Breeders

[Pupster21]

Hi, we’ve been looking for a puppy for a while now and have found a breeder who has agreed to us going on their waiting list. I’d contacted lots of breeders and hadn’t been happy with either their information or the fact they’d hiked their prices up.
The breeder we’ve found is really supportive, lifelong support, can tell they genuinely care, I’ve been in touch with people who’ve had dogs from them spanning the last 10 years and all positive. The only thing that’s making me question the breeders is that they’re very commercial, 10 litters a year from different bitches. All bitches stay with the family (it’s a large family business so couple, their grown up children, her sister, her parents) after finishing breeding and are very much part of the family. All raised in the home, well socialised etc. Would this put you off or would you see it as a very experience breeder? I’ve seen the breeders feature as experts in books on the breed.

It’s so hard right now to find a good breeder and I’m over questioning everything. Should add we’ve tried for a rescue and aren’t deemed suitable due to ages of children and other pets in the home.

@MisfitNotMissFit no I haven’t, would I just ask breeders for that? We’re looking for a show line or even 50/50 as we are active and able to provide enough stimulation I feel to a 50/50. Some breeders seem to be moving away from the very pale cream show line and mixing lines I’ve found.

They’re all in it for the money. End of!

@avamiah

FrangipaniBlue, Yes I see your point and agree with you but OP isn’t looking to show or breed from what I can gather . However I think it is very important that you should know the background of any pup ( breed ) and see the mother and father if possible .

No I know she isn't planning to show, but my point was that because they mix litters and may have done so in the past there is potential for interbreeding health issues in the OPs pup or in any future pups.

and it's totally unethical, I wouldn't buy from a breeder with such low morals.

I would ask the breeder. Luckily, for me, the whippet website i mentioned before calculates that information for me (I do love it when a plan comes together lol).

If you're not looking to show, then I'd always go with temperament rather than looks, as that's what will benefit your set up in the long run.

Also, in response to a previous poster, I absolutely wouldn't expect to see the sire in every case. A decent breeder might travel hundreds of miles to get a bitch covered by the right stud - again all in the quest for bettering the bloodlines and reducing inbreeding.

FrangipaniBlue,
But not different breeds?
Sorry it’s a long post .

No same breeds and then pick the best out of the various litters and register them as pups to just one bitch. Thereby increasing the "status" of that bitch and allowing any further pups to be sold at a premium.

I think - but feel free to correct me.

MisfitNotMissFit,
I understand what your saying about seeing the Sire but from my experience a reputable breeder would usually own the bitch and the dog and if the dog was from another breeder then for £2.5k for a pup I am sure that the dog would be brought to the kennel were the bitch and pups were .
If not then I would be asking questions and consider other breeders .

I think I have to respectfully disagree on that front. If I travelled to NO (for example) to get my bitch covered by a champion dog, there's no way they would agree (nor would I expect them) to travel back for puppy showings.

In addition, it's fairly unusual (but not unheard of) for a breeder to own both the site and dam.

Having dogs and bitches over a lifetime means ensuring appropriate segregation during the bitches seasons and for most breeders it's a lot simpler to own the bitch and outsource the dog.

And by NO I mean NI 😳

And not to discount your experience- but I've dealt with breeders of GSDs, whippets, Irish Setters etc (not all of them mine, I only deal with the whips) and it's unheard of to expect the sire to be available for puppy viewings.

But I concede, it may be different nowadays with the new wave of cross breeds that are enveloping the nation!

Sorry for the late reply as I’m the first to criticise when posters do this .

MisfitNotMissFit,
I feel like we have taken over the post 🤭but it’s very important that OP gets genuine advice as there are so many “fake” breeders out there .

@Suzi888

They’re all in it for the money. End of!

Just no.

Some are. Some aren't. I know a bloke who imported his working bitch. He bred her a while ago and took her abroad to the stud (stud fee + travel). He'd paid for all the bitch's health tests and had proved her in work and trials (lots of training time, travel and entry fees). She had a small litter and he kept one. I doubt he cleared much at all - he might have covered the value of the puppy he kept.

With a larger litter he might have cleared 4k, for giving up his annual leave and working bloody hard for several weeks and worrying about vetting owners. Which, honestly, I think is fine: he's not wealthy and he breeds superlative dogs, absolute stunners in terms of conformation, temperament and working ability.

Thanks womaninatightspot. A friend actually said the same thing to me - her utterly gorgeous, incredibly gentle lab cross came from a farm mating like yours. But then so many people on here say that puppies that aren't raised in the home are risker. It's a minefield!

OP funnily enough it's a golden retriever we are looking for too. I wonder if the breeder you're talking about is based in Staffordshire. Are you on the Sourcing Reputable Breeders FB page? You can PM the admins directly about the breeder in question and they are incredibly rseponsive.

@Pupster21 I would steer clear. I have a GR and know of a good few reputable breeders, none of which have ten litters in a year and have various 'family members' taking them. Not being raised in a family home rings alarm bells? Where did you find the breeder?

@abeanbaked I found them in a book, the golden retriever handbook and contacted a few breeders who had collaborated on writing the book. The dogs are all raised in a family home. But I agree the number of litters a year is a lot.

@undermycatsthumb I’ve just contacted one of the admins of that page, thanks for the reminder.

@Pupster21 I second what @undermycatsthumb said. Contact the admins. I found my pup through them, they have so much knowledge and experience and wouldn't recommend someone they wouldn't use themselves.

There's a litter of golden retrievers going for £4000 just now, they were £4500 but they had to reduce the price. Same sire as my puppy 🙄 almost four times the price!

Thanks. It just feels so hard at the minute. We’ve been researching for 18 months and feel a bit like the stress of finding the right breeder now is taking away some of the enjoyment. My children are desperate for a dog but obviously we want the right one, a well bred one.

I know the litter you mean abeanbaked as they are local to me. Just crazy crazy prices. Your puppy must be absolutely gorgeous with that Dad! (Do feel free to share pictures )

@MisfitNotMissFit

No same breeds and then pick the best out of the various litters and register them as pups to just one bitch. Thereby increasing the "status" of that bitch and allowing any further pups to be sold at a premium.

I think - but feel free to correct me.

Yes exactly this!

@undermycatsthumb they are very beautiful puppies! The sire owner has made her feelings known about the cost of that litter! It's madness!

Beautiful! I’ve seen that advert too but I’m not willing to pay £4000. How much stimulation do you find a working golden needs? I want to get the balance right, my son will want to be doing lots of training and has mentioned agility for when the dog is old enough.

@Pupster21 lots of mental stimulation definitely but she only gets 5 minutes walking for every month old she is to build it up. She loves scent work and training on a long line. I don't walk her lots though. They're hard work but she's 1 now and for the last few months I have found her to be pretty chill and she curls up beside me on the sofa when we're having down time ❤️

Oh wow abeanbaked she is absolutely beautiful! I really love the darker, slighter look of the working dogs.