when & where to start looking for puppy to buy

marystar

as i mentioned in another post hoping to get puppy around 1st or 2ed week of october ,thats 11 or 12 weeks away .. um i read somewhere some dog breeds are so in demand you should er .. "book" your pup before he/she is even born .. we got our last labrador 13 years ago, ad in the evening herald .. drove from dublin to cavan to see him , then the farmer told us to come back in another month to take him.. the guy selling was a farmer/breeder, had 1 girl lab that he would mate with another farmers male lab to get prue bred puppies,the conditions the dogs were in were good .. my dog had all the papers etc .. but i dunno if this guy was a proper dog breeder as such...
anyway my family thinks they will just see ads in the papers .. is that the best way to go about it .. or should u contact the kennel club to tell u about local breeders ? if u buy from someone who is supposed to be a offical breeder are the dogs more expensive ?
me & my sis are trying to talk parents into getting another lab .. i was looking at shiba inus but nobody esle likes him ..
my parents were looking at beagles .. which seem cute too
so labs/beagle are not that "exotic" the way shiba was .. so should we be talking to beagle or lab breeders now to ensure we get puppy in start of oct .. (puppies should be born now or in 2 weeks or so,if they are between 8-10 weeks when we buy in oct):D

peasant

from your other thread:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=53592026#post53592026

marystar

yeah im thinking what your thinking .. but the guy in cavan was fine that we got max from ,so i dunno , maybe looking in the paper is sometimes ok.

i would think it was weird if they wanted us to take puppy straight away .. sometimes ive seen in the paper .. puppies , will be ready in 6 weeks or something like that, so at least they are letting you look at them, and not trying to get rid of puppies straight away ..
i going start looking in about 2 weeks and compare prices of proper breeders and reg people .. but i dont think anyone should be trying to get you to take the pups straight away .. i think im right about that

Tabitharose

would you consider the rescue option as opposed to buying a puppy?

jb91

I got my Golden Retriever in November. We called the Kennel Club, they put us in touch with the Irish Golden Retriever Club and they put us in touch with breeders. We got our pup in Ashbourne, Meath.

The Kennel Club told that they only allow their members to advertise through the club and that ads in the papers are almost always puppy farms.

Sigma Force

Why do you want to buy one when there are so many in rescues needing homes plenty of adult labs and loads of lab cross puppies. You might even be lucky and get a pb lab puppy in rescue if you prefer pb. Contact your local rescues instead of buying from farmers that may or may not be genuine.
At least with a good rescue you have back up support and they can tell you more about what the puppys like etc.

bullets

Limerick Animal welfare have a labrador Cross that
they found in labour that just gave birth to puppys
about a day or two ago.

If ya get in contact with them maybe one of them
may look like a pure breed and suit your needs.

http://www.limerickanimalwelfare.com/law/crueltycases.htm

~B

bernard0368

The Dspca etc have loads of recues. Look at there web site. they have a few that were rescueed from the puppy farm in Wicklow. Save one of them. We got our hound there and the staff are fantastic.

nonameyet

www.donedeal.ie is a great website to find dogs in Ireland. I found my Scottish Terrier there.

luckat

I'd always get a rescue dog, now.

But if you insist on buying one, go first to the Kennel Club and get a list of breeders. Then go to visit the breeders and see the way they keep their dogs. Only buy a pup from a breeder who has the dogs as family pets.

(Don't tell them this first, obviously!)

The reasons I wouldn't buy a dog or cat: a) inbreeding has produced animals that are liable to terrible illnesses; you get dogs with heart deformations, for instance, that make them die young, or with problems caused by their inbred shape: snuffly flu-like illnesses in short-faced dogs, epilepsy in golden retrievers, back problems in dachshunds; and b) Ireland is now so notorious for cruel puppy farms that many European breeders will no longer buy animals from here.

If you get a mongrel, you will, with any luck, get an intelligent, kind, beautiful animal, without getting the highly specialised dog inbred for particular characteristics at the loss of other characteristics.

Glowing

Yeah, there are very very few reasons not to rescue a pup or dog from a shelter .... its a great thing to do. Don't support an already overflowing industry ......

2funki4wheelz

I agree re rescue dogs. There's pedigrees in pounds too, greyhounds come to mind immediately.

And if you absolutely have to get a pedigree do all the research on any of the breeds you're looking at - potential breed illnesses, possible behaviour issues. Definitely the Kennel Club is your first port of call.


And slightly off-topic - does anyone else think the constant desire for pedigrees in new/first time dog owners is a symptom of the celtic tiger/decking out the back/new car every year mentality in Ireland? I find people who know nothing about dogs look down on my cross-breeds and are only interested in the current trendy breeds like King Charles Spaniels (2 bought in my estate in the last few months, one person got it from 'reputable breeder' who gave her a four week old pup!!!)

fits

2funki4wheelz wrote:

And slightly off-topic - does anyone else think the constant desire for pedigrees in new/first time dog owners is a symptom of the celtic tiger/decking out the back/new car every year mentality in Ireland? I find people who know nothing about dogs look down on my cross-breeds and are only interested in the current trendy breeds like King Charles Spaniels (2 bought in my estate in the last few months, one person got it from 'reputable breeder' who gave her a four week old pup!!!)

Sure 'pedigrees' are the best arent they:rolleyes:
The word pedigree even sounds a bit posher than 'mongrel' I suppose...

Glowing

A greyhound would be a fantastic choice! There are thousands sitting in shelters. They make great pets, they're calm, clean, obedient and are extremely affectionate!

Just do a search online- you'll find hundreds of articles on what great pets they make ....

www.paws.ie

marystar

Im getting a lab pup, because we did get a mutt dog years ago , he bit my sister, we had to give him away to a man that wanted a guard dog ..
& after my other lab died a few weeks ago .. it was too sad & i dont want to get a dog that we might for some reason end up having to give away .. i do want to help out in the animal shelters though .. & donate some money ..
want a lab really because of the temperment .. & are easy to train etc ..
i dont think any of d dogs i was thinking of were "toy" dogs. dont like them at all , the only one that even looks cute is the Pomeranian, but i like bigger dogs ... spending thousands on dogs is a bit stupid .. a pug is over 1000 .. but a lab in about 400 normally , maybe less .. i dont think 400 is that much if you really want it.

fits

Lots of labs on here...
http://www.irishanimals.ie/dublin_homes.html

Otherwise, contact the kennel club for some breeders.

and I wont respond to your mutt=bite comment...

Glowing

marystar wrote:

Im getting a lab pup, because we did get a mutt dog years ago , he bit my sister, we had to give him away to a man that wanted a guard dog ..
& after my other lab died a few weeks ago .. it was too sad & i dont want to get a dog that we might for some reason end up having to give away .. i do want to help out in the animal shelters though .. & donate some money ..
want a lab really because of the temperment .. & are easy to train etc ..
i dont think any of d dogs i was thinking of were "toy" dogs. dont like them at all , the only one that even looks cute is the Pomeranian, but i like bigger dogs ... spending thousands on dogs is a bit stupid .. a pug is over 1000 .. but a lab in about 400 normally , maybe less .. i dont think 400 is that much if you really want it.

You can't tar all 'mutts' with the one brush. Having a cross-breed probably reduces the chance of getting an animal with genetic defects, behaviour issues etc. There are plenty of ways to determine how agressive an animal might be anyway before you take it home.

If you still want a pedigree, you could still go for a greyhound? Extremely placid and affectionate animals.

SuzyS1972

2funki4wheelz wrote:

I agree re rescue dogs. There's pedigrees in pounds too, greyhounds come to mind immediately.

And if you absolutely have to get a pedigree do all the research on any of the breeds you're looking at - potential breed illnesses, possible behaviour issues. Definitely the Kennel Club is your first port of call.


And slightly off-topic - does anyone else think the constant desire for pedigrees in new/first time dog owners is a symptom of the celtic tiger/decking out the back/new car every year mentality in Ireland? I find people who know nothing about dogs look down on my cross-breeds and are only interested in the current trendy breeds like King Charles Spaniels (2 bought in my estate in the last few months, one person got it from 'reputable breeder' who gave her a four week old pup!!!)

Yes to a degree BUT I do think that a lot of first time owners are under the misconception that because it's a king charles it will have a breed standard personality !!!!!!!
Makes me laugh - even people who replace one dog with another of the same breed cannot get over the fact they are not the SAME - I hear it all the time.
I think that a lot of people do not realise the hard work that goes into having a perfectly rounded dog ( and I don't mean fat ! )
Perhaps they think because it's a " pedigree " it will self train - I don't know ?

Just from the amount of dogs handed into rescue because they are different from what the buyer expected leads me to beleive this.

I am choosing to ignore the stupid comment about the mutt bite - gimme a break.

marystar

not saying all mixed breeds are going to bite, but dont want to take the chance. any dog books will say a labradors/newfoundland/st bernards have gentle temper etc .. some breeds will have certain things about them, but of course all dogs from the same breed wont be excatly the same :rolleyes:

Nala

marystar wrote:

not saying all mixed breeds are going to bite, but dont want to take the chance. any dog books will say a labradors/newfoundland/st bernards have gentle temper etc ..

But if a dog was a mix between a labrador and newfoundland or st bernard you'd expect it to bite?

2funki4wheelz

marystar wrote:

not saying all mixed breeds are going to bite, but dont want to take the chance.

You take the same chance with any dog 'mutt' or purebred, I'm sure you know it's so much about how the dog is handled and who knows when a dog may be in pain or any one of a billion other reasons that could make them turn. If you're so worried about a dog biting get the smallest dog you can possibly find then it will be only a little bite.

@SuzyS1972 well said - you've hit the nail on the head about people expecting a pedigree to have a certain personality.

Glowing

Anyone who thinks a cross-breed is more likely to bite than a pure-bred obviously doesn't know very much about dogs.

fits

Glowing wrote:

Anyone who thinks a cross-breed is more likely to bite than a pure-bred obviously doesn't know very much about dogs.

In thefilm, 'the green mile', the racist prosecutor compares mongrels to coloureds (as in, as soon as you trust 'em, they'll bite) .... if anyone remembers that scene.... lovely stuff.

~Thalia~

Jesus on what factual basis do you take your 'mutts' are more liekly to bite theory?:eek:

To be honest I wouldn't put you in control of a teddy given the questions and remarks on here but if you want a pedigree dog then contact the Irish Kennel Club and they should be able to put you in contact with reputable breeders.

marystar

when i started this i mentioned lab/beagle/ shiba .. so i think it was clear i was thinking purebred ..
im sure most crossbred dogs are fine, but my story was true about the dog biting my sister.
we do want a purebred & theres noting wrong with that.
i already know there is such a thing as animal shelters so no need for patronising comments & personal insults
d topic was when & where to start looking for pups , the breed of pups i mentioned .. i know some people were suggesting animal shelter , but we dont want that
i ve made a few posts in animal forum & i think someone esle even commented , in this post or another , whenever some1 mentions they want a purebreed dog .. people come on getting angry that ur not going to the animal shelter instead.
if im drawn to a certain type of dog & wish to get that, so what?
if you want to do that its your call , maybe even i will some day in the future but not now ..
theres no point in trying to force your opinions down other peoples throat

peasant

Well ...a REALLY good breeder with a strong interest in their dogs will have you sign a contract stating that should you want rid of the dog (for whatever reason) that they will take back the dog and you're not allowed to dispose of it in any other way.

That way your dog (in the event it should bite someone or be otherwise unmanageable) will not add to the generel pound and shelter population.

I would suggest you find yourself THAT kind of breeder.

Glowing

That's fair enough Marystar, but just because you want a purebred doesn't mean you have to go to a breeder. The pounds are bursting with pedigree's too ....

marystar

personally i would like a lab puppy as young as you can have them .. i believe its 8 wks or so .. i dont think that would be in shelters .. but if anyone sees this they can let me know.

marystar

um.. & after thinking about it for a few minutes personally i would prefer it if me/my family were d pups 1st contacts after leaving its mother & pack

arybvtcw0eolkf

GUys its all very well telling the guy to go to a pound.

But in my search for a little Staffie pup I paid a visit to Ashtown pound the other evening, and came away absolutely infuriated after being treated like a complete pr*ck by one of the staff out there.

I was met by a large female member of staff with an English accent. I informed her I was looking for a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and where I lived.

Jesus I was treated like a pedo in a play ground, never again.

I thought I might get similar treatment with a phone call, so instead I decided to present myself in person :rolleyes: We live and learn, and the quest goes on!.

marystar

what did she say?

arybvtcw0eolkf

marystar wrote:

what did she say?

Lots, including beating me to death about their policy on homing staff's.

Now I could understand this if I was a teenage lad going looking for a staff, and had borne that in mind before going up and thats why I called in person rather than make a phonecall.

In fact its been awhile since I seen my teen's, I'm 41 and a member of the Defence Forces.

Anyway she directed me to dogsindistress.org (which I check daily and which my sis-in-law fosters from) and informed me that the site owner helps them with re-homing dogs and that I might find a Staffie with her (DID.org's owner) and that "she might give you one because I don't care about her policy on re-homing Staffs".. then proceeded to beat me up again about the pounds policy on re-homing Staff's.

Just incase anyone is thinking I'm living in council property and thats why she wouldn't help me, I'm not. Infact I live no where near a council estate.

Anyway, like I said 'my quest continues', but never at Ashtown again.

SuzyS1972

Just one thing
Thats crap Mairt - they do seem to have a hang up about Staffies in Ashton

Just to say proper rescues do assess adult dogs and do try their best to re-home them to the correct type of people / home

There is usually good back up with puppies too - I know the rescue I help out always take pups back should the process not work out for whatever reason.

Mairt I would suggest you try contacting Marie @ Dog In Distress - you never know
Also have you spoken to EGAR on the board about a staff ?

Blooming only takes one rude person to turn u off doesn't it !

~Thalia~

marystar wrote:

um.. & after thinking about it for a few minutes personally i would prefer it if me/my family were d pups 1st contacts after leaving its mother & pack

Have you rang the IKC?

2funki4wheelz

marystar, maybe you think everyone's attacking you but from my point of view, I think picking a dog because of its breed brings choosing a dog down to the level of picking a handbag - you want a certain size/colour/style. Of course everyone has preferences, but they shouldn't be the final deciding factor. Imagine if when people were adopting a baby they decided they only wanted a red-headed, skinny child that would grow up tall!! A very extreme parallel but you get the idea.

With dogs, you a really picking a family member. And even a really young pup still had contact with the breeder and whoever else assists them. Dogs learn some dog socialisation skills from their siblings/parent that you can't teach them so getting them younger doesn't mean they're going to love you any more - a dog will always love you if you treat it well - no matter what age you get them at. It won't always be an Andrew puppy - in fact the puppy stage is only a minute amount of the time you spend with the dog!

I'm sure plenty of people here have rescued animals - marystar I defy you to go to a pound or shelter and not have your heart stolen within the first five minutes which might make you understand why some of the posters here feel so strongly about the issue. The trend for everyone wanting pedigrees is supporting puppy farms and that's upsetting.

arybvtcw0eolkf

SuzyS1972 wrote:

Just one thing
Thats crap Mairt - they do seem to have a hang up about Staffies in Ashton

Just to say proper rescues do assess adult dogs and do try their best to re-home them to the correct type of people / home

There is usually good back up with puppies too - I know the rescue I help out always take pups back should the process not work out for whatever reason.

Mairt I would suggest you try contacting Marie @ Dog In Distress - you never know
Also have you spoken to EGAR on the board about a staff ?

Blooming only takes one rude person to turn u off doesn't it !

Yes, it often it does only take one person to turn people off.

I looked at EGAR's site, I got the impression the dogs are out in Galway?. That mean's taking time off work to travel and at this time of year my leave is getting pretty tight.

All I want is a little Staffie who like's cats and Children

Nala

What is Ashtown's policy on rehoming Staffs?

arybvtcw0eolkf

Nala wrote:

What is Ashtown's policy on rehoming Staffs?

To put it simply.

I was informed that they won't re-home a Staff in Dublin.

I was never asked was I living in a council estate, had I garden's or any of the other questions I was expecting.

Fact is I believe I'd give a dog a great life.

I've grown up with dogs all my life, as has my wife. We've two large garden's and have Portmarnock beach right on our door step.

Plus I enjoy hill walking and love the out door's.

But all that didn't matter. I could have had all that, or living in a flat in Ballymun but it wouldn't have mattered.

fits

Thats a shame Mairt, I'm sorry to hear it. EGAR is a really good rescue, and she evaluates her dogs thoroughly before rehoming them...

@OP buy a pedigree if you want to, but make sure its from a reputable breeder. That farmer you bought the last one from certainly wouldnt count as reputable..

marystar

In my opinion, its good idea to have a long think about what you want for pratical reasons aswell .. i ve read its never a good idea to get a pet on impulse .. and i would nt think it is ..
im not going to get one from a puppy farm & i did contact ikc