Hi everyone, I am getting my lab puppy this friday, although the dam has her papers the sire has not, the lady owns both dogs.  Because the pups are not kc registered we will not be getting any paper work but should i recieve a copy of the mums papers so i can check the hip scores in her family?

Has she been hipscored?

I wouldn't expect to be getting a pup from hipscored parents if the breeder is using unregistered stock. To be frank, i would hold off on getting this puppy and look for a breeder with registered puppies that has both parents healthscreened. Can i ask why your buying from this breeder and not a registered pup?

But you're not going to be able to check the hip scores of her family are you?   If you receive a copy of the dam's pedigree (and there is nothing to say that you should/will get a copy) you will only be able to check one-half of hip scores that go to make up the genetic history of your puppy. :(

You are on a right lines, wanting to check the health test results but you should really be asking for these details before you get the puppy...
As it will be totally pointless to start checking after you have and love the puppy!

Also, has the owner got both parents hipscored?
Even the dad with no papers as again, bit pointless to check the dams side if you have no idea of what is behind the sire.

May I ask what are the reasons of going for a puppy that is not registered and does not have all the health data it should have behind it?
In the end it is you and your family who will have to pay the price if something go wrong, why not at least do your best in starting with a puppy that has best chances to develop to be a healthy dog :).
I'm saying this as a person who has looked after a sick dog for a very long time and knows the heartache and worry that comes with it...

There are an enormous amount of Lab breeders who do the relevant health tests and register their pups with the Kennel Club. I think you would be unwise to proceed with this purchase. In such a heavily populated breed you could have your pick of a number of litters without going for this litter.

All I will say is this http://www.lab-health.co.uk/

So why did you go for a non KC registered puppy ? :-)

Please do not go for a Lab which both parents haven't been health checked and have good scores.
The link above me should be the best one to see what results you are looking for. Not sure why you are going for non KC reg, but if you for some reason feel the need to then at least make sure both parents are health screened and you see the results. Also their parents should of been health screened, if not run away fast!!!

A note to you a friend got a Lab pup from a byb, not knowing any different and this was before i knew her, he at 7 months had to go through long surgery due to joint problems, he was then crated for a long period of time in order to heal. This for a young Lab to go through is not right and they know now that they did wrong in getting this pup from where they did. They are looking at getting another breed of dog now and are studying lines and will make sure that the health checks are done..

Please don't go and pick up the pup and say 'but its cute'. Having only one side of a health check done means nothing at the end of the day, the whole pedigree on both sides should of been health screened...

Hi no i don't deserve it. We were originally getting a registere

Hi no i don't deserve it and yes you are rude. I cannot afford the price of a kc reg pup

You can check if the dam has been hip scored on the KC website health checker.

To be honest you would be better off saving for another 6 months and get onto the waiting list of a reputable breeder who health tests all their dogs. 

It is advisable to go through a breed club to find/check out a breeder.

Both parents should be eye tested including DNA tested for prcd-PRA, as well as Hip scored and elbow scored.

You could end up with the heartache of health issues which will cost a lot more long term than the bit extra for a well bred pup.

The reason a well bred pup will cost more as it will have cost a lot more to breed and rear.

Get saving if you can get enough to get this puppy , you can wait another 6 months and save :-)

Best not to take the hump with folk giving you sound , honest and worth taking advice :-)

> I cannot afford the price of a kc reg pup

Can you afford food , vaccinations , vet bills , insurance etc ?
The purchase price of your pup is small compared to what it will cost to keep for it's life .
Good luck with whichever pup you get .

Can you afford the thousands of pounds bill if this pup has severe HD?  Not having a go but please be careful.  If the mother is KC registered and you know her KC name then you can look on the KC website to see if she's had all the necessary tests.

Honestly - the purchase price should be one of the lowest of your priorities.

Once paid for, your lab pup is going to cost the same to run on a day to day basis as a well bred, KC reg pup from health tested parents.

But - the unreg pup from parents who either are not health tested or only one is.. this could cost you a fortune for the next 12+ years in problems that COULD have been avoided... risks that COULD be minimised.. for the sake of saving for a few more months?..

If the price difference IS so huge beteween a KC reg and an unreg one - it isnt the fact that the pup isnt KC reg that has 'saved' you money - it is shortcuts the breeder is taking.

These shortcut sDO show up and theyw ill cause you problems - I have dogs from private rescued backgrounds, and from good breeders and whilst I wouldnt change any of them for the world, the difference in ease of living with and raising and training the two from good breeders is astounding. Those 8 short weeks, that time spent picking the best parents, it really IS worth the money.

There are enough labradors out there from good breeders, from health tested parents, that no one should be producing or buying from untested parents. Theres just no excuse and if they think its fine.... what OTHER things do they think are fine?

Lablady,

The difference between registering a dog with the KC and not is a very small amount, i'm not a breeder but thought it was £12 per pup to register. Even though the sire of this litter is not registered doesn't stop it being health checked and i wouldn't be going anywhere near an un health checked line.

Further to that, if this pup had problems with its health are you going to have pet insurance to cover you from the start? Some companies will only cover to a certain amount, you need to look for cover which say the pup has diabetes, then the insurance will cover this for the lifetime of the dog. Also many vets won't claim direct from the insurance companies, you will need to find the money first and then send the form off and the companies will reimburse you.
I thought the average price for a KC reg, health tested litter of Lab's goes for around £500 or there abouts. I think this is a minimal cost for a pup, compared to many other breeds. Whats the hurry in getting one now? I would wait until you can afford the best you can get

Further to that, if this pup had problems with its health are you going to have pet insurance to cover you from the start?

Some of the insurance companies (may even be all, I don't know as I've not read the smallprint for all) will state they will not pay out for for example hip dysplasia unless both parents  have been hip scored with good results.

Like the others have said, Run,run very fast away from this litter, you can do so much better.

If everyone did that no-one would be breeding so irresponsibly as they couldn't sell the pups.

Pups like this are only cheaper because corners have been cut.

Full health screening for a Labrador could cost around £1000 each.  They have saved that and then the cost of a stud fee to visit the best most compatible stud, and who knows what else has been skimped on in the rearing.

Think about a puppy born at around 12 ounces by 8 weeks will weigh about 12 pounds, that is a phenomenal growth rate and requires the best of food and rearing, without even considering socialisation etc.

The £12 cost of puppy registration is a drop in the ocean compared to the rest.