Whether you buy a Shallowford puppy or not, we will try to help or advise where we can, or alternatively, if we do not have the answers, refer you to someone who does.
One of the questions we are most frequently asked is what to look for when buying a puppy. We have tried here to point out some of the main checks that a new owner should make. Shallowford is seriously Anti Puppy Farming. If you have any suggestions to add to this list, or you think someone may benefit from details of your experience being posted on this site, please let us know.
• Many people believe that Kennel Club Registration gives a guarantee that a puppy has come from a reputable breeder & will grow into a healthy, happy example of its breed. Sadly this is not the case. The Kennel Club will register any litter of puppies as long as both parents are KC registered. There are a few limitations preventing registration, e.g. if the dam (mother) is younger or older than a specified age or if she has already whelped a certain number of litters. Many commercial breeders & known puppy farmers register their litters with the Kennel Club because they know it gives them certain "respectability" in the eyes of the general public. Having said that, all reputable breeders also use the Kennel Club system. It pays to view with extreme caution litters that are advertised as unregistered or registered with an alternative registry company or club. The Kennel Club Accredited breeder scheme has been introduced in a bid to encourage the breeding of healthy well adjusted puppies.
• Ask the age of the mother
KC regulations state that no bitch shall be bred from until her second season or the age of one year or after the age of eight years old or more frequently than once each year.
• It is not enough to see the puppies with their mother, ask how long the mother has been owned
Some breeders, buy in ‘stock’ to breed from, then sell them very quickly afterwards, thus ensuring a high turnover of puppies. The temperament of any bitch bought in solely for this purpose can not be guaranteed.
• If at all possible, see the stud dog used
If the bitch has been taken some distance to the dog and this is not practicable, talk with the stud dog’s owner, ask for pictures, details of the pedigree, confirmation of health checks. Any reputable stud dog owner will be more than happy to deal with your enquiry.
• Cross check pedigrees, hip, elbow score and eye certificates
Check the dam’s KC registration document carefully for owner details to ensure the dog is registered accordingly; check transfer dates this will confirm how long the breeder has owned the dog, eye scores are recorded on the KC registration document of dogs, hip and elbow test certificates list KC registration number of dog, ensure these tally.
• Ask how many litters the bitch has had
KC documentation indicates the litter number, (ie how many litters a bitch has had) check this tallies with what you are told.
• Are puppies being sold with endorsements to their pedigree?
Breeders may sell their puppies with ‘endorsements’. Broadly speaking one prevents puppies being taken abroad to countries where they are not too well cared for. The other one means that should you wish to breed from the puppy you are buying, you must have it health checked (eg hip score, eye tests) in line with current recommendations, before the breeder will lift the endorsement and allow the puppies to be registered with the Kennel Club. This is to combat puppy farming and is a sign of careful monitoring by a breeder.
• Ask the breeder about healthcare
Breeders will relay any genetic defects found within the breed and any steps they take to ensure their eradication.
• Ask the breeder about their puppy worming program
Puppies ought to have been regularly wormed, generally three times before they leave the breeder for their new home usually with Panacur or Drontal. Defleaing is not always necessary; some veterinary surgeons will only advise this if fleas/ticks are present.
• Ask the breeder which clubs they are a member of or what activities they carry out with their dogs
• Ask for details of any puppies from previous litters
A good breeder will be interested in how their puppies are doing once they leave. They will generally be in contact with owners and receive reports on how puppies are developing or achievements.
• Each KC registered puppy is sold with a KC registration document. A puppy Pedigree Certificate is optional, this can be obtained at a cost of £5, but a breeder should at least supply details of the pedigree.
• It is essential that you are happy with the puppy you take home. Their personality when fully grown will largely depend upon their home life from joining you but a breeder spends a lot of time with their puppies and may well be able to advise you on the puppy most suitable for your requirements.
• Kennel Club Accredited Breeders must comply to rules and regulations set by the Kennel Club. Each new puppy owner is offered a feedback form, this is an excellent way of monitoring on an ongoing basis that rules and regulations are adhered to.
• A breeder should supply you with health care advice eg vaccinations and worming but will always advise that if in any doubt, to take your puppy to a vet.
• The words ‘reputable breeder’ on any sales advertisement - mean nothing! It can ba a label applied by ther breeder themselves. Make your own checks. A reputable breeder usually has only one breed of dog, maybe two, has several dogs, will tell you which ones they will breed from, will declare any they will not breed from and tell you why! Generally, they do not switch breeds to meet present market demands.
• Be wary of breeders producing cross breed puppies such as ‘Cockapoos’ or ‘Labradoodles’ Registration of such puppies is not required and unethical breeders can breed KC registered purebred puppies at one ‘season’ and non registered cross breeds at the bitch’s next season, using the bitch as a puppy machine. The law states that a bitch shall have no more than one litter in a twelve month period. This is not to say that there are not some legitimate caring breeders of cross breeds.
• A reputable breeder will often belong to various clubs or engage in activities such as obedience training, flyball, PAT, gundog training.
• A reputable breeder will make enquiries about you, the kind of home you are offering their puppy and how much time the puppy will be left alone. Prepare to be interrogated! They will almost certainly ask for a guarantee, that should your circumstances change, the puppy is returned for them to re-home. They will encourage you to maintain contact and report any problems encountered. This is not to say they will hound you or make you feel you need to report back to them. A good breeder will simply reassure you that their help is available if required.
• Ask the breeder if they have refused anyone a puppy and why
• Try to be patient when looking for a puppy! Reputable breeders do not have a constant supply of puppies & it may be that potential buyers will have to wait weeks, perhaps months for a suitable litter to be born. Mistakes are often made by buyers who will not wait … they want a puppy NOW & so will often rush out & buy in haste (perhaps ignoring the warning signs that the breeder is not reputable). Remember, you will hopefully have your puppy for 10-15 years - what is a wait of a few months for the "right" puppy compared to this?
For further information please see:
Labrador Forum - How to Choose a Breeder