Affordable ways to get a dog for first time owner

[dashfield]

Hi everyone

I know there's a lot of dog owners on here so I wanted to get some ideas and advice.

We've been thinking about getting a dog for a while but they're so expensive at the moment I was wondering if there are more affordable ways to get a dog?

I grew up with dogs at home but never actually had one of my own. My wife has never had a dog but is starting to come round to the idea. We have 4 children from 12yrs to 3 yrs, so it needs to be a family friendly dog.

I know of course there are dog rescue centres, but I've heard these might not be a good solution for a first time owner or loud chaotic family situation. You don't know the history of the dog and what they've been through and this can really effect their behaviour, and I'm not sure we can cope with that as first timers. I've heard they can also be a risk for younger children which worries me.

I like Miniature Schaunzers but puppies are going for £2-3k at the moment and I just don't have that kind of cash at the moment. I'm open to other breeds, but nothing too big or that sheds a lot.

Is there a middle ground? Is it a case of registering interest with some breeders and waiting for a dog to be returned after 6 months or something? Although I guess they're still going to be a high price.

If we need to wait until prices come down a bit or we have more money (or both) that's fine. But I just thought I would ask the question.

[markl]

Hi

We got a dog for our daughter, then 14, 5 years ago. We wanted something small that didn't shed a lot and decided on a Jackapoo !

We found a lady locally who bred from her Jack Russell bitch to have a puppy for her niece - the other 3 she sold. We went to the house and my daughter picked one.

It has been a great dog, mainly due to the work my wife has put in, with puppy classes and obedience. But we have have just been lucky!

I think we paid £250 for him, on Gumtree iirc.

In my experience don't underestimate the ongoing costs, time and effort you have to put in, and the small amount of help your children will be when it comes to walking, cleaning up, etc !

Good luck.

Mark

[xellos99]

i would still phone a rescue centre and ask, they dont only have older dogs with issues. some of them are great young dogs barely out of the puppy stage and a bundle of joy.

people buy them and cant handle the responsibility after a few weeks and end up giving it to the centre. of course there are many problem dogs there but if you phone and explain they will know what you are after.

[oldoakknives]

To be honest with 4 children between 12 and 3 I don’t think it’s a good idea. Unless you know how much time and effort is involved of course. Remember a dog isn’t another thing on the list to acquire, it’s a living thing which will need your attention for the next 10-15 years perhaps.
Also there is the expense involved with insurance and vets fees which aren’t cheap.
I’m not just being negative honestly but it’s often a lot of hard work owning and bringing up a dog. I love dogs and can’t imagine not having one, but I see a lot of dogs around 18 months- 2 years old who need rehoming, who just never had enough time or attention spent on them. Often they’re described as ‘just too lively’ or ‘we just don’t have the time for him/her’. Many are biters who have bitten because they were mistreated by children who just don’t understand how dogs think. Some end up being put down or in and out of shelters.
If you do it properly then having a dog will be the best thing you ever did for you and your children.
Get it wrong and it will be the dog who suffers.

[Saint-Just]

Not all dogs are pure breed (they are the ones that command the cash). There are “accidental” litters where the bitch wandered off, or the owner didn’t know she was in season, etc.
Gumtree: the difficulty is sorting the genuine fortuitous litter from a puppy mill but the owner shouldn’t have a problem with you meeting their vet to confirm the number of litters.
Old fashioned way: word of mouth, speak to a local vet (if there is such a litter, a vet involved possibly indicates careful owner).
Your local FB group (village, parish council: just ask there. Someone will know of someone else whose neighbour...)
Expect to pay north of £250, because of puppy vaccinations but also because it makes them too expensive for laboratories.
As to character: you can tell a little from the mother, you can tell a little more from the puppy (not too dominant, not fearful or too submissive) but a lot of what a dog becomes is down to the owners, be it puppy class training for the owner(s), socialisation with both humans and dogs, consistency...
Good luck!

[bloater]

With a young family you may struggle with rescue centre's, sometime it can seem like they don't want to re-home animals especially dogs. Don't get me wrong I'm not anti rescue eight of the fourteen animals we have at home are rescues.

Gumtree can be a nightmare at the moment for animals we wanted a kitten during the last lockdown after having our old rescue cat put to sleep, and we were messed around several times it was getting silly, we did eventually find one.

Puppy prices increased during the last lockdown I'm not sure if they have fallen since my 3 year old Cocker spaniels breeder had another litter and the price was nearly four times what we paid. Which is crazy.
We went with a puppy rather than a rescue due to the local rescue centre's not being overly welcoming of anyone with children despite ours being teenage and having grown up around dogs.
What doesn't help prices is now any old mongrel will be given a name and it becomes the next designer fad in dogs.
If your not worried about breed then you can find various dogs from £250 upwards, I'd recommend visiting a couple of times and follow your gut, if your not happy with anything just walk away.

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[dashfield]

Thanks for all the ideas and advice. I understand some of you having concerns about bringing a dog into our household but I think it would get a lot of love.

We live on the edge of a village right next to big fields and lots space, so walking the dog regularly isn’t a problem. The kids would love it to bits and are all very keen, but I agree it would need to have the right character.

Two of my sisters have dogs and often talk to me about all the costs and challenges involved, but equally they love their dogs and wouldn’t change them for the world.

Talking to people locally is a good idea and I’m sure there’s a few vets around so I’ll contact them too.

Will keep you posted.


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[oldoakknives]

It sounds like you have thought about it a lot so that is good.
I hope you find the right dog, if so you could have many happy years together.

[Chinese_Alan]

Have the prices gone up due to lockdown and subsequent demand increases?

Crazy, a dog is for life etc.

[valleywatch]

Have the prices gone up due to lockdown and subsequent demand increases?

Crazy, a dog is for life etc.

It would appear so!

5 weeks ago. I bought a lovely Cockapoo puppy....I got him locally to me.....looking at prices online etc...I got him relatively"cheap!".

Not what Id call cheap though! Apparently, the prices have doubled maybe trebled for dogs since Covid.

We got him through a website pets4homes.............have a quick look on there...Im sure you will be pretty surprised at the cost of dogs these days!

[Kingstepper]

Maybe stupid idea but are retired greyhounds okay with children?

Admittedly had no kids but my brother had one and was very calm and gentle.

[number2]

Back in early 2019 our loyal Fell terrier passed away, it wouldn't be a lie to say we were heartbroken, we sort of knew that at some point we'd be ready again for a dog but what with Covid we put the idea firmly to the back of our minds, not quite two months ago her indoors was scanning the 'Dogs trust' website and happened across a 16 month old mutt 200 miles away in Edinburgh, the rest is as they say - history, £160.00 well spent, a companion who's settling in very well, no insurmountable problems - regular walks, regular meals, routine and affection.
There are tons of dogs wanting needing new homes and you really don't have to spend a fortune to give a mutt another chance of a great future.

[oldoakknives]

Have the prices gone up due to lockdown and subsequent demand increases?

Crazy, a dog is for life etc.

Yes apparently prices have gone up due to increased demand during lockdown. As have thefts of dogs and pups.

[maccado]

We've been going through the process of getting a puppy and it is a minefield. All the breeders seem to have closed there waiting list due to demand. It is very difficult to judge from online adverts who is genuine and who is not, which hasn't been helped by lockdown 2. We have now paid a deposit for a pup that will be ready in December through the pets4home website

[bigvic]

TIt is difficult, I grew up with a dog but my wife and I didn’t get one until our daughter was 8 when we figured she was capable enough to share in the responsibility of a dog in the family.

We are hoping to bring a 4 year old Cocker into our home by next week who’s owners are having a tough time due to the changes the Covid situation has had on their family, they’ve had to take the hard decision to rehome him.
I can imagine how hard it must be, but if we were in the same I honestly don’t think I would rehome any dog I’ve owned to a family with a 3 year old. Sorry.

Perhaps with a puppy it may be different but then you’re talking ££££.
If you still decide you’re getting a dog be careful of sites like preloved, pets for homes and free adds, many puppy farms and greedy breeders post on there so do your research. We saw what must be a new record last week, a Cocker Spaniel for £5000!!!

By the way if you’re after a dog that doesn’t shed don’t get fooled into thinking any dog that is bred with a little bit of poodle doesn't moult, it’s a mix breed so there’s no guarantee what you’re going to get.

[markbannister]

We got a retired greyhound with a 2 year old daughter back in 2007, it was no problem but I guess it depends on the dog.

Rescue all the way, any respectable centre will advise on suitability for the environment.

Maybe stupid idea but are retired greyhounds okay with children?

Admittedly had no kids but my brother had one and was very calm and gentle.

[Brighty]

We got our first dog from Dogs trust about 12 years ago before we had kids, a puppy of a few months old. Great dog, sadly no longer with us.

When we wanted a new dog, dogs trust wouldn't give us anything, cos we had young kids 7&8, not even a puppy, not that they get them very often.

In the end we 'rescued' 2 dogs from a website called 'pets4homes', basically a freeads site for selling pets. There were loads on there advertised for free or under £50. Not a great idea to ever advertise a dog on there, you never know who could be picking up the free muts, but it did us a turn and got us 2 great little pooches and we saved 2 from god knows what

[Bonzodog]

For what it’s worth,forget the designer dogs and get a mutt.Less problems with health,a rescue centre is worth looking at,you used to be able to interact with the dogs and see which one would suit you best,but not sure in these Covid times.

[Middo]

Rescue centres have puppy’s also. In laws have a whippet/Luther cross, they think he was circa 12 months old when they got him. Thick as mince, and soft as a pile of feathers covered in cotton wool. As long as he has smooth FM on at least once a day he’s brilliant.

They might just have got lucky, they said dogs trust were great and provided some training sessions.

Good luck

[Brighty]

I just had a look on the dogs trust site, of the 261 dogs listed in all Uk homes, a grand total of 6 are allowed to go to homes with primary school age kids (either 8 or 10 minimum age) and zero ok to go with pre school kids. As i said in my post, if you have young kids, dogs trust wont give you anything

[Chinese_Alan]

Yes apparently prices have gone up due to increased demand during lockdown. As have thefts of dogs and pups.

I read about that, what a way to live...basically stealing family members.

[Bluemoon7]

I think a dog enhances any home and is particularly good for children of all ages. I have two.... a working Springer Spaniel (Ossie) and a rescue (Clyde). Clyde is a Munsterlander and was dumped in Crete along with his sister Bonnie and left to die in a cement bag. Odd really as Munsterlanders are not just quite rare and hard to get, but are also very expensive and worth a lot. I had no idea what he was and had never heard of this breed. Anyway, we got him and he is the gentlest and most loving dog that I have had the privilege of owning. I have had many rescue dogs, in fact all of them have been rescue with the exception of Ossie. It saddens me when I hear people bracket all rescue dogs as damaged, unpredictable or possible risks (having said that I saw something on here over the weekend that basically said the same about kids in care, which is one of my areas of work!). Many rescues also have puppies and as we all know, puppies are a blank slate. The best breed is a rescue in my opinion, start there with a responsible rescue centre. Someone also mentioned rescued or retired greyhounds, great and very gentle dogs, although as with most sighthounds, if they take off after something they will be in the next county before you can get a whistle in your mouth to recall.

I am also a member of five dog forums for working dogs and agility. A few things not to do..... Do not buy any dog from Gumtree or other sites like that. Every day, I am getting inundated with posts regarding stolen dogs (usually more than one a day). These are not just high value working dogs, but houses broken into where litters of puppies have been stolen or dogs taken out of cars. Some have been stolen from people out walking with them and the reason is that the price of dogs has gone through the roof and puppies or bitches that can breed are worth a lot of money to organised gangs. They end up on Gumtree and other websites a lot of the time, or being sold to people who don't really know what they are doing in terms of buying a dog that has had the appropriate health checks, etc. Other dogs are just stolen to be used as bait dogs and get ripped apart, its madness out there at the moment. Some of these little adverts are actually organised criminal gangs.

The people that I knock around with in the working dog world, and associated breeders have not done the unethical thing and pushed prices through the roof with their litters. They have reputations and are not out to make a quick buck. Their pups are being sold to working dog handlers / families for roughly the same as they were 18 months ago. My ESS from a line of good working stock was £650. We have recently seen some Labradors, Spaniels, GSP's, etc going for upwards of £3,000 being sold to gullible people wanting a dog but not knowing about health scoring, etc. The worst ones though are the designer dogs, that are basically beautiful mongrels - Cockerpoos, Labradoodles, etc, or the popular breeds at the moment - French Bulldogs, Pugs, Dachshunds, etc. It is heart-breaking to see so many dogs being bought without any thought to where they have come from and whether they have come from puppy farms, etc. The prices are bonkers and the breeding is often irresponsible and heartbreakingly sad.

Get a dog, it will be great for you and your children. Do it responsibly though and take time to research where not to but dogs or other animals... Good luck and let us know how you get on.

[Neil.C]

Maybe stupid idea but are retired greyhounds okay with children?

Admittedly had no kids but my brother had one and was very calm and gentle.

All the Greyhounds I have known have been very placid, just watch them with cats in the garden!

Plenty of ex racers needing homes.

A good choice IMO.

[oldoakknives]

..........................
I am also a member of five dog forums for working dogs and agility. A few things not to do..... Do not buy any dog from Gumtree or other sites like that. Every day, I am getting inundated with posts regarding stolen dogs (usually more than one a day). These are not just high value working dogs, but houses broken into where litters of puppies have been stolen or dogs taken out of cars. Some have been stolen from people out walking with them and the reason is that the price of dogs has gone through the roof and puppies or bitches that can breed are worth a lot of money to organised gangs. They end up on Gumtree and other websites a lot of the time, or being sold to people who don't really know what they are doing in terms of buying a dog that has had the appropriate health checks, etc. Other dogs are just stolen to be used as bait dogs and get ripped apart, its madness out there at the moment. Some of these little adverts are actually organised criminal gangs.

.............................

This.

[dashfield]

Thanks so much for all the replies. I've had a good look at the Dogs Trust website and there's some lovely looking dogs on there - it breaks my heart and I want to take them all home:)

As Brighty said there's none appropriate for younger children at the moment, but I'll keep an eye on the website and see what comes up. We're in no hurry so we'll see what happens.

[Bonzodog]

Thanks so much for all the replies. I've had a good look at the Dogs Trust website and there's some lovely looking dogs on there - it breaks my heart and I want to take them all home:)

As Brighty said there's none appropriate for younger children at the moment, but I'll keep an eye on the website and see what comes up. We're in no hurry so we'll see what happens.

Good call to wait,decide in haste ,repent at leisure as the saying goes.

[markbannister]

As I said earlier she was great with my 2 years old daughter (this was taken a good few years later).

[manganr]

I haven't read the whole thread but there's no such thing as a cheap dog. As soon as there are problems, vets don't come cheap and medication doesn't either. The last six months of my dogs life were costing £180 a month.
It is however a wonderful thing to have a dog and regardless of cost I wouldn't be without one.

[oldoakknives]

Thanks so much for all the replies. I've had a good look at the Dogs Trust website and there's some lovely looking dogs on there - it breaks my heart and I want to take them all home:)

As Brighty said there's none appropriate for younger children at the moment, but I'll keep an eye on the website and see what comes up. We're in no hurry so we'll see what happens.

I'm glad you aren't rushing into anything. Take your time and the right one will come along, hopefully a dog needing you as much as you need them.

[langtoft lad]

Adding my voice to get a Retired Greyhound... so placid and undemanding. Full of character too.
My vet said "never met an aggressive greyhound"

[bootneck]

From experience a few years back dogstrust won’t rehome a dog to a home with children under 7/8, we had set our hearts on a 6 month old boxer that the owners couldn’t cope with after our previous boxer had died of old age sadly because of the age of our daughter at the time we couldn’t adopt. We ended up finding a reputable breeder and getting a cracking boxer puppy who’s almost 8 now and loved to bits by the kids, I understand their reluctance and they have their rules for a reason but sadly with a 3 year old I don’t think you’ll stand a chance.