my question is why are papers so important? i dont wish to show my dog i just want it as a family pet.and my next question is my local kennel breeds st bernards and they are charging £580 and most breeders on the net are charging £900 why is this? thanxs marie e mail:cbearback@aol.com

dear guest
please read register or not. that was my queation the replies have been fantastic and very helpful.

Papers are like a birth certificate for the dog, you then know his parentage, and hopefully their health status as regards hereditary test, as the Hip Scores and latest eye test results will be against their names.

If you are going for a pedigree pup, then this tells you that they are of known ancestry, and are what they purport5 to be.

Ethical breeders breed for the love and betterment of their breed, and usually work, show or compete in some canine activity with their dogs. Serious breeders do not just breed to proiduce puppies for the pet market, but with the hope that some will go on to influence the breed, and the remainder will be excellent companions and/or workers.

You say your local Kennel, does that mean boarding kennel, or do you mean local Specialist breeder. Price is something that is entirely up to the seller, as in most things there is a going rate. Cheap pups are often cheaply reared with all sorts of corners cut, but then again you can have a bad breeder that does this still charging top dollar.

Rearing such a large breed is not a cheap proposition. Contact the St Bernard Breed clubs and ask their advice. They shjould be able to tell you what you should expect from a reputable breeder as regards paperwork and health tests for their breedign stock, and what is the usual price range. They will also usually know which are the poor breeders who proiduce poor stock and who do not take responsibility for the pups they breed, and thereby have a high number go through breed rescue.

Finally whether you wish to show or not, if your are buying pedigree then you want the real McKoy.