I live in blackpool, im thinking of getting a new dog as its been 3 years since my elderly monrel had to be put to sleep and there is a huge gap in my life! Im not sure which kind of dog to get though, so Id like to have a look at some different breeds before I decide. a friend suggested blackpool pet shop world as thats were she got her collie from, she says you can go round and look at all the various breeds and they give you lots of advice. I am thinking maybe a collie or spaniel would be best as Id prefer a medium sized dog which likes lots of long walks, can anyone advise which is best breed to choose and if this is the best place to geta  puppy, if not, where else is a good place? dont want one from rspca as I dont agree with them they just want to make money

A BIG NO NO to pet shops. Decide what breed would suit your lifestyle,  do alot of homework on the breed.  Speak to bread clubs, owners etc.  Meet with the dogs.  Then and only then when you are completely sure that it is the breed for you contact reputable breeders that do health checks etc. You can get these from breed clubs (which is probably worth joining first). Or go to specific breed rescues. But under no circumstances go to a pet shop.
Emma
Getting off of her soap box lowering her blood pressure....

I agree with you Emma. Pet shops are NOT a place to get a pup from.

Guest, can you find out if there are any shows close to you in the near future? The Kennel Club can help you there. That way you could go and have a look at the dogs and speak to the people there - so long as they are not just about to go in the ring :D This way you can find out about any problems in a breed to look out for. Get in touch with the breed club of the breed you like, they will be able to point you in the right direction.

The best place to buy a puppy is direct from its (breed specialist) breeder, but the RSPCA is a better bet than a pet shop. Pet shop puppies come from puppy farmers and other commercial breeders who have no interest in the welfare of the pups after they have left their premises, and are even more interested in the money!

Don't buy a puppy if you haven't seen it with its mother.
:)

Don't buy from this shop as another poster said if you decide on a certain breed contact their breed rescue.  Good luck in your search.

NEVER buy a dog from any kind of shop. Think about it? What sort of breeder would sell their puppies to a third party without any idea of where they will end up?  Always buy direct from a breeder who will give you any support you may need later on. have alook here, make a shortlist of possible breeds, then research those breeds with the breed clubs who can then give you contacts for reputable breeders. You can also look here on Champdogs as well of course!

Guest,

Once you decide on a breed try the breed rescue.  They're not out to make money, you get the breed you want, and they'll give you advice and support for as long as you need it.

Joe :)

I don't know if you get this TV show over there, but here in the US is a show called animal cops. The other night I was watching it and it showed a horrible, horrible puppy farm in Houston Texas. Those pathetic puppies were in cages in deplorable conditions, in their own feces, no water.... all stacked up....hundreds of them. These are the kinds of places that supply pet shops, as do other back yard breeders. To purchase a dog from a pet store or a back yard breeder, no matter how much you feel sorry for the pup and want to give it a good home, you are then supporting these detestable people. If no one gave them business, they'd go out of business.

As it was said, look for a REPUTABLE breeder or go through a rescue organization and save a dog who's already on death row. A lot of those pups from mills end up in rescue anyhow. But you're not paying for them other than a small fee to help support the rescue organization. You're not feeding these creepy greeders.

If you're not sure what breed is right for you, there's lots of good descriptions of different breeds on line. You can type in something like, "What dog breed is right for me" and see what comes up.

Good luck.

Carrie

Definately do NOT buy a pup from this pet shop, or any other!

If you want a pedigree, go to a breeder, this does take time, and you wont be able to pick a pup instantly.
However, this is going to be your best friend for the next 10-15 years or more! So taking a bit of time now, will save you a LOT of heartache in the future.

If you want a rescue, then there are breed rescues for specific pedigree breeds, depending on the popularity of the breed there will be a waiting list. You should expect to be homechecked, and fill out some form of questionnaire. Most breed rescues will then sort out a dog that fits your lifestyle.

If you want a crossbreed, mutt, mongrel, lurcher etc, then there are the big name rescues, RSPCA, Dogs Trust, or there are smaller rescue centres. Some of these small rescues dont have a kennels premises but have their dogs in foster homes, so if you take a dog from them, depending on how long its been in a foster home for, you will get a good idea of how it is with other dogs, men, women, cats, kids, off lead, on lead, being left, etc.
Again, expect to be homechecked, and questioned.

I have seen a number of dogs that have been bought from Pet World in blackpool, and also a similar place in the manchester area..... all the ones i have seen are bad examples of their breed (frequently too small, bad coats, bad hips, general poor health, and behavioural problems), and i have heard a lot of stories about pups that have died after just a few days in their new homes.
As nice as it would be to 'rescue' a dog from one of these places, once you have paid for YOUR pup, you have just consigned another pup to take its place,a nd start its life in the worst possible way. Please dont do it!

Have a good think about the kind of life you can offer your dog, and research the breeds that you like, and hopefuly find one that matches. Do go and meet several examples of the breeds y ou like, as i have found out, that on paper, and in pictures a dog can seem fantastic, and then you meet one and find you dont like it at all! Conversely, you might not like the looks of a dog in a photo, but when you meet one they win you over completely (i was looking recently for a rough coated lurcher, deerhound x type, i now have an older saluki x bitch, and i wouldnt change her for the world!)...

Good luck!
Em