Advising on Buying from Healthtested parents-pro's and con's

-Pat- · Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 5:50 pm Post subject:

As a fairly new member and a first time dog owner, I have to say that I dont find this site dictatorial at all. I post to other boards (horsey ones!) where this is deffo the case but not here.

Because of the tolerant attitude of the peeps on here I have certainly never been afraid to ask questions, and this is an invaluable resource for a first time owner like me. And I notice the same questions being asked again and again, and yet they are always answered in the same helpful manner.

Tarka's parents were not healthtested, although I wasnt aware of this facility before I bought him. His mum is KC registered but not his dad who was chosen cos of the super temperament of his previous offspring. Tarka has certainly inherited this! So I shall just have to meet any problems if and when. BTW his mum's back garden backs onto mine!

So carry on the good work you peeps, it is sooooooooooo vital to owners like me!

_Lizzy_ · Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 8:47 pm Post subject:

_Sam_ · Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 8:54 pm Post subject:

Some breeders do let them go earlier. Some don't let them go til 10 weeks or more. i think 8 is just the average.
Guide dogs pups go to their new home at about 6/7 weeks so its not unusual.

and welcome! Very Happy

shadybug · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 10:36 pm Post subject:

Hi all just saw this post and thought I would add to it . I have just bred a lovely litter and both parents have had the health tests . I chose the dog Delfleet Brigadire for my bitch due to his fantastic health results 0/0 hips 0/0 elbows clear eye cert and optigen clear. My Bitch has 3/5 hips clear eyes and opitigen clear. So I feel I have done the best for the pups and future generations of labs. I find it frustrating when people bred with any dog and not have them tested. i would not buy a pup if parents are not tested as it is detrimental to the breed we all know and love.

Odismum

I've been reading all these posts and it's true what is said, we are all lab lovers. Odi is not kC registered, Razz

her mum is ( her KCclub name CLOUDSCAPE DREAM) but her dad isn't. The owners never recieved his paperwork, why they never chased it up I don't know.

I went on another web site ,champion dogs , before i found this one and when i told them Odi was not KC reg i got some very nasty replies, which is why i never mentioned it until now thinking i may get the same respose.

When Odi is old enough i will get her hip and eye tested I'm also hoping to trace dads side.

At the end of the day we love Odi, she has helped our son beyond belief with his fear of dogs, so i can only repay her with a good loving home.

In time we want to get 2 more labs but this time they will be KC reg. I love this site, it's a godsend and the people on it are brilliant.

Diana · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 1:19 pm Post subject:

I also found Champdogs a cold and unwelcoming place to 'outsiders' Wink

You are not alone there Wink

The fact is Teresa, in the main being kennel Club registered in itself is not what will buy you a healthy puppy, its having the parents at least hip scored and eye tested... so when people have a real problem with unregistered dogs, they are missing the point. Its just that, unfortunately, about 99% of unregistered dogs are NOT hip scored and eye tested before being bred from, so hence the 'assumption' usually being immediately made about the quality of a unregistered litter about the breeder making efforts to produce healthy puppies.

For me, in the rare case that an unregistered litter comes up with both parents hip scored and eye tested and those certificates definately avaliable to see for buyers, I'd never rule it out to recommend to puppy buyers myself. The healthtesting being far more important than the registration papers...

Di

labler · Account Deactivated

From the Rebel Rouser to the Outcast.........AWEEEEEE.... its funny you should bring this up Di.....I Dont Visit the US labrador forum for that exact reason.......... having posted a....well, mildly..a contraversial post in the breeding section.....i was just bout tared and feathered...... one peticular....SOB....was so vicious I could not help myself but to find his kennel.....as it turns out...not a 15 minute ride from my home town in NJ...now I'm 6-2..250lbs...mostly muscle.....and plan a little visit to my friend next time im home visiting..... Im not one to Duck and cover per say...I think youll find Ill speak my mind popullar or not... My welcome to the US lab forum was........."cant you tell your not welcome"....well Usually I will put up with that sort for principle alone....... Of course, having bought my Elsa from the UK....it really was just sensible to be a Uk lab forum member.....personally I enjoy the people... my best friend of 35yrs.... Is english...thats to say..both his parents immigratted to the states...... about 1960.....plus...my grandmother was born in scotland... Gilfillin..lived to 95 and my heritage there goes back to 600 ad or so... So yes....If you have a varied opinion newbies............ don't fret......... its as much about community on the forum.....so please do return.......

warm regards
bruce and elsa

Odismum · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 2:37 pm Post subject:

Thanks very much guys, the welcome here has been very warm, and we feel very welcome!

Diana · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 2:46 pm Post subject:

Thats good Teresa! And Bruce.... you do make me smile! One day I'm going to come and chisel the fullstop key from your keyboard! Wink

I thought *I* used it a lot but you win hands down! laughing, and knowing just what you mean by 'chilly welcomes' on other forums until you get your feet under the table Wink

Course Teresa Champdogs is pretty breeder/exhibitor/trainer orientated, so I suppose they WOULD find a non registered dog a bit of a no no... but I think sometimes people don't see for looking if you know what I mean!

Di

pdmalcolm · Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 8:39 pm Post subject:

As my last free post here, this thread has tipped me over the top to deciding to pay for membership. I agree that some of the advice on here can seem dictatorial and I'm glad to see you guys have the humility to recognise that sometimes it's easy to give an incorrect impression by prose on a screen.

Anyway... Whilst Oscar is KC registered, he is not from a "proper" breeder. He is, I believe, the product of some illicit rumpo between 2 working Gundogs which produced a litter of 9!

We did all our research, as this is our first dog together, and decided to look into 2 breeds, Border Collies and Labradors, as we live in the Lakes and are pretty active. Everybody I rang up about Collies was a complete [insert swear here]. Breeders were reluctant to talk to me if I wasn't definitely interested in one of their puppies, rescue centres just wouldn't entertain the idea that I could have a job and a dog... Then we saw our Breeder's advert on a pedigree dog's website and went round ot have a look and a chat. We never felt pressured, she was completely open about their provenence, all 9 were healthy and active and clearly well loved. Just so happened she was my parent's solicitor too!

We asked our questions and recieved brutally honest answers (when asked about how much she would exercise the mother the reply was "I'm not the best person to ask... If it's raining she doesn't want to go anywhere and I'm not going to force her!") and the whole process was just so much less painful than I had expected.

Looking at his mothers hip scores when we got the KC stuff, I reckon they must be made of biscuit so we're quite careful with Oscar (despite his best efforts!), but a dog is more than a set of hips and he is incredibly biddable, a really fast learner and so handsome too!

In short, we went with our hearts and maybe didn't ask some questions we should have, but in the 3 months we were looking for a puppy I had gained an intense dislike of "dog people" and Oscars breeder made the process enjoyable, which it probably should be.