advice needed asap please.

Hi, I've put a deposit down on a Staffy pup. I'm debating on pulling out. I could REALLY do with chatting to some people in the know.

What do you want to know? You're in the right place

Thanks for the reply.
The situation is I've put a deposit down on a Staffy . The pups are now 4 weeks old. I've been told to collect in 2 weeks. So he'll only be 6 weeks old. When I asked why they'll be leaving mum at 6 weeks not 8 she said that she'd been advised to remove ALL 9 puppies because of the stress it's causing the mother. I hunted her down on facebook and saw a post she'd put on stating the puppies would be ready for 15th January. The post was from the same day they was born. So she surely had always intended them leaving before the 8 week mark.
Can't help think she was "advised" by her pocket not the vet!!

I'm sorry but that women is not a breeder she's a money grabbing scumbag otherwise referred to as a back yard breeder. It's hard because the puppies have to go somewhere and she will sell them at six weeks old but they should not under any circumstances leave their mother so young it will cause a lot of issues for the puppy. As I'm sure you know the puppies learn so much from each other and mum in those early weeks.

I personally would advise you to go to a registered breeder if you would like a puppy.

Sorry forgot to add its unlikely she had the parents health checked before she bred them a other reason why I would steer clear from back yard breeders

But if I don't get him now, someone will. They may not try as hard to see him okay.

The advert said both parents can be seen. I was refused access to see them. They said they're too protective of the pups :-<

You're right if you back out then the pup will go to someone else but the question is are you prepared for possible behavioural issues, health issues and a very hard time in the weeks after you pick the pup up? Why don't you have a quick look around the forum you will see posts from people that have taken a pup before it's ready to leave its mother and the advice given. It may help you prepare yourself for what could be

Hard decision to make but just make sure you know exactly what you will be faced with. It's definitely worth it if you are prepared to put the hard work in

From day one I've gone into this expecting behavioral problems. Not because I'm a pessimist, but because these things happen anyway and I'd be a fool to expect an easy ride. I have experience with dogs personally and (semi) professionally. We already have a dog so hoping she'll be a good influence on him. And show him what his siblings should have.

Sounds like the pup would be in good hands with you then

Thanks for that. I think I'll be going ahead with it. I can't shake the thought of him going to a chav that wants a "dug" to make him look "really scarey". Im sure you know the types.

it sounds like you know what you're doing so I'm glad you are going ahead with getting the pup. Its horrible that the pups are being sold so young wish these breeders didn't exist!

Keep us updated on how your pup is getting on and maybe a few pictures too we love a puppy on here

Yeh, I will definitely be showing him off at the slightest opportunity.

Poor pups. Agreed that they have to go somewhere though, wish that there was some authority that you could report these scumbags to.

as do i i hate the scum that think its fun to breed a dog till it dies and sell a pup long before its ready to leave its mum!!!!! i wish there was someone to report these people to id be top of the list. no wonder the dog shelters are full to brimming because of people like this...

I wish there was too!! What's your view on the RSPCA? I read yesterday that 3 German Shepards were found in a field feeding on a dead pony. Their initial response was they wouldn't come out to collect because it was a Saturday (allegedly).

May be bias - I worked with the RSPCA for nearly 5 years so have seen the behind the scenes. Much of the public have no idea of the volume of animal cruelty in this country, and it would be impossible to attend every scene immediately. They do a lot of good - but they do have their faults. In regards to back yard breeders, the problem is out of control and needs to be regulated by much stricter means. Could only be controlled if the puppies were not already born - perhaps through education, though many of these breeders are lacking the morals to change even if they were educated unfortunately. If all of these puppies were seized there would be nowhere for them to go - we had a 100+ kennel centre, 90% were bull breeds and their crosses and 80% of them were kenneled for 1+ years with no interest in adoption, despite our efforts to rehabilitate and advertise. Sadly many of these dogs die, due to these breeders, not due to the as RSPCA.

hi i had a visit one day from my neighbours granddaghter showing off her new puppy - he was tiny and hadnt even opened his eyes properly ...11 months later i heard they were putting him on the dogs home as he was untrainable -i took him on - a little staffy cross and yes it was really hard work for the first year but he died 2 years ago at the good age of 18 and was the most loyal and obedient dog you could wish to have
so even those with a bad start in life can be trained if they have the right owner - you sound just that
xkath
re the rspca they do a wonderful job but are held back by not having the funding to tackle large problems ... i recently got very disheartened by the lenient way they treated a large firm over poultry cruelty but it boiled down to the fact that they couldnt afford the funds needed to prosecute them ..if an individual had committed these crimes he would have been prosecuted and banned from keeping chickens
tackling large scale puppy farming would cost the charity thousands
i dont know where the answer lies

Hadn't opened his eyes properly??? They're unreal!!!!! :-(

yes eyes barely open
by the time i got him he was 11months old and totally untrained - not even house trained as their answer to that problem was to keep him outdoors - til he got out one day and got run over ...so then he was chained outside...............................so we had to start from scratch but with love and patience and a lot of luck he turned around completely ...a happy ending to the worst of starts
xkath

I collected misty at 7 weeks, bought her from an ad online.  The family were a lovely family who had decided to breed their pet staffy. However, the mother died during labour and the family hand raised 7 pups feeding every two hours day and night. Their vet advised they could be rehomed at 7 weeks as they were weaned. I've never had any major behaviour problems with misty other than the ones all staffy pup owners post about on here. She is 8 months old now and very boisterous but on the whole, well behaved! Hopefully you will look after the little chap and get great pleasure from him.

Sounds like the pups going to a better place with you I feel for the others and the people that will be getting them and may not realise the potential problems that may occur.

At least your going into it with your eyes open.

Good luck

A little update if anybody is interested.
My girlfriend got a phone call today from the tripe selling the puppies. She is calling around the people who have also paid a deposit on the puppies asking to come collect the puppies tonight. They are now only 5 weeks old. She is claiming that "she has weened them off their mother so they no longer need her". An utter disgrace.
I have made my feelings clear to her so no doubt I can kiss my deposit goodbye as well as being totally heart broken about it all.

Aww what a sad situation, they are so young, so sorry I'm glad you made your feelings known people like this should not be allowed to have animals.

These people should be banned from owning dogs. So sorry to hear

Thanks. She's said she'll give the deposit back but nothing has come through PayPal and now we're being ignored. Surprise surprise!!

Would a call to the RSPCA be in order? What a total scumbag she shouldn't be allowed to keep dogs

My girlfriend rang them, Debs, nothing they can do. TheyThey would have had more power to do something BEFORE they're born but not now.

Got the deposit back and put it towards my new best mate, Ferris. He's 4 months old. He was advertised as a Staffy but pretty sure he's a cross. Not that I'm too bothered. I'll accept his flaws and he'll accept mine!!
We're all over the moon with him

Good news you got the deposit back

Even better news that you have your new best friend... Can't wait to see some pictures

Surely you can report her to somebody to prevent her of doing it again. 5 weeks? What a miserable unnecessary start for life. 
Happy for you about ferris and can't wait to see pics.

Got the pic on of my boy!!!

He looks great and a real little character

He's gorgeous !looks like a staffy to me but who cares anyway

Thanks. He does look more Staffy in that pic. And I don't care anyway. I am extremely curious to know if he is crossed but doubt I'll find out what.

Ugh, this makes me so angry. People are so greedy and thoughtless. Poor pups. As a rule I'd always always want to see the parents.

Ferris looks lovely, good on you!

Lovely wee ferris

Hes so cute

Thanks all it's four weeks today I've had my precious wee chappie. After everything I said, I may be wrong about him being a cross. His legs look a little too long so could be a distant cross in there. Possibly a "long legged staffy" in there or one of horse other nonsense Staffy breeds so can't say the seller had tried to deceive me. He's filling out nicely and sh*ts like a shire horse. Had a little scare yesterday when he fell through the ice on a pond. He handled it really well to be fair. It was only 4-5 feet deep so worse case scenario I was going in too!

He has however started hoarding things in his cage. He doesn't chew anything that wasn't meant to be chewed, he just steals them for the fun of it. Has anybody else had experience with this? Never known it in a dog before, lots of people, just never dogs!!

Glad to hear all is going well, they all have funny little habits just being a lil tinker by the sounds of it!

Those long legged expensive Staffs are as rare as the miniature ones

My Flo doesn't pinch things but I know some have posted that there's have done this in the past so I dont think its that unusual. Would loved to have seen you wading in to fetch him out, that really would have been a YouTube moment

Hahaha as it happens my girlfriend was fumbling for her phone as soon as it happened. Nice to know her priorities

I got bes at 5 weeks old, her mother would no longer feed the puppies and itwas hit and miss whether she would survive, and she did thank the lord but ive never had any problems infact shes the best out of all of them bebehaviour wise, she has nevee had any isses behavioural or health, I think it comes down to how you are with your puppy

Spen, the hoarding with objects I use to get the same with my oldest springer it was an attention thing haha

Attention? I literally could not give him anymore attention if I wanted to. I haven't even been to the toilet on my own since I got him. We have another dog too, it started with him hoarding her toys so put it down to him asserting his authority as the alpha male. Then she started picking on him. He's soft as anything really.

There's a pattern here Andy... First, trying to get you on to thin ice and now nicking yer toys. I think your being Staffinated

Hello, Ferris looks great and what a fab name. He looks like a staffy to me, did you say he was around 4 months as my dog Skye is 5 months and she seems to stand a bit tall at the moment although a pure breed. I think it is all to do with development, they grow tall first and fill out later. You clearly made the right call with the breeder who was homing pups at 5 weeks. I had a similar issue with Skye she ended up with us at 6 weeks instead of 8. Although nothing like you experienced as I met both parents and rest of litter. My concerns were letting the pups go at 6 weeks and feeding them cheap dog food and cows milk once weened. Never the less the breeder has stayed in touch since and asked for photos which I have sent, I think it didn't help that they had brought home a new born when the pups were 2 weeks old I think the had their hands full as the litter was an accident and they had wanted to wait another year.