Need a dog! General Chat

Don`t worry Melzy, I can understand where you are coming from, it must be so frustrating waiting to hear from anyone you have contacted and travel difficulties, and to be so desperate to fill the void which all of us can understand.

When my vehicle is poorly I`m at the mercy of the one bus a day which I have seen go past occasionally but still have no idea where its bus stop is and a taxi to go three miles into town or to the station is a tenner each way and has to be booked a day in advance, [ the joys of living in the sticks even though only three miles from civilisation ! ].

I`m sure you would find your perfect Collie through Wiccaweys but the length of time travelling from Scotland to the Midlands and back on trains, buses and taxi`s could be a logistical nightmare :?

It`s all very well for anyone to say they would and have travelled here there and everywhere for the right companion, and yes I`ve done it myself, but its not always so easy for anyone not having their own transport or being off the beaten track for a good public transport system :?

I agree Patch I dont drive so I'm at the mercy of Ian, luckily were both dog lovers so its not a problem but if we had separate interest would be WW3.
seriously though we delivered one of the last litter to the midlands because we'd chatted a few times on the phome and i knew she' dmaek a good owner and on the other side of the scale one of my puppy buyers flew up from Bournmouth because it was cheaper than driving and we met them at the airport.
Also I think it comes down to confidence although I'm a very conficent person I hate using public transport alone wont even get a train unless I have to.

I know transport can be a problem, I live in a tiny village with 2 buses a day !

However, Melzy is implying that she won't travel UNTIL she actually has a pup to go and visit !!

The point of my last post was that many good breeders want a feel for the person BEFORE the pups are here, so they have homes waiting and have a chance to meet people beforehand.

I also mentioned that most good breeders dont like to do business about puppies just via email, when a phone call is more personal and seen to be making more effort, and again, they like to get a feel for someone, yes Melzy keeps stating that she communicates via emails !

I just find it strange that someone who so desperately wants a dog from a good breeder seems to want to make very little effort to put a breeders mind at rest by calling and visiting ! JMO

Melzy
Just to clarify. Are you looking for a rescue collie or one from a breeder. Are you looking for one which is KC reg with all the health checks etc? Bear in mind that rescues will generally not give you the paperwork for the dog.
As I've said in a previous thread. Contact the Border Collie Club of Great Britain or one of the regional clubs for recommendations for breeders. I would also give the breeders a call as some like to speak to a person and get a feel for them before inviting them to come and look at a litter.

As Malady said in an earlier post, most breeders prefer a phone call. Can you call your breeder?

Melzy ,

|Whilst I can understand that distance is a problem because you don't drive. as others have said a lot of breeders want to check you out first before comitting a puppy to someone they have only been in touch with by e mail. A Phone call may help and I personally think that you have to be prepared to meet the breeder half-way as most are just as anxious to check you out and make sure you are the right person to have one of their precious pups, as you are to find the pup best suited to you.


I don't breed but I know that if I did I would not be prepared to consider letting any of my puppies go to someone I had just had email contact from.

If you need to have a puppy - as per the title of your post- then if it was me I I would be determined to work out a way of getting there, no matter how difficult it was to do so.

I agree with the others a TELEPHONE CALL is definately the way to go at first. I think emails are ok but it looks like your trying to HIDE behind them, and not speaking to breeders or rescue's will give this impression.
I don't breed, but years ago when I worked for the RSPCA I hand-reared a BC puppy when people started offering homes for her, I would never reply to those that 'sent letters' through the post (the puppy had been in the papers)......I felt straight away, if they didn't phone in then I wouldn't bother.
Believe me I had some real 'Sob Story Letters' but they didn't bother contacting me personnally which is what was requested in the paper, so I ignored them.
Thats what good breeders will do too. As I said in one of my earlier answers there are rescue's that will home too and those will probably be nearer, but you will have to visit them, as they will want you to fill in alot of paperwork and want to see you face to face.

Sometimes you need to be mindful of how many breeders you contact. Many breeders within a locality and further afield will be in regular contact with each other through shows, visits to stud etc and they often discuss enquiries they have had regarding puppies.

Reputable breeders like to think (and have a right to trust) you are interested in their dogs because of their kennels reputation and if they find out that a person has contacted every breeder in the vicinity they may come to the conclusion that someone is just after 'any' puppy and not really interested in their particular lines.

For most breeders who have waiting lists there will be prospective puppy buyers who want a dog from them for specific reasons and they will rightly try to help those people first.

Telephone calls ARE best, keep a note of who you have called and what they tell you.

Melzy, You obviously have a lot of love to give a dog so I would persevere in looking for a puppy or young dog from a rescue, you could do so much good for a dog that may otherwise be PTS, transport issues to collect or visit a potential companion are a minor thing in the lifetime of owning a dog and can be overcome if you really want to.

I CAN NOT JUST TURN UP AT PEOPLES DOORS THAT DO NOT KNOW ME,alot of breeders have livestock and after all it is spring lambing season!and if the didnt want me to email why the hell would they have a site all about there dogs with email if you are intrested in one of our dogs pups ect EMAIL ME,and if they wanted me to phone dont you think the number would be on there site or dont you think they would give me it so i could phone them?

if the breeders askd me to phone them i would if they asked me to vist i would,

Not many breeders who register their pups with the KC will have sheep.
If you're specifically looking for an ISDS dog that's different, most ISDS breeders won't routinely carry out the range of health screening that show breeders do however, mainly they will just do eye and hearing testing.
Nothing at all against ISDS dogs, just that I think you mentioned wanting a KC pup with all the health checks.

You are right though, you cannot just turn up unanounced, breeders with young pups will restrict the amount of visitors they have.

When I was looking for a pup I made a point of only contacting breeders who had a contact telephone number on their site, you can never be sure with email that the intended recipient got the message.
In the end it was on the recommendation of one of the breeders I contacted who did not have a pup available themselves that I found Chris Green.

I am sorry Melzy but you seem to be putting obstacles in the way of every reply given to you here when people are only trying to help.

Please do not use Capitals as that is considered shouting.

When we were looking for another dog/pup. I went onto the web and found the rescue site where we got Bruce from. There was no telephone number, but there was a link that you could email to get it. The following day I recieved the number and phoned. Ok I admitt the rescue people were in Acocks Green which is a couple of miles away, but Ben (the guy who rescued) didn't arrange to see me that day he said 'what about next wednesday' which was almost a week away. Ben has been in touch every week(regular) with us enquiring about Bruce......and he's not a breeder, he is a BC rescue man. (rescues from puppy farms or Bitches and Dogs that have been 'No good' as workers) he even asks to see him.....thats what happens I'm afraid he is still interested in Bruce's welfare.....and I wouldn't have it any other way. Sometimes he asks me to come and see him so he can see Bruce.....I don't put obstacles in the way. I think Melzy you sound as if you want someone to bring you a puppy ( I'm not saying you do, just that you sound like that through your posts) where you live there are rescue centre not that far from you and if you can not get breeders interested, can you not rescue one ....even a x collie. Two of mine are rescues......no papers or anything, but that doean't make them anymore a 'Less' a Border Collie than the other one.

Melzy,
There's been a lot of very good advice given here, now here's something more:-

First, never ever deal with any business on the internet who does not provide a real address and a real telephone number.

If the people you've been looking at only have an e-mail then ignore them, likewise you don't need to be invited to make a phone call, provided you are polite and have done some research any decent breeder will talk to you.

Second, take a deep breath and calm down, all good things come to those who wait, I abhore the modern idiom of "I want it and I want it now" it says to me what is wrong with society in so many ways.

Be patient, save up your pennies and vist a rescue in person or telephone them.

Finally, if I was breeeder I wouldn't even consider replying to an e-mail which didn't ask the right questions e.g.
"Could you tell me a convienient time when I could phone you to discuss this further" or words to that effect.

You need to ring the breed club as previously suggested and ask them for the contact numbers of any breeders with litters available or due, thats were I sell all my puppies as I dont advertise. My email address is on their website but if I get a speculative mail I either let them know I dont have a litter or I email them my phone number and ask them to call me for a chat.

im trying to reserch different breeders so i can make the right choice what is wrong with that? ive read and heard dont get show dog what they have look wise they might lack in temprement! dont get a farm bred dog they might have to much eye and chase instinct! i just want a healthy pup that i can do flyball ect ect with

Hi Melzy,

http://www.pkc.gov.uk/Transport and...s/Auchterarder and Crieff Area Timetables.htm

That link might help you with transport to PADS - and also if you look at other pages there is pretty much transport throughout Perthshire.

Also PADS are very good at matching a dog to your requirements eg obedience/flyball etc (I know I have dealt with themm in the past) however they would want to meet you first, and if they and you decide a pup is the best option they will put you on a waiting list and contact you when they get a litter, a pup or a pregnant bitch in.

Also I will PM you a local breeder s details (as don't know if I am allowed to post them)

i just emailed second chance kennels they have collies they never normally

Love the look of Doodles - I'd give them a call aswell as emailing 01592 771933

Good Luck

Hi I have just had a look and I agree with you . Doodles appeals to me too.