I have to include a section on "Designer Doggies" these at best are muts, heinz 57, cross breeds, whatever you want to call them and can be found in your local dog pound! You might think I have a problem with cross breeds, not at all. I just do not agree with some breeders taking two pure breeds and crossing them and dupping customers out of large sums of money on a pretence they are getting a designer doggie. The main reason for people breeding them is the illusion they are "low molting" etc, all dogs molt to some degree and its the the dead skin flakes that cause allergies. So dont be fooled into believing you are getting the best of both breeds, as you could be getting the worst of both breeds rolled into one with regards to health issues specific to one breed!
Unless the breed is recognised by the Kennel Club, its not a pedigree. If you what a poodle then by a poodle from a reputable breeder, who if they have the dogs best interests at heart wouldnt dream of cross-breeding, if you want a Cavalier then get a Cavalier dont be fooled in to buying Cavadooles, Cavashions etc. Unless it is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that your buying, then its a mixed breed! If your tempted to buy a hybrid, then you should not be paying ridiculous amounts of money, sometimes twice the amount of the actual proper named breed! Before considering buying these pups from backyard breeders, take a look down your local rescue centre and adopt one for a fraction of the price. It takes years and experience to develop new dog breeds that the Kennel Club recognises, not two different breeds thrown together and hey presto lets give it a fancy name! If in any doubt about the breed your buying make enquiries with the Kennel Club UK. I am a great lover of Cavaliers and Setters and I am often appauled by this practice.
Some people will simply say that it was an "accident" however it should be noted that vets do offer an injection to prevent un-wanted pregnancy similar to the morning after pill, so there is no excuse a person can give you to justify selling you an over priced expensive designer doggie.
Another practice that I have heard of is of a family who bought what they thought was a pedigree cavalier king charles spaniel. Of course they were shown the father, but when asked why they couldnt see the mother of the litter, an excuse was offered. To some people buying a puppy can seem rather nerve racking and you can get caught up in the excitement of seeing puppies so when an excuse is offered you tend to brush it off as well its not that important as the litter looks like the real deal. Only to find out some months later that their pedigree puppy they thought they had bought didnt look at all like the breed that they were looking for. Of course no paper work was given!
There can be no reason given whatsoever why you shouldnt be allowed to see the mother of the litter, should an excuse be offered, simply walk away.
It is so easy to also become the victim of a scam when replying to ads about puppies. It is therefore important that you never part with any money prior to seeing the litter in the pups home environment. Unless of course you are dealing with a reputable breeder who is able to give you references such as myself, as sometimes due to distance we hold puppies and take deposits via post until arrangements can be made to view the litter. Never arrange to meet a dealer in a secluded area, car park, motor way or even your own home for that matter of a fact. Dealers often adopt this practice and infact many a time they havent even bred the litter and are just selling them on behalf of puppy farms.
Never be afraid to ask to many questions as a honest breeder will have all the answers and quite often welcomes an indepth chat about dogs, it is of course their favourite subject, well mine any way!
We can go on about Designer Doggies, Scammers and puppy farms for ever and a day. Quite simply if it seems to good to be true, quite often it is! You get what you pay for and many a time I run into people who say they paid a silly amount for a puppy, upon asking further questions it is clear that the poor puppy has come from a puppy farm, asked whether the dog is in good health, the common answer given, not really we have had nothing but trouble with the health of the puppy and many a trip to the vets, not to mention the expense! Asked had they wished they gone to a reputable breeder and paid the extra, the simple answer is of course they had!
