What rescues are you checking? We are over flowing with pups as are most centres, many don't put them on the web as they are gone too quick. We've just rehomed 5 mastiff crosses within a week (reserved, pending socialisation visits).

Never fall into the trap of thinking KC registration means a good quality puppy. Far from it.....

There are probably more poor quality KC dogs out there than not.

Of course there are very high quality KC dogs out there but its just as bigger minefield to find them as it is to look at non KC dogs.

Only things that will get you a good quality pup is research and knowledge.

Know your breed, read up on it, visit shows, KC and working ones if the breed is a functional one. Know what lines you are interested in, learn about the dogs you will see in the pedigree. Learn what good type is, in pups and adults.

EDUCATE YOURSELVES!

A good rescue will be able to match you up with the right dog for your family. Especially rescues that have foster homes, where the dogs are assessed on a much more reliable set up then kennels.

If you're set on a purebred puppy from a breeder, I recommend deciding upon a breed suitable for your needs and then contacting the breed club. Most breeders are only to happy to talk about their breed. Champdogs is a good site with litters advertised there daily from mostly KC assured breeders.

This. Kc does mean 'ethics' it means the parents have a good heritage and meet the breed standards, which are largely based on looks. Pedigrees suffer from endless genetic defects due to the inbreeding of the past (and some present) and finding a healthy one Can be a mine field.

I'm not sure if I'm misreading, but KC registration is no barometer of ethics or quality. The KC is nothing more than a registry. Paperwork is easily fudged. Many puppy farmed dogs have KC papers fake, real and fudged.
KC papers don't mean a good dog, only research and knowledge can do that.

Couldn't agree more re KC registered breeders. They are no more ethical than a front-room breeder. You have good and bad in both. The pedigree cat and dog regulating bodies have been responsible for maintaining and promoting what amounts to defects in animals which have given rise to health problems, so registration with them is no recommendation in my opinion.

No sorry, I was iPad typing and meant kc DOESN'T equal ethics. autocorrect got me again

Battersea, Wood Green of the big ones. Then some smaller ones more local to me which have about 8 dogs each, no pups mentioned. And quite a few others all over the country. One that isn't too far from me which is quite a high profile well-off one with premises has alot of empty cages, (no pups of course) and I wonder what they are doing with all the money they raise? All the rescues are supposed to be overflowing but this one certainly isn't. They can't all be in the hospital/quarantine/awaiting assessment?
Maybe I should get homechecked and put my name down on the waiting list with some of the smaller local organisations.

P.S. - Not interested in a pedigree. There's alot to be said for hybrid vigour and we've always been happy with our crossbreeds.

You can't judge by empty cages, we have several in our main kennels for those who've just come in, we have to keep 2 spare for hospital admissions at all times and then we have reserved dogs, not ready for rehoming dogs, fostered ones etc.

Like I said, most need to be phoned about pups, smaller rescues don't get as many, but depending on where you are I maybe able to suggest a rescue - I know blue cross burford and kimpton bring pups over from Ireland a lot, there was a video on their page the other day showing about 15 new arrivals running about.

Are you telling me to educate myself? I breed pedigree dogs to the highest possible standard. I also keep dogs as pets who are not suitable for breeding. I know my breed inside and out and I am telling you now through experience that non registered dogs are a big risk for first time buyers as many are likely to come from puppy farms and have poor health.

I also didn't mention at any point that the new owner should take the registration to mean that the dog is healthy or of standard. Merely that it is a useful minimum basis to go on. My point was actually that there are some excellent websites that ethical breeders, who have had health checks done on their dogs and puppies, and who breed in good conditions advertise on. And that breed clubs will point in the right direction.

I don't think you know anything about breeding to be honest, you sound like you're just repeating nonsense you've picked up from over zealous animal welfare campaigners. Whats the point in scaring everyone who wants a dog into thinking they can never have a decent one because everything is a scary minefield, theyre too stupid to pick one and every breeder is only in it for profit? It simply isn't true.

Ppprrththhhh! I think you doth protest too much sweetie.

I have no beef with a good quality KC dog, I own a spectacular KC SBT, who is my pride and joy. I know of many KC Staffords that are amazing real representatives of their breed, of the old sort, not the poor frog like creatures in the show ring. I have my uber Stafford not because I blindly followed the idea that KC is best, but because I studied my breed and the pedigrees of the dogs. Pedigrees of both KC and non KC working stock.
I studied the history of the breed and the correct working type conformation and temperament. I took NO notice of the KC champions in the pedigree. I took notice of the dogs that didnt have the big red CH letters before their name. The dogs I was studying I was fully aware had a cheeky unpapered dog hidden in their bloodlines here and there. Remember I said a lot of KC papers are fudged....in my dogs case for the better, to add in working blood to improve type and temperament.
But......there is a better dog still than my SBT, who is bred pure as pure can be, the ultimate dog, a real deal American Pit Bull, sadly a dog I can never own. This breed is old as the hills and so pure and tight in pedigree ( if you can find a real one, not a MUTT) Is the APBT KC registered? No bloody way, and thank GOD, what a way to ruin a perfect dog. But I digress, the APBT is prime example of how you can get a perfect specimen and have not a KC certificate in sight.
I have recently embarked on a search for a new pup, a Chihuahua, I searched and searched, show bred dogs are rarer than hens teeth, but, the market is SATURATED with KC litters. Weedy, runty pathetic little beasts for the most part, "home bred" but feeble, full of poor type, deer heads, runny eyes, dodgy stifles.
Then I found a breeder who does not register their dogs with the KC, has no truck with the registry. Her dogs are pets, and the most amazing bold bouncy sturdy and TYPEY puppies. Nothing else has compared and believe you me sweetheart, Ive searched and searched, and researched my little ass off!
The KC is NO guarantee of quality. NONE at all.

People, I have no intention of breeding, I have NO financial interest in trying to kid you all that KC dogs are the only way to go. The are certainly worth considering, but so too are non KC dogs, just, as I said, learn about your breeds type and temperament, and study bloodlines. KNOW YOUR BREED.

KC PAPERS DO NOT GIVE ANY BAROMETER OF QUALITY UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT!

Bravo!!!!!

Galgos del Sol are bursting at the seams just now - 76 dogs and several litters of puppies. Info and pics on the link.

Bloody brilliant post

Well done for mentioning the galgos - such beautiful dogs.

Amen.

Been searching the internet for a rescue dog and found a few likely candidates at a shelter not close to here, but within driving distance.
Couldn't load their homepage for several days. so wasn't sure about their terms of adoption etc so sent them an email explaining our circumstances and asking if they thought they would be able to help. Back comes an automated reply ignoring my comments and directing me to phone, which I did. When I eventually got a reply, I got very short shrift from a woman who asked "whaddya looking for?" She gave me names of 3 possible dogs, didn't ask me anything about us, and when I asked exactly where they were so I could visit, told me the name of the nearest town, which I knew already. They are in the middle of the country somewhere so that didn't help(I had already said I couldn't get into the website, which presumably had a map) Sounds like they really don't want to see me, if they can't even be bothered to talk to me. I took the hint and rang off.
Yes, rescues are always under pressure, with lots to do, but if they can't be civil, let alone helpful to people, why are they bothering? Their adoption fees are as high as buying privately, so it's not like they are doing you a favour, though they try to make you feel they are.
Off to the backyard breeders, then. I'm sure they'll be happy to see me and my money.

Rhonda please do not get a dog from a backyard breeder. Even if it means waiting longer for a dog I would suggest you wait for the right one in a rescue centre you respect.

By buying from a backyard breeder you are only ensuring they make a profit to breed more dogs when thousands are being put down every day.

You are absolutely right, and this is the last thing I expected to be contemplating, as I am so aware that all those poor mutts that find themselves in shelters were once cute little puppies that someone took on and then discarded for whatever reason.
We keep our animals for life -12, 10 & 14 years of age, and thats just the dogs.
When we got our first rescue it was so simple. We saw her, took her for a walk, had her cat-tested, they homechecked us and that was it.
I may, rather than buying a puppy, scour the free ads for an adult which looks like a genuine re-home rather than a money-making exercise.Thanks for your interest.

Consider visiting local vets. Mine has a notice board where people sometimes put up a card lookng for a home. There are many genuine (and sometimes sad) reasons why people have to give up their pets.

Very true, and that's a place I hadn't thought of looking.
Thanks for the idea.

Rhonda, contact blue cross, they are by far one of the most customer focused rehoming charities, and have pups in most of the time, I'm not sure which centre is most local to you but they have them all over the country.

Thanks, Bazaar1. I have no experience of the Blue Cross, but it sounds like its worth a phone call to see what response we get.We do have one of their centres within driving distance so we might go along and introduce ourselves. Could be that once they know us they will let us know when something suitable comes in?

Blue cross are a bit different to your usual rescues, they don't allow you to wander round the kennels as it stresses the dogs, instead they discuss your needs and bring you the dog (s) the match your requirements, puppies rarely go on the website as when they do they are snapped up instantly. So yes very much worth calling and speaking to them - which center is nearest you? Kimpton often have influxes of Irish pups in, some of the smaller centres have one or two litters at a time, but knowing you are looking means they can keep you in mind.