Grrr.  I am so cross how gullible people are and how many puppy farmers are laughing all the way to the bank.

I live on an an Ex local authority housing estate.

got stopped by a lady I see around who told me her friend was getting one of those (meaning my Norwegian Elkhounds), as she so liked mine and how good they are with kids and walk nicely etc.  Oh where from (as of course I know all the people breeding such a numerically small breed).

Turns out it is a Husky she has booked (as that is what she assumed mine are) for £500 not registered from Wales.  Gave her my number and told her friend to run a mile and not get this puppy farmed husky pup.

Asked her what kind of garden, what kind of lifestyle etc.

It is not a home that will be willing or able to provide what a Husky pup needs.  I just hope she hasn't put a deposit down as pup due to be picked up in two weeks, Christmas surprise surprise.

That is another pup going to end up in rescue in six months.  Well meaning but uneducated (re dogs) people, and of course the producer of teh pup (can't bring myself to call them breeders) will ahve washed their hands of it.

And the sad thing is that this sort of thing happens every minute of the day :(

Debs

Yep :( I was talking to another driver last night, said he's doing lots of overtime to treat himself to two akitas for christmas. He said he's looked about for ages to find two with pedigrees that aren't all inbred - and that aren't related to each other so he can breed them. I didn't know which issue to tackle first, the two pups together, the having pedigrees that are linebred is actually good, the dog and bitch together to breed

surely it is at this end that the big charities should be focusing their advertising campaigns, the responsibilities of pet ownership, the importance of researching breed and breeder.

If this could be got across the demand for the products of puppy farming would dwindle and there would be fewer abandoned and neglected animals.

I can't believe how many huskies there are near me - and how many people didn't know what they were getting into. :( It's not just huskies either. (I love them myself but they're not the right pets for most households)

The percentage of people at my training club who get their dogs from responsible breeders is so small it's tragic. :( But then how does the public know where to get a good puppy? I had the advantage of some knowledge and referrals from a behaviour class I took before I had a dog. Most people don't know how important those first few weeks are. That lifelong issues with things like noise phobias and food guarding can be caused by someone who breeds their dog and has no idea how to raise a litter properly, and that they can be can be avoided or minimised by someone who does it right.

Questions then?
Should good breeders advertise litters in places where the public looks for dogs?
Should good breeders have litters more often to help put well bred, well raised dogs in the public's hands?
Should it be so easy to send your dog to a rescue centre? Would forcing people to make harder choices about rehoming their dogs make them think more before they get one?

I certainly think there should be more good breeders adverts to contrast with the poor ones, they would stress health testing etc.  thing is that advertising costs and most good breeders rarely need to advertise beyond their breed club or the kennel club for the odd puppy as most will have a waiting list.

Breeders limit their breeding so they can provide the attention the pups need and keep to the levels that they can deal with any pups or adults they may get back, statistically the more you have bred the higher the chances are of having some back.

There are many people who if they realised would never have a pup in the first place.  I agree it is to easy for an owner to divest themselves of the responsibility.  Just as well you can't get rid of the kids as easily as I think I'd have handed mine in by now .

Re the Huskies, I am pretty certain that me and my girls are responsible for quite a few people getting them, even though that is not what mine are, as they (huskies and theri crosses) are easily available.

>... and keep to the levels that they can deal with any pups or adults they may get back<

Of course. I was thinking of someone having a litter every year or two instead of 6 or 7 years but forgot about the chances of getting them back. There's no easy answer is there.

Educating people on choosing the right dog for their situation would be a good start. My training club tried to host a seminar this year on that subject but a couple of the trainers went off on a tangent more aimed at club members instead of the general public. I'd love to see rescue organizations hold regular seminars for the public on how to find and choose the right dog. That is something I'd be only too happy to donate money towards.

> Should it be so easy to send your dog to a rescue centre? Would forcing people to make harder choices about rehoming their dogs make them think more before they get one?

I suspect they would just dump them or get them put to sleep. :(

But I agree - I think education is the key, and certainly advertising what to look for when buying a puppy and what to think about in terms of training etc in places where the public look for puppies would be helpful (and\or point them to the address of an information website) - is that something the KC do?

And passing some sort of test before you could own a dog - like a driving test before you can drive on your own. :)

"And passing some sort of test before you could own a dog - like a driving test before you can drive on your own"

Oh I like that idea (and a similar test for parents :D), but of course it's only enforceable if you then bring in licensing...and the reality of that is it will just cost the resposible owners more. Education, goverment funded tv adverts etc would work I think.

Speaking of adverts, I hate the one for a rescue centre that shows happy dogs running and playing outside. It makes it look like any dog dumped there is going to a holiday camp until it gets its next great home. :( They should show the reality of dogs overcrowded in concrete kennels that are lucky to have some person come take them for a 15 minute walk on a lead once a day. This isn't a dig at the people who work and volunteer at rescue centres - they do the best they can. But it's hardly a place where the dogs are running free and happy, playing with their doggy mates in the park and I hate for people to walk away with this idea in their head. No wonder so many owners turn their dog in because it doesn't match the 'new decor' or is old. They should be forced to walk their loyal companion into the kennels themselves and look their dog in the face as they leave it there.

> They should be forced to walk their loyal companion into the kennels themselves and look their dog in the face as they leave it there.

Have to say I did like it on IMOTD when VS made owners go and look round a rescue centre to make them face up to the reality of what would happen if they didn't get their act together.

I was looking at some ads on the notice board in the pet shop the other day. Loads of puppies for sale..."ready for xmas" etc. Can't believe the amount of people who can't even spell the name of their breed properly! I've seen some real butchered spelling. That alone would be enough to put me off completely.

I've seen 3 huskies around here, all on lead thankfully. One seems fine - the other two go totally nuts when we pass each other and it's all the owners can do to restrain them. Disasters waiting to happen.

Funnily enough this issue has come up on a rescue board  (that im not allowed to post on ) and the concensus there is that a complete ban on breeding would solve the problem (which it might, if it were ever possible, and that i seriously doubt)...

But i am convinced that the problem isnt caused by the huge numbers of pups badly bred...... they exist because of the huge numbers of muppets who want a puppy, NOW NOW NOW, and they want a glamorous breed or a rare colour or a designer crossbreed, and they remember a parents sensible, adult, well trained dog, or a grandparents (and through the eyes of the child they were at the time that dog lived)...

And where IS the information telling people new to the dog owning world that dog owning is HARD, requires many sacrifices, requires really hard work....

Time was when you only had a dog if you could afford it, if it suited your lifestyle, and if there was someone home to look after it/walk it./train it.

That dog was expected to behave like a dog, if children wound it up and they got nipped theyd get a thick ear to go with it, it was understood that dogs needed exercise and training, that dogs dont like being used as a pony for a 4 year old to ride on.... (not that it was all 'good ole days.' if a dog was aggressive for no immediately apparent reason it was put down, if a dog wasnt traffic wise it got run over...).

That appears to have all gone, people think now that they have a right to own which ever breed takesk their fancy, regardless of its needs. People think a dog should tolerate any and all abuse from anyone be it adult or child and never retaliate, sleep silently all day whilst they work, then lie at the owners feet in the evening IF they come home, IF they havent gone out on the town or wherever.... and then taht dog should behave impeccably on the one sunday a month it gets let off the lead in the local park..

And if it doesnt work out, well the dog must be stupid, or aggressive, and it can go to a rescue centre where it will be found a lovely new home who will cure it of its stupidity....and it will live happily ever after.

But that brings up the catch 22.... these people who are causing the demand for puppies you can just rock up and buy and take home there and then... they dont KNOW that they dont knwo what they are doing.

They dont know they need more information, the problems that they can cause or let them selves in for.... how do you educate them? These are not the people who read dog magazines or buy books.... they may get a book from the library but if they DO it is likely to contain such pearls of wisdom as 'lock your dog in a cupboard if he toilets on the floor, you MUST show him this is WRONG'. (honest... that really is in a book taht WAS in my local library.. its not now ).

Where do you begin to try and reach and educate people who dont think they need educating?

> Where do you begin to try and reach and educate people who dont think they need educating?

Popular TV, celeb mags, newspapers... target all the places people are likely to look even if it won't occur to them actually to read up on dogs.

I'm not going to be able to remember the other instance at the moment, but was fairly impressed with Eastenders recently. Daft girl bought puppy and thought she was going to make a fortune by using it at stud, but various people pointed out why this was a silly idea.

They also did this on something else recently (probably not dog related?) without making a big point of it, and I think this is probably a really good way to get these things into people's heads. Maybe a soap needs a pregnant bitch who ends up with a caesar and a huge vet's bill, and no puppies to sell.

M.

I'm sure that another reason so many people go for puppies is because they know deep down they want a dog that is housetrained but when you go down the rescue dog route so many people try to put you off!

I have two adult rescue dogs - who are very happy and very well looked after - but some of them have such tight restrictions it can put you off.  I was turned down by one rescue because I had a dog already, another because I was looking at having two males, another because I worked. 

It can often seem that the only way you can get a dog is to buy a puppy - and to be honest the adoption fees in rescue centres seem to be getting higher than the price of puppy farm puppies even those rescue dogs that have issues.  One of mine for example - obese, heart murmur, hip dysplasia and arthritis - all with a hefty adoption fee -  it would have been so easy to go to the pet shop take the number off one of the cards on the board and get a puppy!

I felt like a criminal at times because I wanted a dog and a job...

Maxine

but £500 for an unregistered husky when for £550 you can have top class champion parents and granparents, etc show potential in my breed.

My brother paid £800 for a cockerpoo gorgeous little girl, but thats more than I paid for my kc reg good pedigree afghans! More fool him.

My neices 16 yr old boyfriend was going to buy her a cocker for xmas. Luckly sister put her foot down as she still lives at home. But it is really worrying that someone was willing to sell this young lad a pup. To go to a home they have no idea about and isnt actually wanted. My sis already has two dogs and does not want another one. I just hate to think how it was bred and raised for it to have been within his price range.

Wendy

Even worse!  I recently had an enquiry for a bitch puppy (had to be housetrained), and I asked why a bitch.  Oh, they had decided that they would like to breed.  I asked what experience they had had in whelping bitches.  Answer?  What did whelping mean, they had never owned a dog before!!!!!!!!!

I fully believe that Huskies should not be kept as pets what so ever.

They do not do well in normal family households unless you take them to sporting events such as sled pulling, It was on a programme the other day and the people who were running the huskies said that they in no way suitable for a normal home as they require so much exercise and attention, and also its better to have them sort of semi wild (Meaning trained but not made to be too docile to keep the 'pack' mentality when pulling the sled) in packs for the sport.

So unless the lady in question at the beginning if this post can offer it then she shouldnt get one from anywhere espicially not a back yard breeder who hasnt even got good breeding to offer, its so sad that these beautiful dogs and many others are abused in this way.

That was my point to her friend, they are a lovely breed but not suitable for the situation this family want it for.  Haven't had a call from her so expect she will get the pup and it will end up in rescue, or the family will struggle with a dog not suited to the what the family have to offer.

I would absolutly love a Huskie, but I know I dont have the time or space to home one or even a pair comftably or fairly so we havent gotten one.
All too often you see huskies with behavioural problems due to lack of exercise and training, they need so much!

Hello

Couldn't help noticing this thread and the words of wisdom in it.  I was just having a conversation with my brother about his neighbour and a very old fashioned word came out 'he had three but had to get rid of two when he moved'.  We don't say get rid of now but it means the same.  Another two beautiful Huskies gone because they are in the wrong place at the wrong time - two children under 4 and one on the way, small back yard and no walks for the dog.

I just had people over to see my dogs as I have a bitch in whelp (not Husky and very well subscribed puppy list thank you) as I wanted the whole family to see what a fully grown dog and an juvenile where like. He didn't want to bring the family wanted to come by himself, but when they turned up the kids were really afraid of the juvenile, let alone the big male.  He wanted a dog not bitch.

The dogs did nothing wrong they're just dogs and wanted to give the kids a big lick and sit in their lap (breed characteristic) that was a disaster waiting to happen, I'm just glad I put him right before he made the worst mistake of a dogs life.

Re: The children being scared of dogs thing. My youngest son was terrified of dogs when we got our Golden. He was just a year old and wouldn't even look at our pup when we brought her home, he absolutely hated her. Several years later, he adores her, and she copes very well with his well-meant advances, as he likes to give her a good night kiss at bedtime. (My son is disabled, so not very well developed for an almost 4 year old). She has just had her first litter, and he isn't overly keen on her puppies either. I guess they're just to pushy for him. I think if the parents have 'dog sense' then things can turn out well.

As for everything else that has been said, I absolutely agree. Plenty of people are doing more research now, but still plenty aren't. Sadly, puppy farmers will always exist until something is done about it, as the people that buy from them wouldn't be able to get a pup from a responsible breeder.

One of my pups is going ot a family where the youngest daughter is 13, although she is extremely grown up. The pup is for her (all the family are happy about the new additiont hough) and she has done all the research herself, and knows all about health checks, what to look for in a good breeder etc. At one visit she was talking about ads int he paper that said 'can deliver'. Her Dad couldn't believe it, and summed it up really, he said 'What, can deliver? Like a takeaway or something?'

Arent they talking about introducing dog licencing?

Its good idea as you would have to pass certain things before you could get one (Large garden, money etc) but I dont see how they could poice it without stopping every dog walker in the street to make sure they have a licence for theyre dog!

Stil a damned good idea, would put most off who are only in it for the money and maybe stop people breeding so much.....

But Huskies are one of the worst suffering breeds for things like this (Referring to them living in family homes as opposed to working homes)

No it isn't as the responsible would have another cost that didn't do them any good and those irresponsible people still couldn't pay.

When the dog License last existed it was 37p and very few people had one.

The authorities can't stop illegal dogs being owned or bred, they sure aren't going to stop and check every dog owner has a license, and if they don't what happens?  the dog will still pay.

Also criteria for dog owning.  there are excellent owners who are flat dwellers work full time but employ someone to let the dogs out and there are bad rich owners with lots of Land.

I agree about criteria. We currently only have a very small patioed back garden. It is not used for exercise, so why would it need ot be large? It is merely a toileting area. Our girl get 4-5 hours of exercise a day normally, more than most dogs in a large garden, I would say.

Mine to are restricted to part of the garden only which they use to toilet or occasionally to lie out in, their exercise is taken on walks.  Originally this was done so that children could play where there would be no dogs or mess,a and now the neighbour at the back is a rabid dog hater, so easier for them not to go near his garden they are always at least 40 feet away from that boundary.  Also mostr of it is concrete or slabs with just a small part earth that they toilet on.

Brainless is so right about the dog license.   I bought the last dog license sold in our main Post Office.  Guess who bought the one before that? and the one before that?  So I bought the last 3, and I only had one dog.  So for 3 years ...  The man behind the desk thought it really funny as I was refused a license as it had been stopped and I just couldn't believe it, he said that's why it was stopped, people just didn't bother and it was unenforceable.  I never had to show or prove I had a license to anyone.

Most important criteria for dog owning IMO, is commitment to the dog's welfare.  I have a tiny garden and yard (well it's tiny to me ;) ) but the dogs aren't really affected as they get taken out every day, it's one of the joys of dog ownership, watching them race around like lunatics and sniffing out the interesting scents :) :)  When I had my first dog after I married we lived in a second floor flat with immediate outside access, we took him out at least 5 times a day, and more often if he asked to go out.  He was 2 when we got him, but needed housetraining, so we took him out every half hour, just like a puppy and he soon learned to ask to go out when he needed.  When we moved into this house he wouldn't use the garden as a loo so nothing much changed, he still got taken out several times a day.

I am sorry If I offended you Jackson, it was not intentional.  I am a mother myself and a grandmother.  I have let one puppy go to a home where the little girl is disabled and they are both very very happy.  Ive let other dogs go to homes with children because they where overjoyed when they met the real article.  Dogs and children are great together and that is not what I meant to run down.  I will always stand by my gut instinct however and not let a puppy go to a household where the only reason it is wanted is because the father wants to show off a big hunky male at the expense of his children literally climbing up the back of the sofa trying to get away from him.  My dogs are well socialised and trained and shown regularly but the breed characteristic is very excitable and I stand by my decision not to let them go to homes where either they will be given up on or a child will be knocked over.  It is as simple as that. 

Its great to hear of kids and dogs getting on and funnily enough mine do to although they were cat lovers to begin with.

I think what parents need to realise is that the children and dog will need segregating (especially separate play and resting areas) when not being directly supervised until both the dog and children are of an age to not intentionally or unintentionally do each other harm. 

Many people have this totally unrealistic idea of how the dog/puppy will interact with the children when in reality neither would be happy doing so without some common sense restraint and supervising.

I recently had a litter (i am not advertising as all pups are in their new homes now) and i was shocked by some of the phone calls i had, i wasnt selling them for silly money, both parents have all relevant health tests and kc papers and people were ringing and then deciding they can get a non kc reg with no health tests for £50-£100 cheaper so they would just do that, and everytime i tried to explain the importance of health tests all they would say is "oh we dont want to show or breed just want a family pet)

Yes I remember some of the calls from people telling me that I must be taking the 'lots of choice language' to try and charge the amount I was asking for ( the normal rate ) :rolleyes: I said fair enough and put the phone down on them :)

I had that reaction when I advertised my very first litter.  Next time I included the price in the advert as well as the fact of hip scored and eye tested parents, and I had a totally different kind of potential client phone.

When I looked for my chap I went through the UK Club who I have to say have been fantastic.
I made lots of calls to various other breeders only to find out that they did not know the basic answers to who was the father. Some made me laugh as they said things like these are the smaller breed Newfie for shows or my friend owns a farm and has several ready to be bought.
One even told me she was a member of the UK Club when she was not.
I think I made the right choice and now have a happy Newfie who thanks to the kindness of those within the club now sits by my side and drools all over me :)

Why did I go through the UK club?
Well I'm no expert on dogs and breeding and never will be. I thought by going through the club and doing my research then I stood a better chance of finding my loved one.
I will never go into breeding and really have no idea about it and lets face it many owners don't, we just want a healthy lovable companion.
Its not been easy at times and my old boy has had his moments but I have made it through 3 years and ok the house and garden looks like a bomb has gone off but if anything I am now an expert in cleaning :)

I love my boy, he is a member of my family. I can't imagine life without him. I'm just happy I went to those who know what they are upto.

You did the very best thing by going through the breed club who are best placed to give breed advise and put you in touch with reputable caring breeders.

So few people do this and have never even thought of it.

As a non dog expert (before you had your boy :D) how do you think the word could be got to people to contact a breed club first?

It seems such an obvious thing to those of us in dogs or who have been involved in other livestock, but it isn't what people generally think of.  Seems to be the local paper or the local shelter.

I was involved with small pedigree livestock (Rabbits), so knew all about breed clubs so that was the route I naturally took when looking for a dog, Kennel Club to get the breed club details, breed club to get info and introductions to owners and then breeders.

How do you think the word could be got to people to contact a breed club first?

Thats a tough one. When I started to do some research I came across their web site and one member has written a book which I had bought. Oh and not forgeting this site and I also joined a Newfie only site which was really helpful before I found my boy.
I think its a case of not rushing into it and just taking your time but in todays society people tend to want something yesterday and just rush into something.
Spreading the word, well apart from heavy advertising I just don't know. With so many dogs/pups available for many its just flick through your local paper or internet. Its become too easy maybe to just buy a dog.

I have to be honest, I've owned jacks and my last dog was a golden retriever but now I've become more aware of issues like food, insurance, grooming, equipment, training, life style, health issues and so on. Before I had no idea on Bloat or how to simply groom correctly. Perhaps in a way the internet has made life better as I can with a press of a key ask a question and soon find an answer.

As im in this boat i will say in the defense of the lady, that it is BLOODY hard to figure out where to go!!

The rescues wont touch me cos i am a mum of 2 young children, I have spoken to breeders and think i have it all figured out, just to find out that a pedigree isn't a guarentee of a good healthy parents..... kc registered appears to have little meaning either.

To a novice its a bloody minefield, everywhere you look there are puppies, and you think "okay i will have that one" but then it turns out your actually helping the puppy farm business which im sure no one would do intentionally!

Im starting to look for stray dogs in the street!! because at this rate its the only way we are going to get one!!

ah but you are already being discriminating, do you think in some ways it is too easy to get a dog, a badly bred for profit one in popular breeds at any rate?

You have already been steered in the right direction, but how did you come to do this.

What we need to see is more people refusing to get a puppy farmed or poorly bred pup.

The lady who I wrote about at the start of this thread is getting and unsuitable breed for their situation and needs from the worst possible source as a result of seeing me with a different breed (but one commonly mistaken for the other), who she sees walking nicely.  If only she had actually spoken to me about it.  We stop and chat with people all the time.  Even with my contact details she hasn't got in touch as I expect she now doesn't want to hear advice :(

I hear what you are saying Barbara.  I've had lots of people admire my boy drifting along beside me in the way Beardies do and I am very proud of him.  This happy situation took years of training and wasn't easy and can so easily change, because he trains me a lot easier than I train him :rolleyes:

I am often asked 'how much do they cost', and sometimes people are shocked at the price.  Like you I met one of these ladies that admired my dogs and she has got a beardie border cross.  Intentionally bred and with the best will in the world although they are both herding dogs they are not always at peace in their minds.  This one has all the craziness of the beardie (love em) but gives eye like a border - not easy for other dogs to deal with.  He has already tangled with mine, no injuries but then he is still young, and I am now being told he's really hard work what should I do with him

I've just contacted "WHICH" and suggested that they might like to research the breeding/selling/buying of dogs from responsible breeders ...........

Margot

Now that is a good idea.  Bet though if they contact the KC why will plug their Accredited Breeder scheme rather than breed clubs.

I've suggested they contact us ;)!

oh my god, its awful isn't it! we kept getting calls when we bred our bitch last year from the most ridiculous people, "eh? what? £700 (n.b. champion father, good pups etc, v.good price), i can get hold of one for £100!!"- a hundred quid for a bullmastiff? thats insane- my dad on the phone replied "well you wouldn't get one of my dogs for £1000". i think our big prob is we have a large "macho" looking breed that apparently are exploited something rotten down south- i've even heard of litters crossed with pitbulls...pitbull nature, mad breeders, 9-12 stone guarding breed...great idea, thats not a disaster waiting to happen

Look at the fads right now.  Anything with the name "______poo" or "Teacup ______" gets bought.

Paris Hilton carrying around Tinkerbell, the little Chihuahua, as a fashion accessory. 

I have seen adds in the paper for cross bred, or poorly bred, or undersized/oversized pups going for more of a price than my pure bred dogs. 

A sad thing though, when people realize they paid so much money for a fad, they will through it away.  Just like clothes, that went out of style.....who has clothes from the 80's even....let alone the 60's?  People just dont understand that dogs are not a fad.

Something should be done, like articles or something - and not just in dog magazines - that names like
______poo
Teacup
King
Miniature (unless the breed has that title in their name, like Miniature Pinscher - recognized breed with the word in the name)

ARE mutts!  probably not breed correctly (health clearances, etc)  People always say to me, oh I used to have a King Doberman, King Shephard, blah blah blah.  They really think it is of a breed of their own, and when you try to tell them otherwise, they argue with you.  (umm lets see, breeder who is responsible vs money making puppy farmers........who would you believe?)

another example of this is labradoodles!! :) I spoke to someone and they asked for £700!!!!!!!!!!!

Being the dunce i am i asked if it was KC registered :D

I think it is horrifically easy to buy a 'bad' puppy and in some respects too hard to buy a good one.

I don't think it should be easy to buy a good puppy, but it SHOULD be easy to find out where to find a good puppy nad find out what IS a good puppy.

I dont think huge prices for good puppies helps, i think the £500 - £700 mark is about right depending on the varying difficulty of the breed, more than this and im sorry.. there is more than covering your outgoings (inc for some time off work etc, i am realistic) going on.

Poeple dont see waht it is they are paying for, so that needs changing. People dont see what benefit they get out of a dog being KC reg (and tbh, i find it hard to justify as well)...

A lot of people just cannot justify (not afford.... hey we can ALL save up x amount if we really want to... but can we JUSTIFY spending it on a puppy.. rather than mending the car, kids clothes, tv licence... etc)... the vast sums of money and naturally... cheaper appeals to them.

We are after all encouraged from every direction to seek out cheaper and cheaper bargains, 'cheaper is better' is drummed into us..no one appreciates the things that cost but arent immediately seen any more. (ie, ooh diamonds, yes spend on those.... ooh puppy who has had probably YEARS of work and dedication and passion put into his creation... pft, get one cheaper down the road').

I wonder if  local newspapers and womens magazines would be the place for doggy info... and how that can be achieved.

I think the KC needs to pull its socks up, pull its finger out and actually make KC Registered MEAN something, currently it means very little of importance to the average puppy owner.

Agree with most of your post including the fair price range, but why oh why are people willing to pay silly prices for some breeds and some of these designer crosses?

Unfortunately, not because they think its 'worth' that price in the quality of the 'product'......

I think 1/ because they somehow think they have something 'rare' or 'special' - especially in the case of the designer mongrels, and also in the case of non standard and faulty or unusual colours, or coat length.

2/ Because it makes them feel that they have bought something superior, these are the kind of people who tell you immediately 'oh my dog cost xxx and thus she is wonderful' etc...

3/ If they ever DO realise that they have paid well over the odds for what is a mongrel, or is not a KC registered dog, or is a faulty colour, they will not then admit that and warn any of their friends off, that would mean losing face. So they defend their actions, its human nature, no one likes to look stupid.

It is a nightmare, on the one hand you have people saying 'oh it doesnt matter if its not KC reg/parents been hipscored/eye tested, i only want a pet' who will buy the nearest and cheapest they can, and on  the other hand there are those for whom the most expensive is obviously the best, still regardless of health, temperament, breeding...

I think breed clubs need to play a bigger role, if enough do so then maybe the KC will take notice.

It is remarkably hard for some people to find the breed club for their chosen breed, we have had the internet for long enough that it is now unlikely that anyone DOESNT have net access, and yet htere are still breed clubs with no web presence, or seriously poor, badly managed, not updated websites that impart little or no useful information.

Certain aspects of buying a well bred pup, i think MUST be made not 'easier' but more accessible.

I do honestly think that anyone who breeds (and though i dont i may yet) has a responsibility to dogs in general (not JUST their breed!!!), to put as much useful, helpful educational advice out there as they can, to combat the tide of anti-dog feeling and idiots ignorant or otherwise.

The whole 'dog community' is so unbelievably divided and yet many of the goals are common. We all want phyisically adn mentally healthy representative of their breed being good pets and good show dogs in homes, we all want less unwanted dogs, we all want to stop people discarding and mistreating dogs, we all want to stop unscrupulous people cashing in on dog breeding.

Yet the rescues hate the breeders, understandably many breeders are then unwilling to work with rescues, and whilst all this in-fighting goes on, the REAL cause of unwanted puppies is uneducated people buying from disreputable sources  and NOT in fact to do with responsible breeders OR responsible rescues.

Its all about the demand, people want, people go and get and these days people have forgotten why tahts a bad idea... even yesterday yet another news story hit the papers about a certain breed now apparently 'notorious' for being dangerous.... thats not caused by good rescue or good breeding!