Worried about the Labrador puppy I am considering buying...?

Question

I have been searching the local Melbourne (AUS) Trading Post for purebred Labrador Puppies and I finally found some that I like.

The only problem is that the description says that only the MOTHER is available for showing. Should I be worried about this because the pups only cost $350 each?

*** I am NOT bargain hunting for my puppy so I am not interested in them because they are cheap - I am actually concerned because of their price.

Just wondering because their parents do not have papers or anything and because the father is not on show, the pups could have any kind of hereditary diseases.

Thanks for all the help.

I was also considering a Lab x Golden Retriever, both parents on view, same description (wormed, vacc, vet checked) but they cost $250 (no papers for either sire or dam) which makes me concerned as well.

Is $250 an acceptable price (if the pups are perfectly healthy) for a purebred Labrador x purebred Golden Retriever?

*** Again, NOT bargain hunting.

Answer 1

People have made some good suggestions so far, including asking who the male was and why you cannot see him. It isn't unusual for breeders to use a male from a different location, but you should still be available to visit him, or at they should at least have some photographs of him.

If the mother dog isn't registered, the breeder probably doesn't have certified hips. In the US, breeders can OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) certify their dogs after 2 years of age that they show good hip conformation. Despite both the parents being OFA certified, it does not necessarily guarantee that their offspring will be free of hip dysplasia, but it's helpful. I'm sure they have some sort of similar certification in AUS.

It's not necessarily a BAD thing that the breeder does not have this sort of certification. Just ask the breeder a lot of questions. I don't know what your vaccination standards are in AUS, but make sure the breeder sounds like they know what they are talking about. In the US, pups get their first shots at about 6-8 weeks of age, usually before coming home from the breeder. Working for a vet clinic, I am frustrated on a daily basis when new pups come in for a check up, and the breeder did not provide the new owner with vaccination information, as in what shot was given, and when.

Regardless of what puppy you choose, there are several things you should ask the breeder:
- Ask the breeder if they plan to vaccinate, with what, and when.
- Ask when the pups were wormed. They should have been wormed by now.
- Ask what sort of food the breeder is feeding. Make sure he isn't feeding a really junky food. That would indicate to me that the owner doesn't really take breeding very seriously.
- Ask if this was a planned breeding and why they chose to breed these two parents.
- Ask how many litters the mom has had, and when the last litter was. Females go into heat about every 6 months. Ideally, she should not have had a litter 6 months ago.

Good luck and congrats in advance on the new pup!

Michelle
CVT

Answer 2

It would be hard. Considering you work, and Labradors are big, active dogs, you can't be sure it'll be happy alone. In an apartment a Labrador is not very well suited. But they are wonderful dogs, and easily trainable. A Labrador can be trained in stay in a house for over 24 hours without going to the bathroom everywhere (my friend did it on a one-day vacation) and puppy pads are options. You should probably move into a another house with more room, but females are smaller than males, and that makes them more suitable companions. However, females go through heat cycles where they are very needy. When you and your wife are at work, dogs also feel vulnerable and like to tear/rip/teeth on things, especially puppies or rescued older dogs. You'll have to make sure they aren't going through the phase unless you don't mind coming home to furniture chewed, tables toppled, and cloths/cloth ripped. All in all, a dog isn't very strongly fitting you currently, especially a Labrador Retriever. You could get a smaller dog, anything other than a Beagle or a Jack Russel (too playful dogs) until you have enough money/want to move into a bigger house. It is also a rental house. To house a big dog, it will cost even more than to rent it currently, and you have to go over everything with the person who is renting the house. You are the renter, not the owner, and therefore it may be difficult to get a big dog into the place. If you've covered it already with the owner, you should be fine on that, but may have to replace any damaged items. My family had to pay for the chunk of a carpet to be removed after our old German Shepherd dog chewed and scratched and tore it all up. Owners don't real well with damage to their property.

Answer 3

This is a little strange that they refuse to show the sire,(Father) or the puppies. Ask them to show you the papers saying that both father and mother are registered dogs. If they aren't both registered buyer beware... bring along a veterinarian to do a check up on the puppy before you buy it, if they refuse to let you have a veterinarian look at the dog on-site, then walk away, you want a healthy purebred dog and for $350 a piece that is a small thing to ask for. Best of luck to you. You might have to pay for the veterinarian to examine the puppy but think of it like this, would you rather be out of $100.00, or $350???

Answer 4

If these dogs are purebred but with no papers, these people are likely breeding pet quality dogs who are on "no breeding" contracts. You should, therefore, be very careful before buying from them. You need to find out if the parents have been tested for hip dysplasia, if the puppies come with a health guarantee. I personally think that $350 is a lot of money for a dog with no papers - basically, if there's no registration, it's a mutt.

If you're seriously interested in one of these puppies, you should ask a lot of questions first and be careful of the temperaments, too.

Answer 5

Papers don't always mean something important....some people have papers on there dogs but they are inbreed. The person should at least have a picture of the father if they don't I would NOT under ANY chances buy a puppy!! Who knows who the father is!! they should have something form the father...a number to the owner of the male, like I said a photo...SOMETHING. If not I would say be VERY worried!! Other than that labs noramlly go for about $300-$500...they might be on the lesser end because of the no papers thing!!

Answer 6

Ask WHY the dad isn't available and that should help you decide.

Here in the states some "hobby" breeders who show their dogs and breed because they want to improve the breed ,will artificially inseminate a dog with sperm from a dog on the other side of the country.

If it is a hobby breeder that shipped out for sperm, they'll be able to tell you WHY they did it.

If the dog isn't available for some other reason, I would ask alot more questions.

Contact your local Lab. Club and see if they have guidelines for breeding or a list of health checks that need to be done and see if the breeding pair meets these requirements.

Answer 7

I saw the father of my puppy - a lovely (big) JRT, smashing dog. Did not see the mother - reason? She was a Doberman Pinser.

Have a lovely big JRT myself now - just like his father in size but with a DP head and bottom!

Smashing dog but gets very confused about whether he should sight or scent things. LOL... Out walking one minute he is watching something, then shrugs his shoulders (metaphorically) and starts sniffing for it! Vet reckons he will not live as long as a JRT but otherwise he is lucky and is in reasonable health though prone to allergies.

I think you need to know about the dad, at least know the breed.

Good luck with your new puppy - hope that you have lots of fun.

Answer 8

When they say the Mother is available for showing they just mean that you can have a Look at the mother(so you know shes not in bad health). You go buy that puppy and give it a loving home. Sounds good to me Elena

Answer 9

I would be more concerned with finding a breeder who has proof of hip certification rating of at least "fair" or better on both parents. The extra cost would be worth saving you the money in vet bills in the future.

Answer 10

I think I would call them and ask 'why' the father isn't available for show. Maybe he belongs to other owners and they have moved or not interested in people seeing him (for what ever reason) and/or maybe something tragic has happened and he is deceased. Call them, I'm sure there is a very good explanation. Good Luck