Worried about information provided by breeder

[elisabethhh]

We’re looking to get a lab puppy and have come across the most incredible breeder who is lovely (as far as we know) and have a Facebook page allowing us (interested buyers) to view the litter and their progress. The puppy we were interested in, from the breeder’s description of them, is the smallest of the lot weighing under 2kg at around 5 and a half weeks. Today on their Facebook they uploaded a video of her eating and she eats so un-lab like, very daintily and almost uninterested in the food. We are going to visit tomorrow so will get more information then but is an uninterest in food worrying for a Labrador puppy?

[pigsDOfly]

Sounds a bit odd for any puppy tbh.

Is this a puppy that you've reserved with the breeder before it was born or a batch of puppies that you have just come across?

It's a bit unusual for a good breeder to have puppies available for people to, as it were, walk in off the street and choose one.

If I'm reading your OP right, I'd be a bit suspicious that it's a puppy farm.

[elisabethhh]

pigsDOfly I don’t think the breeder is. We follow their Facebook page where they update everyone on the litter and show pictures and videos. The parents are kc registered with all health tests and have seen countless videos of puppies playing with the family. They even took them on a visit to an old people’s home 2 days ago and pictures were posted

[FairfaxAikman]

Without comment on whether or not it's a puppy farm, I'd say not every lab is a gutsy git.
My oldest would probably save some to go back to if the younger two weren't guaranteed to snaffle it.

[pigsDOfly]

Ah okay. There are so many puppy farms around, some a great deal worse than others, that it seems very difficult to actually find any sort of breeder that isn't a puppy farm without doing masses of research so I suppose I'd always be suspicious rather than trusting.

KC registered doesn't mean an awful lot tbh.

All anyone can do is trust their instincts. But as I say, it's unusual for a good, reputable breeder to have puppies available that haven't been reserved, often, before the bitch has even got pregnant.

[DoinItForTheKids]

And typically good breeders wouldn't release puppies at Xmas, and would insist on home checks etc. A friend of mine's mum breeds German Shepherds and she conducts something close to an interrogation before she lets them take a puppy! They are not going anywhere until she's sure they're going to a suitable environment, suitable people.

[elisabethhh]

Puppies are ready to leave on the 7th so not for Christmas. I appreciate the help with the breeder but my concern is the food

[elisabethhh]

I understand the breeder does effect the food situation but I mean that I’m not asking about the breeder in itself

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

My lab is so fussy about his food that we have to change brands every few weeks. He gets bored and won’t eat it. He doesn’t chew stuff up. He hates swimming. He’s never rolled in anything stinky and he doesn’t want to go for a walk if it’s raining. He’s got KC papers and a pedigree bloodline as long as your arm but you wouldn’t believe it.

[Fujexa]

If I had a choice, I would be reluctant to take a puppy that is much smaller than the rest of the litter, in case there are health problems that are not fully apparent yet. That may not be the case here at all - but there are congenital issues that can come to light within the first year or so.

[Fujexa]

To clarify, the appetite thing wouldn't worry me as long as the puppy was energetic and bright; just the size issue, if there is a big difference to the other pups. Small variations in size are normal though. Best of luck whatever you choose OP!

[elisabethhh]

It’s not a big difference in size. There’s another puppy 120g heavier than her

[BiteyShark]

Not all puppies are gluttonous. My dog was never that interested in food and still isn't. If he isn't particularly hungry he looks at the bowl, tries to work out whether it's worth him eating it and then often leaves it.