My daughter's friend has finally persuaded her parents to get a family dog.

All three work full time and although I personally wouldn't let anyone in their position have one of my pups, I offered to help her decide what breed to get and to put them in the right direction, hoping that after speaking to some responsible breeders it would make them wait until a better time.

It now turns out they're getting a working cocker spaniel from someone known to a relative, not a breed I would have recommended. This "breeder" in my opinion, is obviously after their money as they were allowed to see the pups on the day they were born!

This bitch has already produced 13 puppies, over a number of litters, it doesn't appear that any health tests have been done and they've used one of their own dogs.

I had to bite my tongue yesterday when she announced that her Dad had stated they would be breeding their bitch as it was obviously a good way to make some easy money!!!!!

He may have been joking but while people think like this are the KC ever going to convince puppy buyers to only get their new puppy from an accredited breeder?

Oh dear, what a disaster waiting to happen. How long will it be before the poor Cocker has demolished their home because it was bored? And what will happen to the poor wee soul? I bet the 'breeder' won't take it back. :-(

My thoughts exactly, especially as they're in the middle of having an extension built, new kitchen, re-decoration, new furniture etc!!!

Have offered them a puppy pen and crate to borrow but just got puzzled expression from daughters friend. They obviously think it's going to be easy to house train by Mum just popping in during her lunch break!

not to be cynical or anything but along with the crate how about the number for cocker rescue...

>He may have been joking but while people think like this are the KC ever going to convince puppy buyers to only get their new puppy from an accredited breeder?

Sadly the uneducated or the unsuitable are going to keep BYB going for the foreseeable future. I know many people who get a want a dog and think nothing of going and getting the first pup they see advertised. Some of my acquaintances also want to get their money back and will use the dog for breeding, completely untested, total pot luck.

I've seen plenty of "working" dogs through the puppy class that I help out at, all sold to people that have never had dogs before and who find it so hard to cope with a dog that wants a lot of mental activity. These dogs are getting a short walk once a day, twice if lucky and spend the rest of the day crated up because they wreck the house, jump all over everyone or in one case kill the other pets in the household. Can we fix them? Yes if they are prepared to put in some hard work. A lot of these owners expect that tiny over indulged puppy to stay cute and well behaved forever.  They don't have time to train them because of work and family commitments. I really can't see the point in getting a dog if you can't do the basics and then some.

I think the Kennel Club have its work cut out.

Unfortunately many "working" dogs do not have health tests done, supposedly it's only "show" types that have any health problems, so yes in many ways the KC and those of us who do only breed from health tested dogs are knocking our heads against a brick wall.

I feel so sorry for that poor pup.It's not going to have a happy time of it at all.What a daft time to be even thinking of getting a puppy with all the building work going on.It's going to be Bedlam for the poor thing.Fancy,being taken away from the comfort of your mum and siblings and expected to be happy on your own and with a load of crash,bang,wallop going on.What is the matter with some people!?