Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm looking for a *GREAT* lab breeder but im new to this and have no clue what to look or. There are two questions that come to mind when i think about finding a breeder. How do you know if someones a good breeder? what do you look for?.I mean i don't fancy buying a £400-£500 pup,only to find out later that it has something wrong with it. I would prefer a breeder that specialises in labs and ONLY breeds labs. Does anybody know any of these breeders in london? and if so could you post the number or website here? but if you don't know any,could you please give me any suggestions of what i should look for. A timely reply to this would also be greatly appreciated.sooooo..... THANKS IN ADVANCE!

I can't help you find a breeder in London, but a good breeder cares about their puppies. If a breeder is very selective about who they give their pups to, that's a good sign. Some breeders are extrememly picky about who they let buy a pup from them. A good breeder will also offer to take the puppy back at any time in the dogs life, if for any reason you can't keep it. The pups should be checked by the vet before they are sold.
When choosing a breeder, don't be afraid to ask questions. How old is the mother and father? How many litters have these dogs had? Have there been any health problems in any of the other litters?
Further, I would try contacting groups and associations of that breed. You can look on the internet or even call vets offices to see if they know any lab breeders. You can also go to dog shows in your area and look for Labs. Approach the owner and ask if they breed, or who they got their dog from. Be selective and picky. A good breeder won't have it any other way.

DestanyF

Snoop, sorry I can't help you with a breeder situation in London but I can say a few words about reputable breeders, puppy mills and backyard breeders.

The term "reputable breeder" is not a term to be given to just any breeder. A reputable breeder will take the extra steps that other dog breeders won't. These people will not breed any dog with any known health problems. They will test both dogs for congenital diseases, conditions, etc. e.g. hip dysplasia. They will very carefully look into the genealogy background of the dog. Their goal is to better the breed. They strive to eliminate any genetic problems...and that includes ONLY breeding dogs of excellent temperament.

And, when their puppy becomes available, they will very carefully screen the future owners and will not sell a dog to anyone they find the least bit questionable on the suitability of that person as a future dog owner. They want to know of your ability to care for an animal.

These people know their breed and they make sure all new owners also knows about the dog breed. They will advise them on raising and teaching a puppy and will encourage the new owner to call them with questions.

They also have legal contracts made up for the future dog owner to sign. The owner must agree that if the puppy or dog doesn't work out, that the breeder must be notified first, because he or she will take the dog back. The dog cannot just be given away to just anyone or even worse...given to a shelter.

Plus, if the dog is being purchased as a pet, it will also be in the contract that the dog must be spayed/neutered.

A reputable breeder does not "over-breed" a dog or breed out of greed for money.

And, YES, a reputable breeder will "rescue dogs" and care for them until a suitable home can be found for the dog.

Now, is buying a dog from a reputable breeder better than buying from a pet store....Absolutely!

Is it better to save an animal from a shelter? Absolutely! But, it is also as admirable to rescue a dog from a breeder!!

Animals end up in shelters because of puppy farms and pet stores and very "bad breeding". Bad breeding causes temperament problems and owners do not have the patience to work with the dogs...they would rather not be bothered and have the dog put to sleep. They are in shelters because people don't spay/neuter their dogs.

Ignorant people obtain dogs without knowing anything about the dog breed or if it's personality fits into their family and lifestyle. These people also don't have the patience to train a dog properly...and when the dog hasn't been taught properly... again, off to the shelter the dog goes! We all are quite familiar with the saying,
"There are no bad dogs; only bad owners"!

All the reasons why dogs end up in shelters are headed off by "Reputable Breeders." There will always be people who want to purchase a dog that is show material.... they want a pet....but, a pet that looks like a show dog! And, they want papers, not because they will ever use or need the papers....but, because they can "say their dog has papers".

Now, do I condone this type of thinking? Absolutely not! But, you will never sway the earth's population to change their thinking. People need and are attracted to certain breeds of dogs and will insist on raising a puppy.

Yes, in a perfect world, people would go to shelters and save a great dog! But, we don't live in a perfect world. And, as long as there are people who want a certain dog breed "with papers"....and/or want a show dog....I will always encourage them to purchase a dog from a "Reputable Breeder". Because at least the "Reputable Breeder will take the steps needed to prevent any future unwanted animals from being born. And, above all, "Reputable Breeders" treat dogs with the dignity they deserve!

If I could sway this earth's population of anything....it would be to get our Congress to make puppy farms illegal. That would be the first step of many in trying to keep dogs out of homeless shelters.
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BOB
EMAIL SHBOOM
If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

This is a topic I feel very strongly about and unfortunately, it could cover a whole book probably. Here's just a few things I look for, I'll try not to repeat what others have said:

1. Written health and temperament guarantee until at least 2 years old or more. Ability to see and verify health checks on both parents for hips, eyes, thyroid, heart, whatever is a problem in the breed.
2. Verifiable references from ADULT dog owners from past litters. Puppy owners are just not good enough references.
3. Verifiable references from other dog breeders- doesn't have to be in same breed, but it helps. It shows that the person is diversifying bloodlines, cooperative with other breeders, and active in the dog community.
4. Performance titles in the pedigree- a sound mind as well as body is critical for even a pet dog.
5. Expect to be on a waiting list. Great breeders have puppy owners lined up before breeding their dogs.
6. Your own "gut instincts" about the person. There's a lot to be said about if you feel you trust a person or not who breeds dogs. Not everyone is telling the truth and many go to very extreme measures to cover up cost saving strategies. If you think something isn't quite right, then it may not be. Reckeck references and ask more questions.

Going to dog shows is one place to get a lot of "dirt" about a breeder. Some of it is true, some of it is just slander. Telling the difference, well, that's a bit harder, but once you start asking the "right" questions, you start getting rid of the personal attacks and get to more specific stuff. "Your Purebred Puppy" is a book that has a whole section on choosing a good dog breeder. It might help you out. I hope this helps a bit. I kept it a bit short on purpose, but if you want more, let me know.
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles