Thought some of you might have some comments on the following which I received by e mail today.

I was wondering if you would be selling any xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  before the
end of the year.  I am after a xxxxxxxxxxxxxx, but can only find top
pedigree breeders on the internet.  As long as my dog is good with children
(so I don't want to go to a dog home), I'm not bothered about a good
pedigree, do you have any tips on where I can look for this type of dog?

My initial reaction is to have a real pop at this person, but then I wonder if I should just ignore it, and not wind myself up.  I am sure she will get what she's after regardless of any moralizing I do.  Let me know what you think please.

Just delete it. If the person's for real they'll never understand your point even if you rant. If they're winding you up, they want you to rant. So don't waste your time with them.

i would send an email educating them!!!!
I used to think like that before I started looking for a cocker spaniel. Then I researched various sites, including this one and realised good with children is not everything!!!!! Before that I was looking in pet shop windows to find a spaniel.
But it was the way I was brought up. Not to research breeds, not to think about testing, not to health test.
Maybe if you educated them they may well look into things more deeply?????
Lea :)

I agree.  It is a very commonly held view with pet owners.  When you point out to them that a "top" breeder is also their best bet, not only for a good pedigree, but for a healthy and temperamentally sound dog, and why, they can often see the light as this, after all, is really what they are after so certainly worth trying  :)

It doesn't make sense anyway the Internet dog sites are full of None KC registered dogs and dogs wanting homes of all breeds once people can't be bothered with them anymore.  I would say this woman would be best going to a breed rescue for a 'cheap' dog which is what she is after.  Or is it a certain cross?

To be honest, my gut reaction was just delete it, but perhaps a nice long e-mail about the pro's and con's of good breeding would be best, at least then, you won't be thinking I wish I had, and your conscience is clear.

Thanks every one for your advice, decided to reply with the following,  am now going to forget about it.

    Hi, I do not have any puppies at the moment, you will may get what you are after from somewhere like Bargain Pages, reputable breeders are only looking to produce sound puppies that have very good pedigrees with all health checks done, and from parents of good temperaments, hence the reason prices are higher.   Unscrupulous breeders will just put two dogs together and hope for the best, this of course ends up with puppies who can somtimes have dubious characters, and health problems, (a bit like mongrel puppies really, only you know what they will look like),  if you can afford to wait It would be better to save up and buy from a good breeder, then you will have a good idea what you are buying.  Best of Luck

Good reply! :)

that is a good reply I would just send it and the message might reach them :)

You can't believe what ideas people have can you!. I once had a gentleman offering me his dog at stud as the Vet had said that he should be bred from as he had a good nature and if not did I know of any sites that he should offer his dog on.  I replied that as his Vet had suggested that he be bred from then he should ask his Vet to recommend his dog to people who wanted to breed from their bitch as the Vet would surely be happy to recommend him!!!!!!! Wouldn't he??????????? Never heard from him again!

i had a funny email today asking if our pups have been hip and eye tested as he was told by breeders that he should only buy a pup that had, had the hip scores done. i just wonder who gives these people the information, i couldnt help but write back an essay on my answer. Have any of you had any strange emails like this. i think some people can get very confused but he insisted the pups should have had their test and scoring done already!!!!

I read an advert the other day stating that both parents and pups had been hip scored adn eye tested.

its not right is it, sort of fraud really as we all know the hip scoring cant be done until a year old

I've also had people wanting to know the puppies hip scores. When I pointed out to one gentleman that Labs cannot be hip scored until they are 1 year old. He told me I didn't know what I was talking about, a friend of his who knows everything about dogs had told him on no account buy a puppy that has not been hip scored as this means that the breeder is unscupulous. I wished him luck with his search and told him that if could show me an 8 week old Lab with a hip score, then I could show him an unscrupulous breeder.

While I understand what you are saying, at least they are trying to buy from a reputable breeder, even if they are misinformed or have misunderstood about the tests.  I think someone looking to buy for the first time and who has heard all the horror stories about back yard breeders and puppy farms will probably be more likely to listen to their friends than someone they don't know - it's human nature, but I would think a link to KC/BVA website giving info on hip scoring (and other tests) would be useful - they can't argue with that.  Isn't it the ones that don't care about testing because they only want a 'pet' that are of more concern?

I quite agree JenP. If people come to me for a puppy and say they don't care whether it's parents are hip scored or not, then I don't sell them a puppy. ANY dog owner, pet or not SHOULD be concerned that they are buying from sound stock. After all, if everybody refused to buy puppies unless the parents had been tested, then all breeding stock would have to be tested, otherwise the breeders would be unable to sell their puppies. What I object to, is somebody asking me the question, then inferring I must be an unscrupulous breeder because their 'expert' friend had told them a complete load of tosh. I certainly think that KC/BVA information could do with being more easily available to potential puppy buyers. It's easy for us because we know where to look but the average pet dog buyer hasn't even heard of the BVA, let alone know what it does.

Putting my head over the parapet here :D

My personal view - as a pet owner - is that the KC should only register dogs that have had all the relevant health checks specific to that breed. As I have said before, a lot of  people who "only want a pet dog" think they are being responsible when they buy a dog advertised as KC registered and don't realise that it doesn't guarantee that health checks have been done.

Surely you mean that the parents have passed all the breed-relevant health tests? Many tests can't be done on pups.

Whoops Yes JG - I didn't make it clear. I meant that unless the parents have had all relevant health checks then the pups couldn't be registered. :)

I thought that was the case anyway?

Health checks are not compulsary in all breeds, in mine (westies) there is a eye problem under investigation by the BVA,and has been for a number of years, but, you dont need to get them eye checked as its not registered in the BRS that I know of. The reg docs are stamped by the vet that carries out the eye check.  If these rules have changed for my breed Pam or anyone else let me know, as Im not so up to date on this one.

THere is no requirement from the KC for sire/dam to have undergone any health checks before the litter will be registered by them.

The KC will register anything, no matter what colour, etc etc etc

Except Irish Setters which have to tested clear/or if a carrier bred to a DNA clear dog/bitch for CLAD(Canine Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency) of course

Why wouldn't Westies health test their dogs when they've got so many other problems?  In my breed it looks as though we had a problem with eyes, which fortunately looking at the new imports has been irradicated in their country of origin and hopefully here in the UK we will be able to eradicate it also.  Our breed club insists that all dogs are tested for it, although of course you get some people who don't do it!  We didn't know there was a problem until the original imports pups were nearly 9 years old I hope that anyone who doesn't test their dogs doesn't end up with the same problem :rolleyes: