where can I buy a labrador puppy in the north east of England, in time for christmas 2001?

Having had an 8 month old puppy and three kids (not mine!) in the house last Christmas, could I suggest that you wait until after Christmas to get your new addition? It's just too difficult to cope with a puppy with everything else going on. It's not fair on you or your dog.

Get the kids a labrador soft toy and an IOU for Christmas day and get the puppy once things have settled down again. It'll be easier all round.

I agree with 9thM, many reputable breeders will not sell puppies around Christmas for fear of them losing their attraction once the deccies come down but also because by and large households are so busy over the Christmas period, there is little if any routine, lots of visitors and visiting and this is not condusive to helping pup settle in.

If you don't have children and will have a quite Christmas and can make contact with a breeder now and start to build a good relationship then you may be successful in your quest.

If on the otherhand you do have kids and/ or lively hectic Christmas and New Year celebrations or plans for visits etc, it would probably be better to wait until a few weeks later, perhaps Feb half-term time or even the easter break. At least the children will be able to enjoy the puppy's homecoming too. Many suggest avoiding school holidays because young children often don't give pups the chance to rest etc. However, if your children, if you have any, are of an age where you can explain the imprtance of rest etc, then I found that having my pups join me during the school hols was better. The kids would have invented all sorts of mysterious illnesses to avoid school and stay home with the pup's.lol.

hth