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The doghouse

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Original poster

Breeder advertising more puppies

56 replies

CactusPink · 14/03/2022 13:49

We put down a deposit on a puppy a few weeks ago. Everything checked out ok, Kennel Club registered. The house is lovely and Mum was perfect.
This is their first time breeding this breed. They mentioned they also have another breed of dog but nothing about breeding those.
DH went to message the breeder to ask for an updated picture because they’ve not sent us any since we saw puppy. Now they are also advertising puppies of the other breed too.
Should I be worried?

OP posts:
bunnygeek · 14/03/2022 15:21

Hmm, it is unusual for reputable breeders of a particular breed to have two litters from two bitches at the same time. Especially in the same household. Expensive, tricky and messy. Unless you're a puppy farm and just using sheds out back instead :( they can be very tricksy about hiding this fact.

Are they licenced breeders? The licence just means they're allowed to breed and sell more than three litters a year, but doesn't mean anything for welfare.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 14/03/2022 16:01

Kennel Club registered sadly doesn't really mean much in terms of whether a breeder is decent or not.

Having two litters of different breeds would definitely be a red flag for me.

How old was the puppy when you met it? Are you sure the mum you met was the actual mother to the pups - eg. did you see her feeding, did she have swollen teats etc?

QuebecBagnet · 14/03/2022 16:09

I bought a puppy from a KC breeder years ago. Highly respected, won crufts several times. In fact she’s just won best of breed again. I can hand on heart say she was running a puppy farm, still is. She bred 3 different breeds of dogs, had multiple bitches. Employed full time kennel staff and the dogs were all in outbuildings. But great pedigrees.

So I now set no store in being KC registered. But I guess if it’s just two litters and you have been and happy that they were in the house, etc maybe it’s an ok set up. Are you confident that the mum and puppies hadn’t just been moved into the house for a viewing?

Original poster
CactusPink · 14/03/2022 16:35

We saw Mum first and then the puppies. They only brought three girls in because we know we want a girl and the others were reserved.
They are liscenced yes. Puppy was 3 weeks old when we met her.

OP posts:
fairylightsandwaxmelts · 14/03/2022 16:49

Hmm - why wasn't mum with her pups at such a young age?

Are you sure mum was actually mum?

QuebecBagnet · 14/03/2022 16:54

At 3 weeks I’d have expected all the puppies to be with their mum, regardless of the fact some had been reserved. When you say “brought in” where were they brought in from? Have you googled the breeder?

Original poster
CactusPink · 14/03/2022 17:08

There are 11 puppies in the litter so a lot to carry through. They brought them in from the kitchen and we were in the lounge.
I suppose you can never be certain that she was the Mum but no reason to believe otherwise?
Puppy is a golden retriever so big dogs I don’t think you could just have them in sheds out of the back.

OP posts:
fairylightsandwaxmelts · 14/03/2022 17:12

At three weeks of age I'd be expecting to view mum in the whelping area with all her puppies, tbh. I find it very strange that they were all "brought through" for you to view like that.

I'd want to see where the mum and pups were sleeping and what the whelping area was like, and what all the litter looked like - as well as how they all interacted with mum (and vice versa).

Wolfiefan · 14/03/2022 17:12

Well they could. How many dogs do they have. How many litters has bitch had. Where did you find them.

theemmadilemma · 14/03/2022 17:16

I'd be expecting regular video updates showing pups with Mum in the house. We did one breeding and knew enough to do that. It's standard to see them together and receive regular updates once you've put a deposit down. I mean this is no small purchase!

Floralnomad · 14/03/2022 17:17

Sounds extremely odd to me , I would have thought the norm would be to show the whole litter with the mum in whatever room they are in and just point out which pups were available . What is the other breed they are advertising ?

theemmadilemma · 14/03/2022 17:17

Videos in whelpping area, in house etc. That should be no issue to provide.

vjg13 · 14/03/2022 17:21

I think it sounds really suspect. The fact that you couldn't see the Mum with the puppies, doubt that the dog you saw was the Mum.

theemmadilemma · 14/03/2022 17:22

Unscrupulous dealers often separate the puppy or kitten from their family. You should see the animal interacting with its mother and siblings. You should also be able to see and handle the rest of the litter.
If you are given the chance to buy your pet without seeing the mother, or where it was raised, it suggests that it was reared in a low-welfare setting like a puppy farm.

From: getyourpetsafely.campaign.gov.uk/#visit

It's not seeing them together in the whelping area I don't like here...

OurChristmasMiracle · 14/03/2022 17:28

I would put money on it being a puppy farm or similar tbh. Mum separated from pups and not with their siblings it definitely feels off. There is plenty of ways to distinguish which puppies are reserved and male/female. One being different coloured collars with a list. So blue collar- boy- available.
Red collar- boy- deposit paid

To me it sounds fishy

Original poster
CactusPink · 14/03/2022 17:47

I can’t really Google the breeder because it was from pets4homes so just have the name. I’ve just google searched one of the pictures and they are also advertising on gumtree but I guess that’s no different?
It was a beautiful, very grand house. They were lovely people and have children. I just can’t see it being a puppy farm.
I am a bit apprehensive now though because of the second litter and also they haven’t sent us any photos or anything. But now I know they have 2 litters at once I imagine they are very busy.

OP posts:
Gowithme · 14/03/2022 17:49

Doesn't sound great. Where were the puppies brought in from? Why didn't you go and see them and mum in situ?

QuebecBagnet · 14/03/2022 17:52

But why couldn’t you go through to the kitchen? That would be more normal? Seems odd to me. The kennels could have been at another address and the bitch and puppies just brought to the house for your viewing.

QuebecBagnet · 14/03/2022 17:52

Does the kennel club not have their certified breeders on their website? Have you checked there?

tabulahrasa · 14/03/2022 18:00

Google the phone number... that’ll show up past ads as well.

Original poster
CactusPink · 14/03/2022 18:01

I don’t know why we didn’t see them in the kitchen. It does sound silly now but we were looking at mum and then when we held the gorgeous puppies it was hard to think of anything else.
I’ll look on the kennel club website now.

OP posts:
Nomoreusernames1244 · 14/03/2022 18:08

I can’t really Google the breeder because it was from pets4homes so just have the name. I’ve just google searched one of the pictures and they are also advertising on gumtree but I guess that’s no different?

First big red flag there. Anyone advertising on pets4homes/gumtree etc are more likely to be puppy farms or for profit.

Good breeders usually won’t breed unless they know they have homes for the pups beforehand, so they rarely advertise.

Rewritethestars1 · 14/03/2022 18:13

Im a golden owner and I'm friends with a golden breeder who is outstanding. Id be worried. You should be getting regular updates, vids of the whelping area, seeing mum with pups, it would be obvious if the dog you saw had just had pups by the size of her teats, good breaders are open, honest and normally have Facebook groups and websites. You should meet pups with mum and see them feeding etc
pets 4 homes is a awful site. Goid breeders do not advertise on pets 4 homes or gumtree. Good breeders of goldens have extensive waiting lists. You should not be able to ring up and get a pup. Most are years long.
Have you seen all mums health checks, hip, elbow and eye certificates? This is a minimum.

Rewritethestars1 · 14/03/2022 18:16

Also to add the breeders will do checks on you too. Have they?

vjg13 · 14/03/2022 18:18

@CactusPink

I can’t really Google the breeder because it was from pets4homes so just have the name. I’ve just google searched one of the pictures and they are also advertising on gumtree but I guess that’s no different? It was a beautiful, very grand house. They were lovely people and have children. I just can’t see it being a puppy farm. I am a bit apprehensive now though because of the second litter and also they haven’t sent us any photos or anything. But now I know they have 2 litters at once I imagine they are very busy.
The house was "big and grand" probably maybe puppy farming is incredibly lucrative? Hmm