Dog advice please.

[di]

[QUOTE=OverWyreGrower;745489]
*Sorry, climbing off my soap box now*[/QUOT

Not at all!
I knew there were several doggy minded people on here which is why I asked...I had a very brief toe dip in a couple of doggy forums and got scared away quite quickly!
The way you put it actually makes sense...I've often found SOME Pedigree Breeders quite up their own bottoms...accusing hybrid breeders of only being in it to make a buck or two...but then charge often close to or over a thousand for their ownI guess there's good and bad on both sides.
The puppy we're thinking of getting is £250...yes more than I'd have expected to pay for a cross but my guess is that once you take into account both the time and expenses the breeder must have put into letting her dog have a litter it's hardly easy money making?
Sorry it's all questions worry questions...I just know this is something major and I don't want to cock it up by not taking precautions I should...but I know also I've got to try and be rational about it and accept that whatever checks have or haven't been we could end up with a perfect healthy pup or we might not.
I suppose the dog trade isn't so different to many others...there's been a few unfortunate bad breeders/puppy farms but they're probably few and far between and I'm assuming the worst in all.(and no matter how few and far between just one is one too many)

Glutton...sorry you're dogless.How much longer are you having to take it easy for?...maybe your friend could hold onto it for you?
Hope you're well soon.xxx

[di]

I would still insist on a vet check.
She may well be genuine, but see if you can come to some agreement with her that before you accept the pup permanently you will get a vet of your own choice to check it out, and if there is something wrong with it she will accept it back.
You probably dont want to be stuck with something sickly that will cost a fortune in operations or medication for the next decade. And it wont be much fun for the kiddies having a sickly dog rather than a nice healthy one.
Its worth paying a few quid at the start for a vet to check it out.

This is what the vet I spoke to suggested...the tricky thing is,once it's in our car and then home I can't imagine it being easy for any of us to part with it whatever it's health

Whose silly idea was it to get a dog anyway?!

[OverWyreGrower]

Just another thought...with breeds which are known to have problems...do Insurance companies require a certificate to say the've been checked out?

Can be a bit of a grey area TBH. Depends what level of insurance you get as well. Some only pay out a certain amount for each condition, e.g. the limit per condition might be £2000; however, if your dog needs a hip replacement, or medication for the rest of it's life (cos of a heart condition or diabetes etc) and you exceed the limit, you are on your own. Plus, you can't change insurers and get a 'new' limit as pre-existing conditions aren't covered.

I do insure both my boys (costs me about £40 per month for both), and its mostly for the public liability insurance (e.g. if they escape and cause a crash etc). The excess on their policy is £80 per dog, and most little things are under, or only just over it, so not worth claiming for.

We've claimed once for Murphy - he punctured the roof of his mouth with a stick he found (a common injury) and it cost us about £250 (including emergency vet call out, general anesthetic and a night at the vets). Twice for Max - one was a lump removal (benign) and that was approx £300, and once when he managed to rip 2 of his nails off 2 different feet, that was horrific, and ended up being about £200 in bills.

[Glutton4...]

The whole topic of Pet Insurance is guaranteed to get me ranting and raving, I'm afraid. I'm one of those who, many years ago, paid out for a policy and was then refused a claim, so I got very rude and offensive and told them where to poke their policy. I've always paid my cat/dog vet bills myself, since then, and just been content to moan about it. Horse insurance is one thing I always pay, however, but that's slightly different purely because of the amounts involved.

As for the Pup, Di. I'm trying very hard not to rush into getting one. I'm a big dog person, and want a Lab or Retriever really, so does Mr. G. I made the mistake of looking through my mate's phone pics the other day, and went 'Aaaaaaaah' then she told me the Pup was available.

I must resist. I must resist.

[di]

So.....Bedlington terrier/whippets???

As yet unnamed but already making himself at home!!!

[Nicos]

Got to be 'Blue'!!!

...come on ...piccies, piccies!!!!

[di]

We're having problems getting our computer to load pics...have two full to capacity cameras from the summer to sort.....but...a friend of mine is particularly good with a camera and I'm sure she won't be able to resist a visit for long...I'll ask her.

As opposed to the slightly shy chap we were warned he might be for a day or two we have a little fella that's not stopped chasing the kiddies ankles since we got him home.

Also really pleased with how well he handled the journey...almost an hour and I was prepared for at least a couple of sickie moments...nothing but a little wee

[gojiberry]

We have a yorkie which had been returned twice to the breeder and she was 9 months old when we got her. She was afraid of her own shadow but over the last 18months she has been given loads of love and is getting better all the time. The point I'm trying to make is that most people would have shied away from having her, but we took pity on her and gave her a chance. She is very, very loving and we believe very happy now. I don't have insurance as I find it cheaper to pay if something goes wrong. 12 years of £20 a month is a lot of money.Good luck with the new puppy.

Ian

[Glutton4...]

That's lovely news, hope you get the piccie problem sorted soonest!

[vicky]

Well done Di, can't wait to see the piccies!

[di]

We have a yorkie which had been returned twice to the breeder and she was 9 months old when we got her. She was afraid of her own shadow but over the last 18months she has been given loads of love and is getting better all the time. The point I'm trying to make is that most people would have shied away from having her, but we took pity on her and gave her a chance. She is very, very loving and we believe very happy now. I don't have insurance as I find it cheaper to pay if something goes wrong. 12 years of £20 a month is a lot of money.Good luck with the new puppy.

Ian

I was chatting about the whole'runt of the litter' thing today....we're always told it's the one to avoid...but surely someone has to have it?!?!

There weren't any obvious runts in this litter...a couple that looked a bit bigger and a couple that looked a bit smaller(due to being crosses I guess)...but watching them play(and we did for nearly an hour)they were all as forward as each other.
? was one of the smaller ones...partly because of size but also he was one of the few rough coated....he certainly doesn't seem reserved!

We're now being strong....and it's hard...he's been put to bed as he kept trying to curl up on me to sleep...he's making it known he doesn't like it...I never did manage the 'let them cry' approach with the kids so at the moment it's tougher than anything...but I know if we give in and let him sleep on us we'll never get to sleep without him.

[di]

He's been settled for over half an hour

I've spent that half hour reading up and apparently each time he wakes quietly carry him outside to do a wee...praise if he does but then return him to bed with very little stimulation...really is going to be like having a third babe!

Already wouldn't change him for the world...but still can't agree on a name

[Liza]

I had springers when I was younger they were working dogs had no problems, never aggresive very easy to train never needed a lead.

When I had my son I opted for a black lab called Bea, she was hip scored etc (She is now 14 years old) has a bit of arthritis. Soft as anything, she used to play football with the rabbit. Easy to train no lead needed, all she wants to do is please you.


Now as the kids are older I have a 6 yr old bitch (Holly) and 10week old boy (Alfie) JR Terriers. Holly training was a lot harder, she is 90 % obedient but that 10% instinct means I would never let her off the lead. She is fearless and stubbornbut wouldn't have her any other way. So being a glutton for punishment I got Alfie who is adorable at the moment.

I think its important you read up on the breeds and understand their different characteristics and accept them.

With insurance, I insure for the first year then put the same amount into a separate account each month for future vets bills.


Go on G4 you know you want to, Mr G4 can do all the work till you recover and you can do all the cuddling !

[Liza]

He's been settled for over half an hour

I've spent that half hour reading up and apparently each time he wakes quietly carry him outside to do a wee...praise if he does but then return him to bed with very little stimulation...really is going to be like having a third babe!

Already wouldn't change him for the world...but still can't agree on a name

Congrats Andi and Di, names are important especially for training.

Enjoy every moment !

[weekendwellies]

Oooo lovely, looking forward to the piccies when you get it sorted.

Re runt of litter, my cat was the runt, she was born the day after her 3 siblings! She has been through a lot of troubles during her 14 years and now has arthritis to cope with. But the rest of her litter-mates only made it a couple of years She is full of spunk and determination and still goes out every day despite all the problems she has had outside.

All this doggie talk is making me think I should see about getting another dog. This is the first time in years the house has been dog-less. Still a bit raw from losing Penny though, so will probably leave it a bit longer.