Hi everyone

My husband and I would like to get a dog.  We both work full time but Mr P is a self employed joiner so would be able to take the dog to work with him most days (so it must be good in the car) and on other days come home to let it out at lunch time.  Mr P has had bad experiences with rescue dogs in the past but we don't have the time to commit to having a young puppy as although going to work with him, he wouldn't be able to fuss over it all day, take it for toilet breaks every hour etc.  Then it would get lots of fuss from me on an evening!

After researching we would like either a cocker spaniel or minature schnauzer - i've tried the rescue places specifically for these breeds and they don't have any at the moment.

I wondered whether any breeders keep puppies for showing until they are a bit older, and then maybe if they're not good enough to show would want to sell them at a later date when they are a bit older?  I've also posted this in general as I wanted sure where to ask.

If not I suppose it is just a case of keep looking in rescue places for one that we like (of any small-ish breed).  There seem to be a lot in there that can't travel which is no good.

Thanks for any advice :-)

Hi - Yes, you're right.  Many breeders do run on young dogs to see if they'll reach show potential and then sell them.  But that would be, say, around 6-9 months old - probably no more than a year old.  A 6 month old cocker spaniel is going to be into everything and need just as much watching as a puppy, in my opinion - not for toilet training but for just generally being into everything!  It might be a better idea to get an older rescue dog but to make sure that you know its history and reason for being rehomed.  Also, any decent rescue organisation will take back a dog if you discover an unsavoury side to it - you're not stuck with a dog which has behavioural problems you didn't know about.