I went to view a litter of Chocolate Labrador's a couple of weeks ago. The bitch looked surprisingly well, given she had just given birth and brought up 9 pups. I queried this with the breeder who explained it away by saying that the pups had to be taken from her at 2 weeks due to mastitis and were fed on Webbox from 2 weeks. The pups were pretty active but looked underweight.

I wasn't convinced, so went with my gut feeling and walked away. Another advert from the same breeder has just appeared, this time showing a mixed litter of Chocolate's and Golden's. All the pups are the same age. I can only assume that this breeder is buying pups from elsewhere and selling them on as his own dogs litter. Is this sort of thing still prevalent?

shocking practice to attempt to deceive prospective owners, well spotted.

they should be reported.

Iain

there is no way the poor dog has popped out 2 litters in as many weeks (unless they have another breeding bitch there )

so it sounds like a puppy farming scenario... probably litters brought in from some hell hole into a more sociable environment for sale

definitely report them to RSPCA and police

I have come across this before..... You ' the buyer ' will go and view a healthy mother and pups and if know no better or having your ear twisted by a child ( which is why breeders always want you to fetch your children ) or maybe you have travelled miles will purchase a pup of your choice blissfully unaware that in the old cow shed around the back out of sight there will more than likely be several breeding bitches in awful conditions popping out litters.

REPORT IT. if you're wrong the breeder has nothing to fear from a visit, If you're right there's one scum out the way.

May I also add that 99% of breeders I have dealt with are good decent people. If it wasn't so bad it'd be funny.

�
Freelander 2 HSE auto 2014 ( Florrie ) ..... Try again.
Freelander 2 GS 2012...... Gone.

You could also report it to the local council. I am sure there are restriction on the number of breeding bitches keep without a licence. It may also apply to the number of litters sold.

Thanks for the replies and advice. There were two bitches but one was too young to breed with. The photos in the second advert included some pictures of individual dogs from the all chocolate litter I viewed. The advert suggested they were one litter. Unless she gave birth to 15 pups that is impossible as I saw 9 chocolates, some of which were sold and awaiting collection. I think I'll do as you guys have suggested and report them. They seemed decent people and lived in an expensive property in a nice area. I guess that is the way this type of breeder operates.

I love your name labradorslave, that's how I feel

I'm hunting for a pup to go with my 10yo

I'm ending up looking on champdogs their prices are eye watering but they seem a reasonably legit site, decisions, decisions, still on the waiting list for East Midlands lab rescue, but they have hundreds on their list. 2010 Freelander2 TD4_e GS
--
"Any society, any nation, is judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members -- the last, the least, the littlest."

My lab died just before Christmas. I am only now in a position where I feel I could have another. Champdogs is definitely the best site for health tested dogs. The prices are high though. My last one cost £500. You are now looking at nearly £1000 for low hip and elbow scored parents. Worth every penny though-I was a willing slave to my last one!!

Mines a choccie, going all grey! Going to the lake district for a weeks hiking tomorrow, not sure how many more adventures she will want to go on, but she's gone from being slow n old to puppy like since we fed her glucosamine daily and give her some other stuff to help her joints. 2010 Freelander2 TD4_e GS
--
"Any society, any nation, is judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members -- the last, the least, the littlest."

Our last 2 chocolate labs have been rescue dogs - found abandoned and in a sorry state - both turned into adorable, gentle and well behaved dogs - with no more health issues than previous ones from good breeders. Training them was not a problem.

If you dont want a pup then please consider rescued dogs - there are so many deserving cases out there.


 Jules

im considering a rescue spaniel to compliment/replace my ageing springer. She is 12 now with arthiristis in her back end but still happily plodding on.

Trouble is that I don't want her to feel pushed out if I get another one now so will probably wait until after her time is done.

but it will definitely be a rescue one as I don't have the time or job to deal with a pup now

Spaniels are mad woman down our road has two of them she's forever walking them with wellies on covered in mud as are the dogs she can't tire them out our keep them out of water

even though mine is 12 she still loves the water and will go in any stinking mud bath at the slightest opportunity.... but she hates being showered either with the hose or in the bath !!

she has never been too crazy though, just enough to make it entertaining when she was younger. But both my brothers spaniels are/were mental and so is my mums spaniel.

SYFL2 wrote:

Spaniels are mad woman down our road has two of them she's forever walking them with wellies on covered in mud as are the dogs she can't tire them out our keep them out of water

Got to agree, rescue dogs are the way forward for me next too when my two borders go that's the root I'm taking. If it wasn't so bad it'd be funny.

�
Freelander 2 HSE auto 2014 ( Florrie ) ..... Try again.
Freelander 2 GS 2012...... Gone.