I notice there are a lot of unanswered posts of people trying to find puppies of a particular breed. Perhaps I could offer some help.
Breeders advertise on this site so you can search that.
The magazine Dogs Today has lots of puppies for sale and a list of breed advisors that may know of puppies.
Avoid Exchange and Mart, Free Ads type of papers, many puppies from papers like these are from commercial breeders/dealers and probably puppy farmers too.
Contact the Secretary of the breed club that you are interested in. Adresses on this site and www.dogclub.co.uk.
If you want a show quality puppy, ONLY buy a puppy from a breeder that regularly does well at Championship shows, these breeders will almost certainly belong to one or all of their breed clubs. Show winnning puppies, as a rule only come from winning or Champion parents, grandparents. One or two Champions in the 4th and 5th generation of the pedigree, means very little.
They may offer to send you a list of puppies for sale. this may be helpful but please remember that the breeders listed are NOT KC approved in any way, it is just a list of those puppies that have been registered lately from smaller kennels/hobby bredders. These lists may contain puppy farmers or un-reputable breeders as equally as good breeders.
Ask at your local vets, they will know of their clients puppies, and although they may not be expert on breed type and requirements, they should know whether or not the dogs are well looked after, regularly wormed etc etc, had all the releveant hereditary testing etc, as they will have been involved in it.
Visit a dog show and speak to exhibitors, they may possibly have puppies for sale or expected or know of someone who has.
search the web www.google.co.uk is a really good search engine, which will only bring up UK sites if you ask it.
Beware of kennels selling several different breeds or those that keep large numbers of dogs, say over 10 breeding bitches. NEVER allow anyone to deliver you a puppy unless you have already seen it at its home, with its littermates and mother, (though if weaned, the mother and puppies may well be living separately by 6 weeks) and you are welcomed to see all their dogs, and are happy with everything you see.
Purchasers should spend time with you ( at least an hour) explaining exactly how to look after the puppy: feeding, worming, vaccinations, exersise, house training, travelling, grooming, trimming, training classes and the importance of correct socialisation. Puppies should come with free insurance, KC reg Papers, 4 or 5 generation,signed pedigree, vaccination cert. if any have been done. You should not be rushed.
Always read any contract/bill of sale that you are required to sign, very carefully and make sure you have a copy.
You certainly should not be brought one puppy from the litter, without seeing any other dogs/littermates and told "here she/he is".
If possible pay for the puppy with a "credit card cheque book" you get more protection that way, if something turns out to be wrong with the puppy.
Alaways get puppies checked by your vet ASAP, preferably within 24 hours of purchase. If there is anything wrong with the puppy, you only have 7 days in law, to return the puppy and be entitled to a full refund.
Hope this helps.
By Teresa ![[gb]](/images/flags/gb.png "United Kingdom")
Date 30.05.01 11:43 GMT
Your posting is full of sound advice to people searching for a pup and I agree with 95% of what you said.
I know that some top breeders do use Exchange and Mart and also not all are members of the breed assoc. for reasons of internal breed politics.
I've used the local free newspaper because it has the most extensive local circulation and I prefer pups to go to local homes wherever possible so I can follow their progress.
If people do their homework on their chosen breed, ask the right questions about health screening etc, check out the facilities / care of pups etc and don't mind being asked searching questions by the breeder they should be ok (along with your sound advice).
The thing I find the most worrying in Newfies is the number of unscreened pets being bred from and organised puppy rings and then sold at lower prices than the responsible breeders prices. The unsuspecting public think they are getting a bargain when the odds are that they are buying into huge veterinary bills and loads of worries. To care for and to produce healthy Newfies take time and dedication as well as a lot of expense - my bank balance is testimony to this!! I know this is true in other breeds as well.
We've had lots of postings in the past about breeding puppies and people getting upset by the advice they've been given. Breeding carries huge short and long term responsibilities and if people don't regard the pup they've bred as their responsibility once it's been sold then as far as I'm concerned they shouldn't be breeding.
Hi
I also agree with most of what you have said except such as advertising in E & M. If someone does their homework then there is no reason not to buy from there especially if the breeder is using the vet checked scheme.
There are problems in advertising in magazines such as Dogs Today in that you don't know until after the pups are born whether you need to advertise or have enough to fill pre-orders without any left over. I rang them early last week enquiring about advertising and the advert won't come out until July so you have to know weeks in advance whether you have pups for sale whereas with the E & M they go in the following week.
Christine
Christine
Kerioak Dobermanns & Genealogy
I dont know what a "vet check" scheme is, all I do know is that at a vets I used to go to, many years ago used to sign batches of health certificates for export, for a local dealer without even seeing a puppy! Disgraceful, I saw it done right there in the vets reception, so its not heresay.
