This past weekend I had to put down my 16 year old dog. It sucked a lot because this was my first dog I got when I was in 1st grade and am now a senior in college. everyone in my family took it pretty hard but we are eager to get a new pup. the dog we decided on is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. I am from the chicago area and am wondering what the best way to go about finding the right dog to buy. I want to make sure where we are getting the pup from is trustworthy and the dog will be healthy. I have done some quick google searches on places near me but it can be pretty overwhelming with all the different ways to go about this process. we will most likely get another girl dog so I am also going to need a good name for her. any help is appreciated
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Advice on buying a new dog
- Thread starter BobDylan
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XBOX HIVES
Banned
Holy shit are you sure about that breed? Have you ever been around one? My cousin has one and it smells so bad when it gets close to you because of its overactive tear glands. Seriously man, that smell can be a deal breaker.
Ogrekiller
Member
Don't buy, adopt.
XBOX HIVES said:
haha yeah my aunt has one which is why my family wants one. my mother is pretty set on it and I dont think there is any talking her out of it.
Ogrekiller said:
I would not be against that at all. pretty much I have been given the task to figure where places we can get one from so im open to everything
Go to a good breeder.
Meet him, get to know him and let him show you how and where the dogs are raised.
A good breeder should appreciate it if you want to visit your puppy regulary until it's old enough for you to take him/her home. Having many visitors is great for young dogs, they will be much better socialized and generally open to strangers.
Also, make sure that the breeder gets his puppies all the necessary medical attention (vaccines, etc.).
As I said: Go out there, meet breeders, and you'll soon know where you can get a healthy and well socialized puppy.
Meet him, get to know him and let him show you how and where the dogs are raised.
A good breeder should appreciate it if you want to visit your puppy regulary until it's old enough for you to take him/her home. Having many visitors is great for young dogs, they will be much better socialized and generally open to strangers.
Also, make sure that the breeder gets his puppies all the necessary medical attention (vaccines, etc.).
As I said: Go out there, meet breeders, and you'll soon know where you can get a healthy and well socialized puppy.
Lucky Forward
Member
I bought a Labrador Retriever pup last year. I started with google and emailed several breeders in my area. Some just never responded, but one I liked emailed back and then we had a nice phone conversation. I arranged a visit to their farm and I was really impressed with their dogs, their operation, and how nice the people were to me, and I had a great hour long visit and I wound up getting my pup though them. In short, if you like their dogs and get a good vibe from the breeder, go with them.
BTW, this breeder told me they got about 70 emails every day, so don't be surprised if a breeder's first email response is brief and impersonal, they just get too many inquiries that are never followed up on.
BTW, this breeder told me they got about 70 emails every day, so don't be surprised if a breeder's first email response is brief and impersonal, they just get too many inquiries that are never followed up on.
krypt0nian
Banned
Ogrekiller said:
Seems simple. Let's see if he's smart enough to go for it.
Pezking said:
There is something wrong if there is one dog left without a home before you go to a breeder.
joeyjoejoeshabadoo
Member
The correct answer.geeko420 said:
BobDylan said:
Getting a dog from a shelter is a very nice thing to do. Many folks find their perfect dog there.
It's certainly cheaper that getting a dog from a breeder, but also more risky: A responsible breeder tries to minimize the risk of his puppies being prone to certain genetic diseases.
We got a Golden Retriever about a year ago. Hip dysplasia is quite common with that breed, so we made sure that our dog is from a line of Retrievers that never had this disease.
Of course, it's still possible that our dog gets hip dysplasia when she's older after all. But if you want a puppy that's as healthy as possible, looking at his/her ancestors is the best thing you can do.
Simon Belmont
Banned
geeko420 said:
On the flip side, adopted dogs are likely to have personality issues.
Get a Golden Retriever. Best dogs.
Pezking said:
Cry some moar. Some of us volunteer at shelters and rescue animals. And watch perfectly good animals be put to death because people would rather buy a 'brand new puppy!'
Oh well, I'll be there to feed and try to give the dog five minutes of love after Bobby finds some new toy to play with.
It's dramatic, sure, but it's true too. There are tons of great, loving animals hoping for a second chance at your local shelter.
edit: Good breeders have their place too, obviously. Much better than supporting a puppy mill.
Simon Belmont
Banned
DJ_Tet said:
Dogs end up at shelters because people abandon them, not because people buy dogs from breeders. Good for you that you volunteer, but there is nothing wrong with people going to reputable breeders to buy their animals.
Jeff Albertson
Member
By all means go down to your local shelter first and have a look, it would feel good to give a dog a second chance. But I'm with the people that see nothing wrong with buying as long as the breeder's seem reputable.
We have 2 dogs from breeders because we wanted a specific breed, that may seem selfish to some but we have given 2 dogs a loving home.
We have 2 dogs from breeders because we wanted a specific breed, that may seem selfish to some but we have given 2 dogs a loving home.
geeko420 said:
That's just not true.
Of course there are bad breeders, but the majority doesn't overbreed their dogs and in most cases, they don't do it for profit. The price merely covers the costs of food, vaccines, shelter and all the official papers.
At least that's the case here in Germany.
But before you go to a "breeder" that sells puppies for $200 from a cardboard box, you should definitely get a dog from a shelter instead.
RbBrdMan said:
alright. sold. /thread not gettin a dog no mo
DJ_Tet said:
I will certainly be talking to my parents about checking out the shelters. we are in the very first stages right now so the only somewhat final decision we have made is what kind of dog we would like to get.
krypt0nian said:
It's quite a dilemma. If there were only responsible breeders who sell expensive dogs (at least too expensive to be bought as a mindless "gift"), shelters would be empty.
But unfortunately, we don't live in that utopia.
So get a nice dog from a shelter or buy one from a responsible breeder.
But please, don't give these irresponsible fucks who just breed for profit any money. These people are responsible for shelters overflowing with abandoned dogs.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have a long list of genetic problems so if you decide to go with one, definitely do your homework. The worst one I can think of is Syringomyelia which is where the dogs skull is too small to house it's brain as it grows. It's really terrible. They are definitely not a healthy breed, I wouldn't own them. Having said that I only get working breeds (sheep/cattle) because they tend to be bred for health more than other breeds obviously. But they are often like ADD children so I don't necessarily recommend them.
Here's a link that has a list of all the health problems associated with them.
http://www.cavalierhealth.org/
Edit: Also for the dog shelter cry babies, you can often find rescue places the specialise in breeds. There would be a CKC rescue place somewhere. Adopting a dog is great but just because someone else is irresponsible doesn't mean we should all adopt. Personally I think the early age bonding is important so I'm reluctant to buy an adult dog.
Here's a link that has a list of all the health problems associated with them.
http://www.cavalierhealth.org/
Edit: Also for the dog shelter cry babies, you can often find rescue places the specialise in breeds. There would be a CKC rescue place somewhere. Adopting a dog is great but just because someone else is irresponsible doesn't mean we should all adopt. Personally I think the early age bonding is important so I'm reluctant to buy an adult dog.
Pezking said:
Except for the abuse, the health issues, the exorbitant costs, etc.
"I said good breeder!"
No such thing.
And even if you found a magical "good" breeder, you'd still have the simple fact that one more dog stays in the shelter if you buy from a breeder. If you adopt, the only consequence is that one puppy the breeder has will take another day to be sold.
Eventually, if everyone were to gradually switch to adopting, the demand for dogs from puppy mills would drop, and breeders would breed their dogs less frequently, resulting in fewer homeless dogs.
There was a good trend of success going on with this. Hell, the number of responses saying to adopt is a good indicator of this. You'd never get that suggestion in such numbers a few years ago. But lo and behold, the breeders want money and are putting designer breeds (with dumb names) into the hands and purses of celebrities to make the public want them, specifically. Goldendoodle? Labradoodle? Cockapoo? Everyone wants one now, and you're not going to find them in a shelter. To a breeder you must go!
Let's be clear: TOO_MANY_ANIMALS is the direct result of the "responsible" breeders that continually pump pets out into the market, and the mentality of most people who won't ever consider owning a "used" pet.
Adopt.
Pezking said:
A "responsible breeder" would never deal in pure bred dogs. They have inherent health issues, and there is nothing you to avoid it aside from getting a non pure bred dog.
You and your breeder didn't make sure of anything. If it's a pure bred golden retriever, it's got a higher percentage of problems. Breeders ALWAYS lie about having a good "line" if you ask about the potential health problems. They do not keep track of the studs they use or their health problems, nor those of the litters they sell off. They simply know "my bitch is alive enough to get pregnant again".Pezking said:
Right. And we know that golden retrievers have problems. And dalmations. And pretty much every pure breed. No breeder will ever know the health history of the pups' lineage, and if you get a sick pup and try to find out wtf is going on, they run for the hills.
It's a disgusting business, through and through.
American CKCS Club
http://www.ackcsc.org/
Or try looking into a rescue club for that specific breed.
http://www.akc.org/breeds/rescue.cfm
Also check
http://www.petfinder.com/index.html
http://www.ackcsc.org/
Or try looking into a rescue club for that specific breed.
http://www.akc.org/breeds/rescue.cfm
Also check
http://www.petfinder.com/index.html
Simon Belmont
Banned
Mudkips said:
People buying animals they're not prepared to take care of are the problem, not the breeders. Don't confuse puppy mills with breeders.
Lucky Forward
Member
Mudkip said:
Everything you said is wrong.
Ogrekiller said:
This. My ex and I went through a breeder once and it ended rather poorly. Never again.
Edit: Like someone else mentioned if you are stuck on a breed then PLEASE use a rescue before before a breeder. Breeders are scum and your odds of getting a dog with health issues (like I did) is pretty high.
Simon Belmont
Banned
bluemax said:
I went through a breeder and got a sweet dog. You obviously did not go to a good breeder. Just because you went to a bad one does not mean that all breeders are bad, or that everyone who goes to one is going to get a sick puppy.
Jesus people, it's like some of you think dog's from shelters just fall out of the sky, as they're so obviously not affected any issues you could run into with a breeder.
Also, dogs from good breeders don't tend to end up at shelters. Dogs from puppy mills frequently do.
Aquavelvaman
Banned
I want a dog so bad and am considering moving just to be able to get one :|
we got our first dog from someone who was not a breeder for profit. just someone who had some shih tzu puppies for sale and we never really had any health related issues her whole life that were serious. I talked to my parents at dinner and we are gonna look around at some shelters and whatnot to see if there are other breeds we want.
Lucky Forward
Member
Simon Belmont said:
Over a year later, I still email my breeders (husband/wife team) regularly, they love seeing new pictures of Bear.
BertramCooper
Banned
Way to derail a perfectly harmless thread, GAF.
evilromero
Member
Except that the homeless dogs are still...homeless?Pezking said:
Simon Belmont
Banned
evilromero said:
So you support a ban on people having babies?
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