I'm not a breeder, I'm actually looking to buy. I've waited a long time for the time to be right to add a dog to our family: my two children are now old enough to be 'trained' to handle a dog, my husband now works from home so our pooch will always have company. We are an outdoorsy and active family who now live semi-rural - so lots of country walks in walking distance of our home. We finally started our puppy search and then lockdown hit and puppy buying went crazy.

I have made contact with a number of breeders - one who had a very extensive application process in order to make sure their pups went to a good home. However, in further emails they went on to tell me that 'technically' they were a puppy farm, but not a bad one and could give me a puppy next week in exchange for £2000 (double what I'd researched I should pay). I have rescinded my application as I do not want to buy from someone who runs a puppy farm. However, I am getting nowhere near the waiting lists for genuine breeders. I'm pretty gutted that it seems we are going to have to wait again (I've been waiting for years!), however, I'd sooner wait than get it wrong.

Anyone have any idea how much longer the crazy demand will last? When should I resume searching? Or am I doing it wrong by waiting for litters to be announced? Should I be contacting breeders? I dont want to be annoying at an already busy time. Thank you in advance.

I think you could hope to look again in the autumn, as long as we don't get a second wave of corona...

Looking on a famous pet selling site, there are 35 adverts selling puppies at £3000 or more. This is only within a thirty mile radius of my home. I'm sure prices have increased again in a week or so.

As I live in a supposedly worse off area of the UK, I'd assume prices are the same or higher in other areas. I was amazed that untested, not registered Cavaliers and Chows £3-3500. Cavapoos are in the same price range.

Even an adult Cocker Spaniel bitch is £2500. And she is just the perfect age for breeding. Looking at my three bitches, if I'd allowed them to breed a litter each I could have paid off my mortgage! It's a good job I don't like puppies and that they are all spayed!

I know it is disgraceful. I'm not going to get caught up in buying from those people. One of the legit breeders who shared her knowledge with me recommended this site to me as it promotes responsible breeding. If I hadn't been looking for a while and had an understanding of normal prices, I could have easily fallen in to the trap of thinking that £2000+ was normal for a spaniel.

Thank you for the advice.

Another avenue to explore is to make contact with local dog training club- they often know who has litters and are often involved in rescue and know when nice suitable dogs come up for rehoming through no fault of their own- often mongrels but at least with a young adult dog you know what you are adopting and won't be idiotic price.

Or am I doing it wrong by waiting for litters to be announced? Should I be contacting breeders?

Yes. Find a breeder whose dogs you like and who you get on with and feel trust in. Many good breeders will not even consider mating a bitch unless they have built up a waiting list of suitable owners first. The right breeder matters so much, as they will be there for you with help or advice for the life of the dog, should you ever need it. Many of my puppy buyers have turned into close friends -in fact all my closest friends I met that way. Likewise I bought a pup off a breeder 20 years ago and we're still in frequent contact, and I still ask her advice about my current dogs. Obviously not everyone wants to be as close as this to the breeder of their dog, but a breeder always being available with advice, one that still cares no matter how long ago you bought the dog, is really important to have. I currently have a litter of just four puppies and I had 19 people on my waiting list, so as you can see anyone who contacted me once the pups were already born would be much too late. If you can, taking the current situation into account, meet a breeder or breeders before they have pups.

> and are often involved in rescue and know when nice suitable dogs come up for rehoming through no fault of their own- often mongrels but at least with a young adult dog you know what you are adopting and won't be idiotic price.

Price-wise, true.   But I have been looking for an older rescue of a couple of breeds since we lost our boy at the end of April.  Without any success.  I have even now gone back to my original breed, contacted one of the rescues and asked to be considered, when the current restrictions are lifted so Shelters can reopen.  I was told they only have 5 'trustees' and as they have '50/60 applications for EACH HOUND', can't possibly keep names on record.  I'm starting to think there won't BE another dog, post Frankie.

Just to add, when we were looking for a Whippet, I located a good breeder living not too far away from us and she was 'expecting'.  So even if we had to wait quite a while, at least I was able to buy our girl once the litter was born - she came to us at 9 weeks.

I have always found the breeder first and then been prepared to wait and wait.   Dog shows are a fantastic way to meet breeders.  As soon as they are back to normal I would nip along and introduce yourself.  Also talking to members of breed clubs and going along to their "day" events if they have them, when they have them.  Good luck