Hi,
A bit of advice needed- We went to see a  litter of pups (flat coated retreivers) when they were four weeks old, the breeder advised that we should choose at six weeks. We went to visit today having  previously been told that we would be first to choose one out of the three bitches, on arrival we were told that there was only one bitch left "ours". I was a bit miffed, as one of the other bitches was being sent to Ireland and had been picked out by the breeder (the Irish buyer was not viewing the litter, just picking up the breeder's choice) - I really like her as she was very forward and friendly whereas our nominated bitch was a little slower on the uptake although she did play with us for some of the time we were with them. I did ask the breeder if I could have the bitch that she had nominated for someone else and she said no, explaining that as she was travelling to Ireland the breeder had picked out the biggest bitch - not quite sure if this is blarney as they say in Ireland or whether she has a point. The puppies are all liver (black dam liver sire) our nominated pup has a golden almost suntinted patch accross her muzzle - is this ok?
I'm sorry for the rant -What I don't want to do is let my feelings abut the breeder colour my view if the pup that has been nominmated -views please am I being fobbed off or am I just being over sensitive.
thanks in anticipation

Hi! I can completely understand your frustration. There's no way I'd want a puppy someone else had chosen for me. If I don't choose, I don't buy. There's no rush - there will be other litters. So you have to wait a while longer. Hopefully you'll have the pup for 15 years. That's a long time to have subconscious regrets. Not fair on either you or the pup.

If you're not 100% happy with the pup, don't buy it. Wait for another litter. Your special pup will be along.

When I have a litter I always request buyers to go home and think about it before buying from me. I won't push people to have a certain puppy as it never works out, however sometimes I do get buyers who want a certain puppy which I know from experience will be too much for them to handle, so I suggest they consider what they will be taking on. So far I have been lucky and most have listened to my advice and been very happy with their choice. Some have changed their minds about buying from me, and have gone to other breeders and found the perfect puppy for themselves. All puppies deserve to get a loving home, I hope you do get the right puppy for you, but this one does not seem to me to be "the one", for you, as you do appear to have doubts.

As to colour, flatcoats carry a recessive yellow gene and some litters will have yellow puppies. Even though they are a non standard colour, they are still flatcoats and still will need a loving home. There have been cases where a flatcoat has been born grey, but this changes as the puppy coat is moulted out. I'd rather have a yellow or mis-marked puppy which is healthy than a black or liver coloured one which has health issues. I'm sure anyone would too. It is also common in flatcoats to get one or two in a litter which have "cow licks" which is a line of hair which for some reason grows the wrong way, rather like a ridgeback has  a patch od hair along it's back. "Cow licks" can appear on almost any part of the body, one litter I produced had a puppy with a "cow lick" up the back of her neck. A friends litter the "cow lick" appeared down the pups muzzle. These things happen in most breeds, and if the pup is not going to be shown then it does not really matter, as the pup is still a pedigree.

The fact that you have written to the board says to me that you are not happy with this breeder or puppy, so for your sake and the pups perhaps you should as Jean Genie says, find another breeder, with puppies for sale.

I tell my puppy people that we do character assessment at 7 weeks, which they are more than welcome to attend.   This is done by a behaviourist, and is the standard 'Volhard' test that is adopted by many organisations in one form or another to pinpoint the pups most likely to succeed in a given field.

We assess the puppy people, and try to suit the new owners with a suitable temperament puppy.   So for example, a stronger minded pup doesn't go to a first time owner.    So in some ways we do choose for the owners, but would always try to accommodate preferences unless the pup is obviously unsuitable.

As far as the litter you have looked at is concerned, there seems to be a sort of 'sable' gene in the breed, when the coat in some lights appears almost stripey.   This may be what you've got there; difficult to say without seeing the pup.

Anyhow, as Polly says, if you're not happy, you could go to another litter

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

When we got our Flatcoat (our first) we were guided by the breeder, we appreciated her knowledge of her breed,and she was aware that out flattie was going to be neither shown or worked. So I guess inthe end she chose which pup we would have, and I wouldn't swop the big oaf for the world :)

liberty

I thought that flat coat owners had to be certifiable :D:D LOVE the darlings, just not sure I would want to be responsible for one - I dont owne enough towels!

I once read read a line in a book which said something along the lines of........'you'll never be miserable with a flatcoat in your life'.........cant't remember the book but boy is it true :D

*currently waiting for the men in white coats*

liberty  flatcoat convert :D

Edited to add cos your too exhausted to be miserable trying to keep up with the little critters

Hi Liberty

I think that is very true. Im probably certifiable too though for trying to work chockies. I have to say that given a choice they would rather missbehave with a flatcoat! Having said that my father in law had a fletcoat cross, who had 6 homes before arriving with him aged 4. By which time she was the sweetest thing and showed no signs of that flat coat mischief.

Hi Emma,

The fact that you have written to the forum and you have worries says alot about the uncertainty you have about this breeder. I looked at 3 different litters until I made my mind up which one was the best litter and the best breeder. I asked loads of questions and expected questions to be asked about myself too, to ensure that the breeder really did care about her/his pups. As hard as it was, I turned down the first 2 litters. One was a show line, the other one didn't have enough proof that the dogs were worked. The last litter I went to see (and the one I wanted to see the most from day 1) was fantastic!!! The breeder had toys for the pups, had already started training them to come to a whistle (at only 3.5 weeks old!) and made the effort to show me how her dogs worked. I felt I was in dreamland!!!! At last, I had found the perfect litter and I am soooo excited about getting my pup now.

I do not get to choose exactly which puppy I have, but the breeder does an assessment and helps me and guides me on the right puppy (I am invited to the assessment day).

If you have ANY doubts at all about the puppy, then pleeeease look elsewhere. If you contact me, I can give you the details of one the litters I saw (in Kettering), which I believe she still has some pups left. The lady is very nice and she does work her bitch (although she does not have the working dog certificate). The best way to vote is with your feet.

I personally would not take a pup from a breeder who has gone back on their word. It is too big a decision to make. Best to wait for the perfect pup and to never have any doubts about it (you will have to live with your dog for a good few years!). If you are as fussy as me, then you would also not accept any mismarkings either. Best to pay the price for a good pup and a good breeder.

This is something completely off-subject, but one also has to question if the breeder has the pups welfare at heart, if they are willing to ship a young pup all the way to Ireland at such a young age. This would have a HUGE effect on a young pup.

Best wishes,
Patty

Did you get flatcoat Patty? Have you joined the "certifable FCR owners club"? lol

Hi Polly,

I will be getting my little FCR bitch mid-June, and I just can't wait! I wanted a dog that would like to 'work' as I'd like to do working trials or maybe some working tests with her. Therefore, I decided to ensure that at least the parent had some 'proven' working ability. I know a lot of it is how they are raised, but with things like using their nose and wanting to retrieve, then this is more genetic, I think.

If I had no intention of working her, then I would have had no qualms about getting one from a show line or with no working background. But then again, would I have chosen a FCR if that was the case?

Do you have a FCR too?

Cheers,
Patty

first of you only hearding one side of the story from emma,there may be reason why the breeder has deside to rearrange the puppy to owners.
i have a litter of liver  fcr due in july and had 3 litter before and i have guiled the owner to which pup to have for the temperment and the situation on the family and household,both the breeder and buyer should ask all the question,
there will other litter around just go with your feeling,if it not right then wait to it the right time and puppy,in caes like this when you worry or not shaw could the pup end up being rehome beacuse it not the right one for you ,which we dont want to do with this nice breed,

Our puppy was chosen for us - well we contacted a breeder who had no pups left and she had passed our details on, a ladby phoned and she had one boy left as she was keeping the others ......I wouldnt have bought him if i wasnt happy, we made sure he had had his eye health checks etc etc and had a good play with him, saw what he was like etc and we were happy with him so we took him and havent regretted a second. BUT if you arent happy dont buy, i wouldnt be thrilled if i had been told we had a choice and then we didnt but then on the other hand im not sure i could have just chosen one cute pup from a litter lol