Some questions which I hope you can help me with. I've never gone to a KC breeder before.

I've found some breeders who more or less fit my criteria, none are local but I expect to have to travel to find the right pup. One the litter is due soon so I think I may not even be in with a chance if there are enough people interested already. One litter is expected Spring but doesn't specify which health tests the dam has had which sort of worries me. One has a litter planned in summer but no details of which dam and sire. Having waited for a year until we are nearly ready I'd prefer not to wait until summer. How best do I go on here?

Will breeders ask if I'm looking at two or more litters or is it good etiquette to tell them or would you think "possible timewaster"?

Do breeders often choose a pup for you? If so how do they decide which one will suit you? What if I don't feel a rapport with their choice? Or can you usually pick one? I have only once had one puppy picked for me and a jolly fine prizewinning typical sort of the breed she was but rather than being a cuddly one she was a little too reserved.

What is or was your criteria for a new puppy and which was most important to you? Did your puppy meet all of the criteria?

How many litters did you see?

Sorry it's a raft of questions but any answers to one or more of them will be muchly appreciated.

Right, as breeder I dont mind if people are looking at other litters as well as mine - shows they are doing some homework, lol!

Nothing wrong with contacting breeders now and asking about the Sire and Dam and health tests and what the results are, again, to me, it would show buyer is doing homework.

I dont actually 'pick' puppies for buyers, but any show buyers will have first pick over any pet buyers. I may try and guide you to a particular pup I feel will suit you better, and buyers usually follow, unless their mind is made up on a certain pup. I am more likely to say something like, I dont feel a male is right for you now, but am willing to let you have a bitch, sort of thing.

If buyers get in touch when I havent even got a litter at that time, and they are prepared to wait, I take that as a huge compliment and pop them on the waiting list and keep in touch at regular intervals.

Hope that helps a little!

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Fere libenter hormines id quod volunt credunt

As Cearott says - there is no harm in looking at a number of breeders - but do remember the breeding world is small and people do talk to each other - I had someone who wanted my last pup from my first litter and wanted me to hang onto it for a period which, within reason, I am prepared to do. I subsequently found out - these people had done the same to breeders in the opposite end of the country - probably assuming the parties involevd wouldn't find out

Don't forget - a breeder may not be able to meet your criteria if you are looking for a specific gender and colour.

One each time, but then as I show, I knew what I wanted and knew the breeders by reputation and usually personally beforehand

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What you need to know before buying a Labrador puppy

Never be afraid to ask the breeder questions, some have fabulous websites and look the buisness, but if they aren't breeding to keep one or two themselves then why are they breeding?

^^ I agree with the above - to me an ethical breeder will breed with the 'aim' of keeping back themselves - just dont forget that sometimes things dont work out and there isnt always a suitable pup within the litter!

- with regards to viewing more than one litter thats fine but do tell breeders this if you are visiting more than one litter in the same day/travel - because you may spread infection and the like.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

@ Ceearott I'm more confident now that asking a breeder questions will be taken as a good sign. I hope I'm going to come across as discerning and careful which should bode well for their baby having a loving, knowledgeable and experienced permanent home.

@ Swarthy I'd hope that breeders do talk to each other. No I wouldn't dream of stringing breeders along. I'm not after a difficult to find colour but it must be a bitch but it's quite possible that there won't be just the right pup there for me in a litter. Puppies don't arrive to order that's how it goes.

@ Kazastan Fair and sensible question. Hopefully to contribute to the betterment of the breed in fitting its purpose, health, conformation and temperament. I think I'll know much more about the breeder by looking at the set up, other dogs they have, the dam and the litter than what the website tells me.

@Devil-dogz Quite so you need to be aware of the need for good hygiene. I doubt that I'll see two litters in one day but I'm glad you reminded me.

The other thing is the distance of travel to bring the pup home and what age is now thought to be the best time to separate a pup from the litter.

Well, distance you are prepared to travel is entriely up to you, lol!

Most breeders of most breeds (not all, so check up) let pups go between the ages of 7-8 weeks old.

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Fere libenter hormines id quod volunt credunt

I don't mind the distance I think you are joshing me, go on admit it, you knew it was the pup I was thinking about.

What?? Soweee, you've lost me now - am I having a blonde moment or summat??

Mind you, talking distance, I did a round trip of over 8000 miles to see my boy, lol!

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Fere libenter hormines id quod volunt credunt

Now, that IS impressive, I doubt anyone could top that

OP, I can answer from a buyer's point of view here

We did only see one litter, but we did speak to 3 breeders before deciding on the breeder we would go with. We were fortunate in that we were flexible about having a boy or a girl, which worked in our favour as there was only 1 girl in the litter and 4 boys. There was one "show home" owner in front of us in the choosing process so we had choice of 3 boys (the one girl was already spoken for) and for us it was a pretty easy decision, we all fell in love with the same puppy on the day we went to meet them.

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