[Closed] Buying a puppy

Whether it's been microwaved?

Check out Rogue Traders on the BBC IPlayer - they told you everything you need to know about what to look at/ask for and where not to buy!

ask to see both parents or at least the mother, if they say no, walk away.

and do what Shakey said if only for the terrier in motorcycle goggles

the terrier in motorcycle goggles

I found that hilarious too. 😆

if its a posh pedigree go through the association who will recommend a breeder

Watched rogue traders, whilst its very sad for the animals, there is a saying about a fool and their money.

People I am seeing have both sire and dam and say it'll come with 6 weeks free insurance so they seem fairly good so far

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check the pedigree (if it's a posh one) with it's association before you hand over any money

Anyone ever taken on a rescue greyhound/lurcher?

The wife is quite interested.

As above - make sure the breeders are happy for you to have a look round, especially at the sire/dam/rest of the litter. Going by the photo you posted, I assume you're looking at terriers so Hip scores etc don't really apply. They shouldn't really have docked tails these days though - worth checking...

Best advice is use common sense and take it to see your local vet asap after purchase to be checked out (and vaccinated etc).

you should ask for directions to a dogs home !

theres plenty of poochies waiting for a good home in most citys which are just stuck in kennels waiting to die 🙁

please refrain from posting pictures of cute ickle puppies, rogue traders was bad enough

[recites to self] I CAN'T BY A PUPPY

Brant - Greyhounds/lurchers make great pets, so long as you haven't got any cats/rabbits!

Minimal exercise needs, generally pretty laid back temperament. They do tend to be complete girls-blouses though and have really bad teeth 🙂

goog - I definately agree. Not a big fan of paying money for a pedigree dog when dog's homes are full.

You do need to be careful with them too though - some pretty dodgy rehoming centres around 🙁

Not terriers, well there's a little terrier apparently and I havent done fractions for a while but I worked it out as:
3/8 greyhound
1/4 collie
1/4 whippet
1/8 Bedlington terrier

I've been to dogs homes and unless you want some dog that looks like it would eat the local children the choices are limited.

I'd get a rescue dog but if buying then I'd buy from someone like my parents who just had a few litters for interest rather than looking at it as a business.

I should also add that a rescue home told me I couldnt have a dog as I would cruelly expect a dog to sleep in a kennel outside at night..... no wonder theres so many dogs needing homes.

HAng on .. it's a problem a dog sleeping outside!!?? what about all those police dogs that live in kennels in people's back gardens? Hey confused ... isn't that where they started as working dogs until people had nice warm comfy homes!? think I'm missing something.

it's a problem for dogs that are not used to it, it's a pretty big shock to the system.

true it would be a shock to those not used to it which is a fair point (although I expect most dogs couldnt care less) but the bloody kennels at the dogs home were outside and when I pointed this out I think they decided I was a trouble maker.

You definately want a lurcher? Have you had one before? Unless you can train it you will be forever going over endless fields chasing it after its seen a rabbit/hare/fox/cat etc. I'm not joking mate these are working dogs bred for hunting. I like em but unless you know how to train a dog I'd look for a more sedate 'pet' breed.

Brant - two rescue lurchers so far. Superb dogs, both very different. Check www.lurcherinkorg for lots needing homes, and more advice than you can shake a stick at.

Oxboy - Tripe. Not all of them work / hunt, which is why so many are turfed out and are in need of rehoming. Like most things in life, you can't generalise to that extent. Our first was an ex-worker, abandoned because he was slowing down at 6 years old. The most biddable dog I ever met once he figured out we didn't want him to work any more.

Our current was homeless at around 2 years old because he is a total dead loss as a worker. In more than 2 years he's only ever taken mixy rabbits, and ended down the vet after he caught a squirrel and it mauled him (I'm [i]not[/i] joking!)

Tripe? Fine ok have one, no problem, I like lurcher types I've had one. I'm just trying to highlight the potential pitfalls of the breed. They are facts unlike the rose tinted spectacled view you have of the breed. You've had 2 ex workers one was older and steadied down and probably a crap worker like the young one you have. If you had a keen worker it could have been a quite different experience for you.
Lets look at the dog breeds its from.
3/8 greyhound - working/coursing/hunting dog
1/4 collie - working dog
1/4 whippet - working/coursing dog
1/8 Bedlington terrier - working dog
That in any book is a working strain bred lurcher.
All fast dogs which could cover long distances very quickly. The saving grace in that mix up is the collie which is an intelligent dog and easy to train, if its got the collies brains that is!
Dont make me out to be some kind of idiot who doesnt know dogs, I have had them all my life, know people who use lurchers to hunt, have bred dogs and have a sucessful dog breeder in the family. As well as being a good Gundog trainer myself.
If the guy wants one thats fine just make sure he gets help training it if he doesnt know what hes doing.
Thats all.
Now off to the pub.

If your around allday why not a Collie? Really loyal but need 24/7 company ideally? Greyhound/lurchers have lovely temperaments. So meak (well the ones we've met whilst out). Their only downside that I can see is they aren't very 'attractive' to the common punter sadly.

Plus if you manage to find a three legged one you could black up and go to fancy dress parties as pappa lazarou....

i thought title said baking a puppy 😯 don't know much about dogs get a huge one you can ride.

No offence but every pet collie I have come across has been bonkers, the ones I used to work on the farm are lovely, lovely dogs, just not for me. Wont be chasing a lurcher across fields as I wouldnt catch it even if it was a pug. I expect to train it and will be seeking help with that.

With any cross, you are risking getting the worst of each of the breeds in there - and the chance of getting all of them good isn't great.

Oh - working dogs live outside, pets inside. If you are keeping a pack animal outside alone, you are risking it going proper nuts and it not being a pet.

puppies look like this when they eat tripe....
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it'll sleep outside doesnt mean it will never be in the house

Wouldn't have a dog unless I was prepared to let it sleep in the house.....

Wouldn't have a dog unless I was prepared to let it sleep in the house.....

may I ask why?

ours sleeps in the kitchen, and barks when she hears anything.
perfect.

Wouldn't have a dog unless I was prepared to let it sleep in the house.....

may I ask why?

Because I want a pet that's part of the family so they should be treated as such......

ours sleeps in the kitchen, and barks when she hears anything.
perfect

Ours sleeps on the bed at the bottom & snores like **** 😕

First post so please be gentle.

We've had sevearal Lurchers in the past and have two at the moment, I've found they're pretty easy to train - with food that is. Excercise wise they pretty easy to walk, if, like one of ours they're Greyhound based they'll run around chasing balls, frisbees etc for 20-30min then follow you around at heel for the rest of the walk.

The other is a English Spaniel/Lurcher cross so while not strictly a lurcher we say he is to save arguements, he'll run and run and run - think carefully what the make up is because they'll take traits from each doner. Whilst ours want to play with the cat, they can and are likely to chase them, our old one (Deer hound/Greyhound)gave up as soon as it was out of sight though. If it's a rescue as our are they will have been cat tested before re-homing, if you have a puppy you can train that instinct out - it's not easy but we have. A lot of rescue dogs have been treated terribly I've seen Greyhounds with they're ears cut off (racers are tatooed in they're ear for traceability)

They don't eat much really, they are daft as a brush, they will whine and yelp like they've been shot even if you only nearly stand on they're paw, be prepared to give up your sofa and share your food. They are loyal, loving and full of character. Good luck.

So now back to the reason I joned this forum - back to bikes.

Fair enough, but I reserve the right to say, its a ****in dog! Doesnt really matter to the dog if it goes outside to sleep.

LeeW it'll be the spaniel in it that makes it so full of energy. I'm hoping training wont be too bad, its been a while since I had my own dog, hope the ones I see tomorrow are good otherwise its back to the drawing board.

I can see why they didn't let you have a dog now............

I can see why they didn't let you have a dog now............

righto, I think the word is anthropomorphisation, but then my spelling is very poor

The word I was thinking of only had four letters 8)

Anagallis,

You're right about the spaniel bit, luckly he has the common sense of a Spainel too, so he was faily easy to train, as I say training Lurchers is quite easy, not Collie or Labardor easy if you get what I mean.

Keeping dogs outside can be good for dogs that tend to get good, thick coats, Akitas etc, as it encourages them to grow thicker. But, depending on the parentage of yours it may be that it just will not grow a thick coat - our Spaniel cross, Jasper doesn't, he's almost bald in some areas.

Dogs go mad, collies especially becuase they're not mentally stimulated/worked enough, they get bored, then crazy.

And on the puppy front, imo go for the quiet one.

Steady on Oxboy, you generalised a step too far, and I wasn't trying to make you look daft. Admittedly I could have started my response to you better, and for that I apologise.

There could be all manner of characters thrown from that mix. I agree that a puppy is an unknown quantity but don't put people off the hundreds of fantastic lurchers / sighthounds in rescue after a home.

You've had 2 ex workers one was older and steadied down and probably a crap worker like the young one you have.

Ted (younger, current hound) is a terrible worker. He's ridiculously prey-driven, but so soft-mouthed a working owner would weep. He's got enough saluki in him to make sure I never have a 'rose tinted view' of dogs. He's doing fine in a pet home. Ali was as keen as mustard, and very 'successful' on his walks with us, despite his years, until we convinced him he was retired.

Conclusion - Lurchers and other sighthounds can, and very often do, make fantastic pets / trail dogs. Like any other breed.

Anyway, for a pet go through a good rescue. Get one assessed for your family / lifestyle. There are too many good dogs needing homes.

You wanna a Boxer....
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a_a - our late Golden Retriever slept outside in a purpose built kennel on her own. She was far healthier than many other dogs. Of course she was part of the family but dogs need to know their place.

I did a lot of research into parentage, siblings, hip scores which are inportant with GR's. Looked at various litters with a friend who had been involved with breeding gun dogs. When you have kids it's important to know these things.

Some lovely pics here, does anyone have a dog I could borrow or be an auntie to?

Some lovely pics here, does anyone have a dog I could borrow or be an auntie to?

There are times I'd give you Ted and any amount you wish as compensation to sweeten the deal. Times measured in micro-seconds though 😉

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Stunning hound, he is.

What should be looking for when you go to buy a puppy? That the people selling the puppy find out about you. The meeting is not just about you making sure they are OK, but that they have concern where the puppy is going. If you see that happening you know the breeders are caring people who have the welfare of their puppies at heart.

Are you suitable? Ask yourself that. Will the dog be taken out regularly, not be left alone for long periods? That sort of thing. Some dogs are better suited to modern lifestyles than others but they all need lots of attention. Collies simply will not stand for lack of it. They literally go crazy if you don't give them masses of attention and walks. Lapdogs can take less attention but crave human company. Big dogs needs loads of room and huge amounts of exercise. All common sense really, it's almost like buying a child.

And they all demand discipline.

Oh, and here's our dog. She's great.

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Big dogs needs loads of room and huge amounts of exercise.

Hmmm, generalisation again. Ted is 31" to the shoulder, most people who meet him say (Little Britain Dennis Waterman style) 'Ooh, that's a big dog!' He takes up no room and is as lazy as a lion.

We live in a terrace, and both work full time. With a bit of juggling of our jobs, Ted gets 60 minutes walk twice a day, EVERY day, rain, shine, Christmas or 'can't be arsed'. He's never alone for more than five hours. He goes lure coursing once a month. He's crap at it, but loves it.

but they all need lots of attention

I disagree. The only attention Ted needs is walks and people around in general, and a bit of a scratch at bedtime. If you've got a dog needing / demanding attention you're doing it wrong.

Keeping a dog is as difficult as you make it. (By gum, I've made it difficult for myself in the past though!)

EDIT: Lovely shot Samuri.

Hi Goon,
Sorry if I sounded a bit aggressive in my post, I like Lurchers and would readily have another myself. They are fantastic, athletic dogs and an absolute pleasure to own. But any potential owners must keep a cose eye on them off the lead.
As for keeping dogs outside, most dogs will live outside, but please respect your dog and give them the best you can, i.e. more food in the cold weather, straw/ blankets for their beds inside the kennel etc. I keep mine outside in the day but bring them in at night, I like the security of having them in also not the worry of freezing my dogs at night when its at its coldest! But thats just me I am soft with them!

p.s. goon
Love the pics a handsome chap he is indeed!

Second what Samuri says,don't get an active dog if you're not prepared to walk them plenty.Our Ras has me up & out the house for 5am every morning before work for 30-45 mins.After work I take him out for about an hour.

PS,I still think If you're having a dog as a pet then you should let him in the house at night.Never have understood why anyone would kick them out at night,as for saying they'll be healthier,what a load of crap.If you're house proud don't get a dog get a goldfish or a budgie .....

PPS,If you are really house proud - Don't get kids either,esp not 3 of them ! !
😈

Its not to do with being house proud its to do with what I think is best for the dog.

Ted is gorgeous! What's his top speed?

goon where do you do the coursing?

I might print this out and give to all the problem dog walkers I encounter. Especially the ones with dogs called "Oi" or "Oi Come Here" 😉

Read this as well, from the NFU mag:

Bigger pix here...

[url= http://www.zooomr.com/photos/15397@Z01/6860661/ ]Bigger Pix[/url]

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Check out the in bred illnesses of some of the pedigree breeds. Aren't the BBC going to cancel coverage of cruffs because of the damage KC breed standard has done to some of them.

No worries Oxboy :O) And I am agreed that any potential owners should know that they can be quite a long way away in a short time. We put in months of work on this with Ted, and it still needs reinforcing in his mind.

cinnamon_girl -> It's funny you should ask. I wondered myself for a good while and last month got round to buying a small GPS logger to fit to his collar. His record is 34 MPH, chasing his frisbee. I reckon there's probably 2 - 3 MPH more in there on the lure.

anagallis -> We course near Stapeley, Cheshire. Straight run, no scoring or points, just fun for the dogs. Even with daily walks and runs, Ted is more settled after a morning coursing. I should work him, but it's not really my thing. (That said, if he was any good, I'd be out occasionally with the local lurcher lads. I'd 'put up' with it for Ted's sake.)

Puppy on its way in 3 weeks time, anyone recommend me a dog training book? Is clicker training all its cracked up to be? I was given that dog whisper fella's book but so far its just said the same thing over and over for the first 3 chapters, should I keep going with it?

Goon Cheshire is a bit far for me I'm in reading. The guy we are getting ours from works them and shows them, had six or seven all really friendly one was a greyhound bearded collie which he had training for jumping comeptitions but was now 12 years old. When he called him it jumped straight out of its run over a fence that must have been around 7foot tall!

I love the way you know whats best for a dog and where they sleep, yet ask for a book on training. hmmmm.

Stick with the Dog Whisperer - it all works. Find local training classes and enrol - great fo training (better than a book) and great socialization for the little one.

Don't buy a harness for the dog - it gives them something to pull against and does not cure anything.

I dont think having an opinion on where I think a dog should sleep and asking if anyone has tips on a dog training book is mutually exclusive, but never mind.

ton - is that your dog? if so, (s)he's awesome.

If not, still looks pretty decent...

jimmy, it is mate.
she is a beauty too.
good as gold, needed no training.

I've been toying with the idea of geting a Jack Russell pup (after a lifetime of cats).

Anyone had/has one and any advice for novice pooch owner please?

All i'll say is crate train your dog, my dog never pooped inside. Which is good, as you dont want to slip on a poop when you get up in the morning!