I wondered if there is any quick way of working out how many litters a particular breeder registers within one given year?  I am using MyKC as a search tool but if you don't know the names and numbers of their breeding bitches then it seems quite difficult to sort out the puppy farmers from the ethical breeders?

Unless you track a breeder using the Breed Records Supplement, you wouldn't be able to on mykc(as peoples names are not given. The Breed Records supplement is a quarterly issue that is divided into the 7 groups( I subscribe to the hound group),for all puppies registered in that quarter. It isn't cheap for what you want to know.

Best you could do without getting the breed record supplements mentions above is If the breeder has an affix you could search the affix on the find a dog page. That should bring up all the dogs with that affix in their names (if it's someone who had bred alot over the years they may not all fit on one page of results in which case you can search affix a then affix b ect ect. Of course if they register litters without their affix that wouldn't show up.

Thank you very much, that is really helpful:-)

A word of caution when looking at affix's, the KC have their own affix which anyone can use & changes every year but always starts with Ken, so this year is Kenynten. I think there is a topic which as all the affix for KC per year.

Thank you, I did know that but worth the reminder:-)

Kennel Club "Affix"

Please also be aware that some breeders whom have an affix, will sometimes register litters that do not actually carry their affix.

If its just one breed you are tracking its well worth getting the BRS. When I used to get them years ago I'm sure it was indexed by the breeders name..or am I mistaken?

> If its just one breed you are tracking its well worth getting the BRS.

True BUT at £32 a year(4 issues) it wouldn't be cheap to track just 1 breeder & you would need to get quite a few backdated years, to find the information required.

I really think this should be on the Kennel Club accessible data for those searching for a puppy, as it is eqsily found on the Finnish Kennel club database Koiranet..

No-one is labelling anyone a puppy farmer, but we al have our preferences, and apart from essential health testing would like to know more about the breeders activities, and the number of litters they breed could well have an effect on the level of interest and contact available or wanted by a buyer.

Thank you, yes, that's it exactly Brainless.  Such information is a real indicator and raising a line of inquiry at the least.  The data is all there on MyKC I know but you can't get to it easily with the current system.  Still it's a lot better than nothing I suppose!

Yes, I agree, it isn't cheap and would be more economical electronically.  I suppose it can be looked at as an investment in finding the right Breeder and puppy though.

I didn't know that.  How interesting.  Why would a breeder not choose to use their own affix though?  Is it a common thing?

>Why would a breeder not choose to use their own affix though? 

I know at least one reputable 'show' breeder that uses a different affix to register pups that will not be good enough for the show ring. We can only guess why other breeders may not use their affix for every litter. Maybe there are other 'genuine' reasons that breeders may do this, that members can think of?

>Is it a common thing?

Hard to say because unless you actually know the KC registration names of the bitches that a breeder actually owns and/or they register them under their own name, it would not be obvious.