I am looking to buy a TT puppy in the next few months, but do not want a show dog.
Should I expect to pay the same amout for a normal healthy puppy as a potential champion show dog?
I have heard that sometime breeders have pups that are not quite up to show standard is this true?
Thanks.

I love TTs, and would have one myself if I could cope with the coat and the mud! I think you get a non-standard colour come up occasionally (is it chocolate?) which is probably still very attractive, and this may fill the bill for you - whether you pay the same price or not is up to the breeder, but be sure that you go to a responsible breeder. Personally, I would let a non-standard colour go a little cheaper with no papers if it were mine, but I would still expect the new owner to sign a puppy sales contract.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Hi Jo - when you say 'without papers' do you mean not KC registered? Only interested as I have always wondered what this meant as I have seen it mentioned before
Ta Gina :)

Jo,
Hate to tell you but although chocolate TT's are not acceptable for showing, I have heard that some "breeders" charge extra for chocolate TT's saying it's a "rare" colour!!
Dot

Somehow I'm not surprised at that Dot! Bit like charging extra for white GSDs, or even white boxers sometimes!!!

I've never actually seen a chocolate TT, but imagine they could still be attractive.

When I say they wouldn't have papers, I would expect the breeder to explain to me that although the pups who were up to breed standard had been KC registered, this particular one hadn't because of the fault which would be pointed out. The pedigree would still be provided.

I know you could argue that the pup's KC registration could be endorsed 'not for breeding', but this isn't infallible either, as the KC themselves admitted to me that anyone could, in theory, write a letter to lift an endorsement, and they have no way of telling if the signature is genuine or not.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

I am still confused (bit thick I expect :) ) but most people on here tell people who want to buy pups to make sure they are KC registered, had all the necessary tests, mother seen, etc. so how are they (or me for that matter) able to tell if we are buying right if the pup is not KCR'd? I can understand what Jo is saying about not registering certain pups but not sure then why KCR is mentioned to more or less every poster who asks what they should be looking for when they do buy. Hope this makes sense because I am now of the opinion that a pup doesnt necessarily have to be KCR? :o
Gina :)

Weims has just replied to a guest that the pup should be KC reg. so am still confused
Gina :o

Gina even some responsible breeders will choose not to register a puppy if it is destained to be a pet right from the outset (say a non showable colour)they are trying to protect their lines in the hpoe that the pet owner will be deterred from breeding by not being able to register any pups others use endorsements.Gillian

Oh I quite understand that but I still think a bit confusing if posters/guests are told regularly to only get a KC reg. pet and they have no idea about breeders etc and if they are buying the right dog that is not KC reg.
Gina :)

Hmmmm,
Sorry if this is a stupid question (i know, im well known for them!) but, if someone bought a pup from a reg litter, but that particular pup wasnt registered, couldnt the new owner then register the pup?

Also, (hope this comes out right, having probs wording it), can you trace dogs through the kc reg? What i mean is, if i was researching a particular stud dog, would i be able to find out if he had produced faults (i mean those visible from birth, ie wrong color, or coat type) through the registrations? Do you have to provide a description of each pup registered. Because if you can, then if 'poor quality' or 'non-breed standard' pups arent registered, then that could mislead someone into thinking that the stud in question had not produced those faults?
Or am i talking rubbish? Just curious.
Em

Hi Em first answer is no only breeder can register puppies.Second answer is also I think no registration forms do not require you to list any faults and they are not marked onto an adult dogs pedigree unless they have been officially health checked through one of the schemes then hopefully these dogs are not used for breeding.Gillian

Hi,
kewl, i learn more everyday! Thanks.

Em

You might get an older puppy a little cheaper like say one the breeder has run on for a while and then decided it's not good enough to show but i doubt you would with an 8 week old pup unless someone had bred a litter just for the pet market and they were unregistered, but be careful as those types of breeders don't usually bother with getting hips and eyes checked on their breeding dogs.