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Original poster

Buying a choc lab but is this legit?

74 replies

BrexitBingoGenerator · 15/07/2019 09:59

Hello everyone,

Firstly, thank you all so much for your earlier advice about cockers. Over the weekend, my husbands colleague found out about our search for a dog and has invited us round to see his litter of choc labs. They obviously look ridiculously cute, I mean - ‘stuff them all in the car and steal them all’ cute.

However, from doing so much reading on here, it seems like there may be some red flags to look out for. I don’t want to risk buying a dog who may suffer health problems or play a part in subjecting the mum dog to harm somehow. Essentially, I’m looking for advice about how not to buy a dog from a dodgy backyard breeder.

Dh says his colleague is lovely and they have been v honest and upfront so far, but then- if the dogs are worth £1000, they would be- wouldn’t they?

Any help or advice is much appreciated!

Thank you all Smile

OP posts:
daisydotandgertie · 15/07/2019 10:05

£1000???

That’s expensive.

What about KC registration papers? Health tests? Pedigree info? There should be all of that available especially at that price.

I’d expect approx £800 for a health tested, well bred but ordinary (or, not a high flying trialling or show dog) lab pup.

Rumboogie · 15/07/2019 10:11

You should make sure the parents have been tested for the common problems - hip and elbow scores for dysplasia, and genetic tests for HNPK, CNM, EIC, prcd-PRA and SD2 to ensure that the puppies are, at least, no more than carriers for any of these, and ideally clear.

Of course, as with any dog, see the mother, ideally both parents, and the pedigree.

If the parents have not been tested, steer clear.

ErrolTheDragon · 15/07/2019 10:14

If the seller can't provide the information then you could be making a very expensive and upsetting mistake.

This guy is may be a backyard breeder rather than a puppy farmer/importer so perhaps not actually evil but unless he really knows what he's doing it's not something to encourage.

SlothMama · 15/07/2019 10:39

Ask them to show you the health test certificates for both parents, you'll also want to look at the hip and elbow scores. For that price I'd expect them to have done full health screening, if they can't produce these documents I'd walk away.

fivedogstofeed · 15/07/2019 10:40

Your DH's colleague is making a quick buck from the family pet by the sound if it.
He may not be an evil person, but unless he can come up with all the tests mentioned above, along with a puppy contract, then he's seriously ill advised and you are taking a big risk and paying for his family holiday

FairfaxAikman · 15/07/2019 10:44

£1000 is expensive- I've seen well bred working labs from champion show lines go for £800-£1000. I'd expect a home bred litter to be £400-£600 and still have had all the tests done.

If they haven't had BOTH parents hips, elbows and PRA tests done then walk away now.

Pipandmum · 15/07/2019 10:46

For that amount of money both parents and the puppies should be registered with a pedigree you should get a copy of, be health tested with clear or low scores for typical health issues of the breed, and had first vaccinations. The breeder should be completely open and happy to show you all the documents. The place of breeding should be clean and spacious, and again the breeder should be happy to show it to you. If not, steer clear.

DrunkenUnicorn · 15/07/2019 10:55

Everything people above have said.

And that is VERY expensive. We’re still in touch with our labs’ breeder and have a few contacts that do very well showing and the gun dog certificate on the side, and they do not sell their puppies (obvious full set of health tests etc) for that much.

Oliversmumsarmy · 15/07/2019 10:56

£1000 for a dog with potential health problems?

I would be looking at dogs trust or a local rehoming centre etc

If you want a puppy then get one from there. It will be a tiny fraction of the price and equally as cute.
However having had a pup I have to tell you it is hard work.

If I was going to get a dog I would get an older one. Really wouldn’t want to go through the puppy stage again.

sillysmiles · 15/07/2019 15:02

Is he a breeder or is this an accidental litter? If it is an accidental litter then no way should it be that expensive as
a) how does he know 100% who the sire is?
b) is the bitch and dog health tested?
c) Are the registered?
d) what about vaccination and microchips?

If he is a breeder who bred on purpose and carefully selected the stud dog for it's lines etc maybe its worth £1000.

But for £1000 you could rescue a lab pup and have money left over to pay for the next few years pet insurance after getting sorted with the kit you'll need.

trippingovertoysinthedark · 15/07/2019 15:05

Rescue centres aren’t for everyone oliver

Monsterdogs · 15/07/2019 15:08

The breeder should have done relevant health tests on parents and properly socialised the pups. Ask the breeder what socialisation they have done with the puppies to different groups of people, animals, noises, etc. If, regarding socialisation, they mention ENS (early neurological stimulation) i would be more willing to trust them.

YetAgainNameChanged · 15/07/2019 15:15

That is really, really expensive. Unless the puppy come from a long line of championship winners I would expect to pay £450 - £600 for a pedigree puppy with full testing done.

sillysmiles · 15/07/2019 15:25

@trippingovertoysinthedark I can see that if you are looking at adopting an adult dog from a difficult background, but if you want a pup as a family pet then a rescue centre should be your first port of call imo.

trippingovertoysinthedark · 15/07/2019 15:48

No it isn’t: rescue centres are pretty notorious for not letting their dogs go to people who work outside of the home and/or have kids.

Original poster
BrexitBingoGenerator · 15/07/2019 15:49

Thank you all so, so much - I am so glad I have been able to find so much wisdom!

I have made a list of the things you’ve all mentioned and have decided that, if there is a missing link somewhere, I am going to pass.
Im any case, I won’t make a decision there and then.

I’m glad that you think this is expensive too- I balked a bit! The thing that worries me most is that he mentioned the price as one of the first pieces of information I needed. From scouring these threads for the past few months, I was expecting him to be much more concerned about my circumstances and the technical information- I am worried that he is just looking to make some fast cash.

Anyway, I will update tomorrow after we have met them all- thank you all once again, honestly I am so grateful Smile

OP posts:
SolitudeAtAltitude · 15/07/2019 15:52

Sounds dodgy, dogs like this are usually spoken for.....

And £1000?! Really?

LolaSmiles · 15/07/2019 15:53

That's quite expensive. Around 750-1000 is would be what I would pay for a pedigree pup with kennel club registration, full health information from both parents, furst set of vaccinations and so on.

Is he a registered breeder? Is this an opportunity litter?

My concern is that he's trying to make a quick buck here without relevant knowledge or due care.

SubisYodrethwhenLarping · 15/07/2019 15:57

Very very expensive unless they are mega champions in which case you can check all of the scores and breeding online

Did he want to check out your home and family? - for safety of the puppy, like outside area fenced in etc, if you work away from the home etc etc

How many puppy are there and how many are left after others have pre reserved them?

GrimDamnFanjo · 15/07/2019 16:50

Labs are wonderful family dogs but unfortunately one with a fair few potential health problems.
Go to the breed club websites and get the latest info on the health tests. They may have local breeders listed too.

Oliversmumsarmy · 16/07/2019 11:54

Rescue centres aren’t for everyone oliver

Why ever not.

The only people I know who refuse to go to a rescue centre are those who think they are a cut above everyone else

Adopted dpup from a rescue centre. Both of us worked but we had someone look after her when we were both out.

adaline · 16/07/2019 13:11

£1000 is a huge amount of money for a lab puppy. Around here, KC pups from working lines with parents who have had all the health tests go for around £700. Why is he charging so much?

And why has he had a litter? Are the parents KC registered? Have they had all the relevant health checks? Have you seen the parents? Does he own both parents (normally a red flag though not always)? Why are there pups left? Most good breeders have names down before the puppies are even born - it's very rare for a good breeder to have a litter that doesn't have homes to go to.

adaline · 16/07/2019 13:13

The only people I know who refuse to go to a rescue centre are those who think they are a cut above everyone else

Lots of us on here have gone to rescues and have been rejected. We looked for months before getting a puppy - we were rejected every single time. We worked full-time, our garden wasn't big enough/secure enough, we lived too close to a main road, we'd never had a dog before....all reasons for not being rehomed to.

Others are rejected due to the ages of their children, because they have other dogs/pets, because they don't have a garden....all sorts of reasons. Not everyone can get a dog through rescue, sadly.

LolaSmiles · 16/07/2019 13:22

The only people I know who refuse to go to a rescue centre are those who think they are a cut above everyone else
Absolute nonsense.

People should make whatever decision about bringing an animal into their home that is right for their circumstances. That might be rescue or new puppy from a reputable breeder. As long as it's not back yard puppy farming then its nobody's business to judge either way.

For what its worth, the only people I've met who go on endlessly about how their pet choice is better than everyone else's are those who are bordering on evangelistic about rescue pets and like to act like anyone else is immoral. Most other people (regardless of how they got their pet) are busy being the best owners they can be and getting on with things.

Wolfiefan · 16/07/2019 13:27

Unfortunately “lovely” seeing people can be BYB. They can be clueless and greedy.
Check for health tests. Do they own both parents? That would make me assume it’s about the money.
Are pups KC reg and endorsed?

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