Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 10:07 pm Post subject: Longed for puppy- please help x
Hello everyone,
Have been looking through this great website for a while now as I want to be really prepared. I grew up with the most wonderful labrador and I have always wanted my children to have that experience too, due to work commitments we were not in a position to own a lab but now with my daughters growing fast and change of work we as a family are now able to get our pup. I'd looked through this site and it is invaluable for the advice but could do with a couple more answers please, hope you can help me!
Thinking of getting our pup in spring so that toilet training would hopefully be a little easier? Should we start looking for a breeder now? We are a little scared by the price range of the pups seems that they go from 350-600 why so different and is the saying you pay for what you get right? Sorry for such a long winded blog but want to make sure our puppy is our forever dog thanks everyone x
If you are hoping to get a puppy for the spring then it does help (a bit) to be on breeders waiting lists so you get to be in control of which puppy you might be coming home with.
The best place to look for breeders is on the kennel club website - to check out the list of assured breeders (this is done by county) and get in touch with them to see when they are expecting puppies, then also check out the puppy finder on KC website as this will then show litters that have been registered. (the list will have assured breeders at the top).
One of the first questions you will need to ask is whether the litter is show or working type. After this you will want to know about the health tests which you can then double check the information they supply by entering the pedigree names of the Dam and Sire into the health test section on the kc website.
there are any many questions you need to be asking - whether they are raised indoors or outside, will you get to see any relations to the puppies (as well as the mum any siblings or the dad!). Worming history, weaning advice etc.
If you are placed on a list it helps to know whereabouts on the list you are!
Regarding price - the factors taken into account for the varying prices are if full pedigree, Kennel club registered, the health tests that have been done on the parents as well as how good the pedigree is (ie number of champions if a show type or FTCH - field trial champions - if working!). Usually a "cheap" pup is either not registered or not from health tested parents (or both).
Please dont get a pup from the paper - do your homework and hopefully when you find a litter you like - hopefully you will warm to the breeder and get the whole package - ie aftersales support as well as the health tests.
(you need to have an understanding of what the health tests mean too!)
When you see the breeder you should be able to see the certificates easily.
If anything doesnt feel right then walk away.
Hope that helps a bit
Heidi
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Welcome, Yes it is a good place to help you with your search for the right pup.
The timing you are thinking about being in the spring is a good idea, it will help with toilet training especially.
The prices you quote may be reflecting the area of the country that you are looking at.
My thoughts about the higher price £600-£700 will be alot to do with the breeding and health checks that will hopefully been done by the breeder, and would recomend you speak to them and ask the questions about the pup that is important to you, the 1st being hip scores and optigen [eye tests], I am not experienced but that is what I did.
Hopefully someone else will come and give you further advise.
I definately would start looking now, to get your perfect pup.
more info on health tests can be found in the breeding section (along with the link Wendy has given!)
the minimum I would hope for in the parents is hip scores (within breed average) and BVA eyetest, it is good to have elbow scores as well. DNA tests are "considered" extras, I have chosen to do two dna tests with Molly - there are many different DNA tests out there so you would need to understand what you are looking at if the parents have had any dna tests done (ie the meaning if one of the parents is a carrier or not)
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This database check comes with a health-warning - some test results such as AHT and ECVO eye tests are not added to the public database (but are still accepted by the KC) - similarly - eye test results can take up to 3 months to appear.
Similarly - overseas dogs results are unlikely to be on there - as are certain results such as PRA and CNM if they are done through alternative companies to Optigen and AHT (the results have to be submitted by the owner to appear)
I don't want to confuse the issue any more than it can already be for prospective new owners - but at the same time, it is wrong to assume that all results will be on there and to unfairly overlook a breeder because they are not.
ETA - there are many good breeders who are not Assured breeders - these too shouldn't be overlooked
This database check comes with a health-warning - some test results such as AHT and ECVO eye tests are not added to the public database (but are still accepted by the KC) - similarly - eye test results can take up to 3 months to appear.
Similarly - overseas dogs results are unlikely to be on there - as are certain results such as PRA and CNM if they are done through alternative companies to Optigen and AHT (the results have to be submitted by the owner to appear)
I don't want to confuse the issue any more than it can already be for prospective new owners - but at the same time, it is wrong to assume that all results will be on there and to unfairly overlook a breeder because they are not.
ETA - there are many good breeders who are not Assured breeders - these too shouldn't be overlooked
I had forgotten about that element re checking results that could be from other laboratories. I was thinking along the lines of checking the info you are given is correct, I suppose at least it would flag up if not on the kc website the puppy buyer could then ask why - and it is then easily explained eg tested with 'xyz' laboratory - I suppose it is the paperwork that is *more* important really?
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I had forgotten about that element re checking results that could be from other laboratories. I was thinking along the lines of checking the info you are given is correct, I suppose at least it would flag up if not on the kc website the puppy buyer could then ask why - and it is then easily explained eg tested with 'xyz' laboratory - I suppose it is the paperwork that is *more* important really?
Yes - and I assume (but can't verify) that the records would appear on the pups paperwork (all health results are included on each registration sheet).
The reason I give it a health warning is I have witnessed people running down dogs (not Labs) - for not being health-tested - when actually, the parents have been health-tested, but there have been valid reasons why the results do not appear on the database - it's a thin line sometimes.
The only thing you can take from it - is that if the breeder is a member of the AB Scheme, then they must have a valid eye certificate in place in order to register the litter (as well as hipscores) - I've just had to do my girls 6 weeks early as I am expecting her to come into season any time, and didn't want to mate her with an eye certificate that wasn't valid at the time any pups would be born
The simple fact is however, there are many breeders out there who are not members of the AB scheme who use far more than the basic recommended health-tests for the breed - and sadly, there are also AB's out there who are not good - so the same principles apply for chosing a breeder irrespecitve of whether they are a member of the scheme or not (which I know really doesn't help puppy buyers at all )
I won't repeat what the others have said above, as they have already given you some very valuable advise. What I will say is, start thinking about the type of Labrador you want and when you approach breeders, ask them about the temperaments of the dogs they are breeding from.
Labradors come in a vast array of temperaments, from the hard headed, in- yer-face, types, to the mellow and lazy, to the driven duracell bunnies and sensitive/nervous one's. There really isn't a "typical" Labrador temperament. So if you want a nice easy going one, who loves kids, who is happy with a walk round the block and then sleeps the rest of the day then make sure you get a pup from parents who are like this. I'm not saying this would be your type, but this seems to be the type a lot of New to Labradors people are after and then they find they have bought something VERY different.
Do your homework, not only about their health tests but to try to find the ideal temperament to fit in with your lifestyle, as too many Labs are given up because their owners bought the wrong type and can't cope with them and I can see you really wouldn't want to make that mistake.
The important thing, as everyone else has stressed, is to take your time and do your homework. Getting a puppy is a major decision, he or she will hopefully be with you for 10,12 or even more years and will be a big part of your life.
Most reputable breeders will have a waiting list before their puppies are born so you definitely need to start looking now for a puppy available in the spring. Good luck with your search.
____________ Lynda x
Emily, Poppy, Maisie, Phoebe, Martha, Will, Ned and Isis
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I was thinking along the lines of checking the info you are given is correct, I suppose at least it would flag up if not on the kc website the puppy buyer could then ask why - and it is then easily explained eg tested with 'xyz' laboratory - I suppose it is the paperwork that is *more* important really?
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