Hi,

Wondered if you would be able to help. We are looking for a retriever and are still deciding whether to go down the rescue or puppy route. I have found a breeder who is selling a 12 month old female retriever as too heavy build for breeding, and has been brought up with lots of other dogs. If we did take her on, she would be an only dog. Do you think this would be hard for her to adjust? Also training wise, is this a difficult age in their training to adjust?

Any help much appreciated.

Many thanks
Julie

My boy is a rescue dog at 17 months.
He is a Lab/Border Collie cross
Now 9 and a half
Have had dogs before but this one is something very special!
He was awful when we first got him!!!!!!!!!
Took some training!!!!!!
Now, what a super dog wouldn't be with out him.
Awful on a lead, but will walk to heel off.

Retriever's are hard work but have a lovely nature, loyal, loving, and generally big softies. ok?

Hi Julie

I'd expect this breeder to be advising you about her suitability as an only dog.  Some dogs do very well, others better, as an only dog but it doesn't suit them all.

If they are moving her on for not meeting their breeding standards I'd be keen to ensure that they are still as vigorous in their vetting process for her as they are for a young puppy.  I'd be more comfortable if their reasons for not keeping her were about showing rather than breeding as it says a little more about the type of breeder they are. They really ought to be discussing these issues with you at length.  Do ask them about the health checks and records they have for the dam and sire.

Regarding your questions about training - this may depend on her upbringing.  A good breeder will have trained her exactly as she would her other dogs.  If she comes from a show home then this will have involved ring craft training (excellent background for grooming and handling).  Do be cautious about what you are taking on (or rather, where you are getting her from) but don't worry too much about general training.  You can teach an old dog new tricks so a youngster like her shouldn't be too difficult :) **Just a thought...is she a kennel dog?  If so, then housetraining will be more difficult (but not impossible if you have the time)

Good luck with your decision

Thank you for your replies. I have not spoken to the breeder yet, just a couple of emails and she has asked me to call her so we can discuss further. I just thought I would post on here before speaking for some advice. I am in two minds, she is beautiful, and taking on a dog past the first year may suit us better, but I dont want to inherit any "problems".

Will call her over the weekend and enquire more.

Thank you.

>I have not spoken to the breeder yet, just a couple of emails and she has asked me to call her so we can discuss further. I just thought I would post on here before speaking for some advice.

Yes, makes sense.  In many ways an older dog can be perfect.  We had a rescue dog that was, according to the vet (he was a stray), app 10 or 11 months.  We didn't miss the puppy stage and we didn't suffer training issues either.  However in his case he is a livestock chaser (terrier type) and we might have done a little better with that if he'd come to us sooner. 

I know you won't want to hit the breeder with a huge list of questions over the phone but it's worth asking them to describe her living conditions to you and her daily routine, including training.  This will give you an idea of her home environment.  You can ask for information about her parentage too but don't forget that you can check the breeders affix before you call or visit.  This gives you a chance to see what type of breeder they are - incidentally how did you find them?  Do be cautious about adverts on some websites.  These breeders might not be as good as they appear and we've had some terrible stories on CD about new owners inadvertantly buying from puppy farmers, and letting themselves in for huge vet bills and worse.

How exciting for you - choosing your new dog.  Makes me feel a bit puppy broody :)

We took on a 3 yr old retriever from a breeder who was "reducing her stock"!!! We were very wary and even more so when we went to see the bitch involved. She was so quiet, we thought she had been given tranquilisers and not very resposive to attention. Her big brown eyes looked so sad, and that was me in love. She is now 7 years old and a very valued member of our family. It took about 2 yrs to gain her confidence and to bring her out of the institutional stupour of being a breeding bitch but now so worth patience. I can't even say that it was hard work, just time, love and tenderness. I thought we may have trouble with toilet training as she had lived as a kennel dog for 3 yrs, but she did not have one single accident. She is still a reserved dog not like our springer spaniel (also a rescue) who is my shadow but now she can play with a ball (this took months) and walks like a dream on lead. She has a problem with recall in the park and is still a work in progress and so long as you stay where she left you she will come back in her own time. She has the patience of a saint with our springer, who can be very scatty even though they are both the same age. He adores her and snuggles up to her to sleep. I hope this is a help with your decision.  

> I'd be more comfortable if their reasons for not keeping her were about showing rather than breeding as it says a little more about the type of breeder they are. They really ought to be discussing these issues with you at length.  Do ask them about the health checks and records they have for the dam and sire.

As someone who can only keep a few dogs due to the lease agreement, if the bitch puppy that I had kept didn't come up to my standards and I still had the chance of breeding from her mum using a different dog, then I would rehome a youngster whilst it was young enough to move on without too much bother. Older dogs can take time to readjust to a new owner, whereas a younger one is far more capable of settling in. At least this breeder is being to herself about what she is breeding. This particular bitch is not what she wants, so why keep it for the rest of its life when it could enjoy a family home as an only dog.

The OP should definately find out more about the reasons why the breeder isn't keeping the young bitch. If it has health issues they need to know abut them. If it is just because it isn't quite what the breeder was hoping to breed then they also need to know so they can put aside any other issues they may worry about.

Thank you for all your replies and private messages. I am not sure if they post on here so would not want to give out details but we have decided against her. I think I would be happier with a puppy or going through golden retriever rescue and then at least I would have someone assess the dog, who is far more knowledgeable than I am.

Thank you for all your help.