Should we be provided the KC names of a puppy's parents before taking the puppy home?

[Redheadedwoman]

This really. We've been in contact with a breeder and we're planning to go and visit and view the puppy next week. We've been told that the puppy will be KC registered and that both the parent's are registered and have been fully health checked. They're not close to us so I can't go and look at the paperwork easily so I've asked for the KC names of the parents before we go so that I can check this against the KC health records but the breeder will not provide the KC names of the parents to me beforehand. This is ringing alarm bells as I feel they're trying to hide something but wanted to check if that is indeed normal practice.

One thing you cou”d do is join any fb breed groups and ask if people know the breeder (obviously they might be in the group so tread carefully).

Can you say what breed? Have you seen pup & parents yet?

Good advice @Whitney168 - I'm so conscious of puppy farms and unscrupulous breeders that I didn't want to be unfairly suspicious of something that is in the realms of reasonable behaviour. I'm going to do a bit more digging and see if I can find anything out in the breed groups @CoffeeBoy.

Haven't visited in person yet @beachhutenvy. It's a Tibetan Terrier.

Lots of puppy farm activity around Norfolk. You have to be really quite vigilant. The breeder we bought our pup from was happy to pass on "COPY" stamped duplicates of all of the official documentation. Contact information of the studs owners so that we could verify authenticity. Our breeder was more than happy to answer questions. I'd be wary of someone that couldn't stand up to mild scrutiny on health and well being of a littler.

Oh my friend has a Tibetan terrier from Norfolk, do you want to message me,

She knows lots of Tibetan breeders.

Yes exactly, once you've got talking and arranging a viewing there's no reason for them to be withholding it.

and even said it was KC advice not to give this information out and that not all tests are held by the KC now

^This is big time BS!

It's actually the Kennel Club that offers the DNA testing. And only vets appoved by them are able to do the eye testing... and take the x-ray for hip/ elbow scoring. X-rays are then send off to their (KC) vet.

Oh lovely breed. I know someone who got a ridgeback from nearby and it had all the hall marks of a puppy farm 😞

Is this in Kirstead, @Redheadedwoman?

@Whitney168 yes.....

@CoffeeBoy yes may do, thanks for the offer.

Though sounds like @Whitney168 may know of them.

@Redheadedwoman I've sent you a PM ...

You are being sensible in trying to gain info but as other posters have said already some breeders are wary of providing KC reg names as they can be used to fraudulently regsiter other litters.

I would go and see the litter with an open mind, remember a good breeder will also want to check you out when you visit to check you are suitable to allow one of their puppies to go to.

If the breeder will not provide the details when you visit, then I would ask the question why.

In the meantime I would check with the TT breed societies, some hold lists of litters available and speaking to them could confirm the breeder is a reputable one, secondly see if you can find out the breeders affix - you have their name and where they live, the affix should not be too difficult to find (if they have one). Once you have that the health check finder on the KC you are able to search just on the affix - all the dogs with it in their name who have been health tested should appear in the results.

Finally, others have said you should be able to see the dam and the sire, for many breeders they will not own the sire so he is unlikley to be at the breeders home.

Weird how link title says boy but its a girl in the advert. Available due to timewaster?

You can. On the KC activity register. My rescue mongrel was on it. She also had a warrant as she won quite a bit in agility. Dogs who compete in KC events have to be registered either on the breed or activity register.

No, I don’t know them at all, not my breed. All the following is based on my general dog breeding knowledge.

A quick Google would suggest that they probably have quite a lot of litters (adverts for puppies of several different ages on Pets4Homes) and are breeding purely for the pet market. No kennel name, it would seem. Can’t really see why they would be so protective of names on that basis.

Lots of talk of health testing but no details. Again, it may be that they are health tested - which is a very different thing to vet checked - or it may be that they are assuming they can bluff to their chosen market.

Whether they are being genuinely cagey on details of parents because they are cautious people, or whether they would prefer you not to be looking up that they have four litters from every bitch and then move them on, who knows? 🤷‍♀️

I don’t know if this will be your first Tibetan, but they are not always the easiest breed. I would personally be more inclined to find a show breeder who is a bit more open and can demonstrate good temperaments.

Personally if any dog or litter is registered on Pets4home I would look elsewhere. Is the litter detailed on the KC litter register?

After looking at their website I’d agree with @Whitney168 they may not be a puppy farm but it comes across like a backyard breeder. Whenever I’ve bought a pedigree puppy the breeders website openly boasts about the parents names.

the photo of mum with puppy…..why only one photo with one puppy? I’d expect to see photos with the whole litter, from a younger age and suckling.

There are litters on the KC website - www.thekennelclub.org.uk/search/find-a-puppy/?Breeds=Tibetan+Terrier&Location=&Distance=15&ActiveCertifiedBreeder=False&MaleDogs=False&FemaleDogs=False&HealthTested=False&TotalResults=0&SortNearest=False&SearchRescueClubs=False&GeneralRescueClubs=False

We were given the info beforehand but after having paid the deposit. I know it’s a long trip but this is a huge investment in time and money you’re undertaking. My dog is from NI and we’re in Scotland but went three times to meet the parents, to meet/ work out which puppy would be the best fit for the dog and the family and then again to collect.

And none of the photos scream “raised in a family home” to me. Some on concrete, one looks on sand? One in front of some sort of fake background (maybe they’re trying to look professional).

At the moment it is taking the KC ages and ages to process puppies so it could easily be possible that the puppies are ready to leave the breeders before KC has issued the paperwork for the puppies. In November it was taking 10 weeks to get the paperwork through so add on Christmas and it may be longer.

However you should be able to see health details and pedigree of the parents if KC registered.

It is very common for breeders not to give out KC names until an agreement has been made with the new owners for many reasons.