My story is similar to Stormey's - we got Brandy our first Rottweiler out of Exchange & Mart! We did everything wrong, didn't see both parents, didn't have pick out of the litter (in fact she was the only one left!! )

We were lucky too, she was a great pet, not a good example looks-wise, but a real character. I'd be very careful getting a dog this way and haven't personally done it this way since:smt002

Ironically, the opposite has also happened to us. One of the dogs we bought as a pup (won't say which) was from an extremely well-known kennel and a very reputable breeder. They don't advertise in newspapers etc and have a waiting list. The dog was a sickly puppy and had all sorts of health issues and the breeder didn't want to know! This was from someone who is a Chairperson of a large and well known breed club too. Just goes to show, sometimes you can research the hell out of something and it can still go wrong

The web-sites I would avoid are free-ads, E-Pupz (like Sez & Amber mentioned). I'd avoid them like the plague!

I see nothing wrong with getting a puppy that is advertised in a local paper or on the internet (eg breeders own website) as long as you ensure you do your research. I'd make sure they were KC reg and out of good lines, health checked etc.

Many extremely reputable breeders have their own websites online, in fact it more rare for them not to these days!

Have to say I think we were lucky and unlucky in equal measures in both these cases. The safest way of buying is doing research and going to a recommended and reputable breeder, one where you can look around the kennels, meet the dogs etc.

I too would not go near EP.
I agree Malady , its the same in my Breed, BYB's PF's or people who have just come into the breed and do not breed for to better the breed and are turning out litter after litter , just to make money. In fact when I read some of the adverts not just for my breed but for various breeds and I see the same people advertising so many different breeds I feel disgusted by the human race, making money out of innocent little puppies who did not ask to be brought into the world.

There may be the odd reputable one on there but I think that 95 to 96 per cent of the time you will only get the unethical one and it is a chance I am not prepared to take.

thats the way i was kinda thinking! i have seen some good people out there!!

Personally I don't like the idea of dogs being advertised on the internet or papers. Although I see nothing wrong with reputable kennels having their own website; just not advertising pups for sale. (Gives a chance for people who have heard them recommended to have a look at their stock.)

If someone is keen to have a certain breed they will research into it and contact the breeds club, from there they can easily find out info on breeders and litters for sale. They also have the chance to talk to people with lots of first hand experiance of the breed and it's needs/traits to help decide if it's the breed for them. Leaves pups with less of a chance of landing in an impulse buy home.

As for mongrels free to a good home type ads. It does concern me that people running these types of ads might never get round to neutering their animals. Any time a mating happens just stick the pups in the paper. Not everyone does it, but it does happen alot. I think my prefared method here would be to notify the local reputable rescues that the bitch is having/had pups and you are looking to home them perhaps with their help and advice.

I totally agree with you !! I've had the exact same argument with people in my breed who refuse to advertise, saying they don't have to, but the way I see it is, if the general public see reputable breeders up aginst PFs etc. at least they will have the choice and hopefully make the right one !!

Unfortunately, a couple of people, inclduing myself, have advertised this way for this very reason, like yourself, and PFs are copying adverts, saying their dogs are health tested etc. The problem with that, is that the public dont know what to look for, re testing, or the proof, so the public take them on face value and blieve their dogs are tested !! One PF in my breed advertises her stud dogs hips as 1/2 2/2 2/3 :smt043 the poor dog has three hips !!! Plus they go overboard and advertise her dogs as being heart tested ad liver tested, which isnt done in our breed anywhere in the world So it can be a good thing, but unless the public know what PROOF to look for anyone can advertise anything !

There are thousands of litters advertised daily and the majority are intentional litters for money. The accidnets are one thing, but are very few and far between, the people that advertise mainly are only there to make money from mongrels and unendorsed dogs !!

i've just had a look on that site and found someone who has bred a litter of X pups and selling them for £650.

now i checked their website and it seems deliberate to make money.

thats what i dont like about these sites. BYB's and PF's.

the internet is great if your researching breeds and breeders but to actually buy from the puppy sale sites, then NO i wouldnt, but the GP/first time owners would.

its back to information and education, which comes up all the time.

I'll have to alter my advert to say the original certificates are available for viewing then. Something pf's and byb's will have trouble doing!
Becky

Exactly Even PFs cant fabricate a document they have never seen !

The point is that the General Public do not know about breed clubs. I knew nothing until I got my first dog and then I discovered a whole new world of dogs.
So the ONLY way these people are going to know is if people advertise, that means breed clubs, all the ethical and reputable breeders and so on.
The GP aren't psychic!
Becky

I was interested to see how many of you avoid E pup. I found the site by accident and got Dale through it. He came from the breeder's first litter although her parents have breed for a long time. She had carefully researched lines, diet etc. and bred for temperament and intelligence. She asked lots of questions and has kept in touch, We even get news of his litter mates. If at any time we could no longer keep Dale we agreed to get in touch with her. His mother is KC reg and his father is ISDS, a working sheepdog. I don't know what more we could have asked for. We saw the pups at 5 weeks and collected him aged at 8 weeks already vaccinated. He came complete with a puppy survival pack food, toys, diet sheet and even the phone number of an emergency vet.He been taken out in a car with his mum, separated from the litter for short spells, well handled and was paper trained.All this for £125, not going to make her rich.

Our previous collie was bought in a much more haphazard way. We saw a small ad. I met his mother, knew he'd been well socialised in a family home and drove off with no further information or contact with the seller. He turned out to be my perfect dog with a much easier temperament than Dale.

We've also had a well bred pedigree setter who came to us 'free to good home' at 9 months. We traced his history and found we were his 5th home and he came from a good breeder.

I think you have to do a bit if homework and ask questions where ever you buy from. I'm sure there are bad breeders on the net but there are good ones as well.