Runt Cocker Spaniel Puppy (for home and cruising)?

Babylon said:
So I'm keen to get a Cocker Spaniel puppy for both home and sailing, and went to see the remaining three pups of a litter today, where the seller owns the working-line mum and the show-line dad. The place was a mess, and the pups and their pen really stank. The mum looked slightly starved with ribs really showing and had a manky matted ear (and seemed desperate for me to give her some love!). Despite the guy saying he worked them, neither dog appeared to respond to any command of his or mine.

Of the two dog puppies (I don't want a bitch), one looked fairly robust but the other was clearly the runt - much smaller and seemed depressed and disoriented. They're just over eight weeks old so ready to go, and he wants £700 each (good/pedigree Cockers are being advertised for £800 to £1,000 - which is ridiculous).

My sensible side says to walk away, but I've got a notion to try and take the runt off him for less money, say £350. Not to get a bargain as such, but to nurture the poor little creature and hopefully bring him up to be a happy, healthy and emotionally-secure companion.

Am I mad?
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Unwise maybe.I suspect you arent up to speed with what vets charge these days. I wasnt when we bought the current mutt. He's rudely healthy but even the routine car and maintenance costs an average £30 per month at the vets. Anything significant and you can easily be into the thousands. So to buy a runt from a disreputable source for a discount is silly.
 
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Picked him up (very much not any kind of a runt this one!) on Saturday...

Learning to keep a lookout:

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Learning to trim (old mainsheet, knotted as my son's climbing rope in garden):

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Learning to nick (bunk) cushions for a comfy nap:

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Off to town today so he can meet more of the big wide world...

...I'm knackered already!! :D
 
Cheers peeps!

Hugely popular in town this afternoon... he's... err.. a right old Babe Magnet!! ;)

Despite the weather, lots more socialising and familiarising planned - vet's, local garage, garden centre, bicycle shop, my son's school, a platform ticket at the train station, etc, etc.

First boat visit in a week or two :encouragement:
 
Biggles Wader said:
A few teeth marks on that table leg already?
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Fortunately that's a cheap French cafe chair - the more teeth marks the more authentic! - and the solid ash table has been temporarily replaced with a folding picnic table.

The old stair-gate (kept from when my Teenage Neanderthal was once a cute baby boy) means I can leave him in the kitchen for snatches of adult time in the living room. When he realises I've gone he cries for a minute or two, then chews my old gardening boot before falling asleep.

Nights are fun: he's in a tough plastic recycling crate beside my bed, and my alarm is set for 2.00am for a very quick pee-pee in the cold, wet, dark back garden... from which the puppy also benefits! :D
 
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