I was at the hairdressers this morning, hadn't been to this one before, so just chatting generally to the hairdresser and we got talking about dogs. 

She has a 2 yr old Pug dog and I asked where she had got him from because I didn't think there were too many pug breeders in the UK (could be wrong on this but was my belief).  She then exclaimed that she was so lucky because they managed to buy him for such a good price from a breeder in Wales and added that the breeder very generously drove all the way down to her with the pup and a litter sibling for her to choose from to save them a 4 or 5 hour journey!  She hadn't seen the pups before and chose one, paid £400 for it (apparently the breeder didn't want to make any profit, just wanted to know the pup had a good home hence why so cheap) and then said the other pup was going off to Scotland to be sold...he was driving there that day (from Hampshire!)

I was gobsmacked...I've never met anyone before who I believe has actually bought a dog from a puppy farm, which this truly sounded like to me.  And she was thrilled with the service ie not having to go and see the pup herself, just get it delivered and pay such a cheap price.  She truly believed the breeder's tale about not wanting to make a profit from his dogs and saving her time and money by coming to her.

I do so hope this person wasn't a puppy farmer but his whole behaviour sounds just so suspicious to me.

And I just didn't know what to say to this woman who clearly adores her boy and wouldn't change him for the world.

She just saw an ad in the local paper for the pups, rang up, and lo and behold, this "very kind person" provided exactly what she wanted.  So if this really was a puppy farmer, then it just goes to show how easily the public can be fooled.

She then astounded me further by saying she would like to breed from her boy but I did explain the pitfalls etc and she did agree that it might not be such a good idea...so hopefully that gave her something to think about.

Do you think she was duped or does this sound like a genuine breeder?

P.S.  I hope I've not offended any breeders in Wales...it was the lady who mentioned where the breeder was from and it was his behaviour, not his location that made me so suspicious! ;-)

It just goes to show how the GP look on buying a pup exactley the same as anything else they buy for the home - do you have it in stock ('cos I want it NOW!), can you deliver, is it cheap (I'll believe you if you say it is.....) :(

AND THEN THROW IT AWAY WHEN THEYRE FED UP WITH IT :(

Oh dear, does not sound good.  Lets just hope the pup is happy , healthy and loved.  The price, apart from anything else is a bit of a clue - current going rate for Pug pups is from £650 to £1000.  I know of at least one place in Wales, which has a web site, and advertises pugs and numerous pug crosses, with a cutesy reason for producing all the different crosses.  Not an ideal breed for a puppy farmer due to the often difficult whelpings, however, at these prices, and driving these sort of distances I would say this is hopefully one puppy farmer who will not be in business long!
bye
Gwen

Did she get anything else for her £400, other than the puppy, such as any paperwork? That could indicate a clue to the breeder and breeding? Who knows the person may not come from Wales could come from anywhere - some make up the story to meet the occassion exspecially if a mobile was used to advertise puppies for sale and we deliever!

aww its a shame these nasty puppy farmers are about. The public cant always know who are real breeders and who are farmers its alot harder then you think  to tell the difference , its a case of not knowing about puppy farmers it needs to be advertised alot more what you need to look out for . when you get a cute pup shoved in your face ur bound to want it. and this is why puppy farmers are about

" its a case of not knowing about puppy farmers it needs to be advertised alot more what you need to look out for . when you get a cute pup shoved in your face ur bound to want it. and this is why puppy farmers are about "
That's what we try to do on these boards Lovelylady, but most people don't come here to ask where to buy their new puppy (they're easy to point in the right direction!) they come here after they've bought a disaster!  When we point out that folk have purchased a puppy from 'a less than ideal place' to try to educate others who are thinking about doing the same thing, they take it personally instead of seeing that they can help to stop others from doing the same!  If a softly, softly approach is taken, and we offer to help whatever disaster occurs (which is in fact what will actually happen because experienced people on this board ALWAYS rally round if there is REAL need!) then others will go out and buy a cheap, ill bred puppy because we've implied that it's OK!

I must say I have not read any posts on this thread.
I read the first and was astounded.
My daughter wanted a PUG as she had recently found out she was unable to have babies.
She is very young. If she could have a baby she wouldn't want one. You know how it is. If you can't have it that's what you want.
We took her to Doncaster Show last year. OH!! She loved the Pugs there.
She eventually got a JRT pup ( Sqweg). I honestly thought this would change her mind about a Pug.
UH! UH! She is still insistant. She wants a Pug baby.
Pugs are £800+.
In my ignorance I thought my daughter would settle with any puppy.
I was wrong she wanted a Pug.
She loves Sqweg but she still feels the need for a Pug.
She must think it is a special breed.
When Anne- Marie moves out and has her own house I will gladly purchase her perfect puppy.
If she can't cope with the said pup we will happily give it a fantastic home with our lot.
I would never buy my daughter a pup unless I was very sure she could give it a good home.
D4wn

P.S. The JRT is now 18 mths old. I have the address of  a very good breedeer in our area. I will contact her when my daughter is capable of looking after a puppy of the breed she chooses.

It makes me so mad about puppy farmers and so call breeders,
Its so much about puppy farms now, That everyone should no by now if its a puppy farm or a pet store.
if you buy your pet from places like this, who no's what your going to end up with.

When i first moved into my new house, the first place i visit was the petshop only because i allready had my dog.
wanted to treat her, to let her no the new house is ok. on my visit there i found a little sign puppies and kittens ask for information.
So i ask the man, took me into the back room where he had no puppies. but a tiny little kitten which i would say only 5 weeks old.

I felt so sorry for this little baby so i bought him. took him to the vet the next day. Which the vet said he was about 12 weeks old because
off his teeth, but hasent been fed probley, most prob to keep him small so he dont grow to big. so can sell him easy.

by the way kittens £20 and puppies £50

Which im in court next month over the kitten. who is 4 years old next week as its took me this long to closed the shop down. which has been closed for 14 months now. only because ive reported it nearly everyweek to the police since them.
as if you phone the police they have to go out. with the r.s.p.c.a. SORRY but there waist of space. there only good when a t.v in front of them. and my best freind works for r.s.p.c.a  .but if they get called out they can only do anything if the animal looks staving or not getting
look after. and all they can do is put stickers up to see if anyone looking after them. as if the stickers are moved then someone must be.
it makes me so mad. so if anyone see,s a animal in need of help, phone the police. and keep phoneing and get your neibours to phone aswell
as more people phoning. more there going to have to do. When it comes to breeders, well i should no more then anybody, but i still fall for it.
kc is just as bad, ill open a new topic about this as dont thing ill have enought space.

loulu

Well done on doing some thing

Yes well done loulo.  I have an ex puppy farm stud dog that we took on when we got involved in closing down one of these places.  She should also have been prosecuted and banned from keeping animals but got away with it because of some loophole in the law and because of her vet supporting her.  Anyway we got all her dogs and cats away from her.
Sally

Well done Loulou, it takes a lot of courage and determination to do what you did.. and thanks to you a many more defensless animals have been saved from that pet shop.

Talking about puppy farmers/pet shops, has anyone read the article in this weeks dogs papers about the Woof and Co. in the US.  A designer shop specialising in dogs, any breed with a 3 year guarentee against illness!!! can you believe it, and to make matters worse this company is looking at expanding throughout the US.  Where will this all end?  Unfortunately until we can re-educate people into taking a bit of time, in researching a breed properly and obtaining their chosen dog from a reputable breeder then these monsters will still exist.