I was told my dog is registered with the kennel club but have recently discovered he is not. He is in fact registered with the Dog Lovers Assoc. Does this make a difference to anything?

It makes a difference
check the posts on "not registerd"on the previous "breeding" posts

I'm sorry but yes everything, you can't show him or breed from him & sell any offspring as KC Reg. You can't be sure that the pedigree is anything but someones fiction. Apart from this he is your dog and if he is your pet and only a pet it will make no difference at all except you were cheated. Jackie H

But isn't the Dog Lovers Assoc. a reputable company? They've even provided his family tree, birth certificate, etc.

Sorry but not in my opinion they are anything but, as far as I understand it it was started by a retail outlet because the KC would not register the 'puppy farmed' puppies they are selling at market or above prices, with no health guarantees or back up service. Jackie H

I know this has been well covered in a previous couple of posts I think if you search (by clicking search at the top of page )the name it will come up for you,no they are not reputable at all and the pedgrees are worthless...sorry

Well I'm quite upset now and really worried. What if my dog has some awful hereditary illness or something else I don't know about. I love him to bits and hate to think there may be something wrong with him! I bought him at 10 months old for £200 from a lady who had paid £260 for him as a puppy. I now feel ripped off, especially as she told me he was KC registered!

Of course, no price is too high for him now that I am so fond of him, but I do feel a bit cheated. And I'm worried he might have problems I don't know about now.

Don't worry the chances are your dog is fine, what breed if we know we can point you in the direction to have him checked out for the most common problems. Jackie H

He's a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. I have heard they can have heart problems.

Beany,
Have the vet check him out for your peace of mind. But please don't worry. Heart problems may or may not develop in a dog that's been perfectly bred either. There are no guarantees to prevent any dog from developing any health problems. I've had three dogs with mid-to serious heart murmurs. All died of something nonrelated and well into their senior years.

I realize that good breeders attempt to breed out hereditary health conditions in their dogs, but this still does not guarantee a problem free animal. There might be "less chance," but each dog has it's own genetic health & behavior code which might not have shown up in any of its ancestry. Its just an educated crap shoot.

Just love your puppy :D Now, the legal issues...that's another point. I don't know legal jurisprudence in the UK, so I won't go there.

I hope this helps to make you feel better.
toodles

If you were told that your dog was registered with The Kennel Club as opposed to the dog lovers one then you can seek advice from your local CAB as this is a trading standards issue.

I have a puppy buyer who is desperately trying to keep my puppy without paying for her and one of her attempts was to claim that the puppy 'was not fit for the purpose for which it was intended' claiming backing from the Kennel Club. I checked with them and was told that unless I had told her that the puppy was registered with them (kc) and it was later found not to be, she would have a case on that basis.

They are legal, but in reputable breeders views, most disreputable. they basically exist to facilitate the sale of irresponsibly or puppy farmed puppies. the ones who set it up own a big puppy supermartket/pet store in Manchester called DpgsRUs (formerly Mayfield Kenneles) they buy in whole litters from puppy farmers and are the bane of breed and general rescue, as when the impulse buyers get bored, that is where the pups end up, with neither the Puppy supermarket or breeder being interested inpups welfare.

In our breed for sure, and I am sure in others we managed to prove when so called breeders were selling through deelers and as this is against the KC code of ethics they were stopped from registering. It appears that it was much easier to set up their own registry, as the average man in the street assumed registered meant KC registered. Some folk have come unstuck when they wanted to show or breed from their dogs, as in fact their paperwork is no more recognised than that I could produce myself!

They aren't the only one, I think there is another large place in Blackpool that has their own no questions asked registry!

NO DECENT BREEDER WOULD EVER SELL THROUGH A PLACE LIKE THAT no matter how they try to say that they have stock from leading breeders. Repuitable breeders go through a lot of sleepless nights rearing and caring for their carefully planned pups, and agonise about the homes that they go to, so would never contemplate letting one of their precious pups go to someone they had never met and screened for suitability themselves!

Puppies bred in this way require extra socialisation to ensure they make a decent pet, as they may well have not had the sort of rearing environment where they are used to all normal household activities, and may well require extra work geting them good with others of their own kind, as they often leave thir mothers too early.

I would suggest attnding a nice friendly pet obedience class, it really will help you get the most out of your realtionship with your dog, and help ensure a well adjusted dog. the teenage stage is a time when training is particulrly important!! :D

they generally come from an outlet such as the one ive written about on idle chat, it'll give you an idea of what go's on