Buying a lab without papers/pedigree?

[DrNortherner]

We are wanting to buy a lab puppy, there are some in our local area for £500 and are KC registered.

There are some a bit further afield for £200 but the woman described them as chocolate labs with no pedigree or papers. The mother dog can be seen.

What exactly does this mean? Are we silly to buy a dog with no papers? The pedigree thing is not really a concern, but we don't want to pay £200 for something if they are ripping us off.

Any advice much appreciated.

Thanks

No papers just means the pups aren't KC regd., which in itself isn't a problem if you're not planning on showing.

What I would worry about, assuming you've ruled out puppy farming, is the hips and elbows (and eyes if you want to go the whole hog!).

As you may know, labs are prone to hip dysplasia and an element of that is hereditary (the rest down to environment, exercise etc). If a lab gets severe hip dysplasia you can run up humungous vets bills, and surgery may be needed.

Some people hip score their dogs (i.e. have them x rayed to see if they are likely to produce pups with problems), even if they're not KC regd., so it's worth asking if the parents were hip scored, and what the results were.

Personally I wouldn't buy a lab pup whose parents hadn't been hip & elbow scored, but of course it's up to you

HTH

Was going to say exactly what Bella said, but as she has said it so well, won't bother.

And, IMO £200 isn't much for a lab pup these days. V cheap, and I would want to know why. And I'd want to see the father too.

Yes, £200 is cheap. Round here, non-reg ones are £350 or so.

I think it's worth paying a bit more for hip scoring, because it also encourages breeders to score their dogs and so the dysplasia (hopefully) will become rarer.

Good luck anyway

hi we got a lab puppy 2 years ago now. she hasnt got any papers but is absolutely fantastic... the best dog for the children by far. she doesnt have any problems atall with her hips.
whereas my mums friend got brought a lab puppy by her boyfriend with all papers and he has got really bad hip displacia. its just one of those things you cant plan for...

buying one without papers if your not planning on showing him or her really should not be a ploblem..

We have a 'lab' who (according to her first owners - we are her second owners as she was rehomed) was bought as a full-breed lab, with no papers...but as she has grown it is obvious she is not all lab, (vet thinks she is half poodle). She is gorgeous and has a great temprament but looks like a lab with curly hair!
So if you really really want a true lab it might be worth paying more for one with papers!