Bit excited

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Snuffles

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As you know I lost my Clumber a few weeks ago. I am arranging see a Goldie that has had her last litter of pups
and may be rehomed when they are weaned. This is from a working gundog breeder. Feel excited but also
bit scared ! She may not be suitable and I may not be acceptable as a new home, or my other dog might not accept her.
OOOOOOOer !!!!!
 
Snuffles said:
. This is from a working gundog breeder.
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I believe a bitch can have a litter up until the age of eight and it be registered. Most gundogs will have several years of work left in them after eight, so WHY is she being rehomed? People don't just give away well trained working dogs. Yes, I am a cynical old bat, but I smell a rat and wouldn't like you to have a repeat experience, such as the one you have just gone through with the Clumber.

I assume she is KC registered? What health tests has she had prior to breeding and what were the results? (Ask to see the paperwork and/or check this info on the KC website) Does she have any health problems? (Ask the owner for their vets details and ask them to give permission for her history to be disclosed.) How old is she? Ask to see her demonstrate basic skills off-site and with other dogs around.

Sorry to rain on your parade and hope I am wrong but please keep your eyes wide open and don't let your heart overrule your head.
 
Thanks GGD the voice of caution. She was born in 2011, so still young by my standards ! I will take your comments on board.
 
The breeder I got my lab from rehomes her bitches once they have had their three litters. As she has them in her home and also competes in FTs with them they can be 'spent' from her angle by maybe 6 years old. She then has them spayed and finds a nice home for them.
I assume this is a similar set up.
 
I hope it works out for you Snuffles, glad she is low scoring hips, elbows etc.
I have to say I find it sad when breeders move on their bitches once they are no longer useful. I appreciate it is better for the bitch if it is a large kennel situation but I feel strongly that breeders should not be able to dictate " a dog is for life" to would be puppy owners but not follow the same maxim themselves.
 
MurphysMinder said:
I hope it works out for you Snuffles, glad she is low scoring hips, elbows etc.
I have to say I find it sad when breeders move on their bitches once they are no longer useful. I appreciate it is better for the bitch if it is a large kennel situation but I feel strongly that breeders should not be able to dictate " a dog is for life" to would be puppy owners but not follow the same maxim themselves.
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I do agree with you. I also think that the bitches go on to have a nice one on one home, and she really is very vigilant in where they go. She has rehomed 2 in the five years I have known her, one as a peg dog and friend to an elderly man and one as just a pet,.
 
Clodagh said:
I do agree with you. I also think that the bitches go on to have a nice one on one home, and she really is very vigilant in where they go. She has rehomed 2 in the five years I have known her, one as a peg dog and friend to an elderly man and one as just a pet,.
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It is not something I could ever do with my dogs, but my husband very occasionally finds a good lowland home for an older sheepdog who is finding the demands of the hill ground to be too much in more advancing years, but who still has the desire and want to work. I do believe this is the best thing - mentally and physically - for this type of dog, as they often live for work and the handler is of little relevance in relative terms. Thankfully it is not something he does often.
 
Sound device from gunnergundog. I find it very hard to swallow that breeders basically discard their bitches after the litter limit is reached. Is it money driven? My younger two are 6, I can't imagine giving them away.

However, I am really hopeful for you, Snuffles. You had a raw deal with the clumber, so a lovely golden will be fab.
 
In a b it of a quandary now, chap that told me about the breeder I see very regularly on walks. Thanked him for giving me the details and he decided he'd come with me and his mate that also walks with us. I dont know quite how to put him off but dont think breeder would be too happy about a posse ! I think he wants to be sure that I dont make a wrong decision based on losing Rufus and is doing it out of kindness, he is a shooting bod with gun dogs. Do you think I should ring the breeder and tell him I wont be alone or just turn up !
 
Snuffles said:
In a b it of a quandary now, chap that told me about the breeder I see very regularly on walks. Thanked him for giving me the details and he decided he'd come with me and his mate that also walks with us. I dont know quite how to put him off but dont think breeder would be too happy about a posse ! I think he wants to be sure that I dont make a wrong decision based on losing Rufus and is doing it out of kindness, he is a shooting bod with gun dogs. Do you think I should ring the breeder and tell him I wont be alone or just turn up !
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Does he know the breeder personally? If so, maybe they won't mind him tagging along? If not, and it is impossible to get away without him and his mate, I would ring the breeder and explain a friend might be coming too if that is okay with them.
 
Yes I'd find a 'sudden oppurtunity' or commitment that means you can't go at the arranged time and leave it a bit airy so he doesn't want to come - echo those who find it sad that some treat their dogs like this, but you may get a nice dog out of it and pleased you are able to offer an adult a home!
 
I think it is reasonable (and possibly advisable!) to turn up with another, on the basis of two pairs of ears and eyes are better than one and if he knows the individual, I would say no problem. Also, Snuffles, he may just make sure that you don't let your heart get the better of you and take on a pity case or something that may not be quite 100% for you. If he has your interests at heart I would take him.

Not quite sure about the mate though.....why does he need to tag along and what expertise is he bringing to the party? I would probably 'discard him! :)

ETA....two is hardly a posse, so unsure why breeder should take exception. I've known breeder have entire families (two adults plus four children of various ages) turn up to view 8 week old puppies.
 
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Been to meet dog on my own, (did an earlier visit then made my excuses to friend !) she is very sweet, Had a good long chat to breeders, they do seem up front types and interviewed me too!
Puppies are very young so arranged to go up in a few weeks to walk her out with my dog and then see. Have not fallen head over heels in love with her, which is probably a good thing but did like her. I never fell for the dog Ive got now, he was more my husbands dog, but I love him to bits now. Got plenty of time to ponder, maybe its meant to be, maybe not !
 
So far so good then Snuffles. Glad you managed to go on your own if that was what you wanted. You will be able to judge better once she is away from her pups.
 
How easy is it to housetrain a kennel living dog ? Clumber always lived out previously but never lifted a leg or pooed indoors so didnt actually have to do anything !
 
I think you have to treat them like puppies and take out at regular intervals and teach a command and reward. A bitch should be easier as they don't mark territory in the same way. Most older dogs are quite easy.
 
Sounds like the initial meeting went quite well then, which is good. As you say, plenty of time to consider things - and I guess much will depend how she gets on with your current dog.

If she is clean in her kennel, it is usually a good indication how she will be in the house - but, as above, treat her like a puppy initially, taking out regularly and praising when she goes outside.
 
We have had 3 ex brood bitches, 2 from our friend and 1 from an excellent local breeder. They have all been lovely happy girls, our last one is 11 now and I would have another any time. All of the girls were kennelled dogs but we had no problem at all with the house training. Do you have another dog Snuffles?, it does make the getting them into your routine a bit easier but isn't essential. They soon pick up the routine from the resident dog/dogs.

I love puppies but they are such hard work!. If you like this girl I would give it a go. The breeder should always be happy to take her back if it doesn't work out, just as they would with their puppies.
 
Yes do have another dog. Only concern about the housetraining is we had a bitch for 11 years who had a big incontinence problem with all the attendant smell and sore skin, and pongy carpets.That was through her having an extra large bladder that the vet described as being like a floppy plastic bag and she couldn't empty it all out when she wee'd, couldnt solve that problem with medication or surgery , just wondering if a brood bitch would have dribbly problems rather like some mums !Don't really want to revisit that !
 
If this bitch is coming from a reliable , responsible kennels and not a puppy farm, she shouldn't have had too many litters and there is no reason for her to be incontinent.
I really think three litters is enough for any bitch but I had a pup from a bitch having her fourth and final litter. I knew the bitch for the rest of her life and she had no problems. You were very unlucky.
 
Snuffles said:
Yes do have another dog. Only concern about the housetraining is we had a bitch for 11 years who had a big incontinence problem with all the attendant smell and sore skin, and pongy carpets.That was through her having an extra large bladder that the vet described as being like a floppy plastic bag and she couldn't empty it all out when she wee'd, couldnt solve that problem with medication or surgery , just wondering if a brood bitch would have dribbly problems rather like some mums !Don't really want to revisit that !
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Just thinking about this, we have had 6 lab girls. Two of them have had a slight dribble problem when they became elderly, the first was a maiden and the second is our old girl now. They were/are both spayed. Our girl now has been diagnosed with spay incontinence. It isn't really a problem and we have drops to give her that stop it. It usually occurs when she is snoring away in a deep sleep, lol.

Now just need to sort out our young male spaniel who likes to mark his territory in the house!. Just as well we don't mind living in a kennel/stable.
 
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