| The National Breed Clubs hold a register of breeders who
have pups available.
The following is the most important thing that you need to
read before obtaining a dog
The word "Breed" refers to the type of dog, i.e.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or Poodle.
The word "Pedigree" means a dog whose parents and
lineage are all of the same pedigree breed, i.e. a Cavalier produced purely
from generations of cavaliers on both the mother's (Dam) and father's (sire)
side without contamination from other breeds.
Just about every pedigree breed has health issues identified
with them, but a large number of dogs within the breed will not have those
health issues. You should research health issues for your chosen breed, and
then choose a caring breeder.
Responsible breeders of pedigree dogs follow a code of
ethics, and carry out health checks before breeding to see if the dog is ok to
breed from at that date.
These medical tests can include MRI scanning, along with
heart tests by experienced cardiologists and eye tests by experienced
optometrists – and all of this costs the breeder money.
The examined dogs are all micro chipped, to ensure that the
dog tested is the dog that gets the certificates.
Puppies advertised in your local paper may well be from a
mating where neither dog has been health tested.
The reason why a pedigree dog costs more is due to the
Breed's code of ethics and medical testing. Remember that the breeder will have
to travel some distance to get their dog scanned and tested, as these tests are
not carried out by the local Vet.
Breeders of pedigree dogs who follow the code take great
care in choosing the stud for their bitch, in carrying out the health tests on
the bitch, and even greater care in selecting the potential owner for their
puppies.
If you respond to an advert, and the seller advises that you
can pick it up this afternoon for £xx, then you know that what you are buying
has not come from health tested animals, and the seller does not care about the
puppies or even care about the breed.
A caring breeder will interview you, and ask about your home
environment and life style. If you take offense at these questions then you
clearly are not suited to own a pedigree dog. In return, you should ask the
breeder as many questions as you like. Any breeder who refuses to answer the
most simple questions should be walked away from.
If you go looking for a crossed pedigree breed, such as a
poodle and a Labrador for example, then you will have to consider the health
issues of both breeds. It is doubtful that a mating of two pedigree breeds will
have been health tested to those breed's Code of Ethics, so you do not know
what issues the breeding pair might be passing on to their offspring.
A caring breeder will enter in to a contract with you, and
ask that if something goes wrong or your circumstances change, that you return
the dog to the breeder – even years down the line. Someone who refuses to
consider taking the dog back is probably just a back yard breeder who is out
for profit from their poor dog.
Go here to read more on pedigree breed's health problems
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/308
And
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/glossary/health-tests.aspx
If you are buying from a Breeder whose dogs are registered
with the Kennel Club - then you can check online if the parent dog has been
health tested here
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/mateselect/test/Default.aspx
The Kennel Club has a facility to find a puppy of your breed
choice here
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/psar/
Breed rescue contacts
The West of England rescue covers quite a wide area. It
includes Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and parts of Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.
They are a very hard working band of dedicated people led by our rescue
co-ordinator Miss Gillian Greenall. Helpers are always needed. Gillian has to
cover many miles to collect dogs and if anyone can help in any way she is
always grateful for the offer. If you need to re-home your dog or would like to
give a loving home to one of our rescue dogs please contact.
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