dogs out there needing homes. 

For example: https://www.saveayorkierescue.org/   (just from a quick google search)

Novice_investor101

Thank you for the tips. Unfortunately the saveayorkie site is based in the US, but I’ll look for anything similar in the UK. 

I’ll definitely explore the breed club. I’m intent on not supporting any puppy farms. 

Katiehound

What are your home circumstances- I mean do you have an enclosed garden? This can sometimes be a deciding factor.

Just to say that puppies are hard work.
Both dachshunds & yorkies can be very stubborn. My friend had a tiny yorkie who thought she was a great Dane! think the  Napoleon complex.
For your first dog you might do better with an older dog say 2 years+ , after the teenage rebellion phase!

very small dogs fly off the shelves at rescues.
I would concentrate on small rescues.

you don't say where you are but many small rescues have contacts / checkers across the country

Another thought is is there any where near you that would like a foster carer? This would give you valuable experience of dog ownership. Or a rescue that would like some hands on help? I'm thinking foot in the door approach......

Things to consider:
https://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/getting-a-dog

sheramber

My  neighbour had a   Yorkie called Samson , who  was ready to have a go at any other dog, no matter what their size.

Novice_investor101

I have a house with garden that is mostly enclosed. It can be easily fully enclosed by adding a taller fence to a terraced patio that an agile little dog could possibly jump over into next doors garden. 

I used to volunteer for the rspca & a local rescue, in South Yorkshire so have experience with dogs & a friend has a yorkie I’ve looked after before. That little dude was fearless but well trained! Previously I was always told by rescues that my working hours (which was fair enough & why I’ve never had a dog of my own before) & my garden not being secure enough for them was stopping me being considered. 

I’ve waited to check my wfh status at work is permanent before looking to adopt or find a dog. I’ve put my name down with a couple of local rescues too.

I’ll read up on the resources posted, thank you. I was hoping with all the stories of people putting lockdown dogs up for adoption I’d have more of a chance of adopting but nothing has been forthcoming. As I’m autistic & a new owner, the one’s I’ve seen come in through rescues weren’t deemed suitable as they had difficult early years & needed experienced carers. 

sheramber

Where di your friend get her yorkie?  ould that source be able to point you in a possible direction?

elsien

Not having a secure garden isn’t necessarily an issue if you can show you can mitigate any risks with the dog legging it. 

I’m also a single person household. Parent does dog sit but I could manage by using dog day care if I needed to. 

I’ve had rescue dogs in a flat with no garden; my current house doesn’t have a secure garden so I walk him 3 or 4 times a day instead and he only goes in the garden when I’m outside with him. Ways and means and explaining how you would manage. 

There’s a Facebook group which only uses positive methods which has some very good guides on introducing a dog into the home whether a puppy or a rescue. There’s a couple with similar names - this is run by professional trainers. There’s some stuff in there I wish I’d known sooner.