Puppy buying...what should we look for? The Labrador is an extremely popular breed, who can resist the cute chubby puppies, of course the fact they are a great family dog helps to increase their popularity and sadly this means also that there are lots of puppies bred without consideration of health and temperement. So many dogs come through rescue with serious health problems, Hip Dysplasia and Elbow Dysplasia being two of the most common, the Epilepsy. With Hip and Elbow surgery costing in excess of £7k many owners dont have the money or insurance to cover the costs. So what can you do to minimise the risk of buying a puppy with HD and ED. Do your research, a good breeder will have a waiting list. A well bred puppy can cost around £700 a cheap puppy should ring alarm bells. Ask to see Hip and Elbow score certificates, the average hip score now in the Labrador is 15 so a score may look like 0/0 or 7/3 for example, the two numbers added together give you the hip scoring. Eye certificates as Labs can suffer from PRA, they should say Optigen clear or carrier. A good breeder will have done the research on parent background to make sure their are no close relations. They will have a contract stating they will take their progeny back at any time during that dogs lifetime. Dont be tempted to buy from the free ads or the other numerous pet selling sites, ask around for recommendations. Be prepared to wait, good, well bred puppies are worth it, badly bred ones will only bring you heartbreak and debt.
Posted on: Thu, 03 Apr 2014 18:59:46 +0000
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