Advice needed - KC registration

[TheFirstLady]

My 75-year-old mother who hasn't owned a dog for 25 years has told me she is buying a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - she is picking it up next weekend. Apparently its mother is KC registered but the puppies are not.
I did some online research and it looks like there is no good reason not to register the puppers (breeder cited cost) unless the breeder has something to hide. Is this correct? Specifically, I am worried about the potential health problems cavs tend to have, and suspect that an unregistered puppy might have a family history of mitral valve disease. My mum is on a low income and I doubt she has factored major vet bills into her thinking.
I am v concerned about my mum getting a puppy anyway, as I don't think she is really prepared for the work involved, but would appreciate some advice about what she should be looking out for as she is determined to go ahead.

I should think the author of the research has affiliation to the KC! King Charles Spaniels have lots of health problems due their breeding anyway....stay clear and go for a mongrel.

That's all very well, Scurryfunge, but how do I get that through to my mum? I know Cav's have health probs, but I need to give her hard facts or she won't listen to me.

Does your mum know anyone who owns a dog that she can compare it to? - ie. walking, feeding, vets bills, etc. You might be able to find a more suitable breed and make the comparison for her. Can your mum afford pet insurance also? (plus excess).What does she know about the people she is buying it from - she needs to ask all the usual questions and see the puppy with the mother. She needs to make an asessment of the owners and the conditions and where and how did they advertise. A responsible breeder will check out your mother's ability to look after this animal as much as she checks them out.

There is no good reason not to KC register, IMO. It costs £12 per puppy, so not a lot. It could well be a welfare issue, the bitch may be too old to breed from, too young to breed from, have had too many litters or maybe the stud dog is not KC registered. KC registration isn't the be all and end all, but I have yet to find someone who breeds a KC registerable breed who doesn't KC register, do so for any good reason.

Another concern is that is is doubtful that someone who hasn't bothered to KC reg. due to 'cost' has done the needed and expensive health testing cavs require. It's extensie to ensure healthy pups, as they are a particularly healthy breed. If health tests aren't done, your Mum could end up with a puppy that needs expensive vet care that won't be covered by insurance, or a very sick pup that dies at a young age.

If your Mum really wants a cav, she could try the breed rescue or maybe find a more responsible breeder? Perhaps if you suggest things in a way where she could maybe get a dog, but from a better source and be more responsible about it, she may be more open to that?

OK, well I have spoken to her. This puppy, it turns out is significantly cheaper than normal - £250 instead of £400-500, which I believe is the usual cost of a CKC puppy. Is this something to worry about? I have tried to explain the potential health probs that a puppy like this might have, and suggested that she call a vet for advice and insist on seeing the parents health certs. I hope she will. Turns out she hadn't thought about vets, had no idea that dogs need annual jabs and check ups, hasn't considered pet insurance.... oh, and she has already paid a deposit. The breeder isn't a KC member either - should he be?
Where's the bangs head against wall emoticon when you need it?

I can almost guarantee if this breeder isn't registering the puppies with the KC then she hasn't had any health testing done either. It doesn't mean any pups will definately have bad health, but it does not do anything to help promote responsible breeding either. You may find it easier to talk to her about going elsewhere for the good of the breed rather than the "good of the pup" - her arguement at this point likely to be that the pup needs a home still! However, the more people who take that sort of attitude with indiscriminate breeders and litters, the more it encourages them to do it again.
One other possible reason she may not have done the KC registration is that there may have been endorsements on her bitch to stop her registering any puppies. The original breeder can put this on at the time of first registration of the pups, and can lift it at their discretion later on if an owner chooses to have a litter. The aim is to minimise people having "just one litter" and not thinking about breeding for health, or worse still the people who buy a dog just to use for puppy farming, litter after litter

If she doesn't listen to reason and still goes ahead please make sure she gets it insured asap with a good company such as petplan with a "cover for life" type of policy. At least then if something should cost money in the future she can do the best for the dog re veterinary care. Do read the smallprint on any policy carefully to ensure what is covered and from when.