Two year ago I bought a puppy and she is absolutely wonderful.  This is not what the posting is about.   The breeder wrote on the receipt about lifetime support etc.,  It is very unlikely that I should need her for any reason, but whilst browsing the internet I've discovered she has moved house.  This got me thinking.  Lifetime support is not worth the paper it's written on because she could have easily ceased trading.  It's like getting your car MOT'd, it's only valid for that day.

I give lifetime support but then I don't consider myself "Trading".
I have a long term email address and a web presence.

Do you have an email or contact number? My breeder keeps in touch with me periodically via email or texts usually to have update photos or see how we are I do feel as if I've got lifetime support from her. I thought this to be the norm and from reading this forum feeling as if many breeders here DO offer lifetime support and help.

Trading? I would not count on ANY commercial breeder to actually offer lifetime support. I send each and every one of my puppy buyers a newsletter and Christmas card every year, which always have my contact details on, and should I move, every single one will be sent my new contact details. But then I am not trading in dogs. Have you not kept in touch with your breeder? I get the odd buyer that does not keep in touch (they still get my letter at Christmas), but most will certainly e-mail now and then (even ten years or more down the line) and tag you in photos on Facebook etc, many at least monthly. I'm still in regular contact with my foundation bitch's breeder, and she isn't even alive anymore (the bitch I mean!). Don't forget it works both ways, keeping in touch is not a one way street.

Keeping in touch is not a one way street.   I kept in touch by sending photographs via text and updates regarding the dogs achievements.   I thought she was probably too busy to reply.   She said she wanted photographs etc., for when she started her own website.
As regards 'trading' it is a business and a product is being sold.

Shame -if you took the trouble to keep in touch, the breeder should have responded -whether she is still breeding or not.

As regards 'trading' it is a business and a product is being sold.

Most dog breeders are NOT commercial breeders and are not running a business. Those deemed to be "hobby breeders" (i.e. not breeding as a business and only breeding low volumes) don't need a council license to breed, those that breed to make money, do.

> As regards 'trading' it is a business and a product is being sold.

well my litters have never been "products."

In truth, if I picked up those sort off vibes from a prospective puppy owner, they would have been deleted from my possible puppy owner list.

I've never had litters as a business, and would rather keep the whole litter than let a pup go to a doubtful owner,

People who offer 'lifetime support' consider their puppies part of their extended family, and therefore your part of that, like someone marrying in.  I suppose friends and relatives can loose touch too, but most manage not to.

Like another person has said I too maintain a web presence, so in the unlikely event I should ever move I can still be contacted.  Also The kennel Club will have up to date address, and could always pass a letter on, should you loose me.

Usually the situation is the other way around and owners fail to update me on their moves, so I do have to rely on email etc contact.

I have kept in regular contact with the breeder of the dog I have now, first time this has happened. I think has become a lot easier to do so with the Internet and emails. Very easy to send pictures and keep up them up to date.

The breeder had a dog returned to them that they had bred, about 18 months ago. His owners had split up and neither of them could adequately care for the dog anymore. The breeders told me that they will keep him and not try to rehome him as he came with a number of training issues which are taking time to sort out. He's now a permanent member of their dog family. They bought him into life and feel responsible for the rest of it.
It's a good thing to hear as although my dog will live with me all her life, you can never plan for the unexpected. It's good to know if for some awful reason we can no longer keep our dog, she will go to a very good and loving home.

we have a fb group for the dogs bred by our lovely lady. she is in touch regularly for any kind of help even as one did recently at 1am when the dog was unwell and the owners were unsure what to do.  She has moved once and we all know where she is, popping into see her is welcomed and she will point you in the direction of places to say if you are too far away/ people not on fb have the same contact with her via txt or phone. so its perfectly possible and something I would look for

Just because there are a lot of excellent breeders out there who will move mountains to look after one of their own, should the need arise, it does not mean that, sadly, the term "lifetime support" isn't used as a marketing ploy by less scrupulous breeders. It sounds so lovely and reassuring!

As someone who was involved in breed rescue for over 10 years, I have witnessed some absolutley outstanding breeders who would take back a dog of their breeding instantly, or if unable to, would send in a hefty donation to cover foster care; to people who disgusted me beyond words by their attitude when there was a problem. Yes, thankfully, these people are a minority, but they do exist.

MMD sadly in my breed where thousands of unregistered pups are sold, they are in the majority.

That is really sad.

The minority I was refering to (rather badly - having just re-read my post ) was the breeders who do promote themselves as 'good' breeders; are known in breed circles and in some cases are qualified to award CCs in several breeds. What they somehow fail to realise is that it is precisely their antics that drive people looking for a pet straight to the Free-Ads and into the hands of all the unlicensed breeders.

They make all the right noises when in the company of people who they think they ought to impress and then treat the people who buy their puppies and give homes to their surplus youngstock with contempt. I wish more (any?!) breed clubs would be more vocal in their disgust at this minority because they are dragging the whole world of pedigree dogs down with them.

Instead, all I hear is Post Panorama Paranoia (health test available soon ) when every suggestion that something might be amiss, is met with defensive responses and no real appetite for moving forward and discussing how we CAN actually begin to attract more sensible, educated and dynamic people into the world of pedigree dogs.