Pup with paperwork vs pup with no papers, what have I done and what do I do now???

[sweetpud]

Morning everyone, I really need your advice. I recently started searching for a Labradoodle pup and luckily found a promising ad with
some really beautiful photos from a breeder, of the type that I was searching for. I made contact and have been placed on a waiting list as pups not born till end of March, they will have health checks, family tree, 1st vaccine, food etc. A problem on our side came up at that point with us not being able to have the pup until the end of June, and these pups will be ready to go to new homes in May.

Then I made the mistake of looking again and seeing another breeder much closer to where I live, though the pups parents were slightly different to what I had been looking for. The big snag is no health tests, family tree or vaccines etc, though we do get some free pet insurance, puppy pack, food and scent blanket. They were a lovely family though and the pups mother was a beautiful, happy, healthy dog, as were all the pups. I fell in love with one little boy (as you do), and my DH said if I wanted to reserve her then that was fine, so we paid a cash deposit.

They are going to keep him until we are ready aswell which was kind of them and solved a problem for us. I knew then that I would have to contact the other breeder to be taken off her list, but she got in first and sent me a load of new photos and it has completely muddled my head up!
These pups are due any day and I think I was 7th on the list, so am I going to regret this decision if I tell her to take me off her list?

I keep going over it all in my head and thinking did we make a big mistake with the first family as there is no health checks etc and the pup being slightly different to what I was looking for.

Do we take the risk with the first or do I change everything now and wait for 2nd pup, but then also have to try to solve the problem of not being able to have him until the end of June. Please don't get the impression that we are messing anyone about or time wasters, it was just the timing issue and circumstance. :-(

[mioxx]

I got my dog (another mixed breed) with no health check ect. Looking back, I don't think it's how I would recommend buying a puppy but we had an excellent vet who made sure that all his vaccinations were in place and solved a few things he had picked up from the breeders.
At the end of it all though, we had a loving affectionate and intelligent dog and you wouldn't know that he didn't come with the most ideal starts.

With mixed breed dogs such as a labradoodle, a health check won't pick up most of the issues that the dog may have later on in life.

If I were you, I'd stick with the dog you have paid the deposit for as that seems more final than being on a waiting list.

[tabulahrasa]

Stick with the health tested puppies, firstly the health conditions they test for are not minor issues, they are painful, expensive to treat and it really isn't fun to have for instance a 4 month old puppy who can't walk.

Secondly I wouldn't reward somebody financially for cutting corners on breeding. Which is what they're doing by not health testing.

Though I notice you said checks, not tests...so assuming you mean, elbow and hip scored and eye tests and not just a check up at the vet. Go with the first one.

[Buttholelane]

I don't understand why you did that?

There are some big, expensive, problems in both of those of breeds.

The second breeder sounds like they are in for the money.
If your pup develops a costly, genetic problem don't expect them to take any responsibility, if you can't keep the pup also, don't expect them to take your dog back like any decent breeder would.
Cancel and go with the good breeder!

Who cares about a bloody blanket and a bit of food?
Your pup won't be sleeping with a blanket because puppies like to destroy them.

As for the free insurance, if something happens in those 4 weeks your fucked because it's then pre existing and you aren't covered for the first two weeks I believe.

Don't line the pockets of greedy people!

[VetNurse]

Both poodles and Labradors are affected by a number of health issues including hip dysplasia and genetic eye problems. This is why health testing breeding dogs is so so so important. Look on the kennel club website and you can see what tests both breeds should have before being bred.

I personally would not touch a crossbreed of these two breeds without the parents being health testing. You could end up with a dog who is riddled with health problems and will end up costing you a fortune.

[CandyAppleFudge]

I wouldn't touch a dog with no papers/health tests. We own 2 of a breed that has health issues but both dogs parents are health tested/papers and we've had no issues

[Chattymummyhere]

I don't see what help a family tree is with mongrels its not like you can prove its true as the original breeders of the kc ones wouldn't DNA test just to prove a mongrel got breed from their lines.

Both of those breeds should have health tests carried out for serious issues in the breeds and if both parents have each breeds problems your pup is buggerd and likely to inherit the worst from both.

The person who "invented" labradoodles regrets ever paring the two together.

I would go with a proper breed if you want the best of health tests where you can properly trace ancestors and their scores/results.

[LokiBuddyBoo1]

I bought a cross breed (Jackhuahua) I don't know if parents were health tested or not and my ddog is happy and healthy and super smart.
I'd go for the pup you've paid a deposit for, as even if you were buying a pedigree there is no guarantee it won't have and medical problems.

[HcachumBabow]

Health testing is about doing everything possible to ensure the future health of the puppies. Given both labs and poodles can potentially suffer from multiple health issues (some of which are common across both breeds) I'm not sure why you'd gamble on puppies from untested parents just for the sake of convenience.

You'll always get some people who have done just that and ended up with perfectly healthy dogs however the opposite happens as well. I've had two rescues who were not even first generation crosses but proper mongrels and both of them had/have inherited health issues. DDog1 had mitral valve disease which eventually progressed to heart failure. DDog2 had hereditary cataracts which necessitated major surgery. She does now have some sight but it's far from perfect.

Aside from taking a gamble on the future health of the puppy by buying from someone who doesn't health test you'd be supporting a breeder who is at best ignorant of good breeding practices and at worst intentionally cutting corners to maximise profit.

[Quodlibet]

You are going to have this dog (and whatever health problems it may come with) for 15 years. It pays to be patient now and source a puppy from a decent breeder.

[daisydotandgertie]

I absolutely don't get this type of cross breed. The reasons for producing them are almost always just to make money which is never, ever in the interest of the sire, dam or puppies.

But, I see problems with both litters tbh. Health tests are vital - as pp have said, both parent breeds are susceptible to inherited diseases so it is crucial to be aware of what they should be tested for, to see the resulting certificates and to verify them with the Kennel Club. Im my view, it is also important to ensure both parents have pedigree papers so you have some benchmark for possible puppy development and temperament. A family tree is worth nothing if it can't be verified.

Also, breeders giving pups their first vaccine is not automatically a benefit. There are many vets who insist on starting again once you get the pup home because of vaccine and batch incompatibility.

Free insurance is available to all breeders and vets, so I wouldn't consider that much of a perk and scent blankets are pointless.

What does each breeder offer in terms of post puppy pick up support and what contracts do they provide?

[Booboostoo]

Why would you ever pay money for a puppy from parents who had not been screened for all known problems with their breeds? I really can't see any reason to get such a puppy, you are potentially leaving yourself open for a lot of heart ache and crippling vet bills.

Not to mention why would you ever trust a breeder who had not bothered to do basic health screenings before choosing who to breed from? And why would you reward such an irresponsible person with your money?