As you know I have been looking for a pup. I spoke to a breeder whose website had lots of pictures of their dogs playing about the house, with grankids etc and I thought it looked fantastic. There were a few things about the site that made me err on the edge of caution but I thought I would ask the breeder a few questions.

The breeder got back to me this morning saying they allow their bitches to have SIX litters, one litter a year from the age of one!!! I am completely shocked, especially since many many seemingly knowledgable dog owners are posting in their Facebook group saying how happy they are with pups and how well looked after (!!!!) the adult dogs were.

I'm dumbstruck!

Which one was that Josh pm me

Maybe these people posting on the page are none the wiser on the breeding practices that go on? Or are just as bad as the breeder in thinking this is ok, which its not for this breed. At the age of 1, this is clearly too young for this breed... Hopefully FF can help you..

I would never have purchased a pup from there. When I replied saying that I would not support such breeders (I use the term loosely) they just said 'Thank you'!!!! Poor, poor dogs :(

Unfortunately all to common.  Were the dogs Hip Scored, and Haemophilia tested (for males) etc?

Legally a bitch is allowed to have 6 litters (I expect puppy farm ones have more as pups not registered so no way of knowing that).

Most of us are very pleased that from January next year the maximum number of litter that can be registered with the Kennel club from any bitch is 4, that's a maximum not a must.

Something the size of a  GSD I would think 2 1/2 the youngest I would want to try breeding, two in most medium size breeds.

With the KC accredited breeder scheme many more limits are being asked for regards age fo first litter being higher than the minimum of 1 at mating which is only appropriate for some of the toy breeds.

The breeder in question only hip scored the males! One of the males was Haemophilia tested but the other wasn't. I got the impression most of them were acquired as adults and 're-homed' rather than being specifically selected to breed :(

However in a nice contrast I have just got off the phone with a very responsible breeder who has a litter due (if the bitch is in whelp, it's too early to tell at the minute however the same breeding has been proven before) which will be ready around the end of august. We spoke for about 30 minutes on the subject of dogs and I was really pleased with them. I'm going to arrange to go and see the adults before my travels so hopefully the bitch will be in whelp.

Josh