New Pup

Lu Tze

Howdy All,

We have been thinking about getting a puppy for over a year now and have booked time off at the end of May to ease its transition to a new home. Our main issue is finding a pup which has just been born around now, or due in the next week, as ideally we want a pup which is 8-9 weeks old at the end of May.

We originally wanted a whippet, but from contacting breeders it seems they all have the litters earlier in the year as show season is in march.

Next we enquired about Labradors, but havent been able to find any litters born at the right time. We are still looking for a labrador, would anybody be able to recommend a reputable breeder who might have a litter due in the next week, or just recently had one? Preferably in Dublin or the surrounding counties?

Cheers

VincePP

Its around now that a lot of Christmas pups arrive in the animal shelters - we rehomed one 2 weeks ago.

Huge advantage - they are almost toiler trained and respond very quickly to positive changes.

Lu Tze

VincePP wrote: »

Its around now that a lot of Christmas pups arrive in the animal shelters - we rehomed one 2 weeks ago.

Huge advantage - they are almost toiler trained and respond very quickly to positive changes.

I appreciate the suggestion, however my partner is very insistent that she wants to start with a clean slate, and get them socialised and used to unusual occurrences etc in that 8-12 week period before they become more wary. She grew up with pet dogs all her life. I'm from a farming background and only ever had working dogs, so this will be a new experience for me.

We did visit <snip> a few weeks back. Its very sad to be honest

Inexile

Many of the rescues will have litters born while in their care so could get a pup with 'a clean slate' as you say.

If you want a pure breed - and there is nothing wrong with that at all - that you may not get one in the time frame you have.

VonVix

Big difference between having and raising a Labrador versus having and raising a Whippet, any reason why you're drawn to these two breeds in particular?

I wouldn't be too hung up on WHEN you want to get a puppy, but rather WHO you get a puppy from. Well bred (by that I mean health tested/hipscored parents where applicable/proven lineage) puppy is worth waiting for.

Lu Tze

Inexile wrote: »

Many of the rescues will have litters born while in their care so could get a pup with 'a clean slate' as you say.

If you want a pure breed - and there is nothing wrong with that at all - that you may not get one in the time frame you have.

Yeah we will likely get the home inspection done with <snip> especially if we don't hear of any litters in the next week or so. I'm not particularly pushed on it being a pure bred, but the partner wants what she is used to to I guess, bit wary of mixed dogs, she is thinking along the lines of at least with a pure bred there are breed traits which you are likely to get, like disposition, energy levels and things like that.

We are open to other breeds as well, it doesn't have to be a labrador

Lu Tze

VonVix wrote: »

Big difference between having and raising a Labrador versus having and raising a Whippet, any reason why you're drawn to these two breeds in particular?

I wouldn't be too hung up on WHEN you want to get a puppy, but rather WHO you get a puppy from. Well bred (by that I mean health tested/hipscored parents where applicable/proven lineage) puppy is worth waiting for.

Whippet originally, as they arent too big or small, they aren't very high energy like some breeds, and would be happy enough with 1-2 hours of walking a day. When that wasn't an option, started looking for Labrador breeders, as these are the dogs my partners family have mostly had previously as pets. I know they are quite different!

We had to book holidays a long time in advance due to work commitments, hence why we are some what restricted in time scale. We thought it best to be around permanently for the first few weeks

VonVix

Lu Tze wrote: »

Whippet originally, as they arent too big or small, they aren't very high energy like some breeds, and would be happy enough with 1-2 hours of walking a day. When that wasn't an option, started looking for Labrador breeders, as these are the dogs my partners family have mostly had previously as pets. I know they are quite different!

We had to book holidays a long time in advance due to work commitments, hence why we are some what restricted in time scale. We thought it best to be around permanently for the first few weeks

Labradors, especially puppies/teenagers, are like little tornadoes. A lot of clients I have dealt with get caught up in the nostalgia of "the perfect Labrador I grew up with", mature Labs are often fantastic dogs, but young Labs often need owners with patience by the bucketload.

You could probably easily enough find Lurcher puppies in various rescues around if you feel a sighthound appeals to you, they truly are fab dogs, tend to have natural loose leash walking, very affectionate and just want somewhere comfy to curl up and sleep.

Lu Tze

VonVix wrote: »

Labradors, especially puppies/teenagers, are like little tornadoes. A lot of clients I have dealt with get caught up in the nostalgia of "the perfect Labrador I grew up with", mature Labs are often fantastic dogs, but young Labs often need owners with patience by the bucketload.

You could probably easily enough find Lurcher puppies in various rescues around if you feel a sighthound appeals to you, they truly are fab dogs, tend to have natural loose leash walking, very affectionate and just want somewhere comfy to curl up and sleep.

That rings very true! Yeah this is all new to me having never had pet dog before! I guess we will have to just keep searching for breeders and checking out the various rescues.

Thanks to everyone for the comments so far, and again feel free to let me know if ye hear of a litter regardless of breed.

Ashbx

I understand your reasons for wanting a pup and that's perfectly fine but I just want to stick up for rescue dogs here. The collie I got from a rescue centre is a million times more socialised than the terrier ive had since she was a pup! I put my hands up, its through no fault but my own but don't be under the assumption that all rescue dogs have issues! I got my collie when she was 6 and the only "issue" I have with her is she is a fierce puller!

Best of luck!

Inexile

I know of someone whose whippet/greyhound x had a litter of pups and will be ready to go soon. They have reared in a home environment. If you are interested pls pm me and I will send you on a link.

MedusaV8

It sounds like you have researched the breeds which is a great idea. I have owned a Labrador in Whippet. I am hoping for another Lab one day but currently I have another Whippet. They truly are a wonderful pet. She is a very inobtrusive pet. Very calm in the house although she did have a little chew problem but we found some great plastic bones and she hasn't chewed or shoes since. She is 14 months and has a mature head on her shoulders now. She has crazy sessions of bombing round the garden and then wants a rest. They don't really need massive long walks if they can have some high speed action.
Labradors take a long time to mature and are quite boisterous and destructive. They are nature's garbage disposal and can easily suffer weight problems. They need a lot of exercise. Sadly also they do suffer arthritis. Our old Lab hobbled about in her later life.

Latatian

Oh, labrador puppies. Never again. They are destructive puppies. As adolescents they can suffer from 'friendly dog' problems- I had to be careful to keep mine from causing rows and teach her a bit of politeness, not because she was aggressive but because she had the typical labrador exuberantly friendly cluelessness.

http://suzanneclothier.com/he-just-wants-to-say-hi#.Vw5o4cfXi-o There should be a longer version of this article somewhere but I can't seem to find it.

And they need to be kept very slim to avoid health problems and vet bills. I get people stopping me on the street to tell me how 'unkind' it is to keep my poor dog 'starved'- people are used to seeing fat labradors, so you will get some stick for it and wonder if you're secretly being a horrible pet owner. Luckily I have the vet and dog-people friends who I used to go to for reassurance on that. She also has arthritis, like MedusaV8's dog, and if she gains a pound or two it really cripples her.

Be careful and be prepared to walk away- there are a few very dodgy labrador sellers out there. I was clueless for the first dog I had ever bought off a breeder, and didn't have the knowledge, after driving a fair distance out there, to see the signs and decide to walk away. Decide in advance what to look for before you are faced with the adorable puppy and the seller who has glib and plausible explanations for it all. She was stunted, she had every parasite known to man (hence possibly the stunted), the seller disappeared after we bought her... You don't want your first week spent with a contagious puppy that others can't handle, visiting the vet constantly. Talk to your vet- they will see pups in and might know where any 'problem' pups are coming from.

There are a few health checks in labradors you would want to have been done on the parents if you go for a breeder rather than a rescue puppy. Hips, eyes, and elbows of both parents would be the way to go.