oooh, going to a show ! Didnt think of that. Would be a good source of info as they wont just be trying to sell me the dog...cos its not for sale....nice one i like it

thank you

I would say not to go down the crossbreed/mongel breeders route simply because I have never seen a responsible breeder of them and you'll be ending up with an unknown quantity as well as possible tempremental and health problems.

If you don't want a puppy, but also don't want/can't get a rescue from a centre, why not contact breed rescues once you have decided on a breed? They be be more inclined to know the full history of the dogs they rehome.

Or contact the breed clubs, as some breeders get older puppies/dogs they have bred back to rehome. Again, they are likely to know the entire history of these dogs.

Personally, I am not sure if I can imagine myself with anything other than a Golden. They are SO easy to train and be around. My older one usually gets around 3-4 hours a day of exercise, but is still more than happy to lay around in the house for the odd day if the children are sick and I can't take her out. 2 hours ish a day is enough for a Golden though, I just like walking her.

There is someone on here who breeds Basenjis. User name Basi, I think. Sure they won't mind if you pm them.

To be honest, i dont really like the idea of owning anything but a Lab or GSD. its just her size that is an issue. Well, i imagine im making it an issue. I been researching "Unhappy dogs" "shutdown dogs" ect ect and Daisy exibits none of these behavours but i cant help but think she's miserable. I mean yea she gets about 2hrs walking at worst. But when shes in the house and im not hiding stuff for her, theres nothing for her to do....hmm.

Its just i read so much about the power of labs, how intelligent they are, working breed and i feel like i am wasting a bucket load of potantial just letting her chase other dogs about the place (after consulting owners) for a few hours each day and then just keeping her in the house for the rest of the time.

Sure she has to think about how to get the food out the kong, she has to think about how to remove her toys from the difficult places i put them in....but thats about it. Sit Down and Stay cant still be a thinking exercise for her surely and things like blind retriving or even retriving atall would require for her to actually care about me when shes off the leash, something i have not quite managed to install just yet. She did manage to sniff out a fox's den last night though.... My God Can those little buggers make some noise when threatned !! I had no idea.

I watch alot of Dog Whisperer, weather you agree with his techniques or not, there is no denying thats dogs listen to him, pay attention. I thought id try some of the leadership stuff out on Diasy as after research i see that she really is not seeing me as a leader atall. I try the 'two fingers as a bite' thing, i try the quick sharp check on her collor, i try standing infront of her, being calm assetive. I dont even get eye contact from any of that. I can pike and prod her all i like, make weid "tsssht" noises, shout, whisper, run away, nothing gets a reaction from her UNLESS i say "whats this" at which point she's all over me as thats what say when im trying to give her a treat for good behaviour and she isnt paying attention !

When i am asked loads of questions about the ckc i am always willing to answer with out trying to sell them a pup

if you go a show you will see so many lovely different breeds and you can talk to the owners and meet the dogs .........you should have a good day and get loads of good honest opions and advice

__________________





Cavalier king charles are adorable.......

karen xxx
Pets name: horny!
Adopt your own!

Hi,

I breed Springers so I'll tell you what impresses me about a prospective owner and then make some suggestions about the questions you should consider asking a breeder.

I'm happy with a prospective owner(s) who is looking at two or three breeds and trying to decide which will best suit their lifestyle - and tells me about their lifestyle so we can discuss things. I like them to come and see the adult dogs before the litter if at all possible, especially if they have children - I want to see the family interact with the adult dogs and if they are hyper with the adults I know a pup from me is not for them. I want to know if they have experience with my breed or other dogs and if they don't have experience I want them to say they will join a training class with the puppy. I want to know who their vet is and I want permission to ask for a reference from the vet - for first time owners, I ask them to choose a local vet. I want them to tell me what arrangements they will make about holidays - will the pup/dog go with them, stay with friends, kennels. I want them to ask me searching questions that show they are really serious about owning a pup from me. I have a Puppy Sales Contract where the prospective owner and myself make various commitments in the best interest of the puppy/dog and they have to be willing to sign the contract.


Now some of the questions I hope to hear from a prospective owner:
What health checks do the sire and dam have? Can I see the originals of the health certificates and have copies with the pup?
Have they had a previous litter so I can see what the pups turned out like? Can you put me in contact with owners from a previous litter who will give you (the breeder) references?
What sort of temperament do the sire and dam have?
Can I see their pedigrees?
Where are the pups raised? house? kennel?
How much access does the bitch have to the pups once weaning starts?
If I have to rehome the pup will you help?

Obviously in a short(ish) post, can't cover everything. I make it a condition of sale that if a new owner wants to sell on the pup/dog I have first refusal and that a pup/dog is never put to rescue, it comes back to me (and that's a lifelong commitment). I do not endorse registrations (again, that's a question you should ask) but I ask people to think very, very seriously before either neutering or breeding from my pups.

I'm a newbie so you can't pm me yet but if you wish contact me through my website Sgurr - English Springer Spaniels - Welcome and I'll give you what help I can. I do not have puppies available by the way.

Sgurr

Just browsed a few of these sites. I cant have one from them because it will be left alone (well, absense of humans) for longer than 4 hours. Usually on tuesdays and thursdays...dont know why, people cant operate simple software on days that begin with 'T', must be a planet alignment thing.

I think my best bet would be to find some breeders and build a rappor(sp?) and an agreement that should any pups come back from owners, they will call me. Just had a look at a site that was selling pre-trained labs, while pre-trained would take most of the fun out of the younger years they do get sold between the ages of 1-3years.....its the £1000 minimum that put me of lol...we really will pay for labs !

Have you considered a private re-homing?
You don't get the back up as you get from a rescue centre but you don't seem to be having much joy with them anyway.
You put a 'good home offered to ......whatever you are hoping for' on places like viva-street and some of the dog sites and see what comes up. People sometimes have to re-home a perfectly good pet because a couple have broken up, someone is too ill to look after it, those sorts of reasons. It's down to you though to make sure it is a good reason and not just palming off a dog with a bad temperament and worse habits.

Sgurr

You could also go to Discover Dogs - the whole purpose of Discover Dogs is that the breeders/owners are there to talk to people about their breed, and you can meet the dogs and in most cases actually get your hands on the dogs. They are actually not allowed to try to sell pups. The most they can do is ask that you contact the secretary of the breed club, who will then send you a list of breeders.