We are going to be buying a cavalier puppy and have been looking at pet shops in lLondon which sell pups. We were surprised that some of them had pups that were much older some coming up to 6 months. What happens to the poor things if they don't sell, they all look so sad waiting for their home to come along.

Hi Guest, I really don't know the answer to your question, but please don't buy a puppy from a pet shop. I know you may well feel sorry for the puppies, but you are likely to be buying alot of heartache in the way of health problems, and on top of that you will be helping to perpetuate puppy farming. Please go to a reputable breeder for your puppy.

Check out the Kennel Club website www.the-kennel-club.org.uk   look under Breed Standards then at the Toy Group, Cavalier King Charles will be listed there. At the end of the breed standard is a list of breed clubs. Find one near you and contact them about puppies, also talk to them about the neccessary health testing that breeding males and females should have. Always ask a breeder about these tests on puppies parents, and ask to see certificates.

Good Luck.

Dawn R.

Don't buy from a pet shop!!!!

All that happens is another poor bitch has yet another litter (usually in unsuitable conditions because no reputable breeder sells pups through pet shops - it's against KC regulations) to replace it.

Pet shops are supplied by puppy farmers. If you buy a pup from a pet shop you're buying heartache.

Please don't buy a puppy from a pet shop! A member of my family bought a puppy from a typical 'puppy farm' type place thirteen years ago, a springer spaniel. It had a life threatening illness within a week - they were heartbroken. They went back to the place to inform them the puppy was sick  - so they could check the other puppys in the litter and they said they would take the puppy back and they could choose another one!!!! They were dismayed! What on earth would they have done with the puppy? I dread to think. My Uncle said they had no intention of giving him back. Who on earth could??
Luckily, their dog lived to be 13 and only died in the summer - he was lovely but mad! You never know what your going to get unless you buy from a reputable breeder.
The website suggested above will find your local breeders for you - it will be worth the wait.
It must melt your heart seeing those poor dogs in the pet shop, I dread to think what happens to the ones that don't sell, it doesn't bear to think about it.  But if you buy one - you can be sure their will be another one in its place within a week.
Good Luck.

As the others have said - please don't buy from a pet shop - or anyone else that sells puppies where the mother isn't present. The sort of breeder who will sell puppies to a third party without having a clue where the puppies will end up isn't the sort of breeder who will care whether or not they are breeding healthy puppies. You're buying a dog who will hopefully be with you 12+ years - so go about it the right way and reduce the risk of the heartache of a sick puppy.

Do harrods still sell puppies?  I went their years ago and nearly came away with one because I felt so sorry for it.

They've always had puppies when I've been. When one litter goes they get in another. :( A most unsuitable start to any pup's life, missing out on vital socialisation, and exposure to illness.

I don't think any puppies should be sold by a thrid party but I do feel Harrods perhaps attracts more attention in this field than perhaps they deserve probably because they are so famous. 
I went in in January when they had a litter of poodles and spoke to one of the assistants at length.  I read an article a few years ago that said that they only had puppies that were already booked and they were kept at the store in transit to showcase the sort of puppy that they could order for you, that no longer seems to be the case as the puppies there on that day were for sale.  The cage was very large, clean and held several toys and they close the section they are kept in several times a day to allow the puppies out of their cage to play about the whole area with the staff.  I would imagine their exposure to germs would be larger that the average litter :rolleyes:  I asked the assistant what happened at night, the last staff go home about 10pm so they are not alone for long, when they are down to just one puppy a member of staff takes it home with them at night.  I really doesn't seem to me to be half as bad as a lot of the larger puppy selling enterprises although of course it would be so much better if it didn't happen.  The assistant, by the way, who claimed that vetting of owners was carried out, did not know if they were KC registered :(

I think in my own opinion Harrods is probably worse than most places as isnt it the ultimate designer accessory to have a pet from Harrods?  It doesnt mean any of the others are better and I am not disputing they are probably better cared for than most of these type of establishments but the principle is still the same.

Their turnover is so miniscule compared to the large pet dealers in the North West for instance, but I suppose their profile doesn't help the campaign against pet shops does it.

Never ever buy a puppy from a pet shop they are keeping the puppy farmers in business >:-< the only way to try and stop puppy farms is not to deal with them this means not buying from pet shops.

If you need a puppy go to a rescue center or buy from a breeder contact the kennal club they will put you in touch of a breeder of your choise

I saw two little 4 1/2 month old black labs on rescue site, they came from a puppy farm because they were past sell by date too old to sell how awful, also the poor dogs they breed from live outside and just have litter after litter until they can't or they are too old. A lot of labs have recently gone into a particular rescue as they were too old to breed from, some couldn't even hold there heads up.