Thinking of getting a puppy...

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FingersCrossed

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After doing quite a bit of research I have decided to think about getting a puppy... :D (think being the key word ;) )

So, any advice on how to find a suitable breed? Or just general advice on getting a puppy?

Btw, have thought about getting a rescue dog, but most sanctuaries have an upper age limit of 10. My little brother is 7 so we don't qualify. :( Otherwise I would most definatley rehome from a sanctuary.

Any adivce/info/help/tips/basically anything puppy related greatly appreciated :D

Not planning on getting a pup for a couple of months but want to make sure I know as much as possible before I take the plunge :)

Thankyouuu!! :D
 
Just do your research on the different breeds. There are websites out there which have loads of info on each one.
I chose to have a whippet as they are able to go on endless long walks but are also duvet dogs and sleep all day.. suits my lifestyle
 
If you are looking into pedigrees, make sure you check their genetics etc to try and avoid problems. Westies, shar pei, english bulldog (short nose) GSD, labs, KCCS, Dachies etc.

Have you thought about rehoming an ex racing greyhound? There are LOADS of them that need good homes and will probably let you take them with children (meant to be awesome family dogs)

Good luck doggy hunting!
 
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As with most things, if you source a pedigree pup from reputable breeders then you have a much better chance at avoiding hereditary issues.

I've had GSDs my whole life, they've all been hip scored, with low scores, and we've never had one with bad hips, we've chosen our dogs very carefully from generations of low-scoring stock.
Do your research, ask to look at official health test certificates, when you visit puppies.
The only 'unhealthy' dog I've ever had is my current male, ironically his adult hip x-rays were one of the best sets the vet (who has been x-raying GSDs for scoring for 20 years) has ever seen.

Wikipedia will only tell you so much, I would go out to visit a couple of breeders, breed clubs or shows of the breeds you are keen on

If you're not prepared to shell out £££ for a well (responsibly) bred dog from a breeder who puts health and character first (the tests can cost a lot of money) then go for rescue rather than a dog with God knows what lurking in the genes, then go rescue/rehome, agree, a greyhound would be a great choice.

I would not source a dog from Gumtree, Preloved etc either, personally speaking.
 
do look at the rescues, there are many who will happily rehome a suitable dog to a family with a child aged 7. you may well not get a puppy, but there are lots of lovely young dogs in rescue which are suitable for family life with children. Good luck.
 
That`s what we all so love about "new off the conveyer belt vets" !! As they say "a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing". Some breeds do have problems,BUT there are hundreds of good people out there that devote their life to breeding healthier dogs in EVERY breed,generalization is a dangerous path. Listen ,learn and inwardly digest for a good few years before you sally forth and damn all breeds in generalization.
 
I definately know that I will know absolutely naff all for at least 10 years - they were just suggestions about which breeds need more research than others. I definately agree that a lot of the above pedigrees are fine and live long and healthy lives. Its just the brachycephalics that I dont understand.

I didnt mean to damn all breeds. Sorry if I offended anyone
xxx
 
EAST KENT said:
That`s what we all so love about "new off the conveyer belt vets" !! As they say "a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing". Some breeds do have problems,BUT there are hundreds of good people out there that devote their life to breeding healthier dogs in EVERY breed,generalization is a dangerous path. Listen ,learn and inwardly digest for a good few years before you sally forth and damn all breeds in generalization.
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Absolutely, say I, having done a five-mile walk this am with my snub-nosed Boston terrier. Eight-years-old and still fit as a fiddle.
 
When I was thinking of getting a puppy, I did one of those internet quizzes, yunno, what breed of dog should you get to suit your lifestyle quizzes, they come up if you google, what breed of dog should I get, did a bit of research on the top breeds that came up and fell in love with one of them, put my name down on a top breeders waiting list (after googling them and their dogs) and after a few months got a call, I have put down a deposit and pick up my lovely fluffy adorable Keeshond next Saturday! Excited doesn't quite cover it!
 
prosefullstop said:
Absolutely, say I, having done a five-mile walk this am with my snub-nosed Boston terrier. Eight-years-old and still fit as a fiddle.
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Aaaah, maybe he's like my JRT, who decided he was no longer up for 5 mile runs last year, he'll still happily do a 5 mile walk though, he's 15 next month
 
Would`nt worry about it..obviously I was a bit hard on you ,and in fact if you soak and absorb as you want to ..that`s excellent. I would try and get a summer placement with a good health testing breeder for a week or two.The Accreditted Breeders scheme, and Bill Lambert at the Kennel Club may recommend you someone to help. If you just see the ill health and rescue side you could be entirely against breeders.Nothing new there,most new vets are,so try and see some good ones too.There is of course The Guide Dog organisation,they breed lots in ideal conditions.
 
Stacey6897 said:
Aaaah, maybe he's like my JRT, who decided he was no longer up for 5 mile runs last year, he'll still happily do a 5 mile walk though, he's 15 next month
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More like I'm 30-weeks pregnant ;) She is still raring to go. Thank goodness for squeaky balls to burn off the excess energy.

Wonderful that your Jack is still a big walker :)
 
GeeUp, my daughter has just finished vet school and she was told as you obviously have been about those breeds, so I won't judge you too harshly. I did put her straight fairly sharpish about GSDs , well she knew really that you shouldn't make sweeping statements condemning a whole breed.
Not sure what year you are in, but hopefully as you start seeing practice you will realise that there are plenty of responsible breeders out there, and a lot of more senior vets will actually admit that breeders often know more about their particular breed than the vet.
 
I worded it very badly and I appologise - The message was basically meant to say - check the genetics of some of the breeds I mentioned. For some reason I cant now edit the message to correct it
 
Don't worry about it, and you are right, any prospective purchaser should check what problems a breed MAY have, and make sure that several generations back in the pedigree are health tested and have low scores or equivalent. Enjoy your time at uni, which one are you at?
 
Don't panic GU&G, I've heard a lot worse :p mostly on here :p

Numerically large breeds like labs and GSDs are obviously going to present more often than other breeds as there are more of them and they have suffered at the hands of unscrupulous breeders.

The thing is as other have said to help puppy buyers educate themselves, never take just someone's word for anything.
The parents have low hip scores? Then you won't mind showing me the certificates.
The parents have working qualifications? Let's see a video or pictures of the trials or show me the dog or bitch retrieving a dumbbell or doing a bit of bitework.
The mum has a lovely nature? Let's have her out and see her then.
 
The lower the better. With elbows they are scored 0,1,2 and 3, personally I wouldn't breed from a dog with a score higher than 1. In hips each hip is scored on different points out up to a maximum of 53 per hip, i.e. a total score of 106. The score is shown for each hip then the total e.g. 3:4 Total 7. You need to check what the average is for the breed you are interested in and look for ancestors whose scores are lower than this, generally you need to be looking for mid teens and below, depending on the breed.
 
0:0 is best for hips (the figure between the : signifies the individual hip), the highest and worst total score is in the early 100s.
In the UK the BVA does the scoring. 'My dogs are sound and healthy' doesn't mean the hips are clear, some dogs have horrendous scores and appear sound, move well, while that is fab for them and the owners, they should not be bred from.
Ideally dogs with anything higher than the mid teens should not be bred from. Uneven scores like 10:1 should also be avoided.
0 is best for each elbow, rising to 3 for worst.

I would not buy any dog, GSD, lab, retriever, any breed prone to HD from stock which are unscored or high scoring. Reward the people who do things right and responsibly, hit the unresponsible in the pocket :) or rescue - you'll get just as much of an 'unknown' as a dog from parents which have not been health tested, without the price tag.
 
Thanks, have been looking round adverts just to get an idea, I'm honestly clueless as to the breed. Can anyone offer any advice? I would love an active dog who I can take on long walks, I have a fairly big garden so I think even the massive breeds would have ample space. Erm... Trying to think what else is relevant... The pup/dog won't be on his/her own for long at all, 2/3 hours a day maximum. I'd prefer a medium/big dog, but its not set down in stone.... I just find that there's so many different breeds with pro's and con's I can't choose :o
Thankyou for all your help :)
 
Well you know what I am going to say :p
If you want recommendations of good breeders, PM me your location, otherwise join the BIGGSD/GSD Vigil forum and see who is looking for a home :)
 
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