miniature schnauzers

[bullpen]

Please help me fellow Abers. I am desperate to buy a puppy. I have tried epupz.co.uk but I cant get registered for some unknown reason. I live in the south east of England but I am willing to travel. I dont want to buy from a licensed breeder so I would prefer one that is home bred with both parents at the home. Many thanks.

[lankeela]

Why do you not want to buy from a licensed breeder? I would have thought this was a far better bet than someone who has two pet dogs that they have mated. Please ensure all health checks have been done and that the pedigrees of the two dogs are compatible. These are things that reputable breeders would do as a matter of course.

Try www.champdogs.co.uk

I do know of a 12 week old dog puppy that is available but it is in the Norwich area, let me know if you would be interested and I will give you contact details.

[tia82]

Have you tried www.pets4homes.co.uk
or www.ad-mart.co.uk
What about your local free ads paper.

[cameo]

Have a look here.

http://www.pets4homes.co.uk/pets4homes/home.ns f/PV?SearchView&Query=(FIELD%20TypeTX=Dogs)%20 %20AND%20(FIELD%20BreedTX=Schnauzer)%20&start= 11&count=10&SearchOrder=3&ExactMatch=True&Sear chWV=FALSE&SearchFuzzy=FALSE&SearchMax=250

[cameo]

Sorry, the above link doesn't seem to work :(

It was a link to www.pets4home.co.uk. There are quite a few on there!!

[kita1]

Be very careful about puppies for sale that have both parents at the same home, chances are they are just mating two 'pet' dogs irrespective of their health, age or maybe even the fact that they may be related (mother x son, brother x sister). Also they could be mating the bitch at every season.

At least with licensed breeders and pedigree registration you know that they are only breeding a certain number of puppies from each bitch and that there is a better chance that the puppies are looked after in suitable conditions.

Most free ads I would be very wary of as well, if they cannot be bothered to pay out money advertising to get good homes it does not say much about the breeder, there is often no back up with these sort of ads, once the pup has been sold that is it as far as they are concerned.

Many puppies bought this way are bred elsewhere (eg puppy farms) and 'sold' from so called private homes. There are so many people out to scam with the free ads you have to be extremely careful that for instance the dog or puppy you buy has not been stolen.

You will probably end up paying hundreds of pounds more for a poorly bred, sick puppy that will not only cost more in the first place but will also cost you a fortune in vets bills.

You would be better by far going to a registered breeder (who maybe breeds only occasionally and keeps their dogs in the home as pets), explain that you want the dog as a 'pet' (not for show). The link lankeela gave is a good one.

[tia82]

Have to say, i bought all 3 of my cats from the Free ads
and all have offered a life time of support. All were in very good health, came from good homes with pedigree
papers.

I think you just have to know what your looking for and not take the first thing that comes along because you feel sorry for it. Quite often these will only end up with large vet bills!

[lankeela]

Just remember that those of us that offer advice on here do so because we have the best interest of the dogs at heart, and have experienced many times the disappointment of people who have bought a puppy only to find it is not in the best of health, not a typical specimen of the breed or has other problems. If you are going to have a dog for anything up to 15 or more years, then take your time and get the best you possibly can. You only have to read back through some of the questions on here to realise that not everyone has done this, and have ended up with problems they did not foresee and no-one to help them. Responsible breeders will offer a lifetime after sales service.

[babybombo]

I think all of your answers so far have been quite off putting, Every ones telling you what not to do, just go with what you feel is right.
Personally, I think a dog coming from a home with both parents is always best.
My sister bought a Basset hound pup 6 months ago from a non-liscenced breeder. Whats wrong with that? Her two pet bassets mated, and I see nothing wrong with this. She was allowing her bitch to have one litter then getting her spayed.
And also, before you go looking for breeders, why not try your local rescue centre??
Not all dogs there have health or behavioral problems, some just have bad luck! And very often there are a few pedigrees in rescue centres.
Well whatever you choose, I wish you luck and hope your happy with your new puppy. =)

[kita1]

Babybombo: Your sister got a dog from two pet dogs mating and you ask what is wrong with that - were the parents of the puppy health tested? Most 'pet ' dogs have no health tests for HD etc. I hope that the puppy she bought is healthy and lives a long and happy life for her (and the pups) sake.

These are the heredatory conditions that affect Bassets:

Many bloodlines are genetically prone to glaucoma, luxating patella, ectropion, and "cherry eye". Young Bassets occasionally develop panosteitis. Older Bassets occasionally develop Von Willebrand disease. Long dogs on short legs can easily develop back pain, especially if excessive weight is already a concern. Hip dysplasia can be a problem in Bassets.

If you buy from a registered (kennel club) breeder you can ensure that the parents of the puppies have been tested for all the things that affect that particular breed, also the breeder is more likely to give lifelong back up and support.

If you buy puppies from people who are not registered and are not doing the health tests on their dogs before mating then you are encouraging 'back yard' breeders who are only breeding for money. It has also been proven a long time ago that b*tches do not need to have one litter before they are spayed, it is myths like this that make the rescue homes full to breaking point!

If you are going to pay out good money for a pup then please ensure that the breeders have done ALL the health tests for that particular breed, otherwise you will be better off getting a dog/pup from a rescue centre and giving them the money you would have paid out!