[fizzwheel]

Liz wanted a dog for ages. We got two puppies last year and I've really grown to love them. I dont tend to like dogs, I never really have done, but our dogs I really do like.

Ours are not kennel club registered, this has its benefits in that Liz paid £600 for both dogs, rather than £600 for each dog that Kennel Club registered ones were going for. The chap we bought them from works his Labs and wanted another dog to work, so he bred them and picked the one he wanted from the litter and sold the rest on. He gave us a spreadsheet that shows their blood line right back through 4 generations.

Now I'm no expert when it comes to dogs, But I would research the person you buy them from carefully.

I think that you also need to think carefully about what breed you get and how it would fit with your lifestyle in your house.

I dont know if I would have the patience to take a rescue puppy / dog that has behaviour issues on. Liz spent alot of time trianing ours from the first day we got them home, we've also been to puppy classes so I could learn what to do and how to train them. I liked it that we got puppies and I could see them grow and develop into the dogs they are now. I also like the fact that they do what I tell them to do when I tell them to. We get complimented regularly on how well behaved they are.

I think that you should get the dog that you want, but make sure its suitable for your lifestyle and that you are prepared to make sacrifices and compromises. If that means you get a puppy and bring it up / train it how you want it to be trained then whether its pedigree or not I dont think makes much difference, unless you want to show it IMHO.