Puppy viewing tomorrow!

[McFly]

Hi there and in answer to your question a good breeder will produce health certificates for eyes, kidneys (FN) and hip scoring without any question,  of both parents .
When we saw prospective buyers they already knew what our girls result were from the kennel club online results along with dads . You should be able to check online from the pedigree registration numbers from the breeder and these results are  important when we invest in a little puppy we want to grow up healthy as it's a long time they live for and deserve our care and anything we can do to prevent any inherited problems should be safeguarded . As you say you will get an idea when you see them although you don't say how old the litters are . It's like that programme location location location . It's research research and research again . I found it so hard when we looked and turned down pups from litters we waited over a yeAr for lottie
as so many not had right testing for us ..
The ladies are quite right in regards to visiting one litter after another ,puppies pick up infections so easily and it only takes a small amount of bacteria to start the ball rolling . A bit like babies they need time to build an immune system and I personally would have not allowed a visit from a prospective buyer who had visited another litter the same day .. Sorry it sounds so contrite but it's not worth the risk for me . Good luck.

Hi Penguin87,

Many thanks for that post, some very helpful information there for me.

[Snoopy]

My last litter of puppies contracted conjuctivitis and I believe it was from some potential puppy buyers who, after they had come into the house and picked up the puppies for a cuddle, told me they had already viewed a litter that morning.

[Jane S]

Must say I'm disappointed with the dismissing of experienced breeders' advice on this thread. McFly, if you knew the hard work and devotion a good breeder gives to their litters, you would not dismiss their worries - you'd take them on board and realise we are doing our best for our puppies. We are being sensibly cautious not "over protective" and the concerns we have are well-known, not something we've made up.

For other potential puppy buyers who read this thread, like Penguin87 says, it's a good idea to do as much research as possible before you even get to the stage of visiting a litter - you can ask all your questions, check health test results beforehand and get a feel for a breeder before you visit (and of course they will do the same and ask as much about you too). That way you're more likely to find a good breeder and get to know them before a visit, thus eliminating the need to visit multiple litters to compare breeders.

Hope you find what you're looking for anyway McFly I've just noticed you're in N Ireland where it is not so easy to find puppies from health tested parents but good luck anyway.

[LottieLu]

I'm not a breeder but have to just say that if I were looking to purchase a puppy I would far rather that a breeder was taking every possible precaution to ensure that the pups were healthy and happy than worrying about one being pedantic. I'd take it as a positive that every thought was being given to the pups welfare and that a more laid back approach may not be in the either the pups or any potential owners best interests.

And if the breeder one visits first is not so cautious it'll be the second breeder who suffers and any subsequent unsuspecting purchasers of those pups whether that be you me or others. It that may not even be apparent at the point that pup is taken home that the pup is poorly.  Seems a no brainer to me. I'd not be reading pedantic, I'd be reading it as a positive sign.

[Neon]

Just want to wish you good luck but also would like to say when we visited Toby's litter last year I asked the breeder if she wanted us to wash our hands but pointed out to her that we had not just come from viewing another litter (we'd come straight from home and washed before we left).  If we had been to see another litter first, I wouldn't have gone in to see them without being able to wash my hands first.  Puppies are very susceptible to infection and every care needs to be taken to safeguard their health.

[Sara750S]

I made my mind up the second I saw Toby's mum Lilly! He is as beautiful as she is. 

[LinziS]

When we went to view our puppy the breeder asked us to remove our outdoor jackets....and supplied us with hand sanitiser before the pup was even introduced. We were happy to do so as i had another cocker at home and would have felt awful if i had introduced any infections to a litter of tiny pups unintentionally.
Breeders put a lot of effort into ensuring that they provide the best possible healthy pup to new owners ..and quite rightly so

[bajoleth]

When I viewed Belle I had to stand in a bowl with a small amount of special disinfectant in before I walked into the 'play area' as they were outside in a pen, it was playtime , and I had to use handrub on my hands and put on a disposable apron, I was a bit bemused at the time but it left the impression that they cared enough about the pups to bother with the precautions. I have since learned how suseptable (sp) young pups can be and they were wise to take such measures. I would be put off if no measures to protect the pups were taken.
Good luck in your search by the way

[McFly]

I am only viewing two pups from the same breeder today, so there's no worry regarding passing on any infections.  I will be sure to wash my hands before going in, I have hand sanitiser in my car anyway from spending time on sites/farms for my job.  

A couple of things I have considered after speaking to a friend this morning, I'm out of the country the first week of March, so I have been told to postpone getting a pup until I return, as the first couple of months are crucial for bonding.  Otherwise I would have been leaving the pup in the care of my parents for a week - would that be a bad idea?

In addition, the pups I am viewing today are 20 weeks old - the breeder wouldn't sell them in the run up to Xmas, so he has ended up keeping them a little longer than normal.  Are there are any drawbacks of taking a dog of that age?  Could there be additional separation issues from its mother?

I will update the post later - thanks for all the advise thus far.

[lynnruby]

We were also suitably disinfected when we went to view Ruby. I was actually quite impressed by this as it gave a clear message that the breeder was doing her best to make sure her pups were kept healthy.

[JeffandAnnie]

Otherwise I would have been leaving the pup in the car of my parents for a week - would that be a bad idea?

Assume you mean care  I think a 20 week old pup would have lots of advantages - basic training done, jabs etc so able to take for walks straight away. If you got a 20 week old pup now and could perhaps leave it with your parents for a day then overnight then I would have thought that would be fine. However, if you're looking to get an 8 week pup it'd probably be best to wait until after your trip.

[McFly]

Otherwise I would have been leaving the pup in the car of my parents for a week - would that be a bad idea?

Assume you mean care  I think a 20 week old pup would have lots of advantages - basic training done, jabs etc so able to take for walks straight away. If you got a 20 week old pup now and could perhaps leave it with your parents for a day then overnight then I would have thought that would be fine. However, if you're looking to get an 8 week pup it'd probably be best to wait until after your trip.

I'm not at all bothered regarding the age so long as I'm not taking on something that will be harder work than a younger pup, and going by your post, it sounds like it may be a good thing! 

[Neon]

I'm not at all bothered regarding the age so long as I'm not taking on something that will be harder work than a younger pup

Sorry, had to smile at that    Personally, nothing is harder work than a very young pup.  Having an older puppy could have more advantages.  

[Bluebell]

My main concern with a pup that age, would be that he/she has been properly socialised - a confident, friendly puppy, able to cope with all that life can offer. If not, I would leave well alone
Best of luck with your viewing

[Jane S]

My main concern with a pup that age, would be that he/she has been properly socialised - a confident, friendly puppy, able to cope with all that life can offer. If not, I would leave well alone
Best of luck with your viewing

Yes I agree - it depends on how much socialising the breeder has done (especially if the pups are kennelled rather than living inside the home). At 20 weeks, if the pup is a "house pup", he should be making progress in toilet training and lead training etc which could work well for the new owner but not if he's not been anywhere yet, not seen a lead etc.