We can criticise both because the purchase of dogs for several thousand pounds each is driving the abhorrent breeding practices. I have no issue, however, with the purchase of a particular pure-bred dog if both parents and the breeding facility can be inspected by the purchaser, as indicated in my OP.
I took our Lab from the brother in law at the age of 18 months.
He was a single successful executive who was advised by friends to get a dog after his fiancé tragically died of cancer in her early thirties.
A terrible idea , I thought as he would not have the time to spend at home with the dog.
Anyway he went ahead and got the cutest Lab puppy that I knew in my heart, we would end up with eventually. Seriously, I had just moved house and the garden wasn’t secured, my young lad was 9 years old and I said to my missus, we are going to end up with this dog.
It was best intentions from the bro-in-law. He bought from a fabulous breeder, who held the dog until it was three months old, fully house trained and she sends a text still every year on the dogs birthday. She does the same with the rest of the litter.
But the dog was being passed from billy to jack as we say. Spent more time being minded by his elderly parents who couldn’t walk it, in the first year than at his own place. Boey spent the next summer with the sister in law down in Mayo. We went down for a holiday for a couple of weeks and I swear that dog picked us, not the other way around.
Each day I’d be loading the car ready for that day’s trip and Boey would jump in the back. He ended up coming everywhere with us.
He’d stick to me like glue in the kitchen in the evenings and when it came time to go at the end of the holiday he wouldn’t leave my side.
My lad was ten then and by Christmas was going into overdrive saying it’s not fair on Boey being home alone all day.
We discussed it with the bro-in-law and he agreed it was best for Boey, who he still loves as do the whole family, and did a whole rehearsed thing with my lad asking him would he look after Boey permanently for him as it was best for him.
Well that was the best Christmas present he’s ever got. I knew I’d end up looking after him and training him though, but tbh I wouldn’t be without him. He’s my best mate. Thank god I have him through this Covid lockdown shit. He’s a wonderful dog and is known down the park and coffee shop and at the sea front for his swimming. You get talking to loads of people because of him.
He’s ten this July and not showing too many signs of slowing down yet. Long May it last. He’s keeping me fit.
