I am so cross, I just have to let off steam, especially because I don't think I can do anything about it.  Someone rang to ask if they could use my stud dog.   I went to see the bitch and look at her pedigree.  It turned out she was registered with Dog Lovers.  She was sired by the owner's own dog (unregistered and sold to her cheaply because he was mis-marked and an unrecognised colour for the breed) out of a bitch bred by this person's cousin (also unregistered as she was the daughter of another dog who was also sold unregistered because he was the wrong colour and not for breeding).

This bitch's dam had several litters to the same mis-marked dog.  She knows quite a few of the bitch puppies from the litters have been bred from, several going back to their mis-marked grandfather.  All these puppies were sold for full price with Dog Lovers Registration.  No health checks, no guarantee that one of the dogs on the pedigree wasn't a mongrel or crossbreed.  She lives in a nice house with the dogs well cared for pets.  And she didn't see anything wrong with what she was doing.  She said Dog Lovers is for registering pet puppies, and the Kennel Club for puppies meant for showing, and everyone who bought her puppies was happy with that.  I tried to explain how important it is to know the health history especially of your pup's antecedents, but to no avail.

When I refused to allow her to use my dog, she said it didn't matter because she had met someone in the park who had a dog and would like it to father some puppies!!!!!  Why the hell do we bother?  There seems no point endorsing pedigrees or not registering pups that are the wrong colour when the owners can register everything with Dog Lovers.

Infuriating isn't it? And there's nothing you can do. Pity the poor customers who are being over-charged.

Of course the people who buy her puppies are happy - she is totally misinforming them about the registration with the KC being only for show puppies, so they dont know any different.

If she told them the truth - that DLR was set up to provide false respectability for puppy-farmed puppies, and as such carries a stigma, she might think for a moment. Probably won't change her ways though.

And Our Dogs paper continues to run adverts for Dog Lovers .... giving them more credibility among the unsuspecting.
I have complained on a number of occasions and have not renewed my subscription - as I know have many others - but clearly this group's money are more important.

Janet

Ditto, I jhave done the same!!  didn't even get replies to my emails though.  spoke to Mr Hogan in Ireland at St Pata, and he couldn't see what the problem was with carrying the adds as they are carrying out a legal business. :(

Seems the revenue for placing the advert is more important than the welfare of dogs
Archer

Hi I complained to Our Dogs too, after a "meeting" with someone who said "dog lovers" was okay because it was advertised in a well known "dog paper"

I never got a response either so they obvioulsy don't care about my small amount each week :( as much as they care about the money from "dog lovers" :(

Karen

Well lets face it the KC could stop it dead if they told Our Dogs that whilst the advert was carried they could not publish details or reports of shows licensed with them. Perhaps we should be lobbing the KC instead.

Now thats a good idea Jackie, and would probably have an effect, but how would it be veiwed by the competition commission - would they call foul or would the KC get away with it ?

I think this is the stumbling block, despite ethical considerations breeding dogs for commercial resons is perfectly leagl, and it would be restricting trade.

I had my subscription renewal notice from Our Dogs this morning and shall contact them to say why I am not going to renew.  At least I feel I am doing something.  If enough people do it, surely they must take notice in the end?

Thank you everyone for your comments and also Champdogs for giving me an outlet to let off steam!! 

I have never heard of this dog lovers thing.... is it just an excuse to breed from unregistered dogs..more info please ??? sounds really bad to me

From what I've read and what people have told me, its a 'club' that will register anything, crossbreed, mongrel, fabricated invention.....you give 'em the names + cash, they print them and call it registration  

That about sums it up, Dill.

Just as a point of interest, we regularly recommend More Than insurance to people asking ........ but they're advertising on DLRC website ;) - with many reputable insurance companies around, maybe this is now one that should not get such a resounding recommendation?

M.

Not really related, but having a slight connection to the subject of the first post (in a roundabout way and not worth starting a whole new thread for!), I couldn't help but drop my jaw when reading through the pet section of the classifieds in my local paper last week:

"Pretty 4 year old English Springer Spaniel girl looking for crossbreed boy for friendship and possibly even mating".

the DLRC is very popular it is advertised in lots of free adds papers, their latest add says "it had to happen" not sure what that is meant to mean?  I think you would be better to type up a fancy bit of paper, throw a couple numbers in there and give that to new owners, I mean you would be £8 per puppy better off, as the DLRC is just a bit of paper to make a puppy look good, (or to make a crossbreed look like a purebred!!!)