Horrible News!!!!

**M Fortune** · 12-20-2007, 03:03 PM

Originally Posted by Endofile

Quickly finding another breeder that happens to have one available, well? We don't know what the beckground on this suddenly found breeder is, or the certs on the pups, so we don't know and are concerned.

FYI, this was from SurferMom's post in Introductions:

I was about to go pay a nice chunk for one at 4pm (from a reputable breeder) and my SIL calls and this man she knows from work had some and he only had boys left the other day, well he counted wrong and had one little girl left. So we got her. SHe is going to bring her home on Friday and we'll give her to our daughter at my SILS on Monday afternoon.

Counted wrong? ??? Huge red flag.

Sounds like she had the right idea in the first place.

ETA: I'm not questioning SurferMom getting a puppy for xmas, I'm questioning the breeder.

**Buddysmom** · 12-20-2007, 03:12 PM

I don't see a problem with giving a puppy as a Christmas present as long it's a family decision that's been well thought out. I wouldn't want mom or dad to just spring a puppy on the family without warning at Christmas or any other day of the year for that matter. Anytime of the year that you bring a new puppy home with children around, it's going to be chaotic.

**ShadowDancin** · 12-20-2007, 03:17 PM

What a terrible story! Thats so sad! congrats on your new baby!

Originally Posted by buddysmom

I don't see a problem with giving a puppy as a Christmas present as long it's a family decision that's been well thought out. I wouldn't want mom or dad to just spring a puppy on the family without warning at Christmas or any other day of the year for that matter. Anytime of the year that you bring a new puppy home with children around, it's going to be chaotic.

Amen to that ....

**BillieIsMyKid** · 12-20-2007, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by ShadowDancin

What a terrible story! Thats so sad! congrats on your new baby!

Originally Posted by buddysmom

I don't see a problem with giving a puppy as a Christmas present as long it's a family decision that's been well thought out. I wouldn't want mom or dad to just spring a puppy on the family without warning at Christmas or any other day of the year for that matter. Anytime of the year that you bring a new puppy home with children around, it's going to be chaotic.

Amen to that ....

/hijack/

hi stranger! how ya been?

**mich** · 12-20-2007, 03:27 PM

More cents --

Sometimes bringing home a pet during the holidays can be a good thing for the simple reason that you are home more and can spend more time with them the first week (or so). Great for bonding, adjusting, and housetraining. I would always prefer to bring home a new pet when I know I'll have more time with them for a while - even if it means taking time off from work.

As for the puppy's source, again, you never know. My Rocket was the result of irresponsible dog ownership and was born into a "surprise" litter, but I never cared, and it doesn't have to matter to everyone. Plus, I've met a few people who went the "research and find a reputable breeder" route, spending loads of money, and ended up with all the developmental health problems associated with the breed, while a lab from a backyard breeder lives to be old with few health problems at all. It's a crap-shoot as far as I'm concerned, and sometimes I wonder if all the researching and money spent just makes you angrier later on when you encounter all the health issues and have to pay alot of money for them.

But back to the main message.....
Hey Surfermom - CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You're getting a PUPPY!!!!!!
I wish you and your family the very, very best.

**SurferMom** · 12-20-2007, 03:38 PM

WOW - I think if you just go and get one for Christmas its a bad idea, but I have been researching and reading about dogs and we decided this was the best breed for our family and giving it on Christmas just adds to the pleasure of having this little gal in our house. My daughter's face alone will be worth all the time and energy I have put into this.

Unfortunately the puppy that died was coming from a friend of my SILs, so not a real "breeder". But the puppy we are getting now does, it was one that I had checked out previously. She has been checked by a vet and I just went over there and got copies of all her papers etc. She is from a reputable person I found on a breeders site and I have checked them out. They had originally asked that we wait until after the holidays, but were kind enough to let us have her now. She will be 10 weeks on Monday.

I stay at home so I will be with this puppy all the time. Luckily we have a huge home and a huge yard and this puppy will have the best of care and most importantly love and educated owners, what more could a dog want?

Please just give me a little LOVE LOL

**mich** · 12-20-2007, 03:48 PM

I hate that you felt like you had to defend yourself (if you did, that is), and I just want to say......

You GO GIRL!
And again, congratulations on your new puppy. Please post lots and lots of pictures.

**saskasmum** · 12-20-2007, 03:50 PM

I hope you and your new puppy will be really happy, I am sure that your little girl will be estatic on Xmas Morning, would love to see the look on her face she is really pretty, lovely blue eyes just like my niece. Look forward to seeing the puppy pictures.

**M Fortune** · 12-20-2007, 03:51 PM

Please just give me a little LOVE LOL

Ok! congratulations on your new puppy.

Sounds like you've done your homework and you will be a great Lab Mom!

Can't wait to see pictures of your new baby, and don't forget to throw in a couple shots of your daughter's face when she gets it.

Sorry you got bombarded. :-[

BTW, your daughter is beautiful.

**Rushpuppy** · 12-20-2007, 03:53 PM

Well, everything's been said. I just want to say welcome. Please don't let anything said here keep you away from this forum. There is a ton of knowledge to be had, Labby is an amazing, responsible breeder and her dogs are about the best you can get. She will give you access to any kind of advise and experience she has and you can bet it will be the best. So, in the spirit of Christmas, I hope the look on your daughter's face is all that you want it to be. Be sure to post pics of that special moment. I do agree that giving a pup for an occasion like Christmas and Easter isn't in the puppy's best intrest, but it sounds like you have done research, and are not jumping into this blindfolded. Please get a crate. I thought when we got our first lab and everyone here said crate, crate, crate that they were awful to want to keep a dog in a cage. Well, anyone who has had a lab will tell you, a crate isn't a bad thing and if handled properly, the dog will love the crate. Never use it to punish! My 4 yo girl Rush, doesn't have to be crated anymore. My 2 year old girl will probably be crated her whole life when we are gone. She just can't seem to steer clear of trouble. She loves it though and gladly goes into it, and often lays in it when we are home. So, anyway, if I could offer one word of advice that you would take to heart, it would be the crate thing. Check out the other areas on this forum and you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much you learn. Heck, I learn something everyday on here. Good luck and keep us up on the pup progress.