Buying a puppy

[OBIC]

Just wanted some advise really as have only ever owned Burmese cats so know a little about buying on that side of things but not puppies!

We have a friend who is a dog groomer and she has suggested that a Beagle might be a good choice with kids and cats.

Just wondered what you all think with regards to buying puppies that aren't Kennel Club registered etc as obviously they are generally half the price?! In your opinion does it really matter, I know my sister in law got a labrador puppy a few years back that needed a hip replacement and the Kennel Club just weren't that interested and £5,000 later, of which only £3,000 was covered by insurance (I mean it is hard when you get attached to a pet after four months and you know that if you hand it back they will just have it put down!).

Have considered a rescue dog but they all seem to be terriers ect and with already having cats would like to have a puppy.

Thanks

 

[persianista]

I had this same dilemma. I used the quiz on the kennel club website to find out which breed went well with cats. I got a cavalier king charles spaniel. I used their puppy finder service and got ted from a breeder in biggin hill.
I looked at rescue centres but they were all terrier breeds or large dogs which was too risky with the Persians.

Beagles are hunting dogs so I would take advice about putting them with cats, although puppies usually are fine being brought up by cats!

 

[~Jenny~]

I can highly recommend a cavalier king charles spaniel...they are great with children and other pets. They love a walk but don't need loads and loads of exercise. They are extremely friendly and loyal dogs...i adore them! I currently trying to talk my hubby into letting me have another one!!

Sent via my Samsung Galaxy Ace ~ Because it rocks

 

[busybee32]

I got a boxer puppy when I still had my 3 cats and he never chased them or bothered them, if anything they hounded him and he was frightened of them.
I no longer have any cats and my boxer is now 11 and a half and still doesn't bother if cats come into the garden.
The one thing I will say about dogs is they are not as independent as cats and dont like being left alone for long periods of time.
If you are all out at work or school then I dont think its fair to get a dog to then leave it on its own.
Rescue centers normally do tests to see if the dogs are cat friendly but they do still sometimes give false readings as its not in a real home enviroment.
You will need to weigh up all the things that you hope to get from your puppy and also what you can offer that puppy.
Training is a must as is socialising, you dont want to leave your puppy at home while at work to find it has destroyed your house.
A puppy crate is another good thing to have put your puppies bed in their and he knows that when he has had too much or he just wants some peace he can take himself off in there and not be disturbed.
Jen xxx

 

[leesse]

I had a beagle and they ate quite tricky dogs to have, he dug up holes in the garden, chewed everything in the house and was very hard to train. They look gorgeous but I think you need experience, he was ok with our cat tho. After 6 months sadly, we had to re-home him as he got too boisterous with my children. He went to a lovely elderly couple who already had a dog and who have has beagles previously. I now have a tan cavalier king Charles spaniel and he is perfect, he's coming up to 2 now and we've had him since 7weeks, perfect with my children, cat and hamster lol, very obedient and easy to train. Steer clear of puppy farms, make sure the breeder only produces one litter every two years, the mum needs time to recover. And make sure you are able to see both parents with the pups. Good luck! Xx

 

[twotwenty]

I have a beagle pup if you need any advice.. I think it would be ok if the pup had grown up with your cat.

Your friend was right about them being excellent with children

The only bad traits are that they eat their own poop and you can't really let them off the lead.
I have a client coming in a sec so was just a quick reply but il be on here later x

 

[Rachelwhitmars]

I can highly recommend a cavalier king charles spaniel...they are great with children and other pets. They love a walk but don't need loads and loads of exercise. They are extremely friendly and loyal dogs...i adore them! I currently trying to talk my hubby into letting me have another one!!

Sent via my Samsung Galaxy Ace ~ Because it rocks

I recomend the cavalier king charles to my mum has one (molly) and shes so chilled out its unreal. Excellent with my friends little one whos 2 she will let him sit on her and carry him around the room! Then when shes had enough she pops him down licks his face then goes to her bed!!! She loves cuddles and she hates puddles! Ill always have one of those dogs! X

 

[Pretty Geeky]

I agree with twotwenty-beagles are difficult to train and they can't be let off the lead unfortunately. If they are off and they get the scent of something they get the blinkers on, head down and they're off. I would also recommend booking in for training no matter what kind of puppy you get especially if you have kids and/or have a busy life-it will prove invaluable in the longterm.

Have fun though as dogs are amazing to have-I'm currently trying to talk my OH into getting a second . We have a 2 year old Choc lab at the mo and he's a star!! Oh, do tons of research online too if you havent already! PGx

 

[persianista]

My Ted is a salon dog, and is superb with people, kids and other dogs/ cats. Really hates getting grubby and is a real gentleman. I'm pleased I went with this breed.

The kennel club website is superb for research, and great for puppy advice.

 

[Lunarstorm]

Hi

I would only ever buy a fully health tested dog that is KC registered. For example, I owned and show Staffordshire Bull Terriers, when looking to buy a puppy, I first make sure that both the puppies sire and dam are DNA tested clear for both H/C and L2, also I would check that both parents had a clear BVA eye exam with in the past 12 months. Unfortantly people are not required to have these tests done to be able to register a litter but it is recommended and a required in order to be a KC accredited breeder.

Different breeds will have different tests needed, for example german sheppards should be hip/elbow tested etc, Bull Terrier should have a hearing test (can remember what it is call off the top of my head). You can find out which health tests are recommened for which breeds of the KC website.

While you can never be 100% sure that the puppy you buy well be 100% healthy, you can try and make sure that the dog well not suffer from any health complant that could have been pervented though proper health testing and responable breeding.

As long as you put in the training, what ever puppy you buy would be fine with cats etc. Look at a puppy as a blank sheet of paper, what ever you put into it, deturmans what the adult animal will turn out like. No dog is born bad, it's how it has been raise, trained and treated that will ethier make it the perfect pet or a dangerous liablity. Dog should be treated as pack animals and not children, they need to know you are thier pack leader and that you will protect them and to trust your judgement.

Another thing is that dogs and children should never be left unattended, no matter how well behaved your dog or your children are. I trust my dogs with my life and don't for one second think my dogs would ever bite anyone but I would never leave my kids alone with them as at the end of the day they are animals and if one of my kids hurt one of my dogs, then they could snap at my child (natural reaction for a scare / hurt animal).

Sam xx

 

[persianista]

Lily persian beat the dog up when he gave her fleas once.........

 

[Lunarstorm]

Lily persian beat the dog up when he gave her fleas once.........

:lol::lol: I can believe it. I also have a cat, which I brought into the house after the dogs (had cats and dogs together before) and my 3 SBT's would dare push thier luck with him. Infact they are protective of him but any other cat would be fair game. It's like NO ONE can hurt THIER cat pmsl

The rescue SBT X I'm fostering does give the cat a bit of a hard time if she thinks I'm not looking (chases him) but if she knows I'm looking, she won't chase the cat and also if the cat has had enough, she runs and hinds for him !

 

[OBIC]

Thanks everyone. It has been really helpful to get the feedback.

To be honest I think some of you have confirmed some of my worries with regards to a Beagle, especially the not being let off the lead (I live close to some great countryside which would be great for walks) and the chewing.

Is interesting to hear all your feedback about Cavalier King Charles Spaniels so will keep you posted!

ax

 

[Kate1982]

I'm afraid this is a touchy subject with me. I will try keep it un-emotional. I foster dogs and personally would never buy a dog from a breeder for a number of reasons.

1. Why would I need a pure bred? I don't show dogs or compete..........
2. There are thousands upon thousands of dogs being put down every day I would always rescue.
3. The majority of breeders do it purely for the money and don't do it responsibly. Most are at best glorified puppy farms. I could give lots of examples of that but I would be off topic.
4. Most pedigrees have some genetic health complaints. As a rule cross breeds are much healthier.

My dogs live with me until a suitable home is found. I have them for a minimum of 4 weeks and fully assess them in that time. There is absolutely no reason why 90% of the public can't adopt. Even if you are set on a certain breed there are plenty of breed specific rescue centres. A lot of the pedigrees in the breed specific rescues will come with papers as people spend a fortune on their new designer dog only to give it away 6 months later.

As for your point about buying from a non registered KC breeder to be honest I know lots of breeders who are KC registered who don't deserve to even own a dog let alone breed them. As Lunarstorm said it is much more important that if you are going to buy from a breeder that you make sure they are responsable and get all the correct tests done which are not cheap for the breeder. Yes you will pay a fair bit more but again if you have to have a pure breed then you get what you pay for.

Do your research and don't be fooled by these people trying to make fast money.

And everyone remember.............. ADOPT, DON'T SHOP!!

 

[persianista]

It's a really good pouint Kate. I bought a breed because;
1. rescue centres wouldn't let me adopt as I work (this was dogs and cats, hence the persians). The dog accompanies me to work every day but this wasn't allowed by them.

2. I wanted to be certain that my dog didn't get too big because we are novice dog owners and didn't want a large dog.

3. I wanted to be a little more certain about the temperment of the dog, as we were putting him in both a cat situation and a salon situation.

4. I wanted a puppy as opposed to an older dog as it is a first dog, and we were not confident of our abilities to train or solve an abandoned older dog's problems.

I got into persians because the cat protection league wouldn't let me take a rescue cat because I work.

By the way I live 2 mins from the salon and am often nipping home during the day, I also work in my office at home quite a bit (usually with a cat on the printer trying to help send emails!)

So I do agree with you. I had significant health issues with the persians being overbred. Moggies are far healthier in my opinion.
But they are here, with us, and it's up to us to give them the happiest, healthiest lives that we can. The same often goes for dogs.

My cavalier king charles is a happy, jolly young man. The breed are prone to heart issues and are prone to getting fat (think big eyes around food!). Mine is big for the breed and quite tall. He is a picture of health though. Loves his walks in the woods, is great off lead, and is good with other dogs.
He is eager to please us, and is really well behaved in the salon.

However it is 5.30 in the morning, and he got me up to go out for a wee. He is now in my bed snuggled up to Allan as I type......

 

[Kate1982]

Unfortunately Persianista your experience of rescue centres isn't unusual. Most people when they think about rescuing a dog/cat will go to the big charities ie CPL, RSPCA dogs trust etc. They are huge charities and have very strict guidelines to follow. I know this because they wouldn't let me foster dogs because I work even though I have plenty of time for my animals and have horses so take them to the farm with me too!
But when people get turned down by these big charities that's where they stop. There are 1000's of smaller charities like the one I work with that are small enough that they take every potential owner as an individual.
My charity would have loved to re-home to someone like you who is obviously a responsable pet owner.
As for your other points again it is a mis-conception that you don't know what your getting with a rescue. I have re-homed a lot of dogs into homes with cats/children etc. As I have said my dogs live with me and I put them in lots of different situations so that I really get to know the dog.
Unlike breeders we would never lie to a potential owner. All our dogs are health checked/vaccs etc. If we don't think a certain dog would be suitable for someone then we will recommend one that is.
We gets lots of puppies in our care.
I guess the point I am trying to get across to everyone is don't forget about the smaller charites you will usually get much better service and much more personal care from them.
The RSPCA is a wonderful charity for having the legal ability to step in where needed. However I would never adopt from them.
Sorry to rant on.... however at the moment I am sat listening to a dog cry in someones back yard. It has been left in there for over 2 days the owner come out and shout at it every now and again.
It has a horrible eye infection and theres nothing I can do about it!!!

 

[Beauty Within]

Not to put a downer on this thread. I know many people who have dogs and cats and are fine, until....
My friend just had to get rid of her dog last month as it attacked the cat, The poor little fella lost his leg.
X


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[Kate1982]

As someone else has already said on this post. They are animals after all.
Dogs and cats can live happily together however should never be taken for granted that they will.
I've know dogs lose their eye from cats scratching them out. But I've also known cats turn on other cats and dogs turn on dogs that they have lived with for years. It's up to us to keep control of our pack.

 

[Tracy_dane]

I know people are often put off rescuing because they do indeed fancy a particular pedigree breed, I myself own and exhibit kc registered pedigree dogs. But I have owned a pedigree rescue puppy who lived to a fabulous old age without any problems. So if you have researched a breed you would like , Im sure there will be a spedific breed rescue you can enquire with. My breed has 9 UK rescues, often quite full of danes looking for good forever homes.

Good luck with your search for your new addition

 

[persianista]

Unfortunately Persianista your experience of rescue centres isn't unusual. Most people when they think about rescuing a dog/cat will go to the big charities ie CPL, RSPCA dogs trust etc. They are huge charities and have very strict guidelines to follow. I know this because they wouldn't let me foster dogs because I work even though I have plenty of time for my animals and have horses so take them to the farm with me too!
But when people get turned down by these big charities that's where they stop. There are 1000's of smaller charities like the one I work with that are small enough that they take every potential owner as an individual.
My charity would have loved to re-home to someone like you who is obviously a responsable pet owner.
As for your other points again it is a mis-conception that you don't know what your getting with a rescue. I have re-homed a lot of dogs into homes with cats/children etc. As I have said my dogs live with me and I put them in lots of different situations so that I really get to know the dog.
Unlike breeders we would never lie to a potential owner. All our dogs are health checked/vaccs etc. If we don't think a certain dog would be suitable for someone then we will recommend one that is.
We gets lots of puppies in our care.
I guess the point I am trying to get across to everyone is don't forget about the smaller charites you will usually get much better service and much more personal care from them.
The RSPCA is a wonderful charity for having the legal ability to step in where needed. However I would never adopt from them.
Sorry to rant on.... however at the moment I am sat listening to a dog cry in someones back yard. It has been left in there for over 2 days the owner come out and shout at it every now and again.
It has a horrible eye infection and theres nothing I can do about it!!!

You can call the RSPCA about that poor dog next door. Leaving an animal in distress is a criminal offense.

I tried many rescue place, large and small, even my local foal farm. Nobody would rehome to someone who works. It really is not easy to get a rescue animal.