Think before you buy!

Its heartbreaking as a real dog lover like myself to hear how other breeders treat people who buy puppies off them.  A few cases lately have come to my attention from various sources across the UK. You know that I've got to say this but most puppy buyers are pretty naive thinking just a scrap of KC paperwork will be enough to ensure their dog is healthy or come from the right source.  Sadly that's not the case 

This is how it works.

Any person, so let's say Joy down the road has a litter of puppies.  Went to a good dog on the internet which had a KC registration certificate and Joys dog has a Kennel club registration certificate and Mabel goes and buys the dog. But then is told the dog is ill.  Mabel takes the dog thinking its something that will get better, but didn't realise that in fact this dog could have a lifetime of issues health wise.  Mabel didn't sign up for a sick dog from day one.  Joy decides she doesn't give a toss what happens to Mabel or the puppy and on your bike.  Mabel thought just with having KC registration it would all be fine and dandy.  The KC reg is no guarantee that a puppy is healthy.
We are not talking of the inconsequential hernias (they rectify themselves), or acne (This rectifies itself) which puppies get.  We are talking of a serious health problem which is not going to go away. 

So this is why breeders like ourselves sign up to the assured breeder scheme to do more healthy tests and promote welfare.   Our vet will health check a puppy, and if he says it cant leave, it doesn't leave.  He has to do a health certificate for each puppy and they must be in full health to leave our home.  But Mabels breeder didn't do that. She didn't pay the vet for a health check or pay for the health letters, she cut corners.   Poor Mabel is now stuck with an ill dog as Joy did a scrap of a contract saying she is not legally required to give money back from leaving the door.  So this is the thing all breeders have contracts.    We all state no money back.  But this is the thing. If Joy had of paid £200 and got all the puppies health checked properly, then Mabels puppy would not be sick.  Its the breeders job to actually care for those puppies and rear as best to their ability, wether its a one off or ten litters a year. It makes no difference.  The breeder should absolutely fight to do the right thing.   By getting that letter you know no person is coming back to you. Its a guarantee for them and a guarantee for you.  It stops all unnecessary upsets.   

Now their is no such thing as perfection in animal breeding. Id really like to say their was but that would be wrong.  We can only strive to do what's best in the interest of mums and puppies.  But you can get health issues you've never seen in your life before.  Instead of sticking head in sand and pretending it didn't happen. Suck it up sweetheart and take it on the chin.  Try and breed this problem out.  Some things needs stopping straight away.  Others you can actually with selective breeding eradicate it. We can all be in the position of Joy, but we don't let the puppy go. That vet health check is worth its weight in gold it really is.  For you and for me.  So if your not buying from me, tell your breeder you want one.  Especially if they are charging £1800 plus for a puppy. 

Now this is actually how it works.  The Kennel club rely on honesty of the registering person that the dog is in fact pedigree, and not secretly their Labrador put to the Vizsla.  They will supply a certificate for anyone that has registration numbers.  Thats how it works.  So the Kennel club are not at fault. 

Then we have cross breeds being registered on the activity register.  But you say we didn't know they could be registered.   Yes on the activity register and this is why your puppy advert says puppies have papers, because they do have papers.  This is correct.  But what Sally didnt realise was she was buying a cross breed because it said kennel club registered.  So that's another scenario.  The Kennel club aren't in the wrong, Sally's breeder wasn't in the wrong for registering, but she was probably in the wrong for advertising falsely that it was a pedigree and in fact it was a cross breed. Hence why the French bulldogs are in a mess. 

Then you have the assured breeder scheme and you will hear breeders saying oh I won't join that as its no guarantee what your getting.  Well here's the thing, their are a few more checks done on an assured breeder than a non assured breeder.  I recently had my inspection and I have to sign a statement that all the information I've given is correct. The assessor who is lovely checks all the dog accommodation and checks my breeding records, and so on.  So loads of points are looked at before they will issue you with the certificate to say you are a member.  

Dont be aggressive with your comments to your breeder, they are people too!  Work together to sort things out.  Some people pick up the phone out the blue and have a go at a breeder and that's really unfair if its the first time they heard about it.   Lets be sensible and courteous as their are two sides to everything.  But together Joy and Mabel could resolve their situation properly. Kindly.

Just think what's going on in the Ukraine right now.  I think its time to be nice to each other don't you.?

This week alone I've heard of 3 different things all covered above, and I feel for everyone.  I shall write soon about how you should find a breeder and do some checks.  The first thing is does the breeder have an internet presence ?  You'll get loads of recommendations for the breeder, a website helps, social media accounts, show repots online and so on. Then check the mums health checks. Not just hips and elbows.  We are required to do the Glaucoma test, plus BVA annual eye test also.  Then what private health tests are done.  If a breeder is doing loads they have the dog at heart as they really want to try and produce healthy.  Even ask for references and maybe someone whose had a dog off that breeder can come forward.  License? They should have one. Ask for their number.  

​Anyway I wish you well.