CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => General Cocker Spaniel Discussion => Topic started by: minimoo on July 20, 2008, 08:16:28 AM
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i have been looking for a third dog now for a few months i really want a small show type and kizzys breeder has a litter of nearly 5 week old pups, i have now just been offered a 2 year old , i think mainly working cocker, the people have had a baby and dont walk her anymore, shes here with me now for the weekend and shes lovely, shes house trained gets on with my dogs ,ignores my cats is great natured, theres absolutley nothing wrong with her apart from shes fat and i mean fat, i cant see what shes like underneath all of the fat,i keep weighing up having her instead of a pup, less work , shes free and spayed so wont cost me anything really, trained ,no vices at moment ,i can pick up her paws and look at her teeth ,and ears ,shes good in the car, but im not excited about her TBH ,before i saw her the woman who told me about her said shes tiny and black and i was expecting a different dog, i dont know what to do, i think im going to feel bad either way, i keep thinking of how hard a puppy will be and it would save me about £500 but will i regret not getting what i really want
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I would go for the rescue/rehome every time. ;) a diet and exercise and she could be a different dog. :luv:
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I would go for the rescue/rehome every time. ;)
I would, too. And from what you've said, she sounds like the perfect dog for you. ;) :D
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If you can take on a rescue dog, then go for it - there are too few homes that can take on the dogs that need help :D
I would urge caution in your assessment of her though; rescues can sometimes have a honeymoon period and only once they have settled and feel secure do they begin to show their little quirks and bad habits that can take a lot of effort and patience to overcome ;)
I'm sure there are COL members who can give you advice about the best way of taking on a private rescue in terms of legal documentation etc - Good luck :D
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If it's a third dog, haven't you already got what you really want? And an adult will be so much easier to integrate into the household. Sounds as if she's chosen you already, really - and if you can slim her down and, as cobweb says, start with good boundaries so she has good habits from the start, you're 2 years into the training process and £500 better off.... ;)
sounds very good to me
e
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yes i said to the owners we will give it a few weeks and see what shes like when the honeymoon period is over , shes showing alot of interest in my cats ive got a 15 yr old 3 legged cat :D and hes a bit scared of her,my black tom just looked at her when she barked at him and she stopped as if to say what do i do now, theres no malice at the moment, but i shall wait and see, the present owner is a police woman, and said she will take her back if we decide shes not for us, the other thing is it will probably be my last chance to get a puppy from my old girl kizzy,s breeder so im a bit torn TBH im getting myself quite upset about what to do , shes so fat i cant even tell if shes a big show type or a worker, thou i think mainly worker
I would urge caution in your assessment of her though; rescues can sometimes have a honeymoon period and only once they have settled and feel secure do they begin to show their little quirks and bad habits that can take a lot of effort and patience to overcome ;)
I'm sure there are COL members who can give you advice about the best way of taking on a private rescue in terms of legal documentation etc - Good luck :D
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Good luck with whatever you decide to do. Only you can decide what is best for your family. But I tihnk you are doing the right thing waiting to see how this girl gets on with your other animals before making a decision.
Just remember that puppies are really horrible little monsters in cute packaging :005:
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I would def go for the rescue especially as it sounds like she is already fitting in well with your existing family. :luv: No puppy training - fab!! :D Your existing dogs may find a pup much harder to get used to than a 2 year old. Good luck whatever you decide. ;)
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I would personally choose a rescue but i think in your heart you want a puppy and i think if you have the rescue you may regret it later ph34r. I think its important to go with your heart when it comes to choosing a new member of your family :luv: I hope you choose whats right for you ;)
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I would go for the rescue --- you would be giving her the chance she needs as they may rehome her to someone wholly unsuitable. However, if you think you really can't cope with what is essentially a working cocker then give me a shout and I wil put you or owners in touch with someone in rescue who can help rehome her as it would be better for her to go through the rescue route really than the free ads
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Sorry, but I agree. Go for the rescue dog. You will be doing her a huge favour getting her away from an unsuitable home. She is not that old anyway. The other option is that someone else on here might have her, but keep moving her from home to home is not ideal.
Photos please!!!
Clare
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Oh I am getting vibes that you really want a puppy, and whilst it is kind to "rescue" a dog, it's got to be what is right for you and your family. She sounds a lovely dog, and I am sure she would find a good home, if you decide against keeping her.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
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mm sounds to me like you would really prefer the pup, and as others have said it is a good thing to give a rescue dog a home, but not if you are going to resent it's presence - better to find her a home now with Penny B's help than a year down the line when you really feel she is not for you..at the end of the day tho it is your decision entirely, sounds like you are between a rock and a hard place as the saying goes :shades:
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I so know the feeling, I'm soooo broody for a puppy, and was waiting for a planned breeding when I was offered Bracken. After a lot of thought I realized a puppy would be more difficult to fit in to my household and lifestyle than an adult dog would. Only you can really answer that question though
(Maybe a 4th dog for you? :005:)
PS have you seen this thread? http://www.cockersonline.co.uk/discuss/index.php?topic=46437.msg657765;topicseen#msg657765
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On the rescue pages there is a thread started by Druimmuir, asking about a working cocker bitch for her boss who wants a rescue, perhaps this will help in some way.
I say go with what your heart says and what you really want.
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Go for the rescue, I know it sounds corny but they don't stay pups for long anyway. Ive got 2 now both from pups, but if I had a rescue offered and had already had them home to see how they were, no contest. Too many unwanted Cockers at the mo, look at the rescue links. My next will be a rescue :luv:
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Without your heart being involved it would be an easy decision and I think it is clear that you know rescuing is important. The thing is that you have to love the dog and even with rescues I think you would just know that this was the dog for you. You need to go with your heart imo, just give this dog a little while to show it's personality and see what happens :-* I am sure you will make the best decision for both of you x
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Go for the rescue, I know it sounds corny but they don't stay pups for long anyway. Ive got 2 now both from pups, but if I had a rescue offered and had already had them home to see how they were, no contest. Too many unwanted Cockers at the mo, look at the rescue links. My next will be a rescue :luv:
This is so true, you get a puppy and in a few months that stage has passed anyway. I would personally go for the rescue one, what better satisfaction that knowing you have given her a better life.Spend the £500 on some really cool dog beds, toys etc (well not the full £500!! :o :005:)
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Oh I am getting vibes that you really want a puppy, and whilst it is kind to "rescue" a dog, it's got to be what is right for you and your family. She sounds a lovely dog, and I am sure she would find a good home, if you decide against keeping her.
I agree with cdpops. I'd go for the puppy as it is what you really want. Don't take on a rescue dog because it is 'the right thing to do' if there is a chance that you will regret having her in the future. :-\ And TBH, if she was the right dog for you then you would not be having this dilemma; you'd have fallen in love with her already.
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Oh I am getting vibes that you really want a puppy, and whilst it is kind to "rescue" a dog, it's got to be what is right for you and your family. She sounds a lovely dog, and I am sure she would find a good home, if you decide against keeping her.
I agree with cdpops. I'd go for the puppy as it is what you really want. Don't take on a rescue dog because it is 'the right thing to do' if there is a chance that you will regret having her in the future. :-\ And TBH, if she was the right dog for you then you would not be having this dilemma; you'd have fallen in love with her already.
I would agree. I know that getting a rescue is the RIGHT and proper thing to do, and if I had been after a staffie or alsation, I would have definitely gone for a rescue because they really do need homes.
But to be honest, I spent months and months trying to find a cocker to give a home to, and because they are such a popular breed, they dont seem to stay in a rescue very long. (apart from the very old ones or ones with difficulties).
After month after month of having my heart broken, each time I fell in love with and applied for a rescue cocker only to be told it had been rehomed already, I gave up and looked into puppies instead. Now I have the sleepless nights, the biting and the toilet training to cope with, but I do get those few precious months of puppyhood and I get to bring her up the way we want to.
Whatever decision you make, its going to be hard, so good luck, and let us know what you decide.
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well shes still here, the owner and i are going to decide on thurs,if we keep her or not , shes really grown on me and is so like bruno in personality its eerie, shes got the same colouring too, i will be interested to know if they have any relatives down the line, the owners are devastated to let her go ,but the vet told them they are doing the right thing, but they could change their minds by thursday, we will see, anyway i will post again on thurs maybe with some pictures if i can get my OH to post the damn things (i cant do the pics at all ph34r :005:) i will leave it all to fate now ;)
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Good luck with whatever you decide :D
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Good luck with whatever choice you make. When I'm facing big decisions I try each solution for size. I make th edecision one way for a day and see how I feel. Every time I think of teh situation I think of it from the veiwpoint of the decision I made. Then the next day I swap and live it from the other veiwpoint. Then see how I feel. In your case were you more excited living the day saying that yo'll get a puppy or keep the escue? Did you feel guilty or resentful if you play through either decision. I know it sounds mad, but it works for me.
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I felt just the same as you ! But I didnt have a dog already. i desperatly wanted to see that cute little puppy grow up. theres nothing like a puppy !!! It brings that warm glow to you just thinking about it.
And then I saw that Betty was looking for a new home !!!
She was almost 6 yrs old. I fell in love with her straight away. She was and still is just everything I dreamed of. But I agree with everyone the behaviour does change over the months. Betty is getting more confident with every day. She wouldnt say boo to a goose in the begining and now she is making her presence known !!
I know you feel like you want to do right by this dog and feel that you SHOULD rehome her. But is that HONESTLY what you REALLY want !!! Why do YOU have to be the one to rehome her. Perhaps if you just give yourself a little time to either fall in love with her or realise that it really is a puppy that you want !!!
Stop being so hard on yourself. What ever you decide is for a lifetime !!! I hope you can find some answers soon
Love , hugs and woofs
Val and Betty x
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I do the 'living in each shoes' as well. Usually by the end of the second day, I'm paralysed with indecision and end up taking the 'least worst' option. then I hate myself and think it was a huge mistake for a period of time exactly equal to the enormity of the decision (life partners - took about 10 years to realise it wasn't a mistake. Buying the current house, took about a year)
then I realise it was absolutely *exactly* the right thing to do and can't imagine why I ever thought otherwise.
so actually, either of them will be right. go with where your heart sings loudest.
good luck
e
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I felt just the same as you ! But I didnt have a dog already. i desperatly wanted to see that cute little puppy grow up. theres nothing like a puppy !!! It brings that warm glow to you just thinking about it.
And then I saw that Betty was looking for a new home !!!
She was almost 6 yrs old. I fell in love with her straight away. She was and still is just everything I dreamed of. But I agree with everyone the behaviour does change over the months. Betty is getting more confident with every day. She wouldnt say boo to a goose in the begining and now she is making her presence known !!
I know you feel like you want to do right by this dog and feel that you SHOULD rehome her. But is that HONESTLY what you REALLY want !!! Why do YOU have to be the one to rehome her. Perhaps if you just give yourself a little time to either fall in love with her or realise that it really is a puppy that you want !!!
Stop being so hard on yourself. What ever you decide is for a lifetime !!! I hope you can find some answers soon
Love , hugs and woofs
Val and Betty x
Very good advice - follow your heart :luv:
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well it looks like we have got another cocker ,shes an :angel: so far, the people are bringing round the rest of her stuff tomorrow , when i first saw her i thought , no ,but shes Sooooo lovely , you cant help but fall for her , though shes a greedy piglet and needs to lose ALOT of weight ph34r , but i will sort that out qiuck enough ( wish someone would do the same for me :005: :D ) i will try and post some pics of her this weekend , thanks for all of your advice and thoughts :luv:
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Aaaawww thats lovely news~ really pleased for you. ;)
Looking forward to seeing the pictures! :luv:
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well it looks like we have got another cocker ,shes an :angel: so far, the people are bringing round the rest of her stuff tomorrow , when i first saw her i thought , no ,but shes Sooooo lovely , you cant help but fall for her , though shes a greedy piglet and needs to lose ALOT of weight ph34r , but i will sort that out qiuck enough ( wish someone would do the same for me :005: :D ) i will try and post some pics of her this weekend , thanks for all of your advice and thoughts :luv:
She's a lucky little dog :luv:, whats her name? She might get a bit more whizzy when she looses the weight though :005:
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congrats!!
Are you having pupster too? :005:
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Aww, congratulations. She sounds gorgeous.
can't wait to see her pics.
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congratulations! I'm sure you can turn her life around so food is not her only pleasure :luv: :luv:
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awwwwww typical cocker, wiggled her way into your heart already. :005: :luv:
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I wondered if once she was there she would wriggle her way in. Congratulations and look forward to the piccies
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I'm so glad that she has nosed her way into your affections. I didn't think you'd be able to say no after her coming to stay with you. Looking forward to the piccies too. Maybe you could get a pup next year :005:
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Awww, great news! Good on you for giving her a lovely home! :D
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Wonderful news, your heart made your decision for you then? :luv: :luv: Does the little darling have a name? Cant wait to see some pictures of her.
Well done for giving her a home :angel:, I am sure you will be happy together :D
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I'm so pleased for you all, and glad that you felt able to give her a home, i agree, a puppy next year :005: can't wait to see pics. :luv:
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congrats!!
Are you having pupster too? :005:
i would but OH would prob leave home and i need his money to keep me in wine , :D dogs in chewies and living the life of luxury THEY are accustomed to ;) :005: :005: her name is Nel, but TBH i dont like it (sorry any nels ph34r) i am thinking of calling her Ella, but my dogs and cats all answer to at least one nickname anyway, shes fantastic natured, really gentle and loving , she just wants to snuggle up next to us on the sofa, so thats 3 on my knee at once now :luv: :luv:
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Aw sounds wonderful! Have a lovely snuggley evening then
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Sounds like she has chosen you. :luv: :luv:
Congratulations on your addition to your family.
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Aww, sounds like Nelly has fallen on her feet and you were made for each other. :D I agree, once she learns how much fun life can be, she may become a bit less obsessed with food ::)
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Ahh bless her - she has really fallen on her paws with you to look out for her ;)
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Congratulations on your addition. I'm trying to get oh to get a rescue next time but he won't give in at the moment.
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Congratulations on your new arrival. We took on Katie when she was 18mths old from the same breeder who we got Henry from in Sept last year, and it's true, at least you won't have to worry about the puppy training bit, and she does sound sooooo lovely. :-*
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Aww, sounds like Nelly has fallen on her feet and you were made for each other. :D I agree, once she learns how much fun life can be, she may become a bit less obsessed with food ::)
dont you nelly her :005: she will be officially ella , by monday-- her old owners are meeting me tomorrow at 9.30 to go on a final walk with us AND my OH (soft s**t :luv:) said if i want the puppy as well i can have it , but i dont know if i can handle 4 dogs at once , truthfully, but hes such a :angel: he will let me have anything i want ph34r, IM A SPOILT BRAT :D :D :D
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I'm pleased to hear that Nel (or Ella) is staying.
(Incidentally, I have a Nelly who is also a rescue doglet - I didn't choose the name, but it suits her)
I look forward to seeing photos :)
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Aww, sounds like Nelly has fallen on her feet and you were made for each other. :D I agree, once she learns how much fun life can be, she may become a bit less obsessed with food ::)
dont you nelly her :005: she will be officially ella , by monday-- her old owners are meeting me tomorrow at 9.30 to go on a final walk with us AND my OH (soft s**t :luv:) said if i want the puppy as well i can have it , but i dont know if i can handle 4 dogs at once , truthfully, but hes such a :angel: he will let me have anything i want ph34r, IM A SPOILT BRAT :D :D :D
I wish I had an OH like yours, there's nothing wrong with being a spoilt brat if you can get away with it :005:
Good luck with Ella.