First it was TOILET ROLL now its a PUPPY what's next ....?

I feel so sorry for all those  puppies that are going to be left alone all day or sent to rescue when their owners go back to work  :(

i have heard that it isnt just the uk that are having such an increase in puppy demand and some European countries are already finding their rescues swamped :(

I had to stop and think what this meant ....... panic buying has spread to PUPPIES?

Quite apart from what's going to happen once people not working, go back to their jobs (if they are still there), but what about all those people who have paid HUGE sums for their puppies, only to discover what they have brough into once the vet bills start piling up which ten to one they will, given these puppies costing thousands, are coming from BYBs just cashing in on a market that's gone wild.

Not good!

No doubt they will dump them in rescue with some excuse about not having time for them any more

Its worldwide and friends in Canada, US and Australia are saying the same and the same thing is happening with so called pandemic puppies and the huge increase in prices for them too

I would imagine dog rescue's are probably being inundated with people looking for dogs/pups ? I would imagine its difficult for rescue's to know who the genuine people are though compared to someone who is just looking for a lock-down pup/dog, I agree with you guys on here, what's going to happen when things finally return to some kind of normal (people start going on holidays again etc etc).

A large part of me expects at some point to be asked to help rehome at least a few young dogs when everything is closer to being back to normal, although I'm not asked often.  I may even end up with the next addition being a victim of lockdown fever.

As soon as people go back to work or are allowed to book holidays I can see young dogs and their parents being sold on. I'd imagine there are a lot of bitches pregnant now or ready to be mated.

I've already noticed a lot of pups that were around a few months ago I have not seen recently. Maybe their walking regime has changed as so far I've not seen many older puppies/young dogs for sale.

I was really disappointed to see a well known breeder hiking up the price of her puppies from £950 to £2,500.

She also seems to have had 3 litters in the last month or so with another on the way. It could just be a coincidence, and the litters were preplanned, but I can’t help feeling she is just cashing in.

She is a member of the KC ABS and is a regular at shows. Such a shame.

A hike like that doesn't sound like a coincidence to me.

Would she usually plan to have 3 litters in one month and then another close on its heels ? With that price increase it does sound calculated to take advantage of current demand

> Would she usually plan to have 3 litters in one month and then another close on its heels ? With that price increase it does sound calculated to take advantage of current demand

If so, this is a puppy farmer - avoid.

Yesterday I looked at my local Gumtree and strayed onto  the 'Dogs for Sale' section. I calculated that some litters, pure-breed and popular cross-breeds, were selling for between £16,000 - £20,000 depending on colour and number of pups. If I were a hotshot rookie at the Inland Revenue I would make contact with each of these carpet-bagging sellers to get names and then check at the end of the tax year to see if they had declared this income (which i doubt), and then have them investigated and prosecuted for tax evasion.

But I also noted something else: people are selling older pups and even adult dogs for large sums of money. Some of the reasons: we are moving and our new landlord wont take her. Or i am going back to full-time work now, pup is 7 months old. or just 'through no fault of its own'. Now I am a real soft touch, and I know some of these circumstances are true, and there but for the grace of God, and we dont all have breeders to fall back on when we are in difficulties. But the prices are extortionate which makes me think people are just capitalising and making a fast buck out of circumstances: hey, we've got a valuable asset -let's sell the puppy who is a pain in the arse anyway, any old buyer with the money will do, and we can buy a shiny new puppy later when prices fall because there will be a million pups in rescue.

One ad advertised 2 adult red crossbreeds un-spayed bitches that absolutely, totally had to be sold together for £5,000 because they were so attached (one 4 years old the other 12 months) and then went on about how the young one wouldn't really miss the older one, and was ready to make a new life for itself, so would sell separately - total £8,500.

Makes me wonder if some of these dogs are stolen...

On another dog thread i sometimes visit a person had posted about his friend who rescued a 6 week old staffie-cross pup from what sounds like a Welsh council estate, and the breeder was selling them as 'good bait'. Police and RSPCA dont take action in that area, apparently...

Pardon my language, but what a sh**t species we are, to take advantage of helpless things. Sorry, but what the f**k?

Adult dog prices have been rising for a while but I've noticed an extra jump in them when browsing today, too.

Are all rescue kennels empty then??

This is a great opportunity for UK rescues to place dogs, so I really hope they are 'marketing' their own dogs everywhere they can.

Soon the borders are going to be fully functional again and there will be a flood of rescues being brought in from Europe as usual...

Of course rescues haven't been able to do home assessments during lockdown, and so very few have been homing any dogs at all.

European rescues have been coming in throughout lockdown - I have no idea how as I was amazed the first lot I heard of, but they are streaming in

including one foreign rescue that was in the paper that got suspiciously fat- was vet checked and found to be in advanced pregnancy and had 12 puppies....

Many Tears, who seem to rescue quite a lot of dogs from abroad, have a lot still coming in.   They are far from empty going by their website, and seem to be able to find people to adopt, showing dogs as Reserved, within 24 hours in some cases.   I suppose these 'reservations' are subject to a home check?   I've not been asked to do one (not that I very often do down here) since lockdown.   And I'd not expect to either.

Having experienced one rescue a few years a go who doesn't necessarily do actual home checks but used Google street view and phone calls to vet instead.
They obviously met the potential owner face to face but these days that could be done with ppe and social distancing I wonder if others are doing the same ?
That being said the ones I've see near me will take applications but are waiting until they can do their home  checks in the expected manner

Someone made a valid point on another thread that made me stop and think, the breeder's that decide not to increase their puppy prices run the risk of attracting puppy dealers that disguise themselves as a good home, who will then sell the puppy on to make a few hundred pounds (or more) endorsements, contracts etc may go out the window, as pups are selling with no k.c. reg etc etc anyway.

Maybe their can be a way ....? for advertising sites to do more checks etc on people selling pups that have not been bred by them

I would like to see it illegal to sell any puppies under 6 months without them being seen with mother dog at breeders.   people who change their mind about having a puppy could return it to breeder or send it to  a registered charity rescue for rehoming.  would cut out all the dealers and imported puppies that way

I thought that what was what Lucy’s Law which became a law in April this year was supposed to prevent. Unfortunately it doesn’t matter how many laws their are, if there is no one policing them then no one is arrested and charged

I've just tried to understand Lucy's law and as someone else said I think it only applies to licensed breeders and commercial outlets ie pet shops .dont pretend I totally get it though
Looks like the man in the street can do what he likes :(  and certainly is

Ah yes I see what you mean. I had understood that it applied to everyone, looks like there is a small print get out clause

So did I when it was first being discussed very sad as it's not going to help these dogs at all

I am so glad I'm not the only one who's noticed the hike in prices. as well as lots of people selling mature dogs for exorbitant sums.

We've been on the hunt for a Shih Tzu puppy since we lost ours at the start of the lockdown.  The prices are bats**t crazy, especially on places like Pets4Homes!  A lot of the dogs are either cross breed (And nothing wrong with cross breeds) or not registered.  I had to stop the search in the end as I was getting more and more upset.  The thing that tipped me over the edge, was an advert on Pets4Homes from a lady offering a 14 week old Shih Tzu pup for sale. The apparent reason was that she was 'too busy' to look after him.  Let's say the pup was taken at 12 weeks.  The maximum the puppy would have been with her was 2 weeks.  I have to admit, I was so mad to read that I nearly rang the lady to have a go.  Then I took a breath and realised this might be genuine, but very likely either stolen or from a puppy farm. Awful for the poor pup, and I really hope he got a good home with nice owners.

In the end, we got recommendations from the Shih Tzu club through the IKC in Ireland, and are on the waiting list with two Assured Breeders from the KC.  It was the only way I could keep my sanity!

A UK Government Petition has been launched, Ban the Exploitative Import of Young Puppies for Sale in the UK.
I think the recent consignment of 500 French Bulldog puppies as air cargo, which suffered a 10% death rate during transit, deserves some action.

Thats tragic. Something needs to be done

A UK Government Petition has been launched, Ban the Exploitative Import of Young Puppies for Sale in the UK.
I think the recent consignment of 500 French Bulldog puppies as air cargo, which suffered a 10% death rate during transit, deserves some action.

Extremely sad Hopefully all advertising sites will get to hear about this and help come up with a solution to stop this happening

Not in the UK of course. The commercially bred puppies were flown from the Ukraine to Canada

Not something any UK government action would affect

What they really need to do is make it illegal for any so-called rescues to import any dogs or puppies.
Also stop them from homing any pups under 6 months old or if they do rehome not allowed to take any money for them.
Guaranteed you'd soon see a fall in puppy farming as their biggest outlets won't be there anymore.
If they need donations they should be taking food or bedding not just screaming constantly for money that never goes near the animals.

So you are against "foreign" rescues ?

The French Bulldogs were NOT rescues they were commercially bred puppies imported to be sold in pet stores etc

The youngest puppies can come into the UK is 15 weeks regardless of whether they are rescues or not
.
You are OK with dogs being slaughtered abroad in public shelters ?

In my local all breed rescues the vast majority are bull breeds & discarded fashionable breeds bred in the UK for money. My two 'foreign"" rescues are mongrels & faced a painful & inhumane end in their countries of origin. You would want me to either have no dog at all or one bred in the UK to fund irresponsible breeders ?? I would never own a bull breed in any shape or form- which is my right. I also would not want a fashionable breed nor a designer dog- that too is my right.

Not all rescues are bogus, there are UK rescues that are fronts for puppy farmers & BYB in order to dump their excess stock, in the guise of being a non charity rescue.

Any dog coming in from abroad has most likely been bred by irresponsible owners/breeders call them whatever you like.
There are plenty of dogs, puppies and other animals being slaughtered as you call it every day without reason just to make room for those.
Why bring in more from abroad or what they try to say are illegal imports of pups that just seem to crop up occasionally.
These imports come in all the time bringing in God knows what.

For the record I don't have a problem with people bringing in private imports if they wish to do so as long as it's done properly.
I just don't think a rescue should be allowed to do so.

You are so wrong, if a dog is put down in UK it is not slaughtered, 99.99999% are put down humanely, not shot, stabbed, poisoned, beaten to death nor starved to death as they are in my dogs countries of origin. No dog was put down so my dogs could come to the UK, because I didn't want a bull breed, designer cross nor a "must" have handbag dog. No one "bred"my dogs as they are the offspring of street mothers.

The rescues my dogs came over through don't just rehome in the UK but all over europe & to forever homes in their own country they ate NOT UK based. They don't scam people & offer full lifetime RBU.

Maybe if irresponsible breeders here in the UK were stopped from breeding(especially the licensed puppy farms)for pure profit(seriously £3,000 for a Lab puppy ???) There wouldn't be so many discarded dogs in rescue.

As for rescue dogs brought in under TRACES they have to be tested clear of disease/parasites etc in much more detail that any privately owned dog & if any "god knows what"is brought in it is far more likely to be a pet that has been aboard on holiday/dog show or a private adoption

I don't want to be rude but you are deluded dogs do get put down every day.
Clearly your dogs are the results of irresponsible owners street dogs or not they didn't get on the street by themselves same as any dog dumped in UK irresponsible owners.
Most likely owners moved into country decided OH we need a dog get one decided they don't like it let's move back to wherever they came from and just leave dog to fend for itself.

Please reread what I wrote

No dog was put down so I could have my dogs as I would not have had a dog if I could not have them(ie my dogs have not taken the places of UK rescue dogs that were subsequently put down, because I did not adopt them)

Unwanted dogs in the UK are not slaughtered. 99.99999% of them are humanely put down. This is not so where my dogs originated, dogs there are stabbed, shot, poisoned with anti freeze, starved to death & clubbed to death with anything that can be used. Not hearsay or anecdotal I have seen the piles of dead bodies not on video or photographs on the internet up close & personal.

No where did I write unwanted dogs in the UK are not put down, but since the RSPKA stopped using electrocution as their method of choice, here dogs are humanrly destroyed.

There are generations of unowned street dogs abroad(as there were here until dog wardens were introduced) & the dogs I have were not bred by a breeder nor were their mothers owned by anyone. Excuse me for being so very rude & ignorant in believing that these dogs should be helped. The rescues also do neutering of dogs in their own countries.

We would have no rescue dogs like in Sweden, if there were laws to properly protect animals, instead of half hearted attempts like"Lucy's Law"

I belueve it should be a privilege to own a dog, not a god given right as it is here in the UK to both own & breed them

The point is if you are paying money for a dog,puppy or any animal from these places your not adopting it or rescuing it your buying it.
So therefore supporting puppy farmers and dealers.

How are you supporting breeders and dealers if the puppy's mother was never owned by a human and bred naturally?  These puppies were never bred to demand, they were never bought by anyone.  The good rescues abroad are not profiteering from their adoption, they have the same financial struggles as rescues here (and then some). 

Also, the logic of buying rather than adopting applies to any dog for which money has been paid, anywhere in the world, including from UK rescues.

Certainly there are dodgy rescues abroad, and dealers, just as there are here.  But there are good rescues and rescuers, doing the best they can in a godawful situation to help the dogs and pups that come to them from the dog catchers.

What about those like.the podengo for example. Used for hunting then discarded to the streets or killed in the most unthinkable ways ? It doesn't matter to the previous owners what's happens to them they will.continue with what they do regardless.of anyone trying to help.the dogs
  I am not entirely sure what  I think about foreign resuces coming here when we have our own resuce dogs  but I do  believe it is necessary that these dogs are rescued from appalling situations in countries where even our animal welfare which still needs improvement is regarded as excellent

I would definitely avoid this breeder. Quality should always come before quantity...less is more!!
Avoid Avoid

If that was directed at me tuscia kinda pointless as I haven't bred for couple of years now due to health reasons.
Also I don't believe in breeding a bitch every year either, I only ever bred to keep one or more.
Nikita yes the dogs do deserve help I just don't agree with them being imported en-mass.

Jogold..Apologies,I wasn’t directing that comment at you.
I meant avoid irresponsible puppy farmers and inexperienced back yard dog breeders, who are over breeding or breeding without taking into consideration the welfare of the puppy’s and mothers for money. I myself have been a victim of a back yard breeder...the whole experience was very traumatic and I have learned so much about this subject from this unfortunate experience which prompted me to research and join champ dogs.
You sound like a responsible dog breeder as you take into consideration the welfare of Mothers of the pups.
And sorry you have had to put your breeding plans on hold due to your health.
Hope it improves for you.


The point is if you are paying money for a dog,puppy or any animal from these places your not adopting it or rescuing it your buying it.
So therefore supporting puppy farmers and dealers.


If this is aimed at me, all I paid for my two foreign mongrels was the cost of the transport for one & his vax etc for his passport(& yes I saw the costings) the other was funded by the rescue(the rescue usually takes in dumped podengos &  galgos & is an anti hunting Portugese rescue that usually rehomes in Europe outside of the UK, my boy was a sole survivor from a street litter that had been poisoned), totally & at no time was I asked for any money. So please explain how I was"buying the dog"& supporting dealers & puppy farmers ?

BTW. The one I paid for was cost around 1/15th of the amounts being asked for 8 week old pedigree pups at the moment & 1/5th of the price of a GSD puppy that was being advertised on this site 2 years ago that were not bred to the breed standard !!

You still bought them they're not adopted.

It was rescues that brought in these stupid crossbreed names as they said no-one wants a mongrel.
They were all for the eradication of the Pit bull terrier.
I have microchipped a few over the years and their no different to any other dog they've all got teeth.
Yes all dogs deserve a good home.

Er no money exchanged hands for 1 so how can I have "bought" him ???

You have a very strange logic. I paid for the others TRAVEL to the transport charity & paid the VET for the health testing etc. NOT the rescue so again how did I buy him ?

I've paid for other dogs to come over to UK again direct to the transport & vets. Did I buy those dogs too ? Even though I have never had them in my possession ?

You know which rescues I found my dogs through then ? Funny I've not mentioned their names. They certainly have never given any dog a silly name, my dogs passports state MONGREL not even crossbreed, no oodle, poo etc etc

BTW the original Labradoodle name was invented by the Australian guide dog man, Wally Conron not a "foreign" rescue. He started the designer crossbreeding & heartily regrets it.

I am confised what is adopted ? I thought that was often the term used by resuces when u have a dog fron them .donations to cover costs is often asked for

Well when I bought my two from breeders, I bought them, although it suppose could also be said I adopted them as in 'took them on'.

However, when I think about getting a dog from a Shelter or Charity, then I think I adopt them.

Def. confused.com these days

By the way, re these inflated prices.   I noticed a litter in my main breed being advertised for sale (well known website) for £2,500. NOT KC REGISTERED.   Seeing red I wrote.  I still am as the seller maintains that each puppy cost that amount to hand rear - from a week old as they lost the mother who died when they were that age.   I asked whether the home was more important than the asking price and she told me 'of course'.  She vets those who enquire and would be prepared to drop the price for a good home .....   I can only hope that once reputable breeders restart their breeding programmes, the supply will increase more in line with the demand, so prices 'should' go back to somewhere near where they should realistically be.   My breed had got to around £1K before Covid 19.

"BTW the original Labradoodle name was invented by the Australian guide dog man, Wally Conron not a "foreign" rescue. He started the designer crossbreeding & heartily regrets it."

I think it's worth reposting this article on the above subject -

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2564373/The-hidden-suffering-dogs-bred-cute-Adorable-looks-Cuddly-names-like-Labradoodle-But-trend-cross-breed-dogs-raises-disturbing-questions.html