Would you buy a puppy if...

[Kess]

Imagine this situation:

There's a litter of cute pups, that seem to fit your requirements in terms of looks/exercise they'll need/size/etc.

They have been raised well, by the look of it, and seem healthy and well socialised.

The parents have had all necessary health tests. The breeder is happy to answer all your questions, and tells you that a top behaviourist has assessed the mother's temperament and recommended breeding her.

But when you arrive, the pups' mother (behind a babygate) barks at you a lot, though she stops when the breeder distracts her with some treats, and when you meet her properly later she barks at you again as you offer fuss and dances away from your hand. Eventually she warms up to you and by the end of the visit is trying to sit on your lap.

Would you buy one of the pups or not?

 

[cherryglitter]

yes i would
as you're buying a puppy you will be able to train her/him.

older dogs tend to sometimes be stuck in their ways (so to speak)

 

[KittenKat]

I probably would too, mum dog is from the sound of it doing what I would imagine mum dogs do sometimes, you were a stranger and she has young so she was likely giving a friendly reminder that she is boss when it comes to the pups

 

[tallybee]

I agree with the above x

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

I would, mum is just protective xxx

 

[Dragonfly]

No I would go to a recue home where they are free and need homes more desperately.

 

[Brookey]

nope, i would go to a rescue home. you can get puppies from there aswell.

there are thousands of dogs being put down every day because rescue homes are over run with unwanted dogs. there is no need to get a puppy.

 

[cupcakekate]

sounds like a protective mother to me, i would xx

 

[Rhi_Rhi1]

when i enquired into getting a resuce dog i was told no on the basis of having a child.. and no for having a cat because i live to close to a road.. i think these places make a rod for their back!

anyway, the mum is likely protective this is normal, because of this it isn't uncommon for you to sometimes be invited to meet the mum whilst she is pregnant/before she is pregnant (if u are on a waiting list) as they can get a bit moody and let them selves down when the babies are about... understandably tho x

 

[Dragonfly]

when i enquired into getting a resuce dog i was told no on the basis of having a child.. and no for having a cat because i live to close to a road.. i think these places make a rod for their back!

anyway, the mum is likely protective this is normal, because of this it isn't uncommon for you to sometimes be invited to meet the mum whilst she is pregnant/before she is pregnant (if u are on a waiting list) as they can get a bit moody and let them selves down when the babies are about... understandably tho x

I had a child when I got my second dog and had cats and lived near a road and the checked out my house, long as it had an enclosed back yard and a bed they where happy. Sounds like a crap home that arnt doing good at rehoming if they hold it against people for having kids and other pets.

 

[Kess]

No I would go to a recue home where they are free and need homes more desperately.

Please let's not turn this into a moral debate on breeding/puppy buying. The rescue problem is not the fault of people legitimately deciding (as is their right) that a puppy from a breeder would suit their home better at this point than a rescue dog/pup, for whatever reason. It is the fault of people dumping their dogs on rescue, plain and simple. I know of no other situation where people routinely try to make people feel guilty and morally inferior for not cleaning up someone else's mess. By the same token, we should all foster a child every time we have space in our hearts/homes/lives for a(nother) child, not have a biological child.

BTW, I don't know what the situation is in N. I. but over here no dog has been free from a rescue centre for a loooooong time, and the restrictions Rhi-Rhi1 describes are normal, especially in the larger centres/organisations. The rescues I've fostered dogs for (and all but a couple of others I've come across) all had strict criteria including fence height, working hours, the spay/neuter status of other pets in the home, age of family members, previous experience etc. and the adoption fee is normally between £120 and £150.

FTR, I have fostered and adopted dogs, and bought puppies, and will continue to do either/both dependent on the place the dog will occupy in my life, our situation at the time, and myriad other criteria such as breed (eg I'd never buy a staffy, there are so many in rescue there'd be one that suited any situation, but a longcoat chi? I'd find agood breeder).

Can people please assume the question means if you for some legitimate reason couldn't/wouldn't rescue and were absolutely certain a puppy from a breeder was the route you wanted to take...?

 

[cherryglitter]

my dad adopted a staffy and we paid about £100 to get him from a rescue home.
it's not free here either.

 

[Dragonfly]

I got mine from the south of Ireland and he was donation optional. Sorry I only gave my opinion on what I would do which is what you asked .

 

[Kess]

I got mine from the south of Ireland and he was donation optional. Sorry I only gave my opinion on what I would do which is what you asked .

No problem. I probably ranted a little in my reply, for which I apologise, I just don't want the thread that I'm gaining useful information from to degenerate into people saying people shouldn't breed dogs and people shouldn't buy puppies. I thought my OP was clear enough that the question was really whether the mother dog's behaviour would put people off buying pups, but if it wasn't at least now it should be clear.

I notice one person voted no. If you're around, whoever you are, do you mind saying why?

 

[Dragonfly]

i have not voted yet but one other said they would go to a home if you look maybe was them. If it make sou feel better I did buy my first dog who I still have, cost me a fortune, Got to see parents to. if you can afford it and have a home go for it someone else could that dosnt have a great home . remember that,.

 

[cherryglitter]

yeah that's the way i look at it. there are some brilliant puppy/dog owners out there and there are also horrible ones.

kinda like parents really.

 

[RachA]

Yes i would.

I would never buy a rescue dog as much as i hat the idea of so many dogs being abandoned as i was seriously bitten on the face by one my parents had bought.
I know you can't 100% say its never going to happen but we went to a recommended breeder to avoid this risk as much as possible.

 

[lesleyann]

I would and as a breeder myself I was told by one of the lovely people who have had one of my pups if mum did not bark at her when she came into my house she would not have a pup as mum barking shows she is protective of her litter, but obv the mum should not bark after a fuss etc..

I guess it could also depend on the breed, I have GSD's and they are none to be all bark but huge softies well if looked after right.. Just as my girl is she will let off barks when you enter my house to "warn" you of her pressence but once I have taken you to her and she has sniffed you she wants to play..

Rescues are all good and well but I would not bring a rescue dog into a home with my young child/ren we have been refused anyway for having a child.. You never know what a dogs trigger may be and my sons face/arm what ever is not about to find out.. A rescue near me wanted £400 for a 7year old dog I can buy a pup for not much more!

 

[EllaAndLyla]

I would, the mum dog may have just been a bit touchy because shes just had a litter of puppies and all these new scary people are coming in looking at them! lol xx

 

[HellBunny]

Sorry, i have to agree with DF on this, we got our dog off a website where people had to rehome dogs they could no longer care for for free. After walking around 2 animal shelters i was convinced i wasn't going to find some breeder who clearly had no idea how much of a problem unwanted dogs are, so many animals get put to sleep due to people selfishly over breeding.