Buying New Puppy

[Humbolt]

My wife and i are looking to purchase a 9 month old cocker spaniel cross spoodle (apparently 3/4 cocker spaniel and 1/4 poodle).

It is a friend of a friends dog and she can no longer look after it for personal reasons. She weighs 7kgs.

She is micro-chipped, up to date with vaccinations and not de-sexed. Asking $300

I do not know much about this breed of dog and have not had a dog for several years although really do love them.

We have 2 kids, a 9 year old and a 19 month old. Are these kid friendly dogs? Apparently she doesn't nip but does get excited and jump up and down. Not up onto you but up and down.

I believe they are very active dogs. Is this correct? Is this a good age to buy this type of dog or should we get one when first born? Apparently she is pretty much toilet trained.

We as a family are going to have a look at her tonight and i would love any advice that anyone can give us. What to look for, how to test her suitability etc etc.

[gareth]

See how you feel when you meet her. It is hard to generalise and say what this cross will be like as cockers and poodles are very different breeds, bred for different reasons. She may be cockery or she may be poodly

A lot will depend on how she has been raised so far - socialisation, obedience, being around kids etc. as to how she will be with you.

Coat care is very important with the oodles too. Be prepared for grooming, or paying a groomer if you don't do it yourself.

[cassie]

Agree with what Gareth has written

Also I would thoroughly research every aspect of Poodles and every aspect of Cocker Spaniels to make sure you are happy that either breed would suit your family. Being a cross breed (it doesn't matter if it is "75% of this and 25% of that") it is impossible to predict which characteristics the pup will inherit from which parent.

Not that I have kids, but personally if I had a toddler I would be looking at an older dog, one who has been raised around children and is calm and patient with them. Just my opinion. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Cockerlover]

Cockers r normally great with kids!but do have a habit of jumping up ,if not taught correct behaviour .

One has to wonder why this pup is looking for a new home?

Personally i feel you would be better off getting a pup that you know something about its back ground, ie parentage ect .

This being a cross thats anyone's quess,but by meeting the pup you may get some ideas of temperament ,which is VERY inportant if it isto be bought up with kids

God luck anyway

[gareth]

One has to wonder why this pup is looking for a new home?

Personally i feel you would be better off getting a pup that you know something about its back ground, ie parentage ect .

This being a cross thats anyone's quess,but by meeting the pup you may get some ideas of temperament ,which is VERY inportant if it isto be bought up with kids

If that is the case, no rescue dogs would ever be rehomed. This pup needs a new home where it will be wanted, and the reason why is hardly important.

[persephone]

I agree-

she will not be a known 'breed'- she will have traits from both breeds .

Ask yourself if you are prepared for the grooming, the ear care, the excitability.... and if she has not been raised around kids.... what will she be like?

[puggy_puggy]

She is a cross so no way you can predict her looks or behaviour.

cocker spaniel cross poodle (apparently 3/4 cocker spaniel and 1/4 poodle) When people cross dogs you can't say it is half this and half that or a quater this and a quater that as genetics do not work that way.

At 9 months of age I would be also getting her to the vets for desexing quick smart. After paying $300 for her are you prepared to pay another $200 to $300 for her to be desexed?

I would suggest you meet the dog first and see how she fits into your family.

[gareth]

They want money for her? Bit rude. Surely a good home is the only priority.

[Cockerlover]

One has to wonder why this pup is looking for a new home?

Personally i feel you would be better off getting a pup that you know something about its back ground, ie parentage ect .

This being a cross thats anyone'ss quess,but by meeting the pup you may get some ideas of temperament ,which is VERY inportant if it isto be bought up with kids

If that is the case, no rescue dogs would ever be rehomed. This pup needs a new home where it will be wanted, and the reason why is hardly important.

Gareth ,you have jumped in before seeing what I meant

the op has already told us that the dog jumps up ;NOTE it is to be raised with children ,THAT was my number 1 concern

[gareth]

One has to wonder why this pup is looking for a new home?

Personally i feel you would be better off getting a pup that you know something about its back ground, ie parentage ect .This being a cross thats :rolleyes: anyone'ss quess,but by meeting the pup you may get some ideas of temperament ,which is VERY inportant if it isto be bought up with kids

If that is the case, no rescue dogs would ever be rehomed. This pup needs a new home where it will be wanted, and the reason why is hardly important.

Gareth ,you have jumped in before seeing what I meant

the op has already told us that the dog jumps up ;NOTE it is to be raised with children ,THAT was my number 1 concern

You think because the dog jumps up it should not go to a home that has children? That's just a straightforward training issue.

I was referring to the bolded bit of your post. The pup is known to it's current owners and a history can easily be given regarding her behaviour and temperament. Parentage may or may not be known, but does it really matter for a cross breed? The pup is nearly full grown anyway so should be easy enough to see what it's adult coat and temperament will be like.

Anyway Humbolt, good luck and let us know what she is like, and whether she is to be yours.

[poodlefan]

Every mix of these breeds I have met has been a nice dog.

I'd be a bit concerned but the "nearly" toilet trained comment and what sort of a start this youngster has had in life.

She should be quite trainable, so provided your children are Ok with her, I'd not be too concerned about any jumping up - that can be fixed.

And yes, she should be desexed ASAP. If you're paying for that, I think the dog should be FTGH. At 9 months she should be pretty well full grown so you should know what you're getting in terms of size, coat type etc.

[Humbolt]

Ok, firstly thank you all for the replies, very helpful suggestions.

We arrived and the owners met us outside the front of the house. Must have heard us arrive?? Just for the record, it is a friend of a friend and we had never met them before.

I must say she is a very cute pup. Light brindle in colour and seemed to be in very good condition. Didn't smell, shiny coat etc.

She was pretty excited and did jump around a little but no where near as much as i expected. Did seem quite shy.

My little one approached her several times and she didn't seem to be worried. Was even patting her towards the end of the 'meeting'. The pup did growl at one stage though which worried me a litte but it didn't seem menacing.

My eldest was quite taken by her but we didn't let him get to attached as we had explained we were just there to meet the puppy and see what happens from there.

The owners did have a lead on her and when no one was holding on to her she didn't run away or anything like that. She did seemed to get spooked by the lead though and the owner did comment she is a bit scared of the lead????

There are 2 other dogs in their family. She hasn't been walked very much in the last little while so obviously has lots of energy.

She sat on command and danced around on her hind legs briefly. They say she has had some training.

By the end of the 'meeting', she had obviously calmed down quite a bit and was quite interactive with the children. My eldest was pretty much sitting with her and she was sniffing his hair and seemed quite affectionate.

She didn't really come near me or my wife. Probably more near to my wife than me. Dogs usually come near me quite easily so it may just be me but i did wonder whether there had been a 'nasty' male influence in the past. I am a bit of a sceptic that being said

Questions: should i worry about where they brought the dog from?? Can you get dogs checked by a vet before purchasing for any problems? If so, is it worth it?? Any thing else i should think about?

[Jaxx'sBuddy]

it sounds a bit odd that they want $300 for her when they can no longer look after her.

if it was me i would go with my gut reaction, but that's just my opinion.

[Parkeyre]

THe following is sincerly only my opinion and observations..

$300 is a lot for such a dog.. not ovedience trained, toilet trained, leash shy, people shy,

we have puppies of that mix in my town often and they are little pains in the butts that end up in our RSPCA and put too sleep.

in saying that.. they sell here at our pet shops for $250 and are desexed and microchipped as puppies, for the friendship bonding.

The pup in question; i think should not shy away from the people that are going to feed her, walk her etc, and the dog sounds a too unstable for such a young family.

- - - -

why are the other two dogs remaining with the family? it's very odd that they just need to get rid of.. even for "personal reasons". was this dog stolen/found/inherited/contanimated with a less visable health condition, is it pregnant?

Being 9 months it is hardly a puppy, and i would think it would have a lot of habits by now,

[huski]

I agree with going with your instinct and if this dog feels like the right 'fit' for your family. I am sure the issues she has with being shy (sounds like she could be a bit fearful) can be resolved or managed with the right training. It is whether or not you are willing to take a dog on that might have some behaviourial problems or whether you want to start from 'scratch' with a puppy - although puppy training comes with it's own difficulties!

[Nekhbet]

brindle? when do cockers come in brindle??

honestly, a dog that exhibits shyness with people at its age (and the fact is is shy of having its leash trail) says no to me. Shy, spooked dogs and children are not a good mix for me. I would worry where they got it from, how old it was and what critical period training they did with the dog (ie how well they socialised it between 6-8 weeks to 16 weeks)

also the fact they are keeping the other two and suddenly this one has to go, i'm iffy on that too.

Vets can only check for so much (overall general look of the dog, knee caps and weight) and that dog should definately be desexed before she comes into season. If you want to do tests for joint problems, genetic diseases etc get ready for a massive hole in your pocket, plus the cost of desexing you will have to pay for.

[Dogsfevr]

Can you get dogs checked by a vet before purchasing for any problems? If so, is it worth it??

Not really but in our sales contract we highly recommend all puppy owners get there pup vet checked within 48 hrs.We also have sections on refunds etc etc.

I doubt these people will be in too that .I imagine they want there $300 & thats it.

also the fact they are keeping the other two and suddenly this one has to go, i'm iffy on that too.

Also agree.

Only you can decide.Yes it needs a home & all dogs deserve it BUT your family also deserves to purchase the right dog for life & sometimes saying no is the responsible thing to do.

If you go with yes then get a receipt in writing ,vacc cards etc etc

[poodlefan]

brindle? when do cockers come in brindle??

honestly, a dog that exhibits shyness with people at its age (and the fact is is shy of having its leash trail) says no to me. Shy, spooked dogs and children are not a good mix for me. I would worry where they got it from, how old it was and what critical period training they did with the dog (ie how well they socialised it between 6-8 weeks to 16 weeks)

also the fact they are keeping the other two and suddenly this one has to go, i'm iffy on that too.

Vets can only check for so much (overall general look of the dog, knee caps and weight) and that dog should definately be desexed before she comes into season. If you want to do tests for joint problems, genetic diseases etc get ready for a massive hole in your pocket, plus the cost of desexing you will have to pay for.

If she's a brindle, she's not the cross she's being advertised as.

9 months old, not properly toilet trained and not leash trained.. my guess is also very little socialisaition.

Frankly Humbolt I suspect you may be getting a whole heap of trouble. I'd suggest you either buy yourself a nice purebred pup from a decent breeder or head to a responsible rescue.

[WoofnHoof]

Is there a possiblility of getting someone to do a temp test on her? A professional trainer would be able to see potential problems and let you know whether it would be worth pursuing (obviously has to be an ethical trainer not just one who will tell you to get the dog and pay them lots to fix it), I'm probably being a bit sentimental in thinking that this dog is better off in a proper home rather than somewhere less desirable but it is also important that you are happy with your decision as well. It's better to get a suitable dog first up than to put yourselves and the animal through the trauma of being unsuitable if you know what I mean.

ETA I've heard people refer to brindle as a mix of shades of brown hair so it may depend on what your description of brindle is.

Edited March 11, 2009 by tkay

[luvsdogs]

I would not take on a dog that is timid. If you're not used to training dogs, then you'd be in for a lot of work. And being timid could be dangerous for your children especially the baby. Then there's the possibility of this dog having cocker rage syndrome. Apparently it's more prevalent in certain colours, the cocker ppl will be able to tell you if this could be a problem. Ethical breeders wouldn't breed known carriers, but with this pup you don't know. Most of what a puppy needs to know & learn, socialisation, needs to happen b4 16 w/o. Other wise as I said it takes a lot of time & commitment.