Dog Breeder

[Elaine]

Just out of curiousity has any one ever heard of a breeder who would advertise pups at £400 each then actually sell one pup at £250 at the age of 6 weeks and then charge another £50 boarding fee for keeping the pup till it's 7 weeks?
It's a long tale to tell and as far as I am aware any responsible breeder would sell the pup[s at 9 to 12 weeks and am not trying to get into that debate. I am curious because if i were interested in a pup a) I wouldnt take one so young and b) alarm bells would ring at the price drop.
Or am I being overly suspicious?

[dinahsmum]

I don't think anything in the world of dog breeding would suprise me now Elaine.

There are plenty of good, careful and caring breeders out there; there are also people who seek to make money out of their dog(s)

[Elaine]

I don't think anything in the world of dog breeding would suprise me now Elaine.

There are plenty of good, careful and caring breeders out there; there are also people who seek to make money out of their dog(s)

Oh I know and agree with you Hilary and this one is a puppy farm but the people buying this pup just cannt see it. They also tell me that they know that they are getting a good healthy pedigree pup coz it has a fat tum and good paws:roll: .

[Kazz]

Lord knows Elaine as DM says anything could be happening nowadays....I know people are struggling to sell pups.

Must say though I got Sal at 6 weeks 3 days....and she was ready to go and perfectly happy from a man and lady I trust and would and did get another pup from Tess who I got again at 6 1/2 weeks. Both were perfect in every respect, health character and temprament.

But of course I researched my breeder as they researched me and I have had Staffs previously and did and would walk away from any dgy litters "poorly pups" touch my heart yes but not enough to put a foot over my threshold...no point starting with a badly bred pup...Yes even though you all think I am a kind soft hearted fool :) I am not as soft headed as I appear.

Although toy breeds are not allowed to go to homes till they are about 12 weeks I think.

Karen

[Elaine]

Lord knows Elaine as DM says anything could be happening nowadays....I know people are struggling to sell pups.

Must say though I got Sal at 6 weeks 3 days....and she was ready to go and perfectly happy from a man and lady I trust and would and did get another pup from Tess who I got again at 6 1/2 weeks. Both were perfect in every respect, health character and temprament.

Although toy breeds are not allowed to go to homes till they are about 12 weeks I think.

Karen

Ah ok, maybe I am mistaken about the 9 - 12 week thing. I know my sisters dogs breeder wouldnt let her go until she was 9 weeks.
I dont get the £50 boarding fee thing though coz if the pups werent selling then she'd have the pup another week or so anyway.

[farthing]

I think it is recommend now a days that pups aren't sold until 8 weeks, just in time for their first vaccine. 6 weeks is very young, even babies rabbits shouldn't be sold at 6 weeks, they are only becoming properly weaned at that age.
Sadly a fat tum could just as easily mean worms, if they are buying from a puppy farm they are potentially setting themselves up for lots of problems and heart break, more so than from a respectable breeder.

[Moli]

Just another way to make money!!!!
I got Gypsy at 6 weeks, Mollie at 7, and Tara at 8.....
I prefer to get Staffs young and that way they can be socialised at an early age......

[random]

No Elaine, it sounds very suspect to me. I got my girls at 7 weeks, personally I wouldn't like to take a pup after 10 weeks as their optimum socialisation period is around 6-12 weeks, after 12 weeks if they haven't seen and heard various things then there could be problems later in life but that is JMO, 8 weeks is the norm in pups.

But charging board for a 6 week pup they bred is wrong wrong wrong! Can I be nosey and ask what breed they are?

[Elaine]

They are advertised as chunky chocolate labs.

[farthing]

I hope the parents have been hip scored and tested for retinal dysplasia.

[Elaine]

I hope the parents have been hip scored and tested for retinal dysplasia.

I have no idea Louise.

[farthing]

I may be wrong but I suspect that a puppy farmer would not be too concerned about what he is breeding from, it might be worth mentioning these things to the people looking to buy. My friend bought a black lab from a place recommended by the kennel club, when she described it, it sounded like a puppy farm. The dog was so severly messed up and terrified of cars he would go completely mental. After he bit one of the sons, he'd bitten the husband nd wife previously, he had to be PTS- he was just over 1.:cry:

[Kazz]

Elaine you are taking it all to heart again you can't stop the World making mistakes with animals....you are a dog walker......not "Jimmney Cricket"

I assume the people we are taking about are grown ups....if so let them be if they won't listen ...its not your responsibility....

Karen

[Kazz]

Oh I agree with Moli.....the difference between a week old SBT pup and a 8 week old one is a lot and I had elderly cats to consider...of course.

[random]

They are advertised as chunky chocolate labs.

JMO of course but labs wouldn't be a breed that is too hard done by going at 6 weeks, but they are also commonly over and badly bred.

There is not much you can do Elaine, they may be lucky and get a healthy pup but it's probably about 50/50, all you can do is advise them of better ways to get a puppy, that the parents need to be health tested e.t.c.

Sounds like they have made up their mind already, a fool and their money sadly.

[Moli]

Oh I agree with Moli.....the difference between a week old SBT pup and a 8 week old one is a lot and I had elderly cats to consider...of course.
Its because I have cats, I prefer to get them young....

[Elaine]

You are all absolutely right and these people are not interested in my opinion anyway, so have kept my mouth firmly shut.
I just find it curious that the pup was advertised at £400 but was sold for £250, just seems like a hell of a drop in price for a so called healthy pup.

[dinahsmum]

Maybe they're just terrified at the prospect of being left with the pup Elaine? Much easier to sell a 6 week old than a 16 week old. Perhaps they had just anticipated turning dozens of prospective purchasers away and were shocked to find that they might not actually sell all the pups?
Going back to staffies pups, both of mine were at the just about 7 weeks mark when i got them. Very much babies but it seems a good time - all 3 of us staffie fans agree :)

[Kazz]

You are all absolutely right and these people are not interested in my opinion anyway, so have kept my mouth firmly shut.
I just find it curious that the pup was advertised at £400 but was sold for £250, just seems like a hell of a drop in price for a so called healthy pup.

Elaine its lovely that you care and I agree its a very very odd thing to do. I could see the dropping of the price..in the fear of being left with the litter...as DM says, however the £50 charge for keeping the pup 1 week is really just money grabbing I would say........and the one thing that would make e walk away more than the price drop. Some times people do not wish to see whats under their nose and the more you highlight it the more they dig their heels in. Maybe this will turn out well, hard to tell what do they think of being charged £50 for boarding....

[Kazz]

DM I remember you getting Dinah....first time we bumped into each other on the net so to speak. Seems only yesterday.

[angieh]

Can I just let you know of something I saw when looked at BSH breeders? This particular person's website gave all the details of cost etc but did specifically say that if the customer couldn't take the kitten when it was 12 weeks (not sure this is exactly right) because, say they had a holiday booked, she was happy to keep the kitten for them but would charge normal cattery fees. I suppose that this is fairly standard - if people are booking their holidays well in advance and not knowing exactly when "their" kitten will be born.

This may of course have no bearing at all on what Elaine's been told about this extra charge for looking after the puppy, but just thought I'd mention it!

[Kazz]

Really................nowt queerer than folk.

[Elaine]

Interesting, thankyou all for your responses.

[Kazz]

If I had a litter and the person was not able to take the pup or kitten straight away..............I'd pay them to let me keep it for them...........

[Elaine]

If I had a litter and the person was not able to take the pup or kitten straight away..............I'd pay them to let me keep it for them...........

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[angieh]

I think our Kazz may be getting a bit broody ...................

[Fran]

My pups go to their new homes between 7 and 8 weeks of age as research has shown this to be the best time for them to move to their new homes. 8-16 weeks is a landmark stage in a pup's development and they do better in their new homes at this point than they do with the breeder who cannot possibly socialise and integrate 9/10 pups like you could one on a one to one basis. During this stage they need to experience as many sites, sounds and experiences as possible to set them up for life as a well adjusted dog. Toy breeders often keep their pups longer as they are later to develop than the bigger breeds.

I breed Labs and my pups are KC reg, the parents are hip and elbow scored. have yearly eye tests and are Optigen PRA tested clear or clear by parentage :)

[CrAzy Mii]

We were always told 8wks was the right stage for a puupy to go to a new home!! That's when we got Toto!! 6wks deffinately seems WAY too young!!

[Elaine]

My pups go to their new homes between 7 and 8 weeks of age as research has shown this to be the best time for them to move to their new homes. 8-16 weeks is a landmark stage in a pup's development and they do better in their new homes at this point than they do with the breeder who cannot possibly socialise and integrate 9/10 pups like you could one on a one to one basis. During this stage they need to experience as many sites, sounds and experiences as possible to set them up for life as a well adjusted dog. Toy breeders often keep their pups longer as they are later to develop than the bigger breeds.

I breed Labs and my pups are KC reg, the parents are hip and elbow scored. have yearly eye tests and are Optigen PRA tested clear or clear by parentage :)

Thanx for that but would you then advertise pups at a certain price, drop said price dramatically (say due to lack of interest), then charge a boarding fee to keep the pup another week?
Like i said, it really is none of my business, it just struck me as odd as I'd never heard of a breeder doing this before and so i am curious.

[Fran]

I rarely have to advertise my pups, most are spoken for before the litter even arrives. I never have to drop the price of my pups and I never charge anything if a pup stops here until the new owners are ready to take it. Infact, I have been known to take pups back whilst owners go on hols and I never charge anything ;)

[calismum]

My three Golden pups were purchased at 7, 8, 8 and 10 weeks.

The most 'worried' of them was the one at 10 weeks. The other 3 were great. I would agree that earlier than 7 weeks should not be the norm.

My last two dogs were from Kent and that was why I had to delay going for one of them. Breeder did not charge any extra (in fact I paid slightly less as a returning customer) and we are now good friends. She, as far as I know, has never dropped prices just to sell. Like Fran, most of hers are bought before they're even born. I had to wait 3 months for Cali.

[kado]

I am getting a dog before august its either a shih tzu, Jack russel, King charles or i love labs. I wouldnt know what they should be sold at(any ideas or breeders near hull). I think if you want one you will pay anything.

[Fran]

Kado, more important than the price is the health testing that the breeder does. You need to research the breeds you are interested in and find out what health probs / tests are necessry for that particular breed, as well as researching the breed traits and personalities etc.. (You have mentioned a few different breeds there that are very different in size, nature and personality traits, so you need to decide if a dog suits your lifestyle and which breed of dog would suit you the most). Then you need to find reputable breeders who do the recommended health tests and get your name on their waiting lists. You may have to wait sometime for a well bred puppy.

[kado]

Thanks for the advice Fran. Love your website

[Kazz]

I waited 2 years for Sal....:) and I'd have waited longer....why because I wanted a dog from that breeding (ie her Dam/Mom) and I really really admired her breeders still do.Kado can I suggest you decide what breed you really want then find a line/type you like by researching going to shows/field trials/talking to people you know/don't know/pass in the street/on line/your vet....breed clubs.Then you research, research/question/research for a good breeder then you...get questioned by them and they you and wait....PATIENCE AND RESEARCH are the key..and remember as Fran has said "Good breeders rarely ever advertise, word of mouth is the key" PS Nice to see you post Fran....hope you are all well.

[Kazz]

I am getting a dog before august its either a shih tzu, Jack russel, King charles or i love labs. I wouldnt know what they should be sold at(any ideas or breeders near hull). I think if you want one you will pay anything.

If you go in with that attitude you will be ripped off and at ris f finding a puppy farmer....who cares little....because you will be to soft hearted.Decide on your breed first then research...ask...you have 4 such different breeds there its hard tresearch all by August why do you like those particular breeds you need to make a list of "positive and negative points"Don't let your head rule your heart....

[Elaine]

Glad i asked the question now as there seems to be a fair bit of very good advice for prospective dog owners, and I've certainly learned a little too. So thanx again for responding every one.

[borderdawn]

Kado, more important than the price is the health testing that the breeder does. You need to research the breeds you are interested in and find out what health probs / tests are necessry for that particular breed, as well as researching the breed traits and personalities etc.. (You have mentioned a few different breeds there that are very different in size, nature and personality traits, so you need to decide if a dog suits your lifestyle and which breed of dog would suit you the most). Then you need to find reputable breeders who do the recommended health tests and get your name on their waiting lists. You may have to wait sometime for a well bred puppy.
What she said!:)

[borderdawn]

The difference in those breeds are like a Mini and a Porche!!

[Fran]

Thanks for the advice Fran. Love your website

Than you!

PS Nice to see you post Fran....hope you are all well.

All is good here thank you Kazz :D How's yourself?

[Kazz]

Than you!



All is good here thank you Kazz :D How's yourself?

I'm fine thanks.

[Kazz]

The difference in those breeds are like a Mini and a Porche!!

I agree Kado think you need to decide on a breed....