I live in Dorset and would like to get a black toy poodle in the very near future.....I'd prefer not to travel hundreds of miles but don't mind neighboring counties. I have emailed the southwest breed club but no reply as of yet so thought it wouldn't hurt to ask here as well. I would prefer a boy as I have a male Bichon and don't really want to have him neutered unless really needed for some reason.

I would only want one as a pet, not show.

Have you tried the Kennel Club puppy lists.  You can see who on there is an Accredited Breeder and who is a Breed Club member, conforming to their code of ethics.

I live in west Sussex but bought my 2 toy poodles from a breeder in Shaftsbury in Dorset they are dark apricot but I know the lady has other colours as well. I found the breeder on the kennel club web site her name is Mrs Sylvia Riddett if you are interested. She doesn't have any puppies advertised on there at the moment but she does have several litters a year. I have to say they are not cheap because she shows toy poodles at Crufts under the affix wightwonder. Hope this is of help to you.

If you look in 'searching' on 26/8/08 there is a 'poodle wanted' ad - there are more links there .

Try www.ukpoodles.com and go to their puppy page.  This is a sensible knowledgeable poodle site.

Hi,

If you look on this forums 'Puppy register' there are a couple of nice litters
~ Simply click on Breeders (in blue) at the top of this forum page
~ Then click on Puppy register and this will take you to the list of Champdog member breeders with litters.
                 

Thanks for the replies. Seems no-one has one available at the moment unless I drive for 4 hours!
I will keep looking......there seems to be a lot less breeders down here in Dorset as my mum is looking for a little yorkie and isn't having much luck either!

unless I drive for 4 hours!

You only have to do it once - if you buy the wrong puppy, then you live with your mistake for 12+ years!  A good breeder will drive that far and more to use the right stud dog.

Well I was thinking of the puupy.......I only had to drive 10 miles for my Bichon and he cried all the way home, would it not be really stressful for a young puppy just leaving it's family?

not always, or even usually. any pup we've got has bunked down for a sleep on someones knee. one of my parents pups went from Angus to Penzance with no bother at all. as was said this dog will be with you for its whole life, its worth a bit of a drive.

We did a 12 hour drive home with our first puppy and about 9hrs with the second one. The first one cried on and off all the way home but loves being out in the car and has never cried since the journey home. The second one never cried at all so maybe it depends on the pup?

I too have had to drive for about 7 hours to get the pup I wanted. I think sitting on my knee most of the way home helped the bonding process.I wouldn't hesitate doing it again for the right dog.

I too have travelled for 9 hours and more- Wales and Northampton - on seperate occasions - great for a weekend away and even more so for the right puppy.  It does help the bonding process - and would do it again. 
  

Have you had any reply from the breed club yet ?
As it is half-term i suppose they could be away .
Take your time to find a pup with all the relevant health checks , i am sure the wait/journey will be worth it !

Don't forget to let us know all about your new pup .

I'd walk for 4 hours if it meant getting the puppy I wanted   Honestly, travelling distance is immaterial for the right dog.

I had a puppy buyer come over from the Isle of Man! A long and very expensive journey! Took the pup back, booked a cabin on the way back so they could get her out of her carry crate...the journey alone must have cost them £200!! (and the expense of staying here till the journey home)

She's in a lovely home, spoiled to death and I'm very glad they made the effort! I knew they would care for her well!

I had a reply from the breed club and also a list of breeders from the KC
There are a couple of people expecting pups very soon. Thing is, how on earth do you decide on which breeder you prefer! they all seem nice! I kind of feel awful contacting more than one as obviously only wanting one pup. I could be visiting pups all over the country!

My other half found a website of a poodle breeder not far from us.........goodness, do they have a few poodles! about 4 stud dogs too. This doesn't seem your average "puppy farm" type breeder to me but it's just... well.....weird! or maybe it's me LOL

Do they show?  I would be suspicious if they have a website and do not show.  If it is a show kennel then it is not too unusual to have more than one stud dog.

No, it says nothing about showing. I'm not going to be getting my puppy from them........just seems odd to me, like someone eccentric with a load of dogs running round the house (I may be completely wrong of course)
They also advertise "teacup poodles" but to me it just doesn't seem right to be trying to make these dogs so tiny (just my opinion here)

> "teacup poodles"

alarm bells!!!! suggests breeding for money to me.

I note from your post you have a list of poodle breeders, as I have said in an earlier post I bought my 2 male dark apricot poodles from a Mrs Riddett who lives in Shaftesbury Dorset. This breeder shows at Crufts under the name wightwonder and has had quite a bit of success with them. I went to this breeder at the time as the poodle I had before suffered quite a few health problems throughout his life and I thought I would maybe be more lucky in getting a healthy one from someone who breeds them to show. I have to say so far they have both been very healthy and although they are not up to show standard they still look very well bred. I rang this lady when I decided to get the second poodle and she told me when she had litters due. The only thing is she is not quite so keen to sell bitches to you but as I didn't mind another dog it didn't matter to me. The other thing was she didn't give me a choice of puppy I was just shown the one. I expect people may think I was silly to accept that but he was adorable and he has the nicest nature so i'm happy i got him. I did of course see the mum and dad in both cases. Hope this helps.

Thank you for the info. Two of the breeders I am in contact with both show their dogs and one of them has recommended asking your breeder about puppies also. Looks like I am on the right track

I 'bought' my breeder long before we started taking about actual matings and potential puppies.  A good breeder is worth their weight in gold and I'd say that if you can find one that you like, and trust, then you'll not go far wrong.  We originally went on a list that was 14 months but luckily there was an opportunity to have one from an earlier litter.  From decision to arrival was then only 9 months

You should visit as many breeders as you can, even if you have to travel.  I'm not saying you should see every Tom, Dick & Harry but if you have a good telephone conversation and they sound keen to see you then I'd go.  I met several breeders at Crufts and then visited two (it's a rare breed) but they both knew I was seeing the other.  Interestingly the things they said about each other (all positive) was a good way to assess their commitment to the breed.

A good breeder can also be judged by the rigorous questions they ask!!  Good luck

I hope you find the right puppy soon, I have been so delighted with my two poodles Rusty and Pepe that I wouldn't hesitate to go back to the same breeder, she obviously sells some of her puppies to other breeders as I have looked at the pups for sale on here at various times which show the pedigrees and there as often been wightwonder in them including ones that are in my dogs pedigrees as well, so I would think that is quite a good recommendation for her. My 2 are related to each other in that Pepe's mother is Rusty's grandmother so I think that makes them Uncle and nephew if I have worked it out correctly. When I bought Pepe the second dog he hadn't been registered with the kennel club at that point so the breeder asked us if we would like our surname included in the kennel club name and also she linked it with Rusty's kennel club name which we thought was nice.