Hi

I have been lurking on these forums a few weeks now but haven't posted properly yet. I have a question though so thought I would finally come out of the woodwork to post it!

Our dog had to be PTS a little while ago and hubby and I discussed what we wanted in a dg and selected a breed that Hubby had lived with and his family had bred. Hubby only wanted a dog from that specific line though - well with alot of that line in it - however Hubby and his family had this dog over 20 years ago! So after lots of internet searches I finally tracked down the breeder of his families original bitch and chatted to her. She didn't have any puppies herself however a bitch that had used her stud with had just had puppies (born January). I have contacted the bitches owner, had a long chat with her (yes she fully vetted me!) and have even friended her on Facebook and sent a few messages back and forth on there. We are hoping to go and view the puppies not this wekend but next when they are 8/9 weeks old. I am totally comfortable with the breeder (its her first litter). The bitch and dog have both won lots and look happy and with good temprements (have seen pics of kids with the dogs etc).

So on to the question....

1) I keep looking on the KC puppy finder to see if this litter has turned up on there - they say they are KC registered - but there is no sign of them on the list. Is this list a different thing to KC registered (excuse my ignorance most of my dogs have been rescue mongrels) do litters registered not automatically get put on the puppys available list?

I know I could call her back and ask but I dont want to appear a complete numpty even though I am willing to risk it with you lot!

Thanks for putting up with a complete novice! Be gentle in the replies!!

Regards

Kath x

Litters will only appear on that list if the breeder has paid an extra £20 for them to be on there -in other words it's a paid for advert. So all it means is the breeder probably has plenty of good homes lined up and didn't see the need for an advert. :)

Yes, the puppy list is different to puppies being KC registered. :-) The puppy list is something that a breeder can pay extra to be on if they feel they might have trouble selling their puppies, it isn't something that happens automatically with registration. I don't think you need worry.

Good luck with your new puppy - it sounds as if you're doing everything right. I hope I have as much luck as you have!

As the others said a lot of breeders don't feel the need to use it.

Kennel Club Accredited breeders go on for free so for the first time in years I have asked to be listed, though have never had an enquiry via this source.

Thank you all for your replies; that makes sense and I was hoping it was something like that. It puts my last worry to bed; now I just need to work on Hubbys only worry!

He is concerned as the litter has 6 pups 3 female and we want a female. The breeder is possibly keeping 1, her daughter wants the other so it leaves us with a choice of only one. I dont have an issue with it but hubby likes the illusion of choice! I think he is just a little shocked I managed to track the puppies down so quickly as he had a little look and failed - never underestimate the powers of a woman on a mission especially one who is missing the feel of a dogs head on her knee!!

For anyone wondering the breed is Bullmastiff and the line is Oldwell - any experience of them would be greatly recieved. As I say Hubbys family got one from them over 20 years ago and bred one litter the puppy we are looking at isn't decended from that litter but is from the Oldwell kennel. If I could find one from his litters litters (.. add in a few litters here) then I think he would be totally amazed at my searching skills but he is happy with an Oldwell. Its not a breed I have had and I will be the main caretaker (he is already calling it my dog) so any tips from Bullmastiff owners is welcome!

Love

Kath x

Mmmm, the only thing I would say is, she has all 3 bitches available still and yet didn't bother to put them on the KC Puppy List, why?  How many of the dogs are available?

That is a fair sized litter to find homes for and for £20 is very reasonable to advertise with the KC or do they prefer the free sites.

As the sire's owner is well known in the breed, again, why are there puppies left?  Do they not pass enquiries on?

I have used the list and had lots of enquiries from it but I only put a litter on if I have some available at time of registration.  My bitch was confirmed in whelp recently with a large litter and I already have a good sized list - although we all know they can disappear when the actual time comes.

I would suggest you keep an open mind until you visit puppies, hopefully all your worries will disappear.  They may even be registered by then and you can see paperwork.  May be an idea to ask to see parents health screening results.

I have no experience of Bullmastiffs's perhaps someone will give advice soon on how easy they are to live with etc.

Good luck - I hope you do find the pup you are looking for.

>she has all 3 bitches available still and yet didn't bother to put them on the KC Puppy List, why?  How many of the dogs are available?

I think you must have misread the post, Ells-Bells. :-) The bitches are all spoken for ("3 female and we want a female. The breeder is possibly keeping 1, her daughter wants the other so it leaves us with a choice of only one."); one with the breeder, one with the breeder's daughter and one for the OP - it's the 3 dog puppies that aren't mentioned. Possibly they're all spoken for too, or advertised through the Breed Club or simply word of mouth.

Ooops, too early in the morning....

Hi

Yes - probably my fault in not explaining very well. When I chatted to her last week...

She was planning on keeping 1 girl, her daughter wants another, I want the 3rd, the stud owner was planning on viewing and chosing a boy so there are 2 boys left unless there have been people calling in the last weeks which there could have been.

The stud owner is passing on referrals thats how I found out about the litter. I called her and (she vetted me then) told me about the litter. On my second phone call to her (I was a bit excited on the first call and forgot some questions so I had to cal back a few days later when I had calmed down) she then gave me the number for the bitches owner who I talked to about the puppies and every topic under the sun!!

I cant find adverts for the puppies anywhere on the internet so I am guessing she has homes for the other 2 already. She has pictures on her facebook account but thats it.

Thanks for the replies, once you answered my first question I was happy I just need to work out a way for Hubby to be happy too. Although so far we have everything he wanted in his ideal dog situation except choice - but then again I think he will get over that when he sees them he did when I just brought home our last girl 13 years ago!!!!

Love
Kath x

Hi

Just wanted to update..

Hubby finally got over his final worries and said yes we will go for the puppy - once we have viewed it and if the breeder likes us enough obviously :)

He got his feeling of choice when a friend of my best friend offered us a husky puppy. Yes it was totally not what we had wanted breed wise etc but he asked me to get details anyway. Mum (Siberian x Malamute) was on her 2nd litter, father was a Malamute. The woman seemed just driven by money to be honest and said that she was letting them go at 6-7 weeks old like she did the first litter. I asked how she had sold her last litter and she said she had a few phone calls but no takers until it started snowing then everyone wanted one for a fashion accessory! All this rang alarm bells with me. I told hubby all about them and he agreed it was a definate no and we would stick with our original plans (there was no chance I was changing them anyway not without shed loads of research into a new breed).

I am very excited! I miss having a dog around so much. Not looking forward to toilet training though although the new wood floor should make mopping up accidents easier than it was on carpet.

Kath x