Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 2:57 pm Post subject: Where to find a reputable breeder?
Sorry if this is in the wrong place;
I'm looking to get another Labrador so have started to look for breeders but am somewhat wary after having read some dodgy things about breeders on champdogs. I've tried the local Labrador club and didn't get a reply so just wondering if anyone has any pointers on where to start the search.
I'm wary of just finding a breeder online with no word of mouth as my girlie I have now has severe HD (resulting in a hip replacement at 1 year old) and this was from parents with hip scores under 15 so I'm starting to wonder if they've lied about the scores although her brother who my relative has is normal. I love her to bits but I wouldn't ever want to repeat what's happened with her as its very distressing to have to subject a dog to that surgery and the following 6 weeks of confinement.
I can totally understand your upset and distress about your poor girl's problems with HD. Unfortunately because genetics is only ONE part of the makeup of the problem good hip scores are not a guarantee, just a likely indication that a breeder is breeding from healthy parents 'hipwise'. Nature can be cruel and throw a curve ball in there sadly, plus environmental factors can both induce and increase HD and its symptoms, so its a tricky one.
In general yes, two parents with good sound hips and low scores SHOULD be the way forward. It will be helpful to give you a tiny bit more reassurance that maybe you can search on all the names involved in the mating and check if grandparents, who do play their part genetically too, are also respectable scorewise. You can check this on the health test database on the Kennel Club website.
Then you really can only do your best in finding someone you like and get along with.
I think whilst Champdogs used to allow anyone to advertise a litter I *think* they ask, these days both parents have the current breed club healthtest requirements, which currently stand at hip scores and current clear eye certificates, with elbow scoring strongly recommended..... but I don't frequent the place so not entirely sure on that.
Di
____________
The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
You should try your vet too, they might know of some good breeders.
WIth online searching, the only way to really be sure they are reputable is to ask lots of questions. If your questions are answered, and you get asked a lot in return, you can go see the mother and where the puppies will be raised and evidence of health tests (clear eyes, low hip and elbow scores) then you could be halfway there.
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:13 pm Post subject: Thanks for the replies
I'm in Scotland, near Glasgow but I don't mind travelling at all. We saw the paperwork for our girlie's mum and got to see her mum and dad both times we were there I think it's just been really stinky luck with what happened to Macy especially as her brother is absolutely fine.
I know hip scores aren't a guarantee im just a bit cautious now, especially as one of the litters I was looking at said the dad had a good hip score and it was 17 which is above average (not by a lot but it still put me off and I think someone previously alluded to them being a dodgy breeder to deal with)
Vet is a good idea I never actually thought of that *blush*
Tbh, and I don't want to sound like I'm rubbishing vets, but if they're not knowledgeable about Labradors as a breed, they'd be the last place I'd look, well, maybe not the LAST place, but not high on my list. Various vets have come up with some right rubbish during my time owning Labs, I've met a wide variety of them with hugely differing knowledge, so you're in the same boat as with breeders, how can you trust a vet will have the right knowledge to say that's a good breeder/litter?
As far as hip scores go, both my bitches are from the same dam, with a hip score of 10/9, 4 points above the breed mean standard at the time, and yet both are substantially lower, Indie 3/3 and Tau 0/0. A breed mean standard is just that, it's a mean, so figures around the mean are perfectly acceptable, it's not a breed cut off standard, however, I do think a dog with a higher score should be used with a dog that has a lower score. I think people forget what the term 'mean' means in a mathematical sense, and use the BMS as a benchmark, even the BVA information points towards this sort of approach.
Did you post on champdogs earlier? If it was you, I've sent you a message on there I've found my two most recent dogs through champdogs, but it's difficult because there are certainly dodgy ones on there too! I think it's a good place to start though. I'm surprised you haven't had a response from the Lab Club of Scotland, these are the details of the puppy co-ordinator on their website
Contact: Jean Quinn
Tel: 01324 851352
E-mail: vuldack@homecall.co.uk
Maybe worth phoning rather than emailing if that's who you've tried already.
I wouldn't trust many vets to recommend a good breeder Actually my mum's friend bought her Lab from a vet, who bred non hip scored parent, and most of the litter were crippled with HD I'm sure they're are knowledgeable ones, but I don't think it's a given!
You cannot ask your vet for a good/bad breeder as client confidentiality would prevent any sensible answer being given. Find a local breeder, check the relevant health checks are in place, go and meet dog and bitch and go nowhere near any puppies until you are happy with the conformation and temperament of the parents and then and only then allow yourself to view puppies. Even with all relevant health checks on parents and grandparents being in place, you can just be unlucky and get a pup with problems but at least you can be happy you've done as much as is possible.
You cannot ask your vet for a good/bad breeder as client confidentiality would prevent any sensible answer being given. Find a local breeder, check the relevant health checks are in place, go and meet dog and bitch and go nowhere near any puppies until you are happy with the conformation and temperament of the parents and then and only then allow yourself to view puppies. Even with all relevant health checks on parents and grandparents being in place, you can just be unlucky and get a pup with problems but at least you can be happy you've done as much as is possible.
Not all breeders own both the dog and bitch, in fact I'd suggest that's more uncommon than common with a good breeder, who will travel quite a distance for the right dog.
I'd suggest going to crufts/discover dogs, and look at Labradors you like, find out more about those lines and who's breeding them, and take it from there. Breed clubs can also help put you in touch with breeders that abide by their code of ethics; but no matter where you find a breeder that anyone recommends, you still need to do your research and be *happy* with how they're going about things.
I think you'll find there will be a few folk going to gundog day at Crufts, I'm going, although I'll be fraternising with the flat coat people as well; I would imagine as far as Labradors go, you'd be hard pushed to find more knowledge in one place at any given time that's so easily accessible to the public.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You cannot download files in this forum
Actually my mum's friend bought her Lab from a vet, who bred non hip scored parent, and most of the litter were crippled with HD 
I'm sure they're are knowledgeable ones, but I don't think it's a given!
those poor dogs!
