We see many posts about breeders and their responsibilities, but a few posts of late have made me think more about the puppy buyers responsibilities.

If someone wants to buy a pedigree pup - PLEASE do your research - the internet offers a wealth of information these days on essential and recommended tests.

It is - I understand - very difficult to walk away from a litter - so call ahead and ensure that as an absolute minimum, the recommended health tests have been done, if they haven't don't go.

Stories such as "oh dad has been hipscored" and "mum is healthy so we didn't bother" can hide much more sinister facts, like - we took mum for hipscoring, but the plates were horrendous so we didn't submit them and decided to play the role of the 'naive breeder' instead.

BEWARE of any breeder selling males, females, or different colour pups for different prices.

BEWARE of any breeder adding a premium for KC regstration - it costs just TWELVE pounds to register a pup, and is probably the cheapest element of the whole breeding process.

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If you get the information you require when you phone and then go and visit the litter - please ensure you

* see proof of all health tests discussed (part of your research to know what should be done beforehand)

* ask the breeder lots of questions - a good breeder will be happy to answer any queries you have

* expect to be asked just as many questions as you have asked yourself. The breeder should be just as concerned that you are the right home for their pup as you are that they are a good breeder!


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If you want a cross breed or you are truly not concerned about the background of the pup - then your first port of call should be rescue. I appreciate that rescues aren't for everyone, after two years of trawling the rescues for a dog, we realised that my daughter's fear of grown dogs wasn't going to go away any time soon, (now she isn't afraid of any dog - good job when I have 6 of them )

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All too often I hear people say, someone has to give these pups a home - and yes, I understand it isn't their fault they've been put on this earth, but for every breeder who had to give their pups away to rescue because they cannot find homes, will be one more breeder who will think twice before they do it again - and then these pups can be found homes responsibly.

I understand this will put more pressure on rescues initially, but long term, it just MIGHT help reduce the pressure.

A large percentage of people who buy deliberate cross-breeds and dogs from un health tested parents, give them away at the first sign of trouble - because such breeders are unlikely to have the courage of their convictions to accept that an owner is unsuitable for one of their pups - all they want to do is sell them

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We hear a lot of talk about stopping Back yard Breeders and Puppy Farmers - but people don't seem to understand that the only person who can do something about it is YOU the puppy buying public -by doing your research and having the courage to say no.

A breeder that health tests doesn't make them good - if you are unhappy with ANY element of the litter or their environment - WALK AWAY.

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What you need to know before buying a Labrador puppy

Completely agree, there's no excuse for ignorance or cutting corners when it comes to buying a dog or pup, if you can't afford a responsibly bred pup, save up. While anyone is willing to buy a pup from someone who cuts corners, from those who just don't bother to health test, to the other end of the stick, puppy farmers who keep their animals in awful conditions, the rescue problem will just get worse. For me, the responsibility for good healthy animals in good homes lies firmly at the doors of both breeder and buyer.

Great thread, with all the info available now the gp should educate themselves and buy only from a responsible breeder who kc registers the pups and does all available health tests for the breed and only from someone who is trying to improve on the dogs they have and dosent breed often.

its the only way to stamp out poor breeding practices.

Great post Swarthy and I totally agree. Sorry if it seems harsh, but puppy buyers are just as responsible and as much as fault as these byb and puppy farms.

Thanks to all three of you - the silence on this thread is interesting in itself

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What you need to know before buying a Labrador puppy

As you know I will soon be getting and italian greyhound puppy. We have been looking at the breed and finding out about them for about 4 years now. We are lucky in the fact that we * borrowed* and iggie for 6 weeks a couple of years ago. My friends stud dog came to stay with us for 6 weeks as her bitches were in season and he wouldclimb a 6ft fence to get to the bitches.

My son also handled her dog at shows and spent 3 weeks of the summer holidays helping to look after and show her dogs. It is a breed I would never be able to afford to buy although would always have loved to own and know many people in the breed. The only reason we are now going to have the pleasure of owning one of them is because my friend is giving us Willow. We know all the pros and cons they are extremely hard to house train and suffre from leg breaks very easily but we are prepared for this and there willbe no rough play with my gang he will be allowed to play and run but willbe supervised when with the bigger dogs.

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Sammy you may be gone but your sprit will always live on in the sunbeams R I P Sammy

William- 6/11/03 - 24/3/10
Midge - 8/2/11 - 10-2-11

Totally agree

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THE MORE PEOPLE I MEET THE MORE I LOVE MY ANIMALS!!!!

Just wanted to support this thread.

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www.pawsandpurrs.co.uk

For all you Dog Walking and Pet Sitting needs in Shropshire!

Thank you those that have supported this thread - while I am not trying to incite a riot - I have to say however, the silence is deafening

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What you need to know before buying a Labrador puppy

Isn't it just!