Returning my puppy to the breeder. How will it affect him?

Putting an ad on Gumtree?? That’s the worst thing you could do, in my opinion. Please, have some mercy on him!

I've just put an ad on Gumtree to rehome him to a good home. We'll see if it's accepted, as I'm not entirely sure if I'm allowed to do that. I've contacted two local rescues since yesterday, but haven't heard back yet. I’m keeping a close watch... in the meantime, we’re making ourselves available to ensure his last few days with us are as comfortable as possible. My husband is coming home at lunchtime so he’s less lonely and can burn off some energy. We’re overcompensating at the moment, and it seems to be helping a bit with the whining during the day. However, the evenings are getting worse and worse. He must need to burn off more steam, so he ends up acting out at home. That said, we can’t keep coming home at lunch forever. For now, we're just about flying under the radar with our bosses—my husband at lunch and me being late in the mornings. That’s the update for now. Have a lovely day.

Hi there, What you’ve said about the breeder’s attitude confirms what many of us are already thinking. I’m convinced that contacting a local rescue or animal shelter is the best thing you can do for your puppy; it’s clear you’re still very attached to them despite the situation. Forget about that disreputable breeder when it comes to your pup’s future! Hang in there.

Hi Sophie, I agree with everyone advising you not to take him back to the breeder. They don’t deserve to be breeders; to be honest, they make my skin crawl... they're only in it for the profit. They'll just sell him on without a second thought for his welfare, and Harry will likely end up going through the same thing with another family. We can really feel your distress in your messages and we know you want him to be happy, so please do the right thing, Sophie—rehome him through a rescue or a similar organisation, but whatever you do, don't send him back to those people!

She said she’d check with her son, who has apparently taken over the management, and that she’d call back early in the afternoon. By 5 pm, having heard nothing, I called her back. She told me she’d been out and about and hadn’t had time to look into it yet. I asked what the hold-up was, and she told me straight that it’s the money. She confirmed she’ll take him back, but she needs to sort out the financial side of things. I asked if I could give her his toys and his bed, and she just said, "we’ll see." So, that’s where I’m at. First thing tomorrow morning, I’m going to contact a rescue, but I’m not really sure which one. Can I rehome my puppy privately to a good home? Since he’s microchipped and registered in my name, I’m not really sure how it all works.

I see a lot of feedback about the breeder. I called this lady three times for information and she never gave me more than five minutes of her time. She booked an appointment for us to see the dog, which we did. Once we got there, she wasn't even in. She's the owner, but we were seen by a very lovely member of staff instead. We asked again if the dog would cope well with being left alone. She just said yes without asking any further questions. She spent ages talking about his food and not letting him on the bed or the sofa. She mentioned his health, jabs, etc., but we didn't get any info on the time commitment, training, or being left on his own... that’s what we regret. We asked her yesterday if she would agree to take him back. She wasn't exactly keen, but she didn't say no. I begged her over message. This morning my husband gave her a call. He asked on what terms she would consider taking the dog back. She told him it depends on us not being too greedy.

Hi there, getting a puppy is just like having a baby—it’s a massive life change and can be incredibly time-consuming and stressful for the first few weeks or even months. First of all, teaching a pup to be alone is always a gradual process; most puppies won’t be able to stay on their own for a full day right from the start. It’s best to begin by leaving them for just a few minutes, slowly increasing the duration. Once they seem comfortable, you can move on to a few hours, always making sure you don't push them past their anxiety threshold. It takes time and a lot of commitment, but it’s essential to prevent separation anxiety from developing. This might mean taking them to work with you or finding a dog sitter or daycare while they’re still learning. As for the time-consuming side of things, dealing with accidents in the house (which is totally normal at this age) means you’re cleaning up almost constantly... and teaching them not to steal food is a long, hard road. This phase only lasts a few months, and if you get the training right, they’ll be a joy to live with throughout their adult years. Don't hesitate to drop them off at a boarder or with a sitter for a day or two every now and then; it’ll give you a bit of a breather, some "me time", and a chance to gain some perspective. That said, your distress is completely understandable, especially with a young child. It’s actually really admirable of you to admit that you're overwhelmed and, most importantly, that you lack the time for a creature that needs so much. That’s why, if you don't feel ready to commit this much for several months, the best solution for both you and the puppy would indeed be to find them another family (perhaps via the breeder if they’re willing to take them back). At this age, a well-socialised puppy shouldn't have any trouble adapting to a new home and getting used to a new environment. They won’t forget you, but they’ll settle in quickly, especially if the new family has enough time to meet all their needs! Hope this helps, Mathilde. Hi Mathilde. You’re right, now that I’m in this sad situation and I’ve been looking into it more, I can see that it needs to be a gradual process and requires hours of availability. To be honest, I just don't feel like I can cope. I have two hours in the morning between 6 and 8 am to get myself and the family ready. I don’t take a lunch break so that I can finish earlier and not have to pick up my son too late. By the time I get him from the school gates, it's 5:30 pm. That leaves me three hours to get home, do homework, bath time, dinner, eat, and then get my son ready for bed with a story. I’ve reached a point where I just can’t manage all of that anymore. Thanks anyway for your reply. Have a lovely evening.

I couldn't agree more with Docline. Some breeders will say absolutely anything just to get a dog sold 😈😈