Hi

What are peoples opinions of puppies raised in a flat? Should we only be looking for pups raised in a house
concerns with flat are that they may not get the socialisation needed, no experience of outside world before they go to new homes?
Avoid? red flag?

Thanks

Are the parents kc registered and have all.the health tests been done ?
I must say it would concern me particularly as I assume it's a bigger breed you are looking for . It could be done if these breeders are very dedicated but not easy if there is no  outside space that can be accessed. Have they bred before ? Are they known in the breed ? Or by the breed club?
  Interesting to see what others think

I didn't sell our puppies to people in an apartment, and I'd not buy from people in an apartment.

I suppose it depends what is meant by a flat
Family member owns the bottom of a.converted edwardian house and has own private garden
Much like a bungalow I suppose.  That would be no problem. However if we are talking about a flat in a block not ground floor and no outside space  it could be totally different

In this country I'd not buy from someone who breeds in a flat. I like puppies to have experienced the outside world, from the safety of their garden. You also want them to have started house training. Most breeders will have puppies going outside to pee/poo a lot of the time by the time they are 8 weeks old. In a flat I'm assuming they just use piddle pads which could make house training more difficult.

That said one of mine was bred in a flat, in The Hague, Netherlands. I knew his breeder well and his parents etc and had met previous dogs bred by them. They take pups out from around 4 weeks old in a buggy to experience the sounds of the city and I've never had a calmer, more confident dog in any environment. So it can work but it requires a very dedicated breeder.

There's so much more to it than just where breeder or buyer lives. If you can, visit the breeder and see their set up. That will tell you a lot. Meet the adult dogs -that will tell you even more.

Funnily enough, my 2 most special current dogs both have a background of living in a flat. The oldest was one I bred and sold to an owner who lived in a flat. He's an extremely well trained and well socialised dog, in fact I've never had a better trained dog. He came back to me through no fault of his own or his owner's. He lacked for nothing and dare I say it is more relaibly house trained than the dogs I've had since pups. He also had a lot more walks in his previous home as he had to be taken out several times a day.

The second I bought from a breeder who lived in a flat. She'd not been socialised etc, other than going to the vet. Temperament is to such a huge extent genetic. This dog is my most special dog ever, she's just wonderful. Loves everyone, human or animal, not scared of anything. Even loves going to the vet. And everyone loves her in return.

Two extremely different breeds, they are in fact best friends and neither had any disadvantage or bad experience from living in a flat.

I'd be far more worried about buying a puppy that has been born and reared outdoors/in a kennel.

> I'd be far more worried about buying a puppy that has been born and reared outdoors/in a kennel

That's true, though I suppose it depends a lot on the breed too. I would want a silken born and raised in the home, but all 15 borzois I owned were raised in kennels, with daily visits to the house in 1s or 2s. Most zois would much rather live outside. I'm sure there are other breeds that are similar.

It's the breeder and the reason for breeding isn't it, the lengths they are willing to go to, to produce the best puppies and the type and character of the parents. grand parents etc that is important.