Is this normal during puppy search??

[Amkotbj]

We are currently looking for a cockapoo puppy and have been to 2 houses where the puppies and owners seem nice enough however the smell of them is almost unbearable. It’s a mixture of wee and pop which I assume is normal but I want to know if should I expect from a decent seller to present the puppies not literally sticking of poo and wee.
I can understand it’s difficult when there Are 6-7 of together but feel if it was me trying to sell animals I would make sure when people come around they don’t feel they can’t cuddle them as they smell so bad??

Agree with above - clean dry and smelling of biscuits!
Have a look on the Kennel Club website, they have a 'getting a dog - buying a dog' section with loads of info you need on how to find a responsible breeder, list of questions to ask etc. Dont be afraid of being intrusive or asking too many questions, a good breeder will be happy to answer as they will want the pup to go to someone whose done their research. You can find breeders in your area too.

Not normal

Those were 100% puppy farmers worth reporting to trading standards.

I went to see a puppy who absolutely stank - I walked away.

Not normal.
I would expect a ‘dog’ smell, depending on the breed. But not the type of smell you’ve described.
Going with KC assured breeders is a good start who may then put you on the list for other breeders they have been in contact with, if they don’t have a litter available.
I’d also try to see other relatives apart from the mother. We were able to see several relatives of our dog who were all healthy, good natured and well looked after.

Urgh no. There should not be a smell.

Cost will also be a guide. How much were these people charging??

The pup I went to see was KC registered and cost a bit more than average. Because of the fact that the pup was advertised on the Kennel Club website and not on Gumtree I thought I had found a good breeder. There were only 2 pups left and the smell was awful.

@mrsfeatherbottom, congratulations you lucky thing! I had a Wheaten years ago - fantastic little dogs. We got ours after waiting 18 months on the Breed Club’s Puppy Register and then going through a really comprehensive assessment by the breeder to see if she approved of us, which thankfully she did.

I would say the only downside to them is coat care, as they do need a lot, even with regular groomer visits they will need to be brushed and combed out daily, as although they don’t shed, the coat tangles easily and will felt and be painful really quickly if not properly maintained. The British coat also soaks up water like cotton wool, which can be a pain to deal with. The breed club used to sell a video and run a course on grooming/trimming your own dog, which I did and that made it so much easier.

Contrary to popular belief (a lot of people think they are just batshit crazy hooligans) they are smart little cookies who respond well to positive training. Mine loved to train, she did heelwork to music, agility and obedience, plus loved learning all manner of tricks. She was also loved by everybody she met and an absolute tart who would happily abandon me in a heartbeat to be adored by her fans. My PIL’s used to beg us to let her go caravanning with them as she was always the belle of the campsite and people would constantly ask where she was if she didn’t go with them.

We lost her when she was 14 and a half. Still miss her and could never have another, as it would be so hard to have a similar looking dog that wasn’t her.

OP, our Wheaten was the only dog we’ve ever bought (the rest have been rescues). She was from a large litter and the breeders house was immaculate and smelt super fresh and clean. All pups were clean, lively and happy, as was Mum. We saw the whelping/bedding area, plus where they were in their playpen (with lots of toys and different surfaces to walk on and climb through etc) as well as most of the downstairs of the house, as we walked through to see them, no dirt or smell anywhere. Even after we’d been approved, the breeder went through another massive questionnaire with us on our first visit to see the puppies and had a very strict contract and whole puppy booklet and pack telling us how to take care of her when we first brought her home. Plus of course lifetime back-up and if anything ever happened, our pup was to go back to her.

As I say, that is my only experience with a breeder vs rescue to date, but I would always expect similar if I was to get another pedigree breed.(Which we are planning to do next time, in fact we are already in contact with the breeder and have been for over a year now, despite not being ready for a pup yet.)

[quote PermanentlyDizzy]@mrsfeatherbottom, congratulations you lucky thing! I had a Wheaten years ago - fantastic little dogs. We got ours after waiting 18 months on the Breed Club’s Puppy Register and then going through a really comprehensive assessment by the breeder to see if she approved of us, which thankfully she did.

I would say the only downside to them is coat care, as they do need a lot, even with regular groomer visits they will need to be brushed and combed out daily, as although they don’t shed, the coat tangles easily and will felt and be painful really quickly if not properly maintained. The British coat also soaks up water like cotton wool, which can be a pain to deal with. The breed club used to sell a video and run a course on grooming/trimming your own dog, which I did and that made it so much easier.

Contrary to popular belief (a lot of people think they are just batshit crazy hooligans) they are smart little cookies who respond well to positive training. Mine loved to train, she did heelwork to music, agility and obedience, plus loved learning all manner of tricks. She was also loved by everybody she met and an absolute tart who would happily abandon me in a heartbeat to be adored by her fans. My PIL’s used to beg us to let her go caravanning with them as she was always the belle of the campsite and people would constantly ask where she was if she didn’t go with them.

We lost her when she was 14 and a half. Still miss her and could never have another, as it would be so hard to have a similar looking dog that wasn’t her.

OP, our Wheaten was the only dog we’ve ever bought (the rest have been rescues). She was from a large litter and the breeders house was immaculate and smelt super fresh and clean. All pups were clean, lively and happy, as was Mum. We saw the whelping/bedding area, plus where they were in their playpen (with lots of toys and different surfaces to walk on and climb through etc) as well as most of the downstairs of the house, as we walked through to see them, no dirt or smell anywhere. Even after we’d been approved, the breeder went through another massive questionnaire with us on our first visit to see the puppies and had a very strict contract and whole puppy booklet and pack telling us how to take care of her when we first brought her home. Plus of course lifetime back-up and if anything ever happened, our pup was to go back to her.

As I say, that is my only experience with a breeder vs rescue to date, but I would always expect similar if I was to get another pedigree breed.(Which we are planning to do next time, in fact we are already in contact with the breeder and have been for over a year now, despite not being ready for a pup yet.)[/quote]
That's good to know. We're getting an Irish coat but I'm fully prepared to do daily grooming. We've been on the waiting list since last summer so will hopefully have a pup in the New Year! I'm very excited. Such a fab breed.

@mrsfeatherbottom I always said if we ever had another we’d have an Irish coat. The British and American coats are hard work and the Irish coat dogs I’ve met have all had beautiful curls. We once met an Irish coat on the beach in Ireland and they instantly seemed to recognise each other, it was lovely to watch. My girl was all tangled and bedraggled, but the Irish coated dog still looked like a cute scamp.

I used to love grooming my girl and she was such a poser she loved prancing around looking pretty afterwards! . She absolutely hated being wet or dirty, such a princess! I know, for some people, that much coat care would be a dealbreaker though.

I’m old now and have a lot more on my plate, so we are going the other way this time - first every toy breed and single coated. It’s going to be a very different experience this time around, after two hulking great Lurchers.

What about an Australian labradoodle from one of the legit UK breeders (you'll have to wait mind and be vetted for suitable owner status)....

OP, if you'd be willing to give your general location I'm a tad obsessed with searching breeders and I would love to have a look and post back with breeders seemingly reputable (testing done, show results and litters expected soon with no first come first served basis).

When we got our puppy the place did not smell at all, there were 3 puppies and the mum and they were all clean and didn't smell bad. They had 2 other dogs outside who were clean and not smelly and their outside area was clean too.