Choosing a Lancashire Heeler breeder
Caveat emptor... (Let the buyer beware!)
Buying a Lancashire Heeler puppy brings with it a great deal of responsibility. This is a purchase far removed from any other you may make. Uniquely, your purchase is a living, breathing companion that should be sharing your life for some years to come. Even those of us that understand this much may, unfortunately, make the wrong choice of dog, wrong choice of breeder, or be ill prepared for the changes that a puppy may bring.
Here are a few things that I have learned along the way. I have also given some links to other articles and books that may help you further.
Are you ready for a Lancashire Heeler?
So you want a Lancashire Heeler puppy - How do the rest of the family feel? Is everyone in agreement and willing to do their fair share? Puppies take time and energy. There will be a great deal of cleaning up at first, together with training and walking to do. Regular exercise will be needed and dogs don't disappear into thin air when you want to get away for the weekend or take a holiday. Have you thought through the financial implications - vets bills, kennels, equipment, food, insurance?
Choosing a Breeder - Lancashire Heeler or any other!
It is easy to be impulsive on this. Once you're ready to buy choose your breeder carefully and make sure that you visit a number of breeders - NEVER just one. Seductive websites, enticing pictures and newspaper advertisements are not necessarily hallmarks of breeders who have a good pedigree themselves. There are, unfortunately, a number of unscrupulous breeders commonly known as 'puppy farmers'. I was under the misapprehension that these were literally 'farms', however these places are often well organised kennels. The distinction is the breeding of dogs purely for commercial gain. Naturally this means that larger numbers of dogs are kept and that the bitches are bred from to the Kennel Club limits or beyond. The puppies are often fed on poor quality food, are often in poor health and are inadequately socialised. NEVER buy from pet shops or from the back of a car boot. This is how some puppy farmers sell excess 'stock', others brazenly masquerade as legitimate kennels, coming across as being 'genuine' and having the breed at heart, but it is all a ploy to get you to buy from them. A key indicator is that they will continually denegrate other breeders. A friend of mine bought 2 dogs because she wanted to 'rescue' them. This perpetuates the problem. The best way to stop this malpractice is to buy from a reputable breeder. If a puppy farmer doesn't sell they will stop breeding
Breed clubs are the best place to ask about breeders of integrity and the Lancashire Heeler is no exception. Ask all the Lancashire Heeler breeders you visit about other breeders of good repute. A good breeder will not be afraid of the comments of their peers or their breed club, on this case The Lancashire Heeler Club. Whilst you are visiting breeders leave your purse at home while you look. I've not yet seen a puppy that wasn't easy to fall in love with and this is not the time for an impulsive purchase.
Ask lots of questions of any kennels that you visit. Ask about health problems in the breed generally and specifically in the breeder's line and the lines of other breeders. Make notes of their answers and cross reference them. See as many dogs as possible and assess their temperament.
Insist on seeing the mother of the puppies and, if possible, the father. Don't be fobbed off with any excuse for the mother not being there. "Selling puppies for a friend" etc. is a common excuse to camouflage puppy farming practices. If in doubt go somewhere else. The more sure you are that you're getting a healthy dog, the better your chances of a healthy and happy companionship with your puppy.
Remember you don't have to take chances!
More detailed information and useful links
Kennel Club article - Where not to buy a puppy
Kennel Club article - Sources of dogs
Stan Rawlinson - Dog behaviourist - Choosing a puppy
UK Lancashire Heeler Club website
